BITE user comments - roderick_alleyn
Comments by roderick_alleyn
Decent boozer tucked away. Popped in on the way to a concert at St Paul's church round the corner. Good mix of local residents, workers and pre-concert goers.
Decent Shepherd Neame beer too: Spitfire, Master Brew and Bishop's Finger.
15 Mar 2012 09:24
I have had a couple of very enjoyable Sunday lunches here.
It's a spacious pub with a lovely garden. Food is good and there are plenty of tables inside and outside so even on a busy Sunday we didn't have to queue. Beer is excellent - always at least four cask ales on tap, usually sourced locally. Staff are friendly. Can't really fault it. A gem of a pub.
8 Aug 2011 17:27
The King Charles I, Kings Cross
This has to be one of the most pleasant pubs to visit in the Kings Cross area. Good ale (Bateman's, Courage and Adnams were available last night), pleasant 'local' atmosphere and interesting decor.
Definitely worth a visit.
17 Jul 2008 11:52
This is one of the better pubs withing spitting distance of Oxford Street; and, let's face it, there aren't many such pubs. Fuller's Pride, Bombadier, and Brains Bitter on draught. Pride was very quaffable.
Waitress service too: Stand outside on a summer's afternoon enjoying the view and a barmaid will bring you a beer.
What more could you ask for?
27 Jun 2008 15:24
The Devonshire Arms, Marylebone
I think CheshireCheese must have had an off day. I had a very pleasant drink here last night after work.
Bar staff were friendly and prompt. Good pint of Young's Special and Adnam's bitter.
Decent food menu, reasonably priced.
16 May 2008 12:16
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street
Difficult to find but well worth the hunt. I thought it was closed at first, so dark were the windows from outside. Very Dickensian place, lots of nooks & crannies. Lovely real fire roaring away in the bar. A typical Sam Smiths pub - full of character with decent but very cheap beer.
15 Apr 2008 12:55
The Seven Stars, Chancery Lane
Had a cracking pint of Harveys here last night. Small but welcoming. Pleasant staff and a pleasant pub cat.
15 Apr 2008 12:52
A traditional pub. Quiet and friendly.
Limited selection of ales (Adnams and Bass) but decent nonetheless.
Worth a visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of Picadilly/St James's.
26 Feb 2008 15:48
They don't get much better than this for quality of beer. An excellent selection of ales, well kept with a good mix of local and guest ales. The staff are happy to give you a free taster before you buy. Some cracking Everard's 'Pitch Black' stout and Caledonian's 'Tried and Tested' were available the other day. Robinson's Old Tom and Batemans XB coming soon. But you've got to be quick; the stuff sells quickly.
A pleasure too to go to a pub where the landlord is happy to spend time to talk about his beers and do so with a passion for the subject.
Long may the Red Lion continue.
26 Feb 2008 15:41
Worth a visit if only for its history - Apparently, the last remaining galleried coaching inn in London. Beer is standard Greene King fayre but drinkable - they have their own GK house ale which was ok.
14 Feb 2008 09:46
Strange. I had a very drinkable glass of Batemans XXXB here last night. There wasn't a huge crowd in and I got served immediately. No complaints form me then - but then it wasn't a busy summer's night and I didn't try the food.
14 Feb 2008 09:43
I disagree with that last comment. The Winter Warmer was particularly good. It's a pleasant pub.
14 Feb 2008 09:35
Sharp's DoomBar still on tap. Some other very good guest ales including Hobgoblin's winter ale and Hogs Back's Traditional English Ale. Also Adnam's.
Agree about the decor. A bit of a dump
18 Dec 2007 12:46
Good place for Sunday lunch but you have to get there early or book. Fine beer, friendly staff and locals.
14 Dec 2007 15:44
The Angel in the Fields, Bond Street
Great pub. Quiet atmosphere of a lunchtime. No piped music. Just the low hum of the drinkers' conversation. Delicious Sovereign Bitter and Wheat beer. Lovely dark wood panelling and stained windows. Reminds me of the other good Sam Smiths pubs in Holborn ( Princess Louise and Cittie Of Yorke) but a lot quieter and smaller.
You can't fault Sam Smith's pricing policy. Where else can you get two quality pints of bitter in London for less than �3.60(that's for the two!)?
14 Dec 2007 14:26
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The Nags Head, Belgravia
A contrast to the Wilton Arms two doors down. Whereas the Wilton has more of a standard pub feel to it ( it's owned by brewery Shepherd Neame) the Nags Head is a free house, and it shows.
It has lots of 'character' i.e. every spare inch of wall and ceiling is covered with amusing or curious objects, from model planes to organ pipes to antique hats.
I can't help but think they've gone overboard a bit though and it all feels a bit faux. Even the olde worlde cast iron ranges in the fireplace are actually gas fired with fake coals.
Nevertheless, they serve a very good pint of Adnam's , but only the Bitter and Broadside. A couple more options on the ale pumps would have been very welcome.
It's quite small inside, but that gives it a lively atmosphere and the management offer table service so you don't have to pick your way through the crowd to the bar.
Fair point about the 'No phones' sign from the previous reviewer. I didn''t notice it until I'd been in there for several minutes and it looks no different from all the other posters and signs on the walls so you could be forgiven for either not spotting it or thinking it was another of their 'charming' decorations.
Much more of a pub for the Knightsbridge types than the Wilton next door - lots of plummy accents, quilted barbour jackets, rugger shirts and bespoke suits.
15 Mar 2012 09:31