BITE user comments - kenandrob
Comments by kenandrob
The Betsey Trotwood, Clerkenwell
First off, the staff in here are NICE! And provide good and quick service.
Was just in here on Saturday night (hadn't been in about six or seven months).
Now... I for one do not like the "refurb". Yes the downstair is grungy - this place is known for it's indie band scene!
The refurb and new food on offer makes this place seem like it's trying to be "gastro pubish". Betsey, leave that to the Eagle and others around and stick to just being a good watering hole!!!!
they even took out the excellent juke box that was in here. :(
clientele was still a bit indie (which was GOOD!) but it seemed some people were in for the "gastro food" (BAD).
21 Apr 2008 11:21
The Prince Bonaparte, Westbourne Grove
will never go back here. reviewed before. first time i went here was in 1996. It was great! Now the crowd is full of "new Notting Hill" types who wear high heels and jeans on a Sunday, order champagne like it's going out of style (it IS out of style in a gastro pub or pub, save Champagne for a nice meal in a restaurant).
If you want to be surrounded by the new Notting Hill types (real estate agents) then definitely go here and the Westbourne, you'll fit right in. If you're part of the old Notting Hill fun, funky artitistic set (or actually have some style without having to flash cash about), AVOID at all costs.
21 Apr 2008 11:14
Good pub. Beautiful architecture/design. Big beer garden. Good music. Mostly laid back clientele (a few people dressed like they were from a Northern city - women in short skirts and high heels, guys in short sleeved pressed shirts when it was freezing outside) but most people in jeans, trainers.
Highly recommend.
7.5 out of 10
21 Apr 2008 11:04
see reviews for The Regent in Kensal as it has changed names and owners.
21 Apr 2008 10:58
The bar staff in here are some of the nicest you'll find in London! On Saturday nights it can get a bit too crowded with Notting Hill folk "slumming" it. BUT it is so much better than the Paradise around the corner.
Pop in on a Friday or a Sunday and the mood is upbeat but not too crowded. Nice little sun trap garden outback.
Quite a few lagers on tap, and a few ales as well.
They also have decent food if you're looking to eat, but since you're on beerintheevening, the important thing is, a great place to drink! And good music as well.
9 out of 10!
21 Apr 2008 10:56
The North London Tavern, Kilburn
I've already posted one review on this but thought it needed an update. Yeah, the food is a bit "gastropubish" and a bit pricey, but you're on this site for drinking not food. It is still a great place to visit. We don't live near here but still go here once a week (usually Thursdays). Nice bar staff, good beer (lagers and ales), good music (most of the time) and generally a good crowd. I'd rather have trustafarians than men in suits and women in high heels any day.
I highly recommend this pub if you're in Kilburn. Does it get crowded? Yes! It's a good pub.
21 Apr 2008 10:51
RIP OFF. first off, the bar is badly laid out, second, the deck only holds a handful of people, thrid, WAY over priced. the crowd is a mix between "wanna be posh" and chavs. i don't know any locals who drink here mainly people from out of the immediate london area. Only been here twice - once a while back and only stayed for two drinks. More recently because we were meeting a friend not familiar with the area. We stayed for one drink and left. Would rather meet at the Railway or even Pizza Express (and with the latter, that is desparate!). Don't know why W Hampstead doesn't have any good local bars or even restaurants. The chains are completely taking over.
21 Apr 2008 10:41
Haven't been here since November 2007. It is the best bar in West Hampstead but that's not hard as everything else is crap. The staff are a bit "too cool for school" and there is a lack of character. But if you are in W Hampstead and looking for a pint, check it out. I also don't mind the Railway nearby. It's a bit tattered but the staff in THERE are nice.
21 Apr 2008 10:33
Have only been in here twice. It is not a destination, it's not even a local pub. The interior is REALLY bad. I don't know who designed it. Mostly lager on tap.
I will probably never go back here, mainly because it is characterless and a bit chavvy.
21 Apr 2008 10:13
The Old Bull and Bush, North Hampstead
Went here on Saturday. I'm sure during the Summer months it is nice to sit out in the terrace and enjoy a pint and a smoke (regarding Ant_from_London's comments, if you don't like the smoke outside, go inside, don't see how you can really complain considering the "terrace" is right by the road and you're breathing in car fumes!!!!!). This pub does not have a lot of real ales on tap, mostly lagers. As far as service, they are way understaffed. Whilst the staff may be nice, the service was slow - REALLY slow. And I didn't feel well after eating the fish and chips (three hours afterwards had to lie down for the rest of the evening and NO I wasn't drunk as I only had two pints).
This bar/pub is fine for a summer day if you want to sit outside and soak up some rays and wait at the bar for about 10 minutes first but not a destination (we live in Hampstead and even for us this pub is too far out of the way). BUT if you want to try real beers/ales, you'll want to avoid.
21 Apr 2008 09:52
This pub is nothing great but it's not bad either.
Good bar staff, okay selection of beers and a good place to meet up for a couple.
Not a place to spend the whole evening/afternoon but worth having a few beers and trying to get down to the toilet (definitely not for those with vertigo).
9 Apr 2008 22:28
We have mixed feelings on this pub.
It has a great back garden and it is fairly well heated in the winter (a plus for us smokers), the music is really GOOD (indie/electronic), several draft beers (no ales that I recall), and sometimes the clientele is good (mix between funky and indie rock), although sometimes it can get some cheesy people as well (think jeans and high-heels... on the same person!).
The downside is whilst some of the staff are nice, they are really slow (lazy). Having lived in NYC and San Fran (where pub/bartenders actually know how to tend bar), it can be really frustrating just ordering two pints. Do keep an eye out for people arriving at the bar after you because the bartenders will just shout out "who's next" as they have no idea. It's up to the customers to say "who's next" as no one seems to have manners when ordering.
I guess they have gotten too busy as recently the doorman asked us if we had a "locals card". We've been going to this pub for years, but I guess with them having decent djs upstairs now and again, it's gotten too popular.
Like a previous review, probably best for mid-week and avoid on the weekends (including Sundays when we were asked for a "locals card") unless you get in there early.
We'll give this pub a 6 out of 10 (would have given it a 7 but the new door policy is crap and the staff seem to be more apathetic every visit).
9 Apr 2008 22:20
can't really say a bad word about this pub... it's our local.
sure it gets busy with a pub crawl here and there, but it's still cozy, the staff are nice as are the clientele.
they have several ales on tap as well as lagers.
If only they would quit measuring the wine before they pour it into a glass and quit allowing reserving tables downstairs. it is a pub and for those who want a table they should reserve upstairs.
9 Apr 2008 22:09
The Black Lion, West Hampstead
If anything sums up the refurb - mad British populous, it's The Lion (formerly known as Ye Olde Black Lion).
Take something that doesn't need too much refurb, rip out everything and go shopping for the most BLAND, middle-of-the-road furniture and accessories (ie All Bar One) and invite all the BLAND, middle-of-the-road people to come spend their money here.
Whilst the "old" Lion was nothing spectacular, the clientele gave it some character. Where now it is an "eclipse nw6" knock-off (or fill-in your All Bar One postcode).
It's bright, shite and not quite right. In fact, there are no good pubs in West Hampstead (there are some good cafe/bars, but that's not a pub, it is London afterall).
While it has a decent back garden (when the heat lamps work), the real action is out in the front patio where you have views of Nando's pandemonium (the comings and goings and cars parking illegally whilst they run in and grab their hot and spicy fast food takeaway).
If you want decent pubs either make your way to the North London Tavern in Kilburn or The Holly Bush, Duke of Hamilton or Ye Olde White Bear in Hampstead.
I would give this pub a 4/10 (it only gets a 4 because it does have outside space otherwise it would get a 1).
9 Apr 2008 22:05
Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green, Kensal Green
This USED to be a really good pub full of locals and artsy types. It has recently gone through a refurb (which isn't bad just not as funky) and the doormen and crowd have completely changed for the WORST! What was once fun and laidback is now full of people with their "Saturday Best Club Clothes" on (and I'm not speaking of cool London club clothes but guys with pressed shirts, shiney shoes - not many trainers worn in here anymore. The crowd has gotten really tacky and rude as if all the uncool Notting Hill people have discovered it. It's really sad as it used to be a really nice pub to chill out in but has become too sceney for this 'hood. There are a lot better pubs to check out in Kensal with a lot less attitude.
22 Jan 2008 12:54
why did bankers and posh take over shorditch? this bar was okay ages ago but i can't stomach all the preppies, bankers and jeans with high heels in this place.
16 Feb 2005 16:49
great bar. the bankers/financial types haven't taken over this gym of a pub - yet. still some fun hip people but not any trendier than thou types. good jukebox, good meeting up/catching up place. let's hope the "suit" people don't pour into it.
16 Feb 2005 16:44
The Bricklayers Arms, Shoreditch
this bar is still a nice place to meet up before it gets packed. the sad thing is, new neighbors who moved into the hoxton area have complained about the noise level. they no longer have the old dj and they have to close at 11pm. (Remember when they use to stay open until 1am?) Why do people insist on moving into "happening" areas but then complain when something is happening?
16 Feb 2005 16:41
The North London Tavern, Kilburn
good sized pub (another one of those gastro pubs). nice bar staff. Some hipsters but not too many as you still get some of the original locals. Wish they'd mix the music up a bit - it always seems to be french house jazz playing. Prices are decent on lagers.
16 Feb 2005 16:37
Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green, Kensal Green
The restaurant is too big. However the bar area is a nice mix of people. Trendy hipsters, old time locals, singles, couples, gay, straight, etc. The lagers are a bit pricey for a pub in this neighborhood though.
16 Feb 2005 16:35
The Prince Bonaparte, Westbourne Grove
I first went to the Bonaparte back in 1996. It was fun, trendy, etc. For some reason though in the past couple of years, the pub tried to get that "hip" feeling by adding in sofas that are too big and trying to "glitz" the place up. Still a fun place to meet up. Why did they get rid of the sausage and mash sandwich they used to serve? It was so good! IS anyone else getting tired of the gastro pub concept?
16 Feb 2005 16:33
the staff at John Snow are really nice. the pub is a great meeting space. BAD THING - recently Sam Smith headquarters decided its pubs can no longer have music. So if you need a catch up with a friend, John Snow is great. But if you like your pub to have some background music, skip it.
16 Feb 2005 16:31
The Flask, Hampstead
The refurb is HORRIBLE. it looks like an Eclipse bar or closer yet - an All Bar One. We still go in here but only on the "old side".
The refurb really took away some of the soul of this place. Such a shame as there are very few traditional pubs in the 'hood left (best are The Holly Bush, The Duke and White Bear).
21 Apr 2008 11:27