BITE user comments - jimmythefish
Comments by jimmythefish
The Garrick Arms, Trafalgar Square
I refer you all to the first ever review of this pub on this site:
"the British pint was a treat after spending 30 years in South Africa."
I daresay a pint in a completely mediocre pub overrun with tourists would be a treat if you'd waited thirty years for it. Which is just as well, because this is a completely overrun with tourists.
18 Jan 2007 18:46
Waxy's Little Sister, Piccadilly Circus
Mediocre. Walk across the road and spend your time and money at Waxy O'Connors, she's a beaut. This little trollop isn't really worth the while, she is fairly easy - but no class. 5/10.
18 Jan 2007 18:39
A gazillion floors of pure, unadulterated crap.
Has the dubious distinction of equalling the lowest rating I've given anything on this site.
18 Jan 2007 18:32
The Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus
Not particulary fond of this place. It's OK. If it was anywhere near to Victoria station (the no mans land of the pub world if ever there was one - there is one decent pub there I can think of) it'd get a decent rating, but in Soho, with so much to choose from within less than 400 yards from here, it's a 5/10.
18 Jan 2007 18:26
So-so. A no-mans land pub overrun with professionals having work drinks after a day in the office...menu looks decent but if the price of the food is anything like the drinks I'd rather go hungry. �3.35 for a pint of San Miguel!? Sorry but that is taking the mick. Staff are nice enough though (when they finally get to you - it gets busy) and if you've got a table it's alright for a couple of drinks, wouldn't go out of my way to get there by any means though.
18 Jan 2007 17:52
William Shakespeare will be turning in his grave to have a name associated with this boozer.
Alas, I shall visit thee no more!
18 Jan 2007 17:48
Wetherspoons, Victoria Station
This pub has a neon sign.
Say no more!
Alright for a quick pint if you're gasping for one and have a train to catch in 10 minutes, because you couldn't be any closer to the platforms, and you can people watch for a bit, but I've said it before and I'll say it again - pubs in train stations are all the same (soulless). 4/10 purely for the convenience factor.
18 Jan 2007 17:44
The last poster said - "It is a standard pub, lacking in any atmosphere, cheap beer and full of us blokes."
I can't possibly sum it up any better than that. 4/10.
18 Jan 2007 17:42
Considering the dearth of decent pubs in Victoria this one's well worth a visit. Staff seem reasonably friendly and the prices are certainly reasonable. Haven't tried the food there but would go back to give it a chance. A decent, solid little boozer overall. Was fairly quiet when I got there (on a Wednesday night), maybe if it's packed it would get a bit smoky as it's quite small downstairs, other than that can't really fault it. Ideal commuting location as well, less than a five minute walk from Victoria station, buses etc.
18 Jan 2007 17:38
Distinctly average. Ideas above it's station (this applies to drinks, food, staff and clientele). Don't rate the staff much, or the bar snacks (chicken wings, etc etc) but it's OK. Seating outside which is a plus in summer but it faces a car park - almost directly behind this bar (although you have to walk round the block) is Blithe Spirit bar which has an infinitely better terrace and is cheaper too. 5/10 in my book.
16 Jan 2007 19:12
Not worth of it's rating 6.3/10 at the time of writing. Expensive and characterless. You can reserve an area for free...I'm struggling to think of anything else to say about it. It's clean. 5/10
16 Jan 2007 18:45
It's OK. Not a fan of the interior really, the prices are decent and it has a decent atmosphere too. Just decent all round. Staff are reasonable but not stand out - not to the degree I'd praise them openly on here anyway. In fairness I've only ever been there on Friday nights and it was packed every single time, so they were run ragged. 6/10
16 Jan 2007 18:40
The Oast House, London Bridge Station
Ahem. I meant the Oast House is tiny, not my bladder...
16 Jan 2007 18:29
The Oast House, London Bridge Station
I agree with the consensus, lack of toilet makes it only as good as the size of your bladder (if that - it's tiny) - a good 5 minute walk to the platform toilet. However it's not all that bad for a quick one or two - it's better than it's competitor across the concourse, which is chrome/wooden floors central. They do, however have a toilet there (the Bridge Bar).
To sum up - there are nicer pubs than this within a five minute walk, and they have toilets in them.
16 Jan 2007 18:28
Nondescript. Been there once, it was fine. Pricing average (for the area), service average, average average average. Nothing wrong with the place but wouldn't go out of your way to drink there. Location good for meeting people I suppose, being right on the junction of Oxford St/Tottenham Court Road...but that's not a reason to up a pubs rating though. 5/10.
11 Jan 2007 18:58
I like this place. Never really thought of it as an Irish pub. It has it's plusses. It's massive for starters. It's a convenient location for meeting up, although agree with previous comments about mobile phone coverage, ie there is none. However there is a plus side to that as well, ie you dont get irritated by the sound of people shouting into their phones all night. Nicely designed place, staff are OK although there arent always enough of them, does get busy in there. There isn't one overwhelming reason why I'd recommend this pub, but I will - 7 out of 10. Would be a 7.5 if there was that option!
12 Dec 2006 15:13
The Moon Under Water, Leicester Square
As far as Wetherspoons go this is one of the better ones and if the weather is reasonable and you get a seat outside it's a brilliant location for people watching, right on leicester square. Cheap too. Service has always been OK when I've been there, food standard wetherspoons menu - enough said. The main downside here is it's long and narrow, and sandwiched between two buildings so the only natural light comes from the front door/window - makes it a bit cave-like and dark. Decent enough for a quick pint or two but personally I'd move on rather than spend a whole evening here. 6/10.
12 Dec 2006 14:58
To put it simply there are at least ten places within a five minute walk from this place that are better, with friendlier staff. I once left here with a friend who realised the second we stepped outside the door that she had left her scarf on her chair, and the door staff wouldn't let her go back in the "exit" to get it, she had to walk round and plead at the main door to jump the queue to fetch it. I thought that was completely spiteful. Won't go back.
12 Dec 2006 14:51
The Cumberland Arms, West Kensington
Agree it's definitely one of the better pubs round here but that isn't really saying that much, it's a bit small, food is decent, tables outside for the summer which is nice if you're not stuck on the one nearest the road, and the staff have always been quite friendly and efficient. Gets too packed on Thursday and Friday (another indication of the lack of decent places in the vicinity) but if you're early enough to grab a table, happy days. Slightly on the pricey side though.
12 Dec 2006 14:44
The Crown And Two Chairmen, Soho
Not a favourite. Was OK before it was refurbished and used to be my pub of choice for quick after work drinks, for convenience more than anything, but post refurb to be avoided. They have done away with all the plasma screens downstairs, which was one of the major selling points beforehand (being able to watch the sport regardless of where in the bar you were standing/sitting), tried (and failed) to make it look classy (on Bateman street?!!), dodgy d�cor inside and its very dark. The picture on this page is how it looked beforehand, the outside has now been painted some cranberry ish colour which isnt very appealing from the outside either. Seems to have ideas above its station and has/had serious stock issues, management might like to consider keeping more than one barrel of each beer etc in stock so that when one barrel runs out, they can replace it. The few times I�ve been in here lately there seem to be more taps off than on, considering its location a pretty poor show. There are better pubs on this street, let alone in Soho. 5/10 for location and friendly staff, but lots of room for improvement.
12 Dec 2006 10:08
No draft beer, and for that reason alone I will give it a 3/10. Astounded at the high rating this place has gained so far (7.4/10 at the time of writing). Atmosphere might be decent (at times) but no draft beer. NO DRAFT BEER! No thanks. There are far better places nearby with late licences, (with beer on tap, would you believe!) I'd give this a miss. In fairness I can see the appeal to former Intrepid Fox punters.
11 Dec 2006 18:21
In the summer, when you can stand outside on Bateman Street, I'd give this pub a 7 out of 10. The rest of the year, when it's too cold or wet to be outside, I'd avoid it - purely because it's too small. 6/10.
11 Dec 2006 18:18
The Balham Kitchen and Bar, Balham
I agree with im_johnny_cash. Well put. 6/10, could easily be a 7 or 8 if it was a bit more consistent. Capable of more.
11 Dec 2006 18:16
Good for big screens, food is standard, slightly expensive (as is Balham generally) - however most of the barstaff strike me as slightly rude. Which is a shame really, as the staff are the only thing that ever set apart chain-type pubs, no matter how up (or down) market they try to portray themselves as.
5/10.
11 Dec 2006 18:14
The Smoke Bar And Diner, Tooting
A nice enough place. Staff are generally friendly but it's a bit on the pricey side considering the location. I avoid this place when there's a DJ playing, purely because I don't think it's big enough to accommodate DJ, decks and speakers, takes up too much valuable space in what is an already small main seating area. However if you get there early and bag the tucked away couches near the main area you're on to a winner. I generally dont pay that much attention to other clientele to care if theyre "braying yahs", haven't had any problems with the other punters in my time here and thats all I care about. 7/10 on account of it being the only decent "bar" (as opposed to pub) this side of Balham.
11 Dec 2006 18:11
"Best roast in London" is pushing it a bit but the food is decent (if a little overpriced). A nice local, staff are friendly and efficient, and the stand-out feature of this place is the beer garden, which is the best in the area by a long way. Have whiled away a few summer evenings here, don't make such an effort to walk down here as often now the nights have drawn in but it's still a solid bet for few pints on a Sunday afternoon. 7/10.
11 Dec 2006 18:07
Decent pub, this is the pub nearest to my house and so I've been there a fair bit, it's either rammed when the football is showing (on account of about 6 big plasma screens) or deserted, and it's a big place so a bit dreary when it's empty. The staff are nice, full marks for service, food is standard pub fare and the prices overall are reasonable. Definitely a winter pub though, as it's a bit dark inside, and no garden - in the summer you'd have to prefer The Selkirk down the road which has a great beer garden. A decent local pub, I'll rate it a better than average 6/10.
11 Dec 2006 18:03
Potential here but it is very dingy looking from the outside and the layout of the tables needs some serious reconsideration, far too formal in rows that remind me of my schooldays. Clearly geared towards food service, crammed as many tables in as possible, and while the food is decent I can't help thinking that if they chucked out half the tables they'd get three times as many customers in here. Staff are friendly enough but it just doesn't feel comfortable in here. 4/10.
11 Dec 2006 17:59
Overall a decent place, the fact that Andy (licensee) is on here posting comments and encouraging constructive criticism is indicative of the place, ie clearly run by someone who is trying to improve the place and run it as his customers would like. Head and shoulders above anything within at least half a mile, my only 'negative' comment would be that it is slightly on the expensive side for the area at �3-�3.20 a pint of lager. However if this keeps out the less favourable clientele that would probably frequent some other local boozers it is a price worth paying for the most part. A solid local, good for watching sport, and themed nights every now and again which isnt necessarily my bag but at least shows willing on behalf of the management! A solid 7 out of 10, some room for improvement but pretty solid overall.
11 Dec 2006 17:47
Back to jimmythefish's profile
Crobar, Soho
DRAUGHT Jimmy, not draft, DRAUGHT. Doesn't change the fact this is a horrible place. Thank you though Edrok, for the wonderfully considerate correction of my spellink, nuff said innit.
18 Jan 2007 18:51