BITE user comments - legs2x11
Comments by legs2x11
Recall this pub as it used to be : that is pre Ember and pre-M&B!
Now would usually only go to the garden if pushed.
Inside I dislike the lack of character left in a totally insensitive Emberising. What was done was against all the local opinion of regular users.
However, having said that, so much better now in most of the catering departments than the previous M&B incumbents who managed to ruin it all. They could not even manage a jacket potato with cheese (incomplete cooking of potato and cheese could not manage to melt as a result!), and served coffees with UHT Cream OUT-of DATE.
17 Jan 2010 23:44
For over 25 years this was literally the closest local for us. We have seen it go up and down, as pubs do. Under current management it is definitely on the up.
Locals are there, regularly, and we also use it with walkers : nearly all of whom have enjoyed it over the last 3 years or so.
A huge improvement over the dreadful management in the days of Spirit Inns (the manager then seemed to like barring all the local and regular folk . . .!)
Now there is a good quiz night, run by Becks. We were really looked after for a special evening meal with a large group of friends > a first class event enjoyed by all
17 Jan 2010 23:35
The Botley Hill Farmhouse, Warlingham
Fantastic location. Have enjoyed the ales and the fresh squeezed orange juice here. Have not often eaten at this one, so, cannot add to the plentiful criticisms that seem to now be surfacing in that department
17 Jan 2010 23:27
Royal Oak Inn, Staffhurst Wood
Growth is not always successful, but this one gives an overall good atmosphere. Reliably good food and ales : and this is always a popular stopover in a walk. Excellent fish menu
17 Jan 2010 23:24
Brickmakers Arms, Crowhurst Lane End
After its refit last year, this pub has changed a lot and only for the better. First, a really warm welcome.
Our waking group was made to feel really welcome, including offer of some complimentary potato skins after a Saturday afternoon walk on a damp afternoon. So, this was the pub they wanted to go back to for their Christmas Social (shame that the ice and snow at end of 2009 put paid to that for the time being). Good ales (the Larkins much enjoyed)
17 Jan 2010 23:20
Good parking and well situated for walking on the Greensand Way. Good parking area to the front and modest and quiet rear garden.
Ales were good but the food a bit over-priced for our group. The food that was ordered was good, however.
17 Jan 2010 23:16
An overall insensitive refit, but the food range left lots of choices for our group. Most folk were well satisifed. As others have said, now more of a restaurant than a pub : but we, too, were appalled by the piped music when we sat outside on a sunny lunchtime. Now that IS a BAD idea. Doubt we will return.
17 Jan 2010 23:13
Used to be our regular pub for use when walking in Godstone : BUT . . . now it seems to have been taken over by the juke box and the games machines. We now AVOID, which is a shame ~ as we note the comment about this being an independent in a sea of local M&B !!
17 Jan 2010 23:10
Handy for walkers, and for a quick stop-off from the A27. Clearly sign-posted and in sight from the Wilmington crossroads.
Food choice is generally good. Small outside seating area to the front. Pity that the fresh-squeezed orange juice from a few years ago has now gone. But, good beers and wine selection available.
Somehow does not seem to be so regularly used by local folk . . . just our impression
17 Jan 2010 23:05
Comfortable pub with good atmosphere. Plenty of options for dining, both in terms of seating and range of food available. Huge garden for those fine weather visits.
We have particularly enjoyed our visits for the Tuesday evening Quiz Nights.
17 Jan 2010 22:57
Have known The Yew Tree for years : and the continuity of excellent service has always been a feature of each and every visit. The only possibly criticism for most of the food would be that the helpings seem almost to be TOO BIG!! A lot of salad and veg added, which can put some off.
The menu changes, but there is also continuity in finding old favourites. A criticism might be that at times possibly a little too reliant on packaged foods prepared elsewhere (or so it seems)
Excellent ales. Bags of atmosphere and very friendly. Plenty of dining room, although now there is always the need to book, unless you are lucky. A large rear garden and pkletny of access points to the many walks in this area.
Well done overall, Peter
17 Jan 2010 22:53
We use this location often as a base for walks to the nearby Arlington Reservoir or in Abbotts Wood. Have always enjoyed our lunch here : good food with a wide choice and many specials, and excellent ales and cider.
The possibility of an occasional lunchtime special price for two dining have been much enjoyed. Excellent value.
17 Jan 2010 22:47
Charming location and a rambling interior. You can get lost on the way to find the facilities, however. The food was good as were the ales on our visits.
An ideal stop-over on a walk along the Downs, or the coach path at the foot of the Downs.
Plenty of attractive short walks also in the grounds of Firle Place nearby, and these are accessible from the car park.
17 Jan 2010 22:41
The Rose Cottage Inn, Polegate
Afterthought : why is this pub listed under Polegate? That is its POST TOWN, but is some 5 miles west of Polegate.
Other village pubs are listed under their village or hamlet : in this instance, it should be under ALCISTON
17 Jan 2010 22:36
The Rose Cottage Inn, Polegate
Ideally located for walkers and this is a pub that offers a really natural country atmosphere. Well done to Ian and Ginny.
Invariably excellent over many years of visits. Good ale and a wide-ranging menu. Eat in the bar (small) or the restaurant, or when weather allows outside under the canopies or umbrellas.
Our only criticism would be that on 2 out of 3 visits we have found that the restaurant lacks some atmosphere. Have so often eaten and enjoyed the bar area (when we can get there in time)
17 Jan 2010 22:34
Ye Olde Smugglers Inn, Alfriston
This used to be THE local to go to in Alfriston, and as such used for many years.
Under the new ownership of the last 2 to 3 years the range of ales and food has improved : sadly the speed of food service has not always kept up. We find this usually to be good at lunchtimes, but of an evening has twice been SO slow.
Still held by many regulars in very high regard, including those travelling in a long way to take in the atmosphere.
Beware the arrival of coach parties in the summer.
Pleasant garden out at the back.
17 Jan 2010 22:28
The Plough and Harrow, Litlington
We arranged a special Birthday meal here recently for a small walking group. We were well cared for, with excellent food and included some of the staff singing Happy Birthday to the lady that mattered that day!
As a result we have so far been in twice more, and plan to continue.
The new management/ownership is to be congratulated, for we visited this pub a few years ago and were left with a completely different impression. That visit left such a bad after-taste that it stayed with us whenever we saw the building for months afterwards. A shame . . . so we now are pleased to see this lovely pub back on the up-and-up
17 Jan 2010 22:20
Our favourite local . . . a wide and varied menu that has rarely let us down. Always something that appeals and the team here really go out of their way to make the welcome special and the visit memorable. Great beers and wines.
Recently there has been a revision to make the entry to the car park safer, and there is now a front garden for dining out, or supping, looking towards the Long Man.
Once a month they have a special Five Dining Experience, which is well worth trying to savour a selection of 5 Starters or Sweets (you choose the balance between savoury and sweet that you want). A brilliant idea, well executed.
17 Jan 2010 22:11
A huge improvement in this pub. When we last visited some 4 years ago (or more) we found it difficult to find something from the menu that we wanted to try. This time, spoilt for choice.
The food was excellent, served by attentive staff and overall a great atmosphere. We will be back.
17 Jan 2010 22:04
The Harrow Inn, Warlingham
Nice position : good walking all around on the various areas of common and woodlands.
Over the years we had often used it with walking groups : but our last visit was definitely THE LAST where we will seek food unless assured it has changed for the better.
We also suffered as a group from the cold plate and therefore rapidly COLD soup phenomenon. Referring this to the staff was not really met with any helpful solution.
As a Vintage Inns chain pub, this achieved the WORST PUB LUNCH of the YEAR AWARD from us (and strangely, a nearby VINTAGE INN was awarded the BEST etc etc in the same year)
17 Jan 2010 23:50