BITE user comments - ivanski
Comments by ivanski
Old style type traditional pub, bit quiet though for a Saturday night though, a problem many venues have now, good drinks , ales lagers the usual Kent selection, One rather lonely barmaid at the time I was there, its these sort of old style puns that are under threat, shame really cus it is a nice place essentially. Maybe some live music may bring some crowds? Who can say. But at least its still going.
20 Oct 2013 13:06
Had a chance to pop back in for a couple of pints since it re-opened, and very nice it is too... good ales, cosy venue, staff friendly and welcoming. Will deg go back next time im in the area.
20 Oct 2013 12:54
The Royal Oak, Tunbridge Wells
updated review:
What a change from the last visit I made in 2011- now nominated and registered as a community asset preventing its sale or development into flats or a super market local. Sounds good eh' ! errrr no. Not really.
The venue is now looking tired and in very bad need of refurbishment. Rainwater now leaks through the flat roof onto those unfortunate to choose a seat to avoid the lazer like gaze of the seemingly unfriendly and androgynous female landlord/lady. The ales and drinks are good enough- and cheap too! But that doesn't make up for the oppressive "local" atmosphere , this is a pub after all, not some kind of postcode club where those on first name terms get service and all other "outsiders" - no matter how courteous , are looked on with disdain and pretty well ignored. Its has its old pub sort of charm I guess. Will it survive? Maybe. In an age of wine bars, gastro pubs & town centre bars our old style pubs are endangered very much, I hope it can improve here but I have to say without major businesses model changes it wont make it. Ohh and one more thing, 5-7 year old kids in a bar at 10pm on a Saturday night with drunken parents who seem to think they are at a wedding reception for cast of "The Only Way is Essex" does not make for a good night out for those who prefer what a pub should be rather than a struggle to make money over the bar at any cost with a manager who, it seems, has a clueless business sense . we shall see....
18 Oct 2013 19:52
Nice old style country(ish) pub, wish there was more like this left, good selection of ales/ lagers etc, not too expensive, good service at the bar.
Nice food too, very tasty and reasonable prices .
One thing though was how quiet the restaurant area was though- I mean its very well layed out, tastefully decorated, space between tables was good too as I dont like being overlooked too much if you know what I mean. I guess as I write at lot of people just cant afford to eat out as much, and thats a shame as this place is really making the effort and deserves more. We were there on a Saturday night 8.30- 10.30 and only us and two other couples that eve.
14 May 2012 16:17
The Tickled Trout, West Farleigh
Lovely place- large roomy bar area, plenty of seating, dining area, plenty of car park spaces to the rear. A good (and now scarce) example of a traditional syle country pub. Drinks all of a good choice, friendly and welcoming service. We didnt eat but I understand the food is all freshly cooked rather than the reheated quick cook types of meals- I will try some food there next time . Why cant other places be a good as this- because not all places have good management- and the Tickled Trout does seem well run. Well worth a visit.
7 Sep 2011 09:14
The Royal Oak, Tunbridge Wells
Went here to see a band and really liked the place, roomy, comfy little seating booths, nice large bar with a good selection, good service, very friendly- thing is though the mens toilets ( a bit ewwww!) , they spoil what is otherwise a nice pub. The beer garden to the front is great for the smokers among you, I only wish I lived nearby, I'd use it all the time if I did. Its good to see a venue like this doing well
4 Sep 2011 13:03
Nice little place, ok beers & ales, service good, good car parking too. Perhaps needs a bir more modern decoration and a coat of paint though.
Not busy went I went on a Sunday lunchtime but perhaps more of an evening locals venue. I'd use it again when I'm nearbye.
15 Jun 2011 14:08
The George and Dragon, Fordwich
Lovely old style pub- good bar area, clean, tidy,lots of choice.
Roomy beer garden with heated seating areas.
The food is averge though not too expensive and will suite most- BUT, the service when we ate there was awfull,the staff seemed to be on valium or something. In the end after asking for the bill and waiting 30 mins to pay it we went to the bar to get some attention and settle the bill on our own accord, this also took another 10 mins! Anyways, as long as your ok with the mind numbing tedium of waiting for your meal you should enjoy it.
12 Aug 2010 12:38
Mount Edgcumbe, Tunbridge Wells
This is a well decorated and comfy venue which incoporates a small hotel, eatery and bar area tucked away of the main road in the upper part of Tunbridge Wells common.
The service is good with some nice food available if a little pricey and there is often live music Sunday evenings (though dont expect a full electric band with drums and a pa) For the smokers among you the beer garden is a real treat .
The venue does, at the time of writing, have a somewhat alternative "rainbow" patronage catering for the Tunbridge Wells area depending on the time of visit.
29 Jul 2010 16:22
This is an example of a good old style local pub -which seems quite endangered these days, anyway..........
A friendly crowd with good bar service and an ok but somewhat limited drinks and ale menu but ok for most tastes.
Dont know about food though. It could do with some paint and new carpets as well as some decent toilets but having said that its within tolerance.
Live music most weekends, bar-billards, fruit machines, cd juke box, local charity events etc. Smoking area to the rear if you want.
If your driving parking is a no no as there is double yellows all round so best to park 200+ meters away nearby.
A local pub for local people,what else can I say.
1 May 2010 13:54
The Rose and Crown, Tunbridge Wells
I visited recently on a Friday night and quite enjoyed the place.
Anyway..... the bar is larger than it looks from the outside.
A good choice of ales, lagers etc and not over priced.
The bar staff were attentive and quick to serve with a good clean bar area and a vibrant though not too "young" a crowd. I liked the friendly easy going atmosphere.
There is a small smoking area to the rear of the bar.
Toilets very clean and in good order. I would def use this venue again and must admit to being surprised that I enjoyed the place when I thought it might be a bit of a spit and sawdust type bar which thankfully it isnt.
12 Sep 2009 12:38
A recently refurbished tradtional "family" pub in large grounds with ample parking and function rooms. The bar area is clean and well kept with an average selection of the usual lagers, beers & wines etc. I didnt eat on my visit though I do understand food is available. At present their are occasional live events and bbq's etc and its good to see the new management making good progress and effort to clean up what was, at one time, quite a rough venue. The toilets were very clean and well kept which did impress me as some venues fail badly in this respect.The general feel and atmosphere for the pub though was ok and quite friendly the night I popped in.It is however very much a pub for locals so if its something more your looking for then this venue may not be for you.
23 May 2009 18:29
I visited here for dinner with some friends and had quite a nice evening. The bar area is in a traditional style, compact and clean with a busy friendly crowd. Drink prices about average for this type of venue with a good choice of lager, ales and wines etc.
Service was a bit slow but then it was a busy Friday evening and it did quiten down later somewhat.
I liked the whole ambiance of the place and this was further evident when we went into the rear eating area where we were greeted by pleasent and friendly staff. We had a mix of Steak and Fish meals which were very tasty if perhaps a little overpriced but we did leave full I must say! There is a very nice outside area with covered tables and an even nicer rear garden with a smoking shelter should you wish to light up.
Overalll a nice night out I'd say. Will use it again if I'm nearbye. NB, you will need to book prior to a visit as it can get busy but dont let that put you off trying the place out.
9 May 2009 13:56
The Guinea Butt, Tunbridge Wells
I tried this pub just after the new year and quite liked it...The bar staff are seemingly all new now and the the venue is under new management.The bar is quite roomy and well looked after with a good choice of the usual ales,lagers and bar snacks.I most most impressed with the clean and tidy bar/drinks area and the service.Gone (at least when I was there) are the chav and over confident coke head brigade of former years.Like many pubs now they have a tv for minor sporting events etc though I wouldnt describe the place as a "sports bar" at all. There is a good smoking area to the side of the property, I'd def use this pub again next time I'm nearby and hope it's a nice nect time around.
25 Jan 2009 13:13
I found this pub to quite nice-
There is a small car park to the side of the venue with room for 4/5 cars should you be the designated driver-though there is room on the roadside a short walk away. The pub is larger on the inside than it looks and it has a pleasant traditional feel to it but without too much clutter spoil its neat, clean and well kept bar area.
There were 2/3 ales on offer, with some lagers and the usual bottled beers and wines etc. Prices were quite low for drinks I thought for the area.
While there we ate a meal with friends, I had the cod and chips while my friends nearly all opted for the steaks. The cod fillet in batter I had was rather small however the steaks all seemed very nice and well sized and everyone enjoyed what they ate. The couple who currently run the venue are friendly and obviously keen to make a good impression with good service while we ate and also at the adjacent main bar.
For a Friday night I did notice it seemed very quiet to me with only a handful of other patrons but then we are in the middle of what is a very tough time for many pubs these days.
I�ll use it again next time I�m nearby, if the trade starts to build there it should become a popular venue locally and I hope that�s the case.
11 Oct 2008 15:06
Bit of strange place this, a sort of old style traditional pub,small,cosy with offset floors and some low ceiling beams- Mind your head!
A friendly crowd seems to get in there and there is an ok range of lagers and beers. Service at the bar when I went was very slow or snail like and I would hope there is more than one guy (or girl) serving on busy nights.
The pub overall, in spite of it�s charm, is tatty and in need of serious redecoration to bring it up to par with modern pub ideals. In other words it�s being run on a shoestring budget and it shows.
The passage way to the men�s toilet is a death-trap after dark so watch out for the hidden steps as you descend.
The pub however does make a nice change from the mass corporate venues that line high streets up and down the country. Maybe with a few quid spent on some paint, a bit of fresh lighting and a brisk service with a smile it could be a really nice venue.
8 Sep 2008 15:40
The Sound Garden / Biscuit Factory, Tunbridge Wells
Went here on a Sunday evening to see a local rock band play.The pub is well laid out with a good selection of drinks & food,tea,coffee etc if required.I found the pub to be very clean and well kept,the bar area in particular.Ok so it's slighty more expensive than some places but this is Tunbridge Wells and not Dartford.The bar staff were friendly but not too keen to serve when it got quite busy-which for a nice well staffed pub I didnt understand.This would normally be a weekend pub-club type place- perhaps that has relevence with it being a sunday evening.So would I use it again?-yes but not with the younger teen crowds on a Friday night.Anyway,it is well run so give it as go!
1 Sep 2008 19:49
The Beau Nash has been redecorated since my last visit in January 2007 and now has a much "lighter" more airy feel to it.The bar is small and compact with cosy lighting,friendly staff & a nice range of largers,ale and wines etc.Because of its size it is busy with an older more mature crowd which makes a nice change from the under 25 venues that crowd the town centre.The beer garden to the rear of the bar has now been much improved and offers good cover for those wishing to smoke or enjoy the warmer weather when it arrives.The toilets are however far too small and cramped.The general feel for the place is of a friendly local pub then live music most Saturday nights.No problems with drunks,white powder chasers or other problems evident so all in all an ok place.
10 Feb 2008 14:42
The Beacon Hotel, Langton Green
Had a meal at The Beacon and found the food to be quite average.Some Haddock,hand cut chips and peas.Nice sized fish but a bit bland.The service was average too with dis-interested staff who looked like they'd rather be somewhere else. Getting,Drinks,tea,etc took an age and service time in all respects was average at best and at worst slow to snail-like.I can handle a 20 minute wait for food but not an hour.The bar and eating area was clean and well kept though.The bill was way over priced when we got it,Shame really,there are so many other places that are so much better for less money.I dont think I'd use it again based on my this visit.
29 Jan 2008 16:59
Much improved recently with some live music events and a busy trendy type of crowd.Bar staff could be more friendly though.limited range of beers and lagers,well worth a look for a change of venue if your at that part on town.Oh and I nearly forgot-its not a gay pub as per the last "review".
5 Jan 2008 14:17
Things seem to have settled down here a bit recently.A bit quieter than it has been,however over the recent Holidays seasonal out of towners did cause a few upsets (being the silly season and all that)
I know the manager is working hard to revert recent bad trends at the venue and a recent visit confirms this.Perhaps the drinks are a little expensive,but then this is Tunbridge wells & not Blackpool.
5 Jan 2008 14:12
The Prince of Wales, Tunbridge Wells
Small friendly place with beer garden to rear.ok for a quick beer,Food average and not too pricey.
Nb,live music was discontinued at this venue 2 years ago,however they do now have karaoke most Friday evenings.
5 Jan 2008 14:06
The Beacon Hotel, Langton Green
I stopped off for a beer or two and found it to be quite nice....The bar area is well run and clean with quick service (though it was a quiet Thursday evening)ok choice of drinks too.I cant review the food as I didn't eat on this visit though the menu seemed average and acceptable.I liked the large open air beer garden with great views across the town and countryside.There is good parking to the rear of the site but I suspect this can get packed on weekend's.
I think, if anything,it lacked atmosphere and seemed all a bit too "nice".Still,it's an ok place to go and I'd return again at a leter date.I get the feeling it can get very busy though on say a Friday night so I'll leave that to another reviewer.
3 Aug 2007 18:57
A roomy clean and nice pub with a central bar area and more seating to the rear for food etc.The menu looked very tempting though on this visit I didnt eat as we'd just been to another local venue.I understand that this pub has recently been redecorated and opened after a year long closure.A good range of real ale and wines were on offer although the Lager selection was very limited.The bar area is clean and well maintained.Staff are friendly as is the general atmosphere and I felt quite at home.It's a shame that there arent more pubs like this near where I live.All in all a nice experience.Well worth a visit.
13 Jun 2007 12:53
The Little Brown Jug, Chiddingstone Causeway
Nice old style pub with good parking. Roomy & Reasonably clean with non-smoking dinning area. Service ok if a little slow with locals served first before others who had clearly been waiting longer (myself included) the young ladies serving seemed totally indifferent in this respect. Good choice of lager and ales if a little over priced. I had some cod with chips and mushrooms which were tasty and well cooked though took an age to arrive, having said that it was quite busy for a Thursday evening. I asked for some condiments as we got our meal which never arrived and had to ask a second time when I eventually got some attention. On asking for further drinks at our table(I didn't want to get ignored at the bar yet again) I got an irritated look from the waitress/bar maid but at least we got them. Needless to say I didn�t leave a tip. Maybe I got there on a bad night? Who knows. judging by the other more positive reviews this may have been a one off but I wont be going back.
26 May 2007 15:58
Quiet traditional pub with average food.Not too busy,average range of lagers and ales,I'd use it sometimes as a local if I lived nearby.Service ok,locals ok, decorating is a bit rough round the edges,very smokey too with no ventilation.Could be much better if run properly.I think this pub will suffer a decline if not closure once the smoking ban starts in July unless the current owners adapt or improvise to renew the image or trade as nearly all the other customers seem to be heavy chain smokers.
20 Jan 2007 13:19
Roomy large pub.bar service variable depending on who serves you.Parking nearby can be tricky at best.Bar area clean and appears well managed.Beers and ales good as is food.Some minor problems with locals who seem to think they "own" the place so watchout for the usual chavs and unsavoury drunks at the weekends.Good live music on occasion and other events etc .has good potential to be better with more attention to how its run.
13 Jan 2007 12:07
Busy "pub club" type place with very young crowd.Usual over priced beers and alcopops with deafening music at the weekends combined with nightly fighting can make it a scary place to be.No food on offer as far as I can tell.Upper bar area contains more of the same.Bar service reasonable considering what the place tries to be.On the plus side its very clean,door staff sort most problems quickly and its not smokey.If your into this sort of venue you'll love it,if not avoid at all cost's
13 Jan 2007 11:57
Busy and well run bar area with nice friendly staff.Bar perhaps a bit too small for comfort when its busy.Food good with some nice choice of wines and beers.Friendly crowd,busy at the weekends of course,live music at present on Sunday eveings which draws a good crowd and is well worth a look.Overall a good,clean and place to visit.
13 Jan 2007 11:26
The Opera House, Tunbridge Wells
Large and poorly run pub with the usual friday and saturday night binge drinking mob.Bar service dreadfull at busy times so best during the week when its quiet and you can then settle into a nice alcove somewhere at the back of the very large non-smoking area.Drink very cheap as is the microwave pub ready meals served.The whole bar and pub area is now well overdue for decorating,ie,carpets worn and filthy,doors,tables,chairs damaged etc.Door staff do their best to limit trouble but it can still get violent on occasions.visiting is best just for a quick real ale or chilled lager only.
13 Jan 2007 11:18
Nice small place with a beer garden to the rear and small comfy bar area.Can get packed at the weekends and quite smokey though this will change of course in July.Older crowd mostly with a friendly atmosphere,food ok though limited.Some problems with drunks every now and then due to weak management at the bar,tiny toilets.Some rowdyness can spoil the evenings on bank holidays and hot summer evenings.
13 Jan 2007 11:06
The Cutter, Hastings
Not too bad this one for a seafront pub. roomy, good ales, staff pleasant, might be busy on summer evenings, will use again next time on a day trip.
Wish we had more pubs like this in Sussex, Bexhill seems to be losing venues one at a time, but not Hastings it seems.
21 Oct 2013 09:21