BITE user comments - l80pje
Comments by l80pje
I heard a lot of great reviews about this pub but unfortunately it just isn't my cup of tea.
The beer was fantastic - the Ranmore was kept brilliantly.
But the pub to me feels like a mixture between a working mans club and a retirement home. Its like it got revamped in the early 80's, lost its old charm and its not been touched in years.
The service was very slow due to one person behind the bar and 4 people waiting and not very welcome (not the landlord).
I'll go back and give it another go but it just didnt click for me; hopefully it will on my next visit.
13 Sep 2011 13:37
Ive been here a few times on a sunday and always enjoyed the visit. Great to try the beers from their brewery. After sampling them all (and no i didnt pay for the sample nor for a glass of water), i had a few Crooked Farrows and really enjoyed them.
We have had a couple of starters with some chips and all were good.
The locals have always been very friendly, as was the landlady.
I'll be going back for sure but its a shame the garden isnt utlilsed more.
13 Sep 2011 13:25
Went for the fist time on Sunday. Great that you can take a dog in to the bar and still eat. The couple running the pub and the staff were all really friendly. No trouble for them to take drink orders from the table (getting harder and harder lately). The Youngs Ordinary was kept well. The food was really good - i'd say best from all the pubs in the brockham / betchworth / leigh area and good portions. Service was quick too.
Cracking pub all round.
13 Sep 2011 13:00
Just an update on a previous post -
I believe the service is much slicker now; especially helped by the condiments being on the table before service.
Some of the dishes are smaller than others, so I tend to avoid the fish pie and liver & bacon and go for the burger or fish and chips.
I have never seen any untoward behaviour from the landlady - she doesn�t seem around much.
"However the staff here are absolutely dreadful" - that is very harsh. I would have been very annoyed if I had of turned up for an event to be cancelled but I have only experienced a warm and friendly welcome.
Joanne - I think you were unlucky on your Saturday visit. The shoot tends to split between a couple of pubs or go to one only. They may not have been shooting that day! I have been there several times on a Saturday afternoon to find it busy. Yesterday lunchtime / afternoon the pub was heaving with a great atmosphere.
21 Feb 2011 13:44
Having moved to the area a couple of months ago, I have been visiting the Dolphin every now and again, but mostly post refurb.
Only once have I witnessed the raised voices and swearing but it only lasted for 10 mins (I think a story was being told). I am no shrinking violet and also have a foul mouth but it just did not seem appropriate in that kind of environment; save it for the terraces. I visit a very similar pub in Hampshire and that sort of behaviour would never be tolerated by the Landlady.
The staff are very friendly and welcoming but the food service is pretty inefficient. I know it was the first week after opening but having waited 40 mins for two main courses when only two tables were eating, we were delivered our food with "sorry for the wait but we're rushed off our feet". It did make my partner and I laugh. It is always a wait to get condiments and the bill.
On to the food - it�s generally very nice and the fish pie competes with the Mole (and less money). But the portion sizes really need sorting out. A couple of weeks ago the game pie resulted in a very full belly. This weekend the portion seemed about half the size. The fish pie has also shrunk. I also heard another customer unsatisfied that the bangers and mash was a small portion. So unless this is sorted I'll eat elsewhere and use the Dolphin as a watering hole.
It's a very nice pub and well worth the visit; I look forward making use of the large beer garden in the summer.
27 Jan 2011 11:40
Dukes Head, Brockham
some curry houses serve beer on tap, does that make them a pub?
It's not a pub, its a restaurant who has some beer on. What it is good for is having a glass of wine outside. In fact the wine list is very good and reasonable. The black sheep is also very good but there is nowhere to have a drink inside, all of the tables are for eating. There is a small bar but not really for drinking, you're forever dodging or moving for the waitresses.
However, I have no idea why this place is so popular. I have been twice, once the service was good and the second time it was shocking. Took 10-15 mins for someone to even take our drinks order, then another 10 mins to get a bottle of wine. It wasn't even that busy, there were spare tables. Our waitress apologised for the wait by saying "sorry we're busy". This this really wound me up - they either took on too many bookings for the staff or should have not accepted turn up at the door bookings. Why should the customer suffer for their ineptitude to get enough staff?
On to the food; it's ok but certainly not worth the money. my steak and kidney pudding had two small pieces of kidney in it, the venison wellington had soggy pastry and overall average.
I like the decor and the ambience is good. However, you need a stepladder to see over the menus. They are just ridiculous, especially on the small tables.
no rating as it isnt a pub.
26 Sep 2011 14:46