BITE user comments - paul69
Comments by paul69
Yep - still good. Marc's doing a very good job in restoring the former glory of the Vaults. Lot's of live music these days too - much appreciated.
4 Oct 2008 10:48
Went in here the other day for Tuesday night Tapas - not at all bad. Will go back. Sadly though the whole place stunk, and the interior decor (done in 2005 when QP took it over and not touched since) is getting tatty and worn.
4 Oct 2008 10:45
This place is an enigma. Beers good (several Hooky's), lagers bad. Food can be hit and miss, fish board can be good. Sadly though the landlord is a complete cock. Very unfriendly, looked at us like we were a piece of s*** when we walked in last time. Some moron keyed my girlfriends car in his car park and when we told him about it he just gave us a 'I couldn't give a ***' look. One of those landlords that only likes local villagers. So, I'll be taking my �120 for a family meal elsewhere and that idiot can shove his pub up his arse.
26 Jun 2008 17:47
The Gate Hangs High, Hook Norton
Been here lots of times as family nearby. Its a gamble everytime - sometimes good, sometimes dreadful. Hmm...
26 Jun 2008 17:42
Went back in here last week and was pleasently surprised. Good range of ales plus excellent Cotswold lager - worth the visit alone. Nice staff, helpful Eastern European girl behind the bar, food pretty good too. Back area smells of toilets though.
26 Jun 2008 17:38
Glad to report the previous owners have gone and The Vaults is on it's way to becoming a cool place again. New manager with a better attitude, needs to manage his staff better though. Last week, packed bar, took ages to get served, 5 people behind bar, only two serving, the others three just pissing about chucking ice cubes at each other. Sort it out.
Great pub though and I'm going tonight!
26 Jun 2008 17:34
Glad that this place is almost ready to re-open and had reverted to the old name The Dog & Gun. Years ago TD&G was one of the best pubs in town and the nostalgic in me hope they'll recapture that vibe - will wait and see.
26 Jun 2008 17:31
Went back the other day as was recently refitted. Not much better. Food still basic but slightly improved. Had run out of chips though... I mean, seriously? Staff seem generally hassled and not very friendly. Don't think I'd give it a third chance.
26 Jun 2008 17:28
Ah yes. The 'Liquid Lounge'. WTF's that all about?? It's like some private party in a functions room - dreadful. Shame, this place was great back in the mid-late 80s. Ah, the nostalgia - pubs closing at 11, no bouncers, people getting stabbed... weren't the old days of Banbury great? (I'm joking by the way...)
7 Jun 2007 18:35
I was back in Cardiff the other day and noticed that this place had a new name. Same owners? New owners?
9 Feb 2007 21:33
Really like it here. Hardly a local, as introduced to it by friends in Belsize. Whenever I come down, I always visit. Proper pub.
9 Jan 2007 18:06
New 70's / 80's themed bar, in the old Visions / Red Red Red premises. Cheesy music, young crowd and a good atmosphere. A bit like a less seedy, tidier Chicago Rock. Perhaps it's just novelty value but Fever has stolen Que Pasa's Thursday night crowd - last Thurs this place was rammed while QP was empty. So they're doing something right!
9 Jan 2007 18:01
Still awful - dropped in the other week on a rare visit home. Ordered a pint, oriental lady behind bar left it pouring and went off to serve someone else!! Unreal.
9 Jan 2007 17:56
Time for an update - and what a shame. As I've said before, the Vaults was the best pub in town. The new landlord / lady have spoilt it. It's too bright, too loud, staff are rude and have a very strange attitude to customers (don't accept plastic, banned football shirts). Obviously it's their prerogative to do this kind of stuff, but silly to be alienating your regulars. However its still a great place - just wish the old managers were still there.
9 Jan 2007 17:05
Time for an update - following the decline of Que Pasa, Bonito's is probably the best place at night in town now. Well done Leroy - everythings good here. Nice atmosphere, good surroundings, lovely bar girls, comfortable and happy. Still like it.
9 Jan 2007 17:00
Time for an update. Not very happy with this place. Very disappointed as it used to be a great night out. Firstly - staff problems. The old manager was an ignorant pig who accused my friends of stealing drinks from behind the bar - totally wrong, unfounded and scurrilous claims. Glad he's gone / got sacked. Secondly - crap security. My girlfriend had her purse nicked in here during one of the world cup matches. I asked the manager to check the CCTV - he told me he hadn't switched it on that day. Pathetic. Thirdly, all the nice bar staff appear to have left - what a shame. I was hoping being taken over by a nationwide chain wouldn't have an adverse effect but it looks like it sadly has. They really need to get their act together - there's a lot more competition in Banbury now and people are staying away from Que Pasa.
9 Jan 2007 16:45
Forget it unless you're a die-hard local. The epitome of clicke-dom.
21 Jan 2006 21:55
Somewhere in hell there is a Chevy's Bar with their crap 80's decor, their multi-coloured 'cocktails' and their cheesy music. Dear oh dear... Didn't know places like this still existed...
21 Jan 2006 21:50
Sounds like that last comment was made by a Moloko employee! I'd heard great things about this place but was very disappointed. I found it slightly sleazy, and the barman was downright ignorant. What a shame.
12 Nov 2005 18:28
God this place is shocking. I've seen people get really badly beaten up in here, I've seen a couple have sex on the dancefloor... It really is the absolute pits. Crap music, horrible, drunk people and the most disgustimg toilets I've ever seen. For a major nationwide chain this is bad.
12 Nov 2005 18:23
Newest bar in town (opened summer 04), a brave attempt to have something a bit different. Quite sophisticated, funky, chilled out music, comfy seating and a well stocked bar. Like it.
12 Nov 2005 18:19
Used to live a couple of doors down so was a regular for a while. Nice, cosy friendly pub. Off the usual circuit so none of the usual idiots going in. Very much a locals pub but not at all cliquey which is rare (and good!)
12 Nov 2005 18:03
Used to be lovely in here 10 - 15 years ago. Now it's hprrible. Agree totally with 'ashbye's comments.
12 Nov 2005 17:55
Back in 2000-2001-2002 this was a really happening place and had ditched it's '90's roughness. Good looking girls, cool music and nice decor. But it's getting dated now. Carla's right - needs to move on a bit.
12 Nov 2005 17:53
Nice old proper pub. Not really my scene but it's good that this kind of place can co-exist with Yates's just a few doors down.
12 Nov 2005 17:50
The New Flyer / Ye Olde Auctioneer, Banbury
As far as I know, this pub (originally The Flying Horse) is the oldest one in town. Now it's the flyer again. Not bad - bit of a heavy metal pub but quite friendly and old-fashioned. Great jukebox.
12 Nov 2005 17:48
Recently totally re-fitted. Nice for a quiet drink and chat. Foods pretty good. Very hot Aussie barmaid last time I was in, too.
12 Nov 2005 17:45
Bit of a sports bar - nice seating out front in the summer. Recently visited by Chris Moyles and his Radio 1 team.
12 Nov 2005 17:41
The Vaults was once the best pub in town - a proper old style bar, dark and woody, amongst all the chains and trendy places. Recently tho they've started pandering to the majority and started playing head splitting dance music at the weekends but it's still a great pub, and one of few with character. Been coming in here on and off for 20 years so I've seen many changes. New landlord and lady (as of Summer 05) so be interesting to see how it evolves. Nice pub.
12 Nov 2005 17:38
A great place to spend a Friday or Saturday night - really nice atmosphere, hardly ever see any trouble despite going virtually every weekend. Good when it was the Toad, too. Music's okay, bar staff are lovely (shout out to Sam), and the girls are cute. I was worried when I heard Que Pasa had taken it over as I thought it may lose it's Toad charm but they've done well to keep it. Many a happy night in here - many more to come I'm sure. One bad point - they need more bar staff. To wait 15 - 20 mins to get served is a regular occurence and frankly is a joke.
12 Nov 2005 17:33
Okay for an after work pint, but big and soul-less. Too smokey, no music, zero atmosphere but hey, cheap beer! Yep - typcial big chain pub. Gary 06 is right that it needs tarting up majorly.
12 Nov 2005 17:27
I agree with anonymous. It used to be good with all the Irish lads behind the bar, but they've all left now. Now it's horrible.
12 Nov 2005 17:24
Not a place I go to often as it's on the edge of town, but I have to say the last time I ate there (June 05) the food was atrocious. Cold, bland and plastic.
12 Nov 2005 17:21
Bonito's, Banbury
Bonitos only opens occasionally now, and as a result seems to have lost its clientele - shame as it has the potential to the hotspot it was a few years ago.
17 Jan 2012 16:57