BITE user comments - greybeard
Comments by greybeard
I called in with my wife about 9 months ago for the first time in 25 years! It had changed... It's well laid out in a smart but informal way in a sort of "traditional country pub design". It seemed mainly, but not exclusively, for diners. This is not unreasonable, as the immediate population is not very high. The garden is small but pleasant enough, and the place is dog friendly.
There were a couple of decent beers - the name of the guest beer eludes me - I think I had the Charles Wells - no complaints. I ordered a glass of wine for my wife and was staggered when I was charged the best part of £6! When asked why this was, the opportunistic barman told me that as I hadn't been specific, he had given me that wine - the cooking stuff was about £3 - I did get it swapped.
The menu looked good and I spoke to someone about the meals - they were full of praise.
30 Jul 2017 01:53
Well - the pub was next to a wonderful area for walking dogs, and people do walk dogs and then they did go to the pub. The theme of "smelling of dogs" seems to have taken off, but I never noticed it and I'm not really bothered. I like pubs that accept dogs and would not go to one that didn't. OK - that's dealt with - if you didn't like dogs, you shouldn't have gone to a dog walking pub.
The essence of the place was that it was unaltered from time immemorial - this is how pubs were: bare boards, nooks, small rooms - it was great. I've been quite a few times in winter and there was a huge log fire burning - perfect!
The staff were always friendly enough to me and other customers. The restricted opening times did make a difference but I reckon the landlord had other things to do the rest of the week - why shouldn't he have opened when he wanted to?
The beers were always the same - Ridgeway and Toad - never had a bad pint, and it was cheap enough.
You will note that this review is in the past tense - The Old Fox closed about 9 months ago - rumour has it that it has structural problems, so whether it will ever open again as a pub nobody knows. I hope it does. I always felt that I was one of a select group who knew of this very traditional and isolated pub that had been trapped in a time warp and I appreciated it.
30 Jul 2017 01:36
As others have said, this is a pub to go to, sit in the garden and have a pint on a hot day or, if you are at the adjoining Premier Inn, to escape for a while. I use it as the last stop when walking my dog.
Over the years my experience of the food has been varied - sometimes good - sometimes poor. I looked at the menu the last time I was there and the prices for what you are about to receive seem unreasonably high.
There are the usual lagers there and there is usually a few guest ales. The bar in which they are served is quite dark, and my advice is to look carefully to see if you can see your fingers on the other side of the glass - the amount of cloudy beer I have been served is remarkable (The Doombar is particularly prone to this.) The staff, who are overworked, seem off-hand and more interested in their own social lives or who had the wine measure last, etc.
On a hot day, be prepared to wait in a queue - the bar area is small and you are lucky to find more than two staff serving as there really is not the room behind.
As has been mentioned the standard of tidiness in the garden area isn't the finest.
Yes, although you could throw a stone at the M25, the surroundings are fine - a river and a mill-race complete with ducks and large fish surround the place and there's a play area that is not too bad - the interior is well done and restored perfectly. It's all rather like being given a Ferrari and then finding that it's firing only on 4 of its cylinders and the doors won't close properly.
I wish I could give it a higher rating - it requires just a little more action from management and it could double the score.
30 Jul 2017 01:17
This is my local. The food is standard pub-chain stuff but perfectly acceptable and there's a wide choice. I've never had any problems with serving times for meals but then I eat there only 3 or 4 times a year.
The bar still maintains at least 4 real ales, Pride is the regular, and, apart of one glass of "Rocking Rudolph" Xmas ale (never buy a beer with a jokey name) they have always been good choices and well-kept. The interior is deceptively small but well-kept. There is a semi-separate dining area. Dogs are allowed in.
The garden is even smaller now as part of the land has been given over to building a Co-op.
The landlord and landlady are friendly and chatty, the staff is variable but have, as far as I am concerned, fallen below average.
30 Jul 2017 00:50
Called in on spec for a meal with the family (all adult) on a Sunday early evening. I was initially doubtful as the last time I had been was about 10 years earlier and had not been impressed. This time it was different - what a difference. The garden is somewhat limited both in size and facilities by its location, but on a good day that would not make a lot of difference. The interior is really quite good - somewhat of a traditional small-town continental bar/café/restaurant feel to it. The menu was interesting and varied and reasonably priced. The quantity and quality of the food could not be faulted. As far as the beers were concerned, there was a selection of Eurolagers and 4 pumps of cask beer, I had Doombar and Adnams, which were excellent. The staff were more than friendly. We'll be back.
30 Jul 2017 00:29
The Salutation Inn, Castle Combe
A 17th Century coaching inn with a variety of well kept cask ales on offer including Bob and Piston Broke.
The staff are all friendly and helpful. Food is good quality, quantity and a good choice on the menu. As it's a bit off the beaten track (unless you've just been to Castle Coombe Race Circuit) most of the customers are locals, who are equally friendly. Dogs are allowed.
The place is beams and Cotswold stone. There's a pool table, a small garden, a fair amount of parking spaces and, in winter, a log fire .
10 May 2010 02:34
The Fox and Goose Inn, Brent Knoll
I double checked to see if I'd visited the same pub as the other reviewers. I had.
The Fox and Goose is an add-on to a large, corporate hotel/motel complex. The bar is a mad mixture of styles - European bar area, 1960s fireplace with 16th century oak beam over it. The tables are 19th c. style, generally, it needs a make-over, as it has no idea what its identity is.
The beer was all keg Eurofizz inc. the cider. The atmosphere was nil and only enlivened by a wall full of appalling and tasteless paintings being offered for sale. I really do not see why anyone should go there.
I've given it 2 as the roof didn't leak.
5 Oct 2009 19:23
I'm with nicnocs1 here: I called in with my son in very late September at about 5pm. I had a pint of Butscombe that went down well. The landlady served and was friendly and helpful.
The interior is pleasant, wooden beams, etc., and a traditional pub atmosphere.
At that time there were few others about - 4 or 5 at the bar and the same outside.
We had a decent enough meal which arrived quickly and was value for money.
What's not to like?
4 Oct 2009 00:23
I've just come back from an evening here. They had Doombar, Old Peculiar, Speckled Hen and a few others at the pumps, all in good condition. There was also the usual lagers.
I've used this as a convenient pub for friends visiting London who stay in the Tavistock and Russell Square areas. None of them have ever suggested we go anywhere else.
It's close enough to the British Museum to be a place to visit afterwards
The staff are friendly, the prices are most reasonable for London, the choice of food is a little better that the average pub and it is good, tasty, comes in decent portions and is very well priced particularly given the area.
The decor is sort of 1920s/30s but not overly so, the seating is comfortable and occupancy seems to be around the 70/80% mark with a couple of tables outside, so, with a little luck, you won't have to stand all evening.
There is music playing but it's not intrusive.
This pub deserves to have a higher overall rating - it is unpretentious, convenient and easily missed for a quiet drink. I can find no fault.
25 May 2009 01:50
I'm a little late with this, as it must have been about a year ago I went there. It was evening and there were about 4 or 5 locals around the bar, otherwise no one around. I ordered a meal and expected in in the bar but was shown to the "restaurant" (more a dining room) to the rear of the pub. A strange experience sitting in a room by yourself... The price was about average and the service, quantity and quality a little above.
The landlord was a pleasant chap though and quite chatty. The beer (again Wentworth) was very drinkable.
The exterior is a little off-putting - it almost looks as if it should be deserted but for a drink it's a good place
22 Mar 2009 22:04
The Green Man of Grantchester, Grantchester
It's worth clicking the "see more reviews" link. The position and the building itself are first class, management seems to have been a little less than pro-active. The potential is great for the pub, all it needs (as now a large board says proclaims) is new management who can address the problems that B-i-t-E has exposed. 5.8/10 was never anywhere near good enough.
22 Mar 2009 21:55
All the above are fair comment, except the bit about atmosphere. In my chosen lifestyle as an old fart, I've called in about 6 or 7 times in the last year. I have sat and drunk a few pints each time. The beer is consistently good. The food is expensive, but just about worth it. It really is a little haven of 1930s Southern Counties (Weezel's comment above about Mrs Marples is spot on) and seeing John Betjeman taking notes would not surprise anyone.
Hang the price! What the odd �1 extra? This pub is well worth a visit inside or in the garden for that atmosphere alone.
20 Aug 2008 18:13
I called in with my son on the way to Cambridge. The Abbot IPA was well kept and very drinkable. The guest ale was Bath Gem - a little expensive at �2.95, but a pleasant drink.
Choice of meal a little limited, but they were quickly served, large portions (I had the goulash) and very good.
Pub was quiet and well furnished. The Staff were all very friendly indeed.
Drop in sometime, you'll not be disappointed.
17 Apr 2008 02:51
The London Pride and Discovery were on form as usual. The selection of food is excellent and I can say (a) I�ve never had a bad meal (order the stir-fry orange chicken � magnificent!) (b) the prices are very reasonable and (c) The service is good. The staff are friendly and helpful and you can even get cash-back from the bar!
I noted that an earlier posted moaned about the clientele � the pub customers sort themselves out � the artisans and locals go to the left at the entrance, where there�s a big TV and a dart board � others go to the right.
As far as the car park is concerned, OK the spaces are a little narrow, but there�s always a space with another on both sides. I�ve never known anyone have any bother.
I�ve used the pub to entertain business guests, relatives and friends when I have been in the Heathrow area; all have been impressed with the casual friendliness, the atmosphere and the food and drink.
If you are going to meet someone at Heathrow (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) go a bit earlier and call in, and/or on the way back, take them there.
1 Feb 2008 00:10
I've not paid much attention to the outside as it has always been dark when I arrive. It seems to be a largish Georgian building and probably a reasonable hotel. There are often groups of people there who are attending courses locally. I'm not sure if the locals use it much but they should. I've never seen it with standing room only.
On first entering, I received the impression that it had earlier been a rather up-market hotel and had been renovated / modernised in a minimalist style. There's plenty of room inside and the ceiling is high, which gives a first impression of emptiness.
Once inside, it is pleasant enough with a restaurant straight ahead and a bar to the right and beyond that a lounge area.
There is a fair selection of beers / lagers /soft drinks and they are all well-kept and well-served. Service is quick, friendly and professional.
By this stage you will have forgotten the high ceiling and be quite comfortable.
The food is a little above average on price but the choice is really good throughout the menus and specials. More to the point, it is well-presented, well-served, excellently cooked and value for money.
I have eaten there about 5 times; never had the same meal twice (I'm working my way through the menus) and never been disappointed.
Despite its grand appearance, it's a honest pub without pretensions and deserves a larger patronage.
16 Feb 2007 00:52
The Green Man of Grantchester, Grantchester
The pub must be about 250 years old. It has genuine wooden beams and an uneven wooden floor. On entering from the street, the bar is one pace ahead of you. To the left there is a small area with deep comfy armchairs / settee. To the right there is an L-shaped area leading, to the Gents and I assume car park or garden.
There are wooden tables arranged around the wall in the L-shaped section.
There is no piped music - which is good - and one basic fruit machine.
If there is a restaurant, it must be further to the right and I didn't visit it.
I note the comment below about bar customers spilling over into the restaurant, and this is probably because the area that I saw was particularly small. I visited on a February Monday evening. There were about 10 - 12 people in the pub this left about 4 free seats.
A meal for 2 and 4 rounds of drinks left �4 change out of �40. I felt the meals were over-priced by about �2 per meal. The quantity was about average, the quality was average to slightly below average - I found the gammon egg & chips a little greasy. My son thought his pasta dish was fair.
Service was unaccountably slow. Not once did I go to the bar without having to wait for a while. The barman, a pleasant enough chap, seemed to have his time taken up by explaining the ropes to a new barmaid - equally pleasant. When this was not happening, there was no-one immediately around and I had to wait alone at the bar. Drinks orders from the table were likewise slow.
Fortunately, I was in no hurry, but I wondered what it would be like on a hot summer's evening.
In addition to the Adnams and Spitfire mentioned below there was Black Sheep, well kept but served a little on the warm side.
The Red Lion is next door and is more spacious, has better service and has a wide choice of meal, which are well worth the money but it seems not to have any atmosphere - more like a hotel (which I think it is...)
The Green Man is a pub that has the *potential* to have more than its fair share of atmosphere but it just missed its mark.
Will I go back? � probably; it's worth giving it a second chance.
Should you go? Well, if you want a quiet drink and are in no hurry, it really is a pleasant enough place.
16 Feb 2007 00:01
Called in on a cold November weekday lunchtime. There seems to be 2 rooms: a lounge and a bar. Both are similar. Despite being on a main road to the front and having an estate behind, inside it had a comfortable country feel to it; carpeted throughout, rustic style tables and chairs, a few prints on the walls.
There were about 14 people in the lounge and 2 in the bar. They were a mix of local workmen and pensioners out for a meal. The place is well-kept and seemed friendly enough.
A fair selection of beers, I took the Directors and was not disappointed.
There was one barmaid on duty and she seemed new at the job and thus a little slow but no real cause or complaint - doubtless she'll become quicker.
The meal, from a selection of baguettes and similar, was �5 and well worth it, apart from some extraneous crisps scattered around it that tasted poisonous. I wish they wouldn't do that; not everyone likes cabbage and mint sauce flavour but I'd recommend the food.
All in all, I had been hesitant going in at first as it didn't seem a place that would be up to much because of its position. Nevertheless, I was pleased I'd found a decent pub with good beer and food.
If you're passing, call in.
13 Dec 2006 00:44
Used to be my local until I moved down South, still call in when I can. The beer is always good and I echo what has been said about the food. Call in and have a pint and you should find yourself being dragged into a conversation of some sort -very friendly locals and staff.
1 Jan 2006 02:09
A reasonable pub, usually about 4 ales on sale including Directors plus lagers. Food fair to good, prices OK. I beg to differ on the quizmaster who, when I was last there, was incoherant and stumbled over "big words" - OK, we didn't win but he was not up to much. Recently redecorated, nothing too severe, but lost a bit of atmosphere. The outside seating overlooks a main road, parking front and rear, always a space.
1 Jan 2006 02:04
The Waggoners, Ayot Green
The pub backs onto the A1M, and outside, you can hear it. It is down a cul-de-sac and so otherwise quite. We sat outside at a pavement table. On offer was Greene King, Adnams, Abbot, Pride, and Doombar - I had the IPA. Good, clear and well kept.
Inside the place is cosy enough to spend an evening. It looks to be mid 19th century and well-kept and the decor is very well done.
There was a menu on the table, and, although we weren't going to eat, it persuaded me we should - if you search around, you'll probably find the menu on the net - this is good stuff: not cheap but quality, the chef has quite some skill - I did look to see if it had a Michelin star - it hasn't. The service from the bar staff was only fair - it may be different inside in the dining section.
The locals were very friendly and a couple of hours had gone before we knew it.
Take a note of where it is if you are belting up or down the A1M - you'll not be disappointed.
30 Jul 2017 02:12