BITE user comments - harrythebastard
Comments by harrythebastard
Went in there today with me little dog for a quiet pint in the afternoon and to read the paper. Got me pint and paid for it and sat down.
Then got told by the barmaid that dogs were not allowed in the pub.
No signs on the door to that effect and unremarkable observation skills on her behalf. Prior to my drinking up and leaving I do recall the complete lack of ambience or atmosphere and only a couple of other customers .
A place for geeks using the free wi-fi whilst nursing a soft drink all afternoon.
Not for gentlemen drinkers with money in their pockets and a dog on a lead.
My money will be going elsewhere as will me and me dog.
Not my loss!
21 Feb 2017 21:35
Well tonight must have been a one off judging by the last few entries; but somehow I don't think so.
Loud suits telling anyone who didn't care to listen most of their business, apparently MoJ whatever that is?
Guinness good, Bombardier and Doom Bar came out short measures and by 8pm it was empty except the camp barman ripping down the Halloween props (why were they there at all?) Coronation Street at full volume on the telly, and when he was asked if anyone was watching it (none of us 4 remaining punters) he said he enjoyed it? Never ever ever again in this place, not a pint more! I have said it about another place and indifferent (couldn't give a toss) service but this really gets the Wong Kei award for pubs. Reality TV should find this place based on tonight's experience, but it would be filed under fiction or comedy. Unfortunately the management/brewery care not a jot, but there again nor do I as I will never get in there again.
In a previous life when I worked nearby there was a very fierce and firm, but there again a very fair lady licensee who ran a great house called the "Adam and Eve." Clearly not any more.
What a waste.................................................
31 Oct 2011 23:29
Was pleasantly surprised when I nipped in last night, the last time I was in here was a few years ago when it was a Sam Smiths place, yuk. Quite a tasteful refurb although the bar area remains the same. Tanglefoot, Badger, Fursty Ferret and Sussex (not the Harveys variety) were all on and well kept. Quite a selection of Europiss lagers as well, for the tourists I suppose. Clean, tidy and the staff were attentive without going overboard, I didn't have to wait long at all for service, unlike other pubs round here. This place says that it is "The last real pub in Notting Hill" and it is easy to see why. I think it really is but there again there is absolutely NO competition locally! Well worth a 9/10 easily.
17 Oct 2011 08:07
Great place, a lot of old favourites on the pump, Crouch Vale,Harveys Sussex etc etc. The staff are always friendly even the tubby little potboy/washer upper who is faaarrr too old to be doing this work.
Food is always hot, tasty and a little exxy but in that area you have to expect it.
Fishfinger sarnies are certainly different, atmosphere good, the decor is certainly original and this place is as close to a free house as you are going to get around here!
Give it a go if you are in the area, well worth a slight detour (20m) from the Strand.
6 Oct 2011 22:35
Yup, just given up on this place.
Was in there last week with a group of mates, left after 20 minutes and 1 drink, although being prepared for a sesh a lot of our money went out the door to another pub up the road.
Tried it again after work today,6 of us and same old same old.
Will now have to wait until it goes bust, someone buys it and turns it into a free house.
What a waste...................................................
5 Oct 2011 22:30
Ditto all of the below. I am really trying to like this place, proper beer mugs with handles and a passable selection of 2/3 real ales but the staff here just seem to be straight off a reality film set. They are (to a man) totally disinterested in anyone but themselves, it seems to be a hobby for them and the concept of being in the hospitality industry has not quite entered this part of west London.
Still haven't seen anyone resembling a licensee or landlord/lady, just a lot of posh kids pretending to be bar staff as a hobby.
The place needs closing, a refurb and change of staff throughout. It could, and certainly has the location to be, a gold mine and never will be at this rate which is a great shame as there is no real competition locally.
What a waste.
10/10 for location and potential, 2/10 for presentation and service.
29 Sep 2011 20:40
Well swift service in 2006 it may have been,but not any more. This place needs far more staff to cope,but I think this may be more company policy than local management and yet more cost cutting. As a stranger in these parts waiting to be served,and a group of lads leave after a 10 minute wait to be served,that is money walking out of the door. I was shortly after them with a 14 minute wait without success. Only Bombardier and something called EPA on the pump,the rest was Eurofizz.
At present and on my short visit here (14 minutes) one place to avoid unless you have no choice. Spirit Group again perchance?
8 Apr 2011 22:10
Harry is not sad, he is never happier than when he is amongst real beers and in a real pub, (search for Crown Posada in Newcastle) but unfortunately this is not one of those real pubs.
Service same as always in here, some character would not go amiss!
One for the tourists and sad suits.
Nuff said.
28 Jun 2010 22:35
Ye Olde Cock Tavern, Fleet Street
Went back today after an 8 month break, obviously still the same old same old attitude but the staff has changed. Just when you thought that things could not get any worse,....................Spirit Group still amaze you and yes they are (worse).
There is a finite limit to people, their cash and their goodwill/acceptance of cr@p service and whoever the absentee landlord is here he/she is quite close to it.
Get a grip, there are already quite a number of vacant premises on Fleet Street for rent, will this be another??
28 Jun 2010 22:22
The Nell Gwynne, Covent Garden
A lovely little pub, slightly off the beaten track and the Deuchars is still very well kept.
Unfortunately the bar staff isn't, went in there twice last week early doors and was made to feel very guilty as I asked for a beer.
Apparently the telly on loud with "The One Show" was for the amusement of the staff.
A place to avoid until after 1230 or whenever that car crash telly is over and the barmaids have to work.
Simples.
28 Jun 2010 21:53
Beers good, but being Fullers overpriced as always.
Service nowadays very ordinary, I waited nearly 15 minutes for an ESB and on the sunniest day of the year so far, two staff is clearly not going to get me back there any time this side of autumn.
Locals are welcoming and chatty which almost makes up for the appalling tardiness of the service, they seem to be used to it!
24 May 2010 21:33
Unremarkable except for the cheap beer, usual Spirit Group pub, no atmosphere and very bland. Alright for a once in a while visit but there is no chance of anyone ever treating this as a local.
Staff seem obsessed with having either sport or MTV on the telly, always loud even when no-one is watching it.
One to be avoided methinks.
28 Nov 2009 16:45
What a treasure in such an unlikely setting. Coming from London where all the major station pubs are Wetherthings or rip off imitations of the bar from "Star Wars" complete down to customers this is a very nice surprise. Down south this place would be ruined in a day.
Seven seperate real ales on, samplers on offer and the guys behind the ramp offer some good suggestions, a little on the dear side for up here but most people in a railway station bar are only killing a short amount of time. A particular surprise was one of the local beers with a touch of chili, just a hint but enough to warm you up. Jarrow brewery was to the fore, but all ales were well-kept and presented and the licensee obviously knows how to treat his cellar. I managed four seperate ales in an hour and reluctantly dragged myself away to get the train. Jarrow beer Rivet Catcher is still on and still good!
Bar itself is splendid in architecture, there obviously a lot of good British history here, all in all a relaxing atmosphere, apart from the pinball machine (not working), and all in all well worth a diversion if you are in the city for any reason.
Well done all round, what all pubs should be like!
28 Nov 2009 16:40
Nice place, close to the Quayside with Old Speckled Hen on draught. Unfortunately spoilt by the hooray lunchtime crowd from local solicitors, but worse that that..............(if possible) no Hen for three days out of five this week. Just John Smiths on, yuk.
Get your stock ordering right!
Disappointed from The Smoke (London not Teesside!)
28 Nov 2009 16:28
Harry is very impressed with this one, a very nice little find and well tucked away. Five real ales on tap, although they still do the Northern England thing of putting sparklers on the taps. The Jarrow beers all come out fine and the blokes behind the ramp both know what they are talking about with the product, free samplers being a nice bonus. Licensee is a genuine host that can actually hold a conversation and makes you fell welcome, even as a total stranger from down south.
The record player in the corner is a nice touch, all in all a proper blokes pub without the smoke!
If only they were all like this, Spirit Group and others take note.
28 Nov 2009 16:24
Twelve quid for cod and chips??
Beer average, staff missing a sense of humour and the reality of where a pint of beer fits in a pint glass, surely I am missing something?
Is it the Wong Kei of pubs?
11 Nov 2009 23:48
Bung Hole Cellars and Wine Room, Holborn
Unless you are a suit with an expense account, forget this place.
It is a desert in the middle of an oasis of good pubs, better beers and staff without a charisma by-pass operation. Beer definitely watered down here, a bit of personality would not go amiss.
Get a grip you lot, not everyone round here is a suit with bottomless expenses and no sense of taste for diluted beer.
Trading Standards anyone?
11 Nov 2009 23:44
The Old Bank of England, Fleet Street
Always a good pint of Fullers, and nice to see that all of the other locals have now caught up with their (previously exorbitant) beer prices. How long before this brewery do the same and we all go off elsewhere?
The little chubby assistant landlady always has a smile on her face, (have yet to see the proper licensee) but the twin Swedish barmaids are worth a diversion from say.........The George.
Good beer, well kept and the colonial staff are good-humoured and welcoming. Food prices a bit exxy but still worth a visit compared with the "competition" locally.
11 Nov 2009 23:37
Licensee tries hard, knows his beer and is very welcoming but is very let down by his staff. If you obviously don't want to be there then don't pretend you do. (And don't pretend that it is a big effort to walk 5 yards to the end of the bar where 8 blokes are about to put �150 over the ramp in a lunch time).
She is not doing anyone a favour, and the 8 blokes and �150 are now safely elsewhere most lunchtimes.
CHEER UP LOVE,IT MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN!
11 Nov 2009 23:25
Great little pub not to be confused with a pub of a similar name,the tourist trap up on Fleet Street (and a Sam Smith's too,yuk!)
This one is great, the licensee is a real landlord and not a plastic manager and the food is good, quick and value for dosh. Bombardier, Adnams Gun Hill and an IPA was on today, all good (Well I had to try them didn't I?)
Well worth diverting off Strand by 50 metres, past the tourist traps and luckily for us a very well-kept secret. Long may it continue!
5 Nov 2009 22:37
Ye Olde Cock Tavern, Fleet Street
Much better pubs within 50 metres or less, better service, better beers and staff without those ridiculous ear pieces that seem to have robbed them of any character/charisma/personality. Beer was very poor and very short in the glass, all in all to be avoided.
Dull, dark dingy and thoroughly depressing.
21 Oct 2009 22:42
Obviously the hard working manager has moved on and there is a new guvnor in town. The head bar lady still works her socks off, there was a good selection of ales on but when I asked for one it was served surprisingly quickly with half a pull on the pump.
Obviously I got the slops glass topped up, but in his defence, when it was pointed out I got a fresh one (as paid for).
Not good skills and I certainly will not be going back there any time soon, which is a shame as the last guvnor was one of the good guys.
Things like this are completely needless and just greed coming to the fore.
Thank you Spirit Group!
21 Oct 2009 22:33
The Old Explorer, Oxford Circus
Went in there this week for a bit of lunch to find bog standard Fosters eurofizz at �3.35 a pint. What a rip-off! Yes it is Central London I know, but that is a pint too far when there a number of others very close by that you can 4 pints in for a tenner, not three. Bad move by the brewery, if it was a decent pint of Youngs or Fullers I may agree with the price but not for Fosters.
No wonder it was almost empty at 1.30pm and you have lost my custom and that of me mates.
Byee
5 Jun 2009 14:55
Great pub with great real ales, the little tubby manager and his identical twin sister make the place complete.
Never had a bad pint there yet, although the wait on the food sometimes stretches the British concept of lunch "hour."
Good selection of beers, what more could a man want?
6 May 2009 23:55
The Hole In The Wall, Waterloo
Agree with the last, but you do not go there for the decor. You go there for the ambience, away from the air-conned rip-off placcy pubs on Waterloo Station and to mix with real people. I also went there before the Army and Navy game on Saturday, the doors opened on time with plenty of staff on hand, and the bacon rolls were a quid each and served up in very quick time.
Bargain, where else in central London do you get a bacon roll for �1 and served straight away at any time, let alone Saturdays?
There were in excess of 150 very thirsty servicemen, all served very pronto with no grief and no moans/aggro from any of them. There are not many (any?) pubs that I have seen (in the City/central London) put this amount of thoughtfulness/planning on for other sports, so top marks to the manager, top man! Great venue, get more staff for next years match, we'll be bringing our mates and even thirstier!
6 May 2009 23:45
Back to harrythebastard's profile
The Swan Inn, Colchester
If you like to eat food taken straight out of the freezer, microwaved half to death all cooked by a spotty 17 year old then this is the place for you.
A pub with absolutely no atmosphere, below average beers served by uninterested staff on minimum wage all supervised by a manageress who does not realise that she may or may not be in the hospitality industry?
Again this is the place for you.
Don't waste your time, do not stop and go half mile up the road towards Colchester where there are people working in 2x other pubs that really will be pleased to see you (and your wallet.)
The people in this place think you are a nuisance for going in !
26 Feb 2019 19:26