BITE user comments - martyngs
Comments by martyngs
Called in yesterday (Sat 5th Jan) afternoon where I was the only customer. Nice pub, but the young barmaid made me feel most unwelcome. She completely refused to enter any small talk ("it's quiet today", "have you been busy" etc) and as soon as she had served my beer, went and sat at a table at the back of the bar and looked like she was writing her diary! Didn't even say goodbye when I left.
No wonder some pubs find it difficult to survive if this is their best effort at customer service!
6 Jan 2013 14:31
Well, it was open yesterday (Sat 5th Jan) lunchtime. Not very busy, but what a great little pub. 4 real ales
Recommended
martyngs
6 Jan 2013 14:24
Cracking liitle pub. Went in Saturday lunchtime - 12 real ales and pretty busy. Friendly welcome and friendly people in there! Access not easy because of the office blocks around it, but worth seeking out!
martyngs
6 Jan 2013 14:21
Recommended in the Michelin "Good pubs to eat" and we weren't disappointed by the beer or the food. Beer in good nick, food excellent, plasant atmosphere.
23 Aug 2012 09:35
Friendly welcome to a pretty good pub. Bateman's in good nick and also had Landlord. A bit on the pricey side - pint of Bateman's and half of cider was �5.
23 Aug 2012 09:32
Cracking little pub. Great range of beers. Couldn't decide which to have, and landlady suggested 3 thirds - not many pubs do thirds these days! Anyway, had 3 different fairly local beers, which were all good. They had a duo in the back garden (Sunday 6pm) doing 60's and 70's music on acoustic guitars - very pleasant atmosphere.
23 Aug 2012 09:28
Good little pub. Staff perfectly OK and other customers chatty. Sam Smith's in excellent condition and well served (and unbelievably inexpensive). I appreciate the previous reviewer obviusly doesn't like Sam's beer, but it's ridiculous to say "automatically undrinkable"!
23 Aug 2012 09:23
The Rose and Portcullis, Butleigh
Getting better by the visit! Always a lively crowd early doors and always someone to chat to. Always 3 real ales and I've never had a bad pint yet!
16 Aug 2012 20:28
Very pleasant Bath Ales pub. Modernish, but "distressed" Beers good, service OK
22 Jan 2012 09:02
Agree absolutely with the last review. Nice pub and fairly busy, but barmaid sitting reading a book when she should have been standing and welcoming new customers. Beers were fine and there was no music (a big plus) but I just didn't feel welcome. Could be a great pub, but is not!
22 Jan 2012 08:59
We were sussing out some pubs in Bath to show some visitors later in the year and this will certainly be one of them! Great little pub, good range of beers and the two I tasted both in good nick. Welcoming staff and some good banter amongst the locals. Great place!
22 Jan 2012 08:55
An OK pub somewhat spoiled by loud music (Friday evening about 6.30pm) and an inattentive barmaid who disappeared for at least 5 minutes - probably for a cigarette. Beer OK, but unexceptional.
22 Jan 2012 08:50
Recent change of landlord - the new one is a decent bloke (somewhat better than the supercilious pr*** who was there a couple of years ago) Ales, usually 3, always good. Food good but you can't book. You need to get there either before 7 or after 8.30!
13 Jan 2012 16:56
The King William IV, Curry Rivel
Called in again about 6.30. Two other chaps in who were just leaving. Just one draught beer - labelled as Otter Bright, but although it tasted OK, it didn't taste like Otter Bright! As I said after my last visit there are some much better pubs within a 10 minute drive.
martyngs
10 Nov 2011 18:07
The Rose and Portcullis, Butleigh
Now under the stewardship of Simon Donnelly (ex Halfway House). Bit of a work in progress at present, but I'm sure it will be good. Currently (November 2011) only open in the evening and no food. Give it a try!!
martyngs
10 Nov 2011 08:52
The Devonshire Arms, Long Sutton
Always a good place to eat. Beers always OK - slightly on the cold side and a bit too expensive (�3.20 ish) especially when the Halfway and Eli's are so close!
A bit more food orientated (but very good food)
20 Oct 2011 21:19
See my comments of October 2010. Nothing much has changed - mind you, I tasted 9 different beers (all thirds!) and they were, without exception, in good nick. It's a great pleasure to be able to taste so many different beers that are not normally seen hereabouts. Early doors is absolutely fine!
20 Oct 2011 21:14
Called in a couple of weeks ago. New landlord OK, locals the same as usual! Beer good, ambience good. Next time will go on the bus and drink more!
20 Oct 2011 21:05
Called in for a quick couple of pints this evening, Good as ever!
20 Oct 2011 20:58
Brigantes Bar and Brasserie, York
Well deserving of its CAMRA York & Scarborough pub of the year 2011. Good beer, good atmosphere, good staff.
19 Jun 2011 20:35
Excellent spot. Good beer, friendly bar staff. What more could you want?
19 Jun 2011 20:33
The Uxbridge Arms, Notting Hill
Visited on a wet Sunday late afternoon and were made to feel welcome by the landlady and the locals. Sadly, three very commonplace beers - Pride, Harveys and Tribute - but in good condition. Sunday quiz just staring as we left - wish we could have stayed, but too many pubs to visit and too little time......
16 Jun 2011 07:40
I always try to visit here when in London (but the wife is not a particular beer fan!) This time visited on our way out to eat on a Sunday evening. Usual excellent selection of excellent beers - maybe slightly pricier than home (Somerset) but worth it! After a couple of beers, decided we would stay and have their Sunday Roast. We were not disappointed. Pretty good food, well presented and plenty of it. Two courses for �15 was pretty reasonable.
Shall return next time we're in London
16 Jun 2011 07:36
Great selection of beers and the two I tasted were both in good nick. Visited at 6 pm on a Saturday and it was heaving, but service was quick and friendly. For saying this is very close to Charing Cross, it's in a comparatively quiet area. Well worth a visit!
16 Jun 2011 07:29
Visited on a Saturday late afternoon. Sampled three of the dozen or so different beers. Those on gravity were a little lacking condition, but OK taste wise. A haven of decent beer, though, within a spit of Euston.
16 Jun 2011 07:26
The Carpenters Arms, Chilthorne Domer
Yes, it was closed because of ongoing police inquiries. However those concerned are now in prison, and even better news - Punch Taverns have sold it, so it's now free of tie and run by an enthusiastic young couple. Two draught ales on my visit, both good, and the place inside is modern without being too contemporary. Food, too was pretty good and reasonably priced.
Will go again!
25 Jan 2011 14:30
Called in for a quick pint - the wife is organising a girls night out there in the new year. Very much food oriented - fully booked on a Wednesday can't be bad! Food looked OK and reasonably priced - fairly simple menu and the good news is you can now book in advance! Beer expensive - Butcombe �3.30 - and I had to ask for it to be topped up! Wine not too bad. Will report after wife's visit.
29 Dec 2010 22:00
As other reviewers have noted this is a pretty ordinary Wetherspoons, but it's not bad early doors and it is very conveniently situated next to the bus station, which suits me and my bus pass absolutely fine!! When I called last week, they had just started their Beer Festival and had 5 Festival beers (which they serve in thirds of a pint if required) as well as 3 other real ales and 4 real ciders. All of those I tasted were good. The young staff could do with a bit more training - had to ask twice for a top-up and the young girl didn't seem to understand.
I don't think it would be a good place to be on Friday or Saturday at 10pm!
31 Oct 2010 11:50
The King William IV, Curry Rivel
Called for a quick pint about 6.30 one evening. One other couple in, barmaid reading a book and pretty uninterested. Beer OK, but there are much better pubs than this within 10 minutes drive!
31 Oct 2010 11:41
As per previous post, went (by bus) to the Curry night which was pretty good. Been again since - as usual the beers were good and the young lady (Slovakian) behind the bar was extremely enthusiastic and welcoming.
Keep up the good work!
31 Oct 2010 11:38
The Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George
The last few reviewer's comments are pretty accurate - good hard working staff, good food and fairly swift service - even on a busy Friday night. Only 2 real ales. My only gripe is that, good as it is, it is vastly overpriced - �13 for fish and chips with a few fancy mushy peas and �13 for an 8-oz steak +�3 for chips +�3 for salad seems OTT to me.
21 Aug 2010 11:08
Still a pretty good pub - food good but ales exceptional - a wide variety and constantly changing. Customer service standards have declined though - too many youngsters behind the bar these days!
27 Jul 2010 10:40
The Rose and Crown, Huish Episcopi
Call in here fairly regularly and it's always good. 3 real ales, helpful friendl staff (& locals!). Food simple but OK.
27 Jul 2010 10:33
Now reopened and OK. A bit "Islington Wine Bar" ish, but friendly staff (shared with the Ilchester Arms across the road). Spoilt somewhat by pool and bar billiards tables. Beer OK, food simple pub grub (but ate at the Ilchester Arms).
All in all a great improvement
27 Jul 2010 10:30
The Queens Arms, Corton Denham
I like this place particularly the bar area! Went recently (my birthday, wife paying!) Yes it can be a bit "Barbour brigade" and is on the pricey side. However the food is good, service helpful and friendly and the five cask ales were all in good condition and eminently drinkable. The Queen's Revival (unfined) was particularly good.
Will certainly go again - it's decidedly worth the journey.
27 Jul 2010 09:32
Had been for a walk and dropped in early doors for a quick pint whilst waiting for the bus home. Nice friendly atmosphere - several local farmers were having a drink. Friendly barmaid, decent beer.
1 Jul 2010 07:03
An OK place! Two real ales, one from Yeovil brewery and Directors, both in good condition. Staff seems to be shared with the Bull now they're both owned by the same people.
Ate here a couple of weeks ago and it was very busy and pretty good.
1 Jul 2010 07:00
Went here about 18 months ago and as reviewers said it was not good. However went again a couple of weeks ago (part of the Somerset CAMRA pub trail). New very enthusiatic landlord - excellent real ales (couldn't have much because I was driving!). Will go back!
25 Jun 2010 13:53
A pretty good pub for this area of London. Clean and tidy but shame about the big screen TV (not so bad because motor racing was on). Beer OK, prices reasonable, staff OK. Not exceptional but perfectly acceptable!
18 Jun 2010 21:08
Called in early doors for a quick pint (I was driving!) Great pub, three different ales on draught and the Exmoor I had was A1. Friendly and chatty staff. Will go again soon - and will either go by bus or get 'er indoors to drive! Well worth the trip. The curry night on Tuesdays looks good!
18 Jun 2010 21:01
Visited Saturday 27 March about 5.45pm. Great pub! New people in there- three real ales (all good). Log fire burning, friendly locals, menu looked good. Go there if you're nearby!
martyngs
28 Mar 2010 21:03
I was a regular user of Jon & Pauline's pub in Somerton and now they've craeted a great atmosphere at the Elms - unfortunately I now have to drive there (or get the wife to!). The beer is always immaculate and as some other reviewers have noted Jon is a fount of knowledge. A group of us had Sunday lunch there last week and it was excellent - Pauline's catering has not changed!
Who cares about the sartorial elegance - the staff are all charming and helpful and J&P have revitalised what was previously a pretty grim offering. Go there (and get someone else to drive!).
7 Nov 2009 22:27
Grain Barge, Bristol
Went here (Sat 5th Jan) after the Bag o' Nails and what a difference. The barman was very chatty - although fairly busy - and was keen to talk about Bristol Beer Factory beers (which they seem to feature). The beer I tasted was good and the whole atmosphere very convivial. I shall certainly revisit next time I'm in Bristol.
martyngs
6 Jan 2013 14:35