BITE user comments - hatter90
Comments by hatter90
Prince of Wales, Great Malvern
A perfectly decent neighbourhood boozer, serving decent bitter at a reasonable price. This is essentially a 2 room pub, with a lounge area and a pool room containing the aforementioned jukebox. It had 3 real ale pumps and on my visit had a mini cider festival ongoing. It's real gem is the backgarden, based on a slope it offers a charming view of the northern end of the Malvern Hills, as well as a collection of geese/ducks/chickens. A good choice for a sunny afternoon and a good option for any local crawl.
18 Aug 2013 16:26
A decent little country pub. A Wadworth brewery pub serving food. I had a nice pint of Wadworth Red, White & Brew for £3.20. That may seem a tad pricey for the area, but the pub is literally deserted alone on the road out from Guarlford. Inside was nice enough, with a small bar area and a relaxed restaurant area, it's clear this place stays afloat through serving food. The food prices didn't look to murderous not that I tried/saw anyone eating. To the rear was a lovely large garden area which given it was a sunny Sunday afternoon should have been packed. If I had to give the landlord one piece of advice it would be to develop this area, with a bit of landscaping/newer furniture/maybe holding beer and cider festivals here? Otherwise this is a nice little country pub.
18 Aug 2013 16:13
A simple one room pub. This is a normal enough minor high street local. I had a decent pint of bitter that didn't break the bank. The decor is a little tatty and it was certainly dominated by a hard core of locals, but it certainly does not deserve such low ratings on here. This is just a normal high street pub, with no serious defects, nothing outstanding but nothing horrific.
7 Aug 2013 21:33
I cannot praise this pub enough.
This has been my darling local for the past 3 years.
The bar staff are very friendly and always appreciate a joke or a bit of banter.
Whilst the ale selection isn't going to win awards for its daring selection, it is well kept. A pint of, what must be the best kept Tetley Bitter in the country, will set you back £2.60. Otherwise there tends to be Black Sheep, Spitfire, Farmer's Blonde and Old Speckled Hen floating around the five pumps.
They do a cracking pub quiz on a Monday, with a music themed one on a Thursday. There's plenty going on at this very traditional back street local. Live Music tends to take place at the weekends and there's a very popular Folk night on Thursday.
The decor is traditional and subdued.
Overall this pub just feels homely. If you want a quiet pint in a relaxed atmosphere this is the place for you. I feel very honored to be considered a regular here and have greatly enjoyed the many nights I have spent drinking within its confines.
6 Jul 2013 00:59
This place has recently been under new management.
It is currently closed (until the end of July) for much needed refurbishment.
All comments that follows are relevant to the period (from about February to June) that this pub was under new management, but with the old decor.
The pub is now under ownership of the same team who run the Rutland Arms in town. It has had a very frequently rotating selection of beer with prices not venturing beyond £3 a pint for ale, usually floating at £2.85, £3.50 for cider. The quality of the ale, in how it is kept, is much improved on the last owner and I have yet to have had a pint that is anywhere near approaching sour or off. There are a few 'favourites' such as Adnam's Broadside and Marston's EPA, though these are readily complimented by more interesting Microbrewery alternatives. Normally there is at least a Microbrewery pale and stout to go alongside the regulars.
The barstaff are much friendlier and this place now has a real buzz. It is a much better alternative to the Thornbridge nightmare over the road. Once the planned refurbishment is finished, which includes the intention to offer food and adding even more pumps to the present 6, there is no reason why this cannot be the best pub in the Crookes/Crookesmoor/Walkley area.
6 Jul 2013 00:51
A nice enough pub. Reasonably traditional decor with well kept, if a small (for Sheffield) range of ale.
We ventured in on St.George's day, it was a Friday at 9pm......
The place was deserted. I asked if I could sample the beer, seeing as I'd never seen 2 out of the 4 on offer. I was promptly told I couldn't, quite gruffly, he wasn't joking. I ordered a half of each of the ones I never saw. My main question is, when there are no other customers in a pub at 9pm on a Friday night is such a rude and abrupt approach a good idea to your only customers who only wish to ensure they don't shell out for a pint they may dislike? I'm tempted to agree with the previous reviews that the landlord was rather too gruff.
If we were priviledged to a warmer welcome it is doubtless this pub would have got a higher rating as it is otherwise a decent enough boozer.
6 Jul 2013 00:42
If the TV channel Dave did pub makeovers this would be the result. The previous landlord of 30 years retired and the pub was bought out by Thornbridge. This meant that the interior got a much needed redecoration and the addition of a smoking area out the back. However, the interior now feels less welcoming, now painted grey and carpets banned, sheffield relevant decorations have been discarded for period pictures of the American wild west, whilst the zebra print lighting now above the snooker table is particularly. The beer is now a lot worse. You can only drink Thornbridge, which means there is very little variation to the selection and if you don't like Thornbridge... you're screwed. The new owners have taken the opportunity to massively inflate the prices also, so don't expect any change from �3 (and for most pints be prepared to dig a little deeper).
10 May 2012 21:33
We have now decided to boycott this pub! On last visit (yesterday) the cheapest pint was �3.55 and that was for IPA!! The price rises in this pub have been astronomical in the last 18 months and whilst Im sure the management will bring out the argument about price rises being necessary this is just plain silly, a village pub in Bedfordshire cannot justify charging the same level as a central London boozer. The average price is now around �3.70 and with other pubs in nearby villages offering more sensible prices it makes no sense to drink here anymore. Whilst this was a good pub it is sadly now too expensive to merit our custom.
30 Jun 2011 12:52
An average pub for the area. Incredibly limited real ale choice, with only 2 pumps, 1 IPA, 1 Abbot. Food on both ocassions we have sampled it has been awful, reasonably priced but not tasty or satisfying. There are two good things about this pub however. 1. The wood pannelled/tiled bar area which has a pleasant timeless charm. 2.The garden which is enjoyable on a summers day.
8 May 2011 18:53
Have recently unearthed this little gem of a pub. They have on offer a reasonable range of about 4 real ales that appear to change with regularity, in addition to the odd rare proper European lager. On last visit they had a cracking little beer festival for St.Georges day weekend going on in the back garden. The real bonus to this pub is the food, it's good hearty pub fayre and at a good price. It tastes good and satiates any hunger without breaking the bank. Hooray well done, a rarity these days. Of note is the deal that my father has rejoiced in which is an over 50's deal in the week that allows something like 2 courses for �5 or something of equally astonishingly good value. Definitely better than the chain Chef and Brewer down the road. This is a nice friendly village pub, with good beer, good food and at a good price. Definitely deserves higher ratings on here!
8 May 2011 18:48
GOOD NEWS: This has stayed a pub!
BAD NEWS: It is totally pretentious and up its own arse.
So the pub was saved, it has not become yuppie flats or a shop. Totally new layout so if you remember the old York prepared to be disorientated when you walk through the door. This pub now serves food..... but unless you think �6 for a bowl of soup or �10+ for a basic main course is fair game your wallet is going to want to run for the hills. As for beer; the price is reasonable hovering at somewhere around �2.80 a pint, a range of ales which look like they probably rotate and still served in pint pots.
CANDLES?!- thats enough on the decor. Now for my major bugbear: We attempted to go in Friday night for a drink, first of all we were stopped by a bouncer who asked for our ID. OK this might be acceptable in the city centre, but this is a quiet suburb and we'd just popped out for a quiet drink, anyway ID accepted yadda yadda. We were then told we could not go in as my friend was wearing tracksuit bottoms(he was by no means chavvish looking nor were they dirty), now otherwise we just looked like normal students, but come on!? This is a pub on the edge of town, it is not some inner city posho wine bar... lest that is what the new management intend it to be?
Teach the pretentious buggers a lesson, avoid it, drive it out of business, bring back our old nice friendly York.
13 Mar 2011 12:34
Isn't it worrying when the only positive response to counter bad reviews is made by a person who has only ever reviewed/rated one pub on the entire site.
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5 Nov 2010 17:54
Much better than it looks on the outside. This pub has an excellent cosy traditional atmosphere, in addition to excellent reasonably priced food. The owners are a lovely thai family who are incredibly friendly and obviously care about running a great pub. Beer on offer was Deuchars and London Pride in addition to all the usual tap stuff, all reasonably priced e.g. a Stella was �2.90, with ale slightly cheaper. Also had Flowers! a rare spot nowadays! On reflection one of the best pubs in town.
5 Nov 2010 17:47
It's always hard to choose between this and the Hallamshire House (directly opposite) so we normally combine visits to both! Always has a busy buzzing atmosphere, though often packed theres normally at least 1 set of seats free. A decent range of beer priced around �2.70 per pint, normally containing Black Sheep, Landlord and Kelham beers as previously mentioned but also has Jaipur and Bombardier on occasion in addition to Westons cider and Old Rosie (the more adventurous can even purchase a special Guinness and Old Rosie mix pint.. don't ask I've not sampled!). Would disagree with soupcon however; both this and the Hallamshire are superior to the Cobden which tends to be more expensive and less atmospheric. Overall a good pub with nothing to undermine it except its popularity at peak times, but then again its the sign of a good pub!
11 Oct 2010 20:27
In response to marting007- You find it amusing that I a 20 year old university student who appreciates pubs, has the ability and desire to use the internet to review pubs??? Frankly I find it amusing that people can review a 'pub' based on the standard of its cappuccino amusing, its meant to be a pub, not starbucks.
This is a pub review site. This establishment is not a pub. It is a restaurant situated in a village masquerading as a pub. That was what I was pointing out to the thousands of pub fans who use this site as a guide to find nice pubs in the area.
If you want to be ripped off for your pretentious food, and sip cappuccino from a leather armchair situated on laminate flooring, yes this is the establishment for you.
If you want a pub, with a pub atmosphere and sensibly priced non rip off food I would choose somewhere else.
10 Oct 2010 17:02
Drove by on 8/10/10 to go in for a drink and food. Sadly boarded up, windows covered in newspaper, sign taken down, looking like it has shut for good.
A loss to the area, this was on last visit an excellent pub.
10 Oct 2010 16:38
Annoyingly half profiteering restaurant, half boozy local.
We entered looking for a sensibly priced meal and a decent pint in a trad pub atmosphere.
First thing noticed on walking through the door was an overwhelming smell of lavatories, like backed up drains, causing me to gag on the air.
One half is done up with white table cloths and candles into an overly pretentious (for a country pub) dining area, no doubt to match the pretentious food.
The Menu itself was a rip off, Seriously, �8.95 for Scampi, chips (only 9 chips too!) and peas?! I'd expect to pay that in a capital city restaurant, not a greene king pub. Such pricing is symptomatic of landlords who care not for customer satisfaction but merely lining their pockets. I will leave the price alone as ample comment on the �18.50 steak chips and peas.
As beer goes, choice was IPA @ �2.90 , Abbot or Woodfordes Wherry (which I was granted a sample but was not to personal taste).
Other half of the pub was full of boozing locals which is fair play, but when IPA is that much I can't figure why you'd choose to drink there.
Won't be returning any time soon, our wallets could not possibly take the strain.
10 Oct 2010 16:34
We ventured into this pub as we required a reasonable meal and a decent pint....
First thing we noticed on entering the pub was that EVERY table had a reserved card on it, despite 70% of them being unoccupied, meaning we had to ask for a table and be seated. No doubt this is an effort to DETER customers who just fancy a casual drink and make room for lucrative diners. The dissapointing signs of a landlord with � signs for eyes continued onto the menu....
�9 for a burger and chips, �8.50 for a moussaka and salad !!!!
Such blatant profiteering was too much, the exorbitant prices combined with our memory of having burnt food last time we were there and the fact we were made to feel like cash cows through being denied a choice of where to sit meant we ditched our menus and made for the door.
This ceases to be a pub.
It is a restaurant catering for parties of 50 year old women on their 'dinner out' who can't tell when they are being ripped off.
Lacking in character. Lacking in space to relax. Lacking in common sense
Avoid.
10 Oct 2010 16:23
Rediscovered this place recently after having not ventured in for a few years. Same management as then and still the same high standard with the food, which remained reasonably priced (about 7-9 pounds for a main course. Beer was good too with a pleasing selection of 4 including Two Brewers and Ringwood Bitter. The atmosphere and decoration isnt exactly remarkable, a locals bar with tv and dart board hidden to the side, an area with circular tables for general drinking and eating then a raised more formalised dining area too. Worth popping in if you're searching for good quality sensibly priced pub grub and a decent pint.
2 Sep 2010 13:29
I'm not local but ventured in with a friend who lives over the road and we were very impressed. The pub was well decorated with quirky chaise longe style sofas, a beer garden with eccentric painted chairs and murally stuff, the food looked relatively good value for money (not that we ordered any) and to top it all I had a cracking pint of local real ale. A little gem.
31 Jul 2010 01:40
Had previously used this pub for a quiet drink.... However.... I ventured in on world cup final day for want of somewhere where I could watch it with a pint. Sat in the front bar as the entire pub was overflowing with people/kids. This was a mistake. Firstly one 'regular' walked up and stood right in my vision of the T.V... so I shifted... so he moved in front again... so I shifted... so he moved in front again. I politely asked 'Excuse me mate I'm trying to watch the match' the reply? 'And I'm trying to get to the f*cking bar but you're in the way.' This moron then joined his mates who conducted a conversation which every 2 minutes involved them yelling "Fa'ackin C*nts!!". Now yeah its a pub. Swearing expected. But this was a whole new level, plus there were children sitting within 2 metres. Plus when I originally walked in I recieved a plentitude of dirty looks for pulling up an unused stool. The management didn't care and carried on serving them despite many of them falling over through lack of balance of 'too much'. Definitely not coming back to this pub anytime soon. The regulars are rude to the point of making it intimidating to walk into 'their pub' and the management on that last occassion exhibited such a lack of regard for decency that this pub has lost any attraction.
31 Jul 2010 01:36
Yet another pub that has fallen pray to a landlord with pound signs for eyes. This is no longer a 'pub' as it advertises on the sign it is a bar/restaurant, so it is therefore geared to fleecing people out of money through selling overpriced average food. The interior decoration is one of the first key signs that this has ceased to be a village pub and progressed fully to gastrohell as it resembles the home furnishing department of Debenhams. Somewhat surprisingly for an establishment so devoid of character and traditionalism it did at least visit carry 2 real ales, (Spitfire + B&T 2 Brewers), but this does not go near far enough to redeem what otherwise had the potential location/building/garden to be a pleasant country pub. We attempted to visit having seen on here that it served real ale, did food and had a garden and an 8/10. We arrived to a neglected garden area, the aforementioned horrific modernist nightmare decoration and to be told they didn't do sandwiches only (overpriced) lunches . Nowhere near worthy of the high rating it has on here.
11 Jul 2010 15:43
Most definitely not a pub, but halfway between a cafe and a bar. Owned by Charles Wells the only ale on offer is Eagle, food is somewhat expensive. Since another recent redecoration the interior is somewhat garish compared to what it used to be. Alright for an afternoon drink with other people who don't want alcohol. Friendly unthreatening cosmo atmosphere means I've taken dates here!
18 Apr 2010 12:03
Fairly bland pub situated in the shopping area of town. The fairly standard unsurprising ales on offer were Greene King IPA, Black Sheep and London Pride. Pretty boring as pubs go, but probably the best bet in the immediate area.
4 Apr 2010 02:11
Dropped by for a quick pint having never been there before this evening. Beers on offer were Greene King IPA and Ringwood Best Bitter at a standard pint price of about �2.90 for the area. The bar was reasonable in atmosphere, traditionally decorated and seems to double up as the village shop! Not much in way of capacity though in the bar area only room for about 6 four-seater tables. Although we didnt have any food the menu price looked good value for money with a main course costing �6 or 2 courses for �10. worthy of a visit.
2 Apr 2010 21:20
A nice friendly pub, if slightly tatty interior. Food is cheap and basic, meals for under a fiver that fill a hole. The beer can be hit and miss with quality, always has Charles Wells Eagle IPA (@ �2.70 a pint and 2-3 guests (@ �2.90 a pint) are rotated regularly with variety ranging from standard breweries such as Courage through to micro breweries. A generally friendly and cheap welcoming pub, ideal for a couple of decently priced drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.
2 Apr 2010 21:16
This pub is a confusing mix of good and bad! On the left as you enter the door there is a nice enough pubby lounge area/pool tables... to the right there is a horribly plastic feeling area of white leather arm chairs and laminate flooring! Notorious for attracting a rougher sports jock carling and carlsberg drinking student crowd, but at the same time has a nice selection of ale with Hobgoblin and microbrewery beer on offer too! There are far superior options in the area, but if you want the crowd atmosphere when watching sport it's probably the best choice, but for all other leisurely drinking there are much better establishments a stones throw away.
1 Apr 2010 17:50
Warm pub just on the edge of the university campus and by far the best place for a relaxing drink if you're an ale discerning uni student. Tends to be frequented by post-grads and lecturers but feels friendly to all crowds. Frequently evolving ale selection, supplemented by Thornbridge regulars all at a reasonable place gain the Uni Arms bonus points. Also one of the few pubs around with a garden that is actually pleasant to sit in when the weather warms up.
1 Apr 2010 17:40
The Broomhill Tavern, Broomhill
Nicely traditionally upholstered with a good enough layout. However prices are high for the area, food although cheap is only served during the daytime, and when we ordered Lasagne it came burnt to a crisp. Nazi sport watching policy is in force, so if you finish your drink mid-game you are politely asked to leave! Could be a champion pub, but the bland ale selection, combined with the high prices and unfriendly attitude to watching live sport let it down!
1 Apr 2010 17:33
Decent enough pub, with reasonable varied ale selection which changes weekly. Monday night is 50p off all Ale... so with the standard price being low as it is, this means if you're lucky you can end up with a �1.50 pint! Never empty, but agree with comments below that it can on some nights become overcrowded. A good all rounder.
1 Apr 2010 17:29
Pub perfection! I brought friends from Lancashire here (expert pub reviewing buffs) who were rightly impressed and deemed it near the best in the country. Tucked away down a sidestreet, which is a good thing as if it were in any more a prominent location it would be chocker with customers non-stop! Amazing beer selection, led mainly by Banks & Taylor but well supplemented by beer from all over the country. The decoration is astounding with every possible inch covered in Breweriana and even chairs fashioned from barrels! One could spend forever in here attempting to sample all on offer, but driving home then becomes a problem! The people of Bedford are luckier than they know! May it never change, close, or suffer. Long live the Welly!
29 Mar 2010 13:59
Excellent proper English grub, at an amazing price! My Friend had a jumbo cod for under a fiver and it really was jumbo (hanging off the side of the plate!). Ale never changes off Tetleys and Landlord, which is the downside, but does come in pint pots (of the smooth undappled sort, more like the German things). Great pub to visit on a summers afternoon on the bus out of Sheffield, to sit on the benches aside the moor, with views of the valley, with your afternoon lunch and a pint. Bored in Sheffield on a sunny afternoon? catch the 51 to Lodge Moor, walk up the road to here and enjoy a decently priced pub with a pleasant atmosphere.
29 Mar 2010 13:54
Good pub for the area. Nicely decorated, with friendly staff and standard if fairly unchanging selection of Greene King ale (average pint price of about �3.10). Always busy weekend afternoons, and tuesday evenings for the quiz. Often rammed with weddings/christenings going into the church, in addition to commuters from Luton but apparently rarely gets business from locals, which is a travesty seeing as they have one of the best pubs around on their doorstep! Food has become increasingly more expensive (sign of the times!), and main meals are sometimes not up to standard. However the sandwiches are worth the dosh, nice, chunky and filling. Best pub for a 5 mile radius.
29 Mar 2010 13:48
Nice friendly welcoming atmosphere, traditional layout, reasonable beer selection, never too busy, never too empty, positioned opposite another brilliant pub. Yes. This is what one would call a good pub! In addition to the excellent local micro brewery beer mentioned below, Doom Bar from Rock of Cornwall is also available if you're after something a little different to the area. On Friday and Saturday lunches the landlady cooks an amazing joint of Pork/Beef which are then sold off as sandwiches for �1.60, I dare you to find a better sandwich price and taste for that money! Always worth a visit!
29 Mar 2010 13:38
Horrible bland gastro-pub serving over priced and unsatisfying food. We drove out into the peaks especially from Sheffield to visit this place following the high ratings on here.... we were vastly dissappointed. The pub is decorated like a Starbucks on the inside.. outside there are some tables overlooking a busy road junction. The beer was average at best, reasonably kept but an uninspiring selection mainly of Banks. Not worth the high ratings given on here, methinks this has got ratings from the staff! Avoid, steer clear! (unless you are a 60+ woman with NO taste for public houses/beer/scenery/decently priced food) You have been warned.
29 Mar 2010 13:30
Blue Bell Inn, Great Malvern
A big barn of a Marston's pub. Situated just on the edge of town this large pub mainly caters for diners. The food looks lovely and is very reasonably priced. The ale selection was relatively small given the size of the premises/bar, 5 pumps with only 1 guest ale, which was £3.10 a pint. I would not return here to drink, but I would return here if I wanted to eat. It's big chain nature leaves it feeling a little soulless, but the value of the food is undeniable and it otherwise quite a nice if relatively generic looking pub.
18 Aug 2013 16:37