BITE user comments - matt_k
Comments by matt_k
Another pub lunch visit. Beer was ok, staff nice for a change (usually too busy talking to each other, but to be fair that was a couple of years ago), patrons smilingly tolerant of my vocal 2 year old son. So all good I guess, except it was a bit flat somehow. It never seems very pubby when I go in here, if you know what I mean. Mind you, neither do most of the pubs in St Albans. Good job I'm moving away soon.
23 Mar 2011 10:52
I enjoyed a pint and a half of some porter called Drop O The Black Stuff in here the other Sunday, which was delicious. The food that went with it was too. Shame about the pissed-up Geordies falling over each other in the corner (it was about 1 in the afternoon), but then that's hardly the pub's fault. (They left anyway, possibly at the urging of their embarrassed girlfriends.)
Zero atmosphere in here, on a Sunday lunchtime at any rate, but I enjoyed a quick visit anyway.
23 Mar 2011 10:37
We had an unusual evening in this pub a couple of months ago...it was about 10.30 on a Friday night and we were waiting for a train home. Time enough for a swift and watery pint of John Smiths. As we sat and drank up, we realised with slowly dawning horror that a female patron sitting at a table over to our right was "going commando" while wearing a short dress...her legs hung loosely open to reveal what I can only describe as a caterpillar. Eww. We made our excuses and left.
21 Sep 2010 15:35
So, Chris, it's exactly the same as it's always been yeah??
The Crobar (stupid bloody name) is like an overpriced student union with a jukebox that only plays rock and metal, really. Which is fine, if you're in the mood for that sort of thing.
When the Astoria was still down this way, there was actually the off-chance of seeing music types in here grabbing a quick pre-gig drink (supposedly Pink was in here a couple of years back, although I really can't picture it!). I'd guess that the chances of that happening now are pretty slim...
This remains the only place I've ever been physically thrown out of and barred from, for the crime of pouring most of a bottle of Hobgoblin onto the floor. So if you're looking to escape this place - that's one way to do it. Happy memories.
15 Mar 2010 11:43
We were in here the other night, basically because it was agreed that the Princess Louise would be hideously busy and therefore not worth the effort. As it turned out, the suited and booted city crowd were still in here pissed off their faces at 8.30pm but this didn't prove an obstacle to us getting sat down and so on. (In any case, it was Friday, so fair play to them.) The city boys started to clear out not long afterwards, leaving us with a blissful three hours of carefree drinking to enjoy.
I am pleased to report that the Smiths bitter is still cheap and cheerful, and the bar staff were on good form in terms of serving us in reasonably good time and even cracking a smile more than once (careful now!).
I miss the glory days of the Louise though. It was much better before the refurb, when it was still one of town's best kept secrets. Ah well. The Cittie will have to suffice.
Chin chin!
10 Mar 2010 17:04
The marvellously named Bucking Fastard has it spot on. Ale adequate, surroundings dark and worn. It'll do for a pub lunch but I wouldn't dream of spending time in somewhere like this of a night.
25 Jan 2010 16:37
I think I've been a bit harsh on this place in the past. OK, so I still wouldn't venture into the lefthand bar under any circumstances but I've been in the righthand side a couple of times recently and downed several perfectly adequate pints of McMullen Country in the company of other jolly drunkards.
25 Jan 2010 16:23
We went in here for a meal with family over the bank holiday weekend.
The food arrived after an incredible hour and 45 minute wait (and several polite reminders from us), and when it finally arrived it was inedible. The taglietelle was foul, while the sandwiches my wife had ordered were hard and dry (presumably from being left out for so long). There was no apology or explanation from the manager, and the "managing director" seemed far more concerned with keeping the barbecue going. Which is fine, but why not close the kitchen down if the barbecue is so much more important? We refused to pay for the food in the end. Two other groups were given refunds, and at least one group of people left after over an hour's wait.
As a last observation, the building is tatty and run down, and the toilets are disgusting.
Oh dear.
5 May 2009 09:14
I was actually being sarcastic, but thanks for the thought!
15 Sep 2008 19:50
Sorry Magnus, but apparently you're quite wrong about that. I tried saying something similar myself a few months back, but I was immediatedly put right by my betters (see earlier comments). How silly I felt afterwards - fancy me thinking I have any right to my own opinion!
10 Sep 2008 16:43
Went in here for the first time in ages the other Saturday night. With it being bank holiday, the place was almost empty - enabling us to sit down and get pissed at our leisure. The staff were much better before the refurb (now most of them are like the blank-faced clones who work in the Cittie of Yorke up the road), and the beer is now pretty indifferent as well. I dunno, i've gone right off this place.
3 Sep 2008 16:34
Been in here a couple of times recently. The last time, which was a Friday night, they had one guy dashing back and forth between the two bars. Beer was barely drinkable, but luckily I was pissed already and not feeling too picky. This place must only manage to stay open at all because the next nearest pub is the Rats Castle.
9 Jul 2008 11:22
I see that bemoaners of a decent pub sign for this place now have their own group on Facebook, "Sign Whiners Unite". You go, girls!
2 Jul 2008 11:26
The George and Pilgrim, Glastonbury
Having read your other reviews, that's pretty much a gushing endorsement, Arbiter - steady on!!
30 Jun 2008 20:23
OK, so the toilets stink and it takes about 45 minutes to get a drink, but this place has a certian naive charm. You're probably better off going into the smaller half just past the kitchen, it's actually like a pub rather than a barn!
11 Jun 2008 17:16
For the record, no-one suggested otherwise regarding the licensees geographical origins! I was just making a facetious observation on the whining nature of some of the comments on here is all. Personally I like the place, there are far worse pubs in St A than this one.
10 Jun 2008 16:39
Characterless tosshole, but 2 points awarded for serving beer to us when we had been "moved on" from the Cittie Of Yorke up the road.
10 Jun 2008 16:31
They do have a tendency in this place to fill the ales completely brimming to the top - classic Southern mistake. But I still like this place, especially without the 2 feet thick layer of smoke swathing the ceiling.
4 Jun 2008 17:26
Peculiar place this one. Fairly scummy pub upstairs, incongruously luxurious toilets downstairs.
4 Jun 2008 17:05
Oh I see, you're paying a bit more for your pint and yet you're being "made to feel uneasy"...[imagine some mournful violin music here]...
29 May 2008 16:49
Christ, you people are sensitive. You wouldn't last 5 minutes in a pub up North. One cutting comment from the bar staff and you'd be crying into your beer!
29 May 2008 15:56
Yes, yes, yes! But it's too f**king busy and you can't get served anymore! I'm starting to think it was better before the refurb, at least then you could natter with the bar staff a bit. Now it's all sectioned off and you can't.
28 May 2008 11:42
A sad waste of a beautiful building.
Although some nice guest ales on occasionally.
21 May 2008 15:52
So it's "vastly improved"? Hardly difficult compared to how it was before.
I found it pompous, tedious and characterless - like many of the chinless hoorays who frequent establishments like this.
21 May 2008 15:36
Getting worrying popular this one, although the massive hoicking up of the beer prices should soon sort that out. Frankly though, I'd rather make do with the Cittie of Yorke than fight my way through the hordes in the Princess Louise up the road.
21 May 2008 15:31
I actually quite like this place during the say, the feel is not a million miles away from a Dublin pub. Decent pint of Caffreys as well, which is like gold dust these days. Shite of an evening though (like the Waterend Barn).
1 May 2008 17:27
The George and Pilgrim, Glastonbury
Tremendous little boozer with an ecclesiastical feel. Decent beer, nice staff.
19 Feb 2008 16:54
Went in here last Friday night for the first time, I thought it was outstanding. I quaffed a couple of pints of a hefty porter called Lycanthrope, sat by the open fire...lovely. How refreshing to find a real, non-poncey pub in St A. (The evening was marred only by the gobshite student and her gobshite family blathering on about their pathetic lives loud enough to exclude every other conversation. But that's hardly the pub's fault.)
18 Feb 2008 15:11
It's a triumphant return! Splendid pints of stout and the place looks fantastic (although I think I preferred the more open-plan layout from before). Superbly deserving of the hype.
8 Feb 2008 14:41
Had a few in here after a xmas do - tremendous. Decent beer, and the elderly gent glaring at us all night because we were sat in "his" seat was an added bonus!
29 Jan 2008 16:54
The Blackthorn Bar, Draperstown
What more could we ask for?
How about a review from someone who isn't staff?
16 Jan 2008 16:51
The Slug and Lettuce, St Albans
Diabolical chain-bar craphole with absolutely nothing to recommend it. Might appeal to sad ex-yuppies who think expensive means it must be good.
10 Jan 2008 16:49
Ben Crouch's Tavern, Fitzrovia
I guess why this pub is in the top 40 is because it's a fun place to stop off after spending money you don't have in the latest HMV sale (or whatever). Hardly somewhere you'd go for a stunning collection of real ales - but do you really need me to tell you that? It has Bombardier, it's not extortionately priced (by London standards anyway), the music's generally OK...that's pretty much it really. I miss the place.
7 Jan 2008 16:01
Possibly one of the oddest pubs I've ever been in. We got stranded aound here once waiting for a train and had a beer in this place. There were about 3 people in there, one of whom turned out to be the barman, all of whom were silently watching tv when we walked in. We quietly drank our drinks then made a swift exit. Bizarre.
4 Jan 2008 11:52
I had forgotten all about this place! Lovely little gaff with some nicely kept real ales on, a real find.
3 Jan 2008 15:56
How do go for a pint during lessons? Put your hand up and ask if you can be excused?
3 Jan 2008 15:39
Croydon is really quite crap for decent pubs (and everything else now you mention it) but this place is definitely well above par - guest ales reasonably poured (Hobgoblin sometimes), nicely scuzzy atmos, not bad at all.
I'm a bit mystified by the previous review - why didn't you go to Wetherspoons in the first place mate? Or a restaurant?
2 Jan 2008 14:31
Ah, I see pretty much all of Roger's reviews are in a similar vein. Fair dos then. I only assumed he must be connected with this pub in some way because he was so gushy about such an average place I spose.
To address Biker's other comments...OK, firstly, I'm not "wrong" about this pub, it's my subjective opinion. Which you are welcome to disagree with. Secondly, what are you on about with this "overpriced, pretentious and full of wannabe entertainment types"? The Cittie Of Yorke and the Princess Louise? Are we talking about the same pubs?? For a start, they're both Sam Smiths pubs (like your beloved Angel) so they're dirt cheap by London standards. Pretentious and full of wannabe entertainment types? When?
2 Jan 2008 10:52
Why is everyone still obsessed about this f**king sign? Who cares?
Anyway, I ventured in here a couple more times recently and drank some very nice ale. Staff are friendly, punters are jolly, nice little pub. Definitely one of the best in the centre of St A.
28 Dec 2007 14:05
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
Easily the best pub in that area. The Victorian interior is beautiful (and very shiny), and the staff are friendly (unlike the miserable snotty bastards you find in most of the watering holes round there). Beer's pretty decent too, so all in all one of the centre's better pubs.
28 Dec 2007 13:52
Roger B, your comment reads like an estate agent's blurb! I particularly like your summing up line at the end, and your lovingly detailed descriptions of the decor. Are you the manager by any chance?
Basically this is a fairly dull pub, and there are far better Sam Smiths pubs in town. Try the Cittie Of Yorke in Holborn or the Princess Louise (also Holborn, if it ever re-opens that is).
28 Dec 2007 13:36
I've heard this is the only decent alternative/metally/goth/etc pub round Luton. Is this the case?
27 Dec 2007 15:36
A more than decent pint of Old Speckled Hen in a really drab environment. 5 out of 10 then. My wife tells me this place used to be good back in her student days (late 90s), you wouldn't believe it now!
13 Dec 2007 16:04
Another ancient St Albans pub with bugger all to recommend it. Yeah yeah, lovely old building. But, no atmosphere at all, laughably slow and incompetent bar staff, and a snotty clientele. Crap.
13 Dec 2007 15:52
What is it with this place? You would think that a pub this old (16th century is it?) would have bags of character, yet no-one seems to be able to make a decent job of refurbing it. Sod-all atmosphere or character, or anything to recommend it really. (Still not as bad as the Blacksmiths Arms, mind you.)The beer is as crap as it was before, when it was being run as a kind of chavvy Lloyds kinda thing.
This pub continues to be strangely uninviting.
13 Dec 2007 15:48
It's impossible not to be charmed by the building, and the setting by the clock tower is rather lovely. The beers are varied and interesting (if a bit crappily poured). Sometimes a bit cliquey, but so what? Bring some friends with you!
13 Dec 2007 15:39
Fairly typical Sam Smiths pub. Decent-ish beer. bit of an old mans pub really, with theatrical types scattered about.
Not somewhere I've ever been excited by, but it'll do.
13 Dec 2007 15:30
Fairly typical Sam Smiths pub. Decent-ish beer. bit of an old mans pub really, with theatrical types scattered about.
Not somewhere I've ever been excited by, but it'll do.
13 Dec 2007 15:23
I love this place, the building itself has so much character...but can't they vary the beers a little bit? Every time it's bloody Spitfire and Deuchars IPA! Nothing wrong with either really, but come on. Sod it, I'm off to the White Hart Tap
29 Nov 2007 16:39
So there you have it in the previous comment - The Cock's target audience!
Not surprised it was anonymous, "the finer things in life"!! My aching sides!!
29 Nov 2007 16:18
The Blacksmiths Arms, St Albans
As recently as 18 months ago, this place was actually pretty cool, not that you'd guess as much if you went in there now.
These days the place is full of pissed up chavs drinking vodka red-bull mixers. The staff look like they have better things to do than actually serve you a drink, which they do badly. The beer is cheap, for a good reason - it's shite.
Yeah it has a beer garden, but so does the White Hart Tap. And the Goat.
AVOID!
29 Nov 2007 15:59
I'm told it's opening Friday next week, so December 7th. Unless Chris meant Friday this week, ie tomorrow. Woo hoo!
29 Nov 2007 14:52
Excellent Sam Smiths pub in the heart of the stinking metropolis with bags of character (check out the decor inside). Staff are a bit variable but all in all this is a more than acceptable substitute for The Princess Louise up the road (being refurbed for ages now).
21 Nov 2007 16:52
I've heard it's staying open after the supposed "one day" opening at xmas time - let's hope so eh?
8 Nov 2007 17:12
I was expecting good things from a pub that brews its own beers, so I'm sorry to report that the three different ales I tried were barely drinkable. Flat, horrible. Amongst the worst ales I've had recently. Friendly enough bar staff though. Was this just an off night?
12 Sep 2007 16:53
I foolishly re-visited this place recently. The ales are still pretty much OK, although horribly overpriced. The real problem with this place is the suited tossers bellowing into mobile phones who clearly feel well at home here. Maybe you will too, if that sounds like your bag.
12 Sep 2007 16:16
The Camp is a just about acceptable "local pub for local people", and the McMullens Best is drinkable. The right hand side is OK for a couple of pints. The left hand side I've never visited, as it is always full of pissed up England-shirt-wearing gentlemen who glare at you as you stroll innocently past. In the summer they're sat outside as well. Certainly not a pub to go out of your way for.
12 Sep 2007 16:00
Very surprised at the unfavourable reviews on here. Never had a problem with anyone behind the bar, and unlike practically every pub in St Albans the WHT actually bothers to rotate its selection of ales. Which used to bug me about The Goat, but under the new management there seems to be new stuff coming in (only so many times you can drink Spitfire and Adnams Broadside). Anyway, to my way of thinking the WHT has always struck me as a kind of surrogate Yorkshire pub for stranded ex-Yorkshire dwellers like myself. Anyone who knows what that means will get this place immediately, anyone else will probably whine about "the service" (get a life)! Oh, and since the smoking ban the air quality has improved dramtically!
12 Sep 2007 15:42
The hours I wasted in this characterless shithole hoping that Tom Baker would wander in again (he didn't). Just because a pub has "history" certainly doesn't mean it's any cop now. It isn't.
12 Dec 2006 15:51
In my book, this place is a real find. The setting is well-preserved Victorian, giving it bags of character and (wait for it) a Grade 2 listed gents downstairs! (Whether this precludes ever cleaning the gents, who knows.) Best to get yourself in early on a weekend, the cheap beer usually attracts a large crowd of discerning drunks (myself and the other members of my band amongst them).
12 Dec 2006 15:44
Sorry I missed the "comedy-trousered muppet who seemed intent on sharing his moronic conversation with the rest of the northern hemisphere to show how outrageously alternative and zany he was", but that aside I enjoyed a fine couple of hours in this place. Friendly bar staff, reasonable pints of Hobgoblin, and a jukebox playing nothing but metal. Tremendous.
12 Dec 2006 15:29
I wasn't in Bath long enough to check out all the pubs (defeatist I know) but I have to say that Raven Ale is one of the best pints I've had in a long long time! Sadly I only had time to quaff two pints before the train home.
12 Dec 2006 15:22
Some decent-ish overpriced ales to be had here, albeit in a completely soulless environment. Public order problems as well, apparently? Great.
12 Dec 2006 15:13
I really like the feel of this place, with its dark wood, hidden corners, and well-fed pub cat (bright yellow and very friendly). It's similar in feel to some of the studenty hangouts in Cambridge, with some tremendous ales (including the dark and hefty Adnams Broadside). The staff are friendly and casual, and the leather sofas are very comfy indeed. Seek out The Goat, you won't be disappointed!
18 Oct 2006 15:41
The Elephant and Castle, Amwell
I enjoyed a very nice pub lunch and a beer one lunchtime in here the other week. It's a lovely little pub tucked away in a country lane that has a very nice atmosphere. The management were quite happy for me to bring my 2 year old son in, provided we sat in the right hand bar. Food good, beer good. Lovely.
6 Jun 2011 15:28