BITE user comments - kgilson
Comments by kgilson
Went in here 3 days out of 4 while visiting Norwich through the week. I have no idea what this pub is like in the Evenings, or at weekends, but through the week between 2pm, and 4pm when we visited it was excellent. I was served by attentive friendly staff right way on all trips to the bar as it is very quiet at this time of day. The upstaris, and downstairs is very nicely spread out, and the customers at this time of the day seem to be of the older generation, so it's peaceful. All our food orders had the items expected, and cooked very well. I consider this an above average Wetherspoons pub. If you want a good meal in a non rowdy atmosphere where you can relax then I highly recommend this place on weekday afternoons. Toilets are upstairs by the way.
11 Jul 2010 10:42
The Opera House, Tunbridge Wells
Only popped in for a drink around lunchtime, was asked a number of times by bar staff if I was being seen too which is always encouraging. The food being served on the tables around me looked well prepared, but I didn't have any myself due to plans later in the day. I have been in a lot of Wetherspoons, but the decor inside this one is breathtaking, much of the original opera house remains, and you spend most of your time looking up, and around while seated on the main stage. One breathtaking pub!
30 May 2010 11:46
Popped in three times while in Tonbridge on a short break, twice for dinner, and once for breakfast. On each visit there were three to four staff serving so didn't have to wait long to be served. I can only assume they have bucked up their ideas a bit since the previous comments were posted. Food was ok, and staff seemed to be on the ball. Visited mid afternoon, and early morning so they were fairly quiet times. I would revisit if in the area.
30 May 2010 11:40
The King and Queen, Edenbridge
Popped in while in Edenbridge. Ordered a Pinot Grigio wine, 1/2 Spitfire, and a small Lemonade. The price was �9.95. Bar staff seemed friendly, but talk about ripping off the tourists. Had thought of eating in here, but decided against it in case I might have to remortgage the house.
30 May 2010 11:31
The John Logie Baird, Hastings
We tried twice to visit this pub while on a short break in Hastings. The first time was mid morning where we were unable to find a table which wasn't piled high with dirty plates, and glasses. We then tried a second time around lunchtime to find the one person behind the bar having an argument with multiple customers on who was next to be served. I can only assume that they have a serious staff number issue. We gave up, and walked back out on both occasions, and wont be trying again.
4 May 2010 06:13
My family popped into this pub on the off chance while in Hastings. The food was terrific, as was the service. Just watch your head on the low beams.
4 May 2010 04:54
I'm sorry to say, but in the last few months this pub has become a little unfriendly. On my last visit there was a new face behind the bar, and he wasn't very welcoming. Also although the sign outside says that food is served all day, and John Barras themselves indicate the same this simply isn't the case anymore at this pub. Having visited on a Saturday for an early lunch at 11:15, which we had done on a number of before to avoid lunchtime smokers we were told that food is at 12:00. I have no problem with this as most people eat at this time, but there is no indication that the times had changed, and quite frankly the way we were told was a little rude.
16 Dec 2006 15:12
I tend to use pubs for meals rather than for drinking, so my reviews are more based around that.
A very good no smoking area in the rear seperated by a single door from the smoking area. The non smoking area consists of seven tables ranging from four seats to eight seats on the large round table. The tables are not jammed in, and the space around them is very spacious. This would be good for people with prams or for those with wheelchairs in their party. The non-smoking area has it's own bar, and toilets, and we found they lady who served us couldn't do enough to attend to our needs. Very friendly, and professional service.
The food was also of very good quality, and obviously cooked by someone who knows how to prepare a good meal. This will now become a favorite pub for my family.
16 Dec 2006 14:48
Where do I start with this one, I was hoping from the pictures of the pub, and comments I had seen this would be a new local place to try. First of all the food, well I can only assume that the cook is trying for a GCSE, as the jacket potato was raw, the bread was stale, and I had to have chicken on my ham roll as they didn't have pickle. The order was wrong as two side orders of chips were put down instead of one, not that they were enjoyable as there was no vinegar. The final straw was when we got home and realised that we had been cheated out of the two meals for �10 deal, as the discount had never been put down on the bill. My family were told that the pub had just changed hands, and they were moving to a new menu. The single point on the rating fo rthis pub comes from the fact that the drink order was correct.
16 Dec 2006 14:36
A large pub with a good sized seperate non-smoking area downstairs. We never went upstairs to see the additional seating there. Service very good, and staff friendly. Lunch took longer than usual to arrive, but we did not have to chase it as they came and told us they were sorry for the delay. The food was excellent, and my mother commented that it was the best pub food she had ever had. The food was very well presented, and was carried to the table by the chef. Even the side order of a bread roll for a pound was a good size, soft, and presented in it's own basket. The menu was varied from burgers to salads to pork chops, and we only wish it was our local pub.
18 Jun 2006 14:24
I'm not a drinker, but I do use pubs a lot for food with my family. We decided to try this one out as it was fairly close to Bluewater, and had passed it before thinking it looked nice.
The eating area at the back is large (non-smoking), and it's nice to see a lot of space between tables. There is nothing more annoying that pubs that cram so many tables into a space you can hardly move. This pub seems to have adopted the opposite approach, making it comfortable, and good access for wheelchairs.
As for the food, well I can honestly say it's the best grub I have had ina pub for quite a number of years. It was very well presented, and tasted wonderful. Both myself, and my family agreed the steaks, and burgers were cooked to perfection.
If you like a good meal, in a comfortable, non-smoking environment then at present I can highly recommend this place, I only wish it was a local pub in Chatham.
14 May 2006 13:14
The Bargemans Rest, Newport
My parents tried this pub a couple of times while on Holiday in June 2011. I can't advise on the drink, but the food was very plentiful, and they both came out of there rather stuffed. The staff were also very friendly, and helpful.
10 Jul 2011 17:12