BITE user comments - seaeagle
Comments by seaeagle
The Royal Pavilion Tavern, Brighton
A very disappointing experience despite the place being more or less deserted on Derby Day with the race on TV!
The bar staff were hard to attract, and then poured the wrong drink before insisting that they were right. Tables went uncleared for more than twenty minutes after customers left.
It's a shame the bar staff let the place down as this is a good place for real ale normally - 5 on offer tomorrow.
7 Jun 2015 12:26
Visited this pub on a couple of occasions recently when I needed to get away from my tour group. Well kept ales, a clean bar and friendly staff all made for a great experience.
10 May 2015 07:18
With Wetherspoon’s houses you generally get what you pay for, but recently I have had a bad experience at Victoria Station, and yesterday another having drinks and a meal at the King Of Wessex, Bath's branch of The Walking Stick & Zimmer Frame, turned into a nightmare.
Despite there being a massive bar, customers formed an orderly queue in front of one of the cash registers until one of the two bar staff deigned to serve you. Then they took your order and money before pouring your drinks. Whilst doing that they discussed everything from what they had for dinner to who was in their bed when they woke up!
Ham, Egg and Chips turned up with cold leather eggs and 12 cold chips (or bits of chip) each. When a member of staff passed by we commented on this but there was no concern shown.
We went on to order two desserts and a beer, but only one was served, and despite being able to tell them how much I paid (over £11 including a pint) I was told I would have to pay again.
Then the pint I had purchased with dessert (the same as the first pint of the evening) did not clear, so I took it back and was told that it couldn't be replaced as I had drunk some?
Eventually got a "manager" to agree that the portions were cold and crap, the desserts had been ordered but not both served to the same table, and, perhaps most tellingly, despite the ice machine not working, it was wrong that I got told that I could not have a lemonade and lime because I asked for ice.
We got half the cost of the meal and desserts back, and also given a survey website for Wetherspoons. This will knock their average!
31 Oct 2014 00:34
Made a return visit over the past weekend, and was delighted to note that there is a wide range of bottled ales now on the backshelf. Otherwise it's Boddies or John Smiths still.
A very friendly welcome too!
Didn't try the food which was on offer, as we ate before going out, but there was food on the go and a few people dining.
8 Apr 2013 18:27
Popped in before visiting the nearby Fish & Chip shot and enjoyed a couple of pints of one of the three reals on the bar. Good mix of people - some eating, others just drinking. A loud chap was dealt with quickly and without a fuss. Staff friendly. Then the football started ... so I went and got my spam fritter and chips!
31 Oct 2012 22:27
My friends and myself are temporarily based in the area and have been using the Little Driver as our adopted local.
The pub may be ragged around the edges, but this just adds to the atmosphere. It is a good place to people watch from the corner, or to read a paper (Sun or Times equally welcome). A large range of beers and a real ale are on offer, together with a good food menu displayed on the wall (no food on Mondays).
The staff are welcoming and friendly.
10 Aug 2012 12:45
The Whistlestop Inn, Portslade
Under new management, regretably the landlord passed away recently, but some things don't change! Music Friday and Sunday afternoons, one real ale now on and friendly bouncers at weekends.
21 Jun 2012 22:22
Called in for some food and a pint whilst staying nearby. A busy Sunday night, with music and TV competing, plus a spirited pool game being played, but it felt safe enough and the food was plentiful and well cooked. London Pride and Doombar on as reals. Only downer was a guy trying to ponce a phone call off other customers.
3 Jun 2012 23:06
Just had time for a couple of beers whilst waiting for the tram. It was a quiet, sunny, Sunday and not many in the bar. Okells IPA slid down a treat in the Beer Garden. Was last on the Island 15 years ago and enjoyed re-visiting my old favourites, of which the Mines was one! Well worth missing a tram or two to enjoy this pub ... just don't miss the last tram!
18 Apr 2012 14:40
Nice to see that very little has changed in the past 15 years, when I last visited. Walked in and was made welcome by both staff and locals. The Okells was still as good as I remember it, the bar snacks arrived quickly and the trams still stop outside!
18 Apr 2012 14:35
If you can find the place open ... we visited at 8pm on a Thursday to find it shut ... it is ok for a beer although there are no real ales on the bar. Two smoothflows (John Smiths and Boddies) and a couple of lagers are on offer.
We went back at 8pm on a Friday and found it open. A few people eating but when our party of 12 walked in and started reading the menu we were told that they were too busy to take a food order so we left.
Locals say that the landlord has lost interest and this would seem to be the case. We used this place a lot in the past when in the area but if he can afford to turn away a group that spend about �200 on food and drink when they meet up, so be it!
4 Apr 2011 01:56
The Plough at Bolnhurst, Bolnhurst
Discovered this pub whilst driving round looking for a place to try after the pub we normally visit was closed at 9pm on a Thursday! What a delight! Adnams, Potbelly Aisling, and 1 other real on offer on our visit. Returned the next night when we visited the now open regular pub, who were too busy with the thirty people, including our party of 12, to serve food. Went back to the plough just before 9pm, received a very warm welcome, were seated within 15 mins and had the best meal I've enjoyed for years!
Get there before everyone else finds out how good it is!
4 Apr 2011 01:46
Visited The Crown again yesterday! The place was not as busy as it has been in the past, but although the big screen was on at the Resturant end it wasn't too loud. My friend and I sat and talked, and enjoyed excellent food back to it's normal high quality (the best gammon i've had for ages). Bath Ales Gem was on offer and very quaffable.
16 Jan 2011 23:16
The place was plastered with signs stating "Pate de Foie Gras has been removed at the request of our customers."
I'm pleased to know this but do I need to be told at the top of the steps from the car park, at the door, and even in the gents!
Service was slow but friendly. For a destination pub, which it is because it wouldn't survive on local trade, the managers need to work out how to cope and how to keep people coming back.
20 Nov 2010 08:59
Took the long walk from the city shops with my friend who wanted to go in every pub we went past. And it was well worth it. This was our first visit for a couple of years and I was not looking forward to meeting the wasp-chewing landlady again! What a wonderful suprise.
OK, it was an autumnal day, and the place was quiet, but the staff were on the ball and the beer well presented. When we ordered some food we were pointed to a special offer so we got more food for less cash, and the food was obviously freshly prepared as we had to wait while the herb crust was knocked up for the cod, it's progress being reported to us regularly. (We've caught the cod, the crust is being crimped on it now etc.)
20 Nov 2010 08:50
MarinerBill, is Sussex too far to travel from to go here? Usually have an evening here for just the reasons given - it's not too busy, rugby is often on the big screen, the well kept real ales and the food is generally good. On a recent visit the food was not as good as normal and we got 50% back, no questions asked, without even complaining.
20 Nov 2010 08:32
Have enjoyed many a pint and some food in here with my friends at various times and have never seen any sign of trouble. I wouldn't take them in there if it was like that!
Does get very busy sometimes, but the beer is good (2 or 3 Reals) and the food quick and well prepared.
20 Nov 2010 08:24
Visited on the off-chance because other local pub unable to offer food. This will be first choice from now on. Great food, great staff, great atmosphere.
4 Oct 2008 23:05
The Ostrich, Bristol
Revisited The Ostrich today with a friend; the first time in over 5 years.
Didn't stay long though - the girl behind the bar was very abrupt if not down right rude.
It was lunchtime, and the server was cleaning the bar. We were ignored until I said hello, and then asked if they were doing bar snacks. Without even looking up from her chore I was asked what I meant. When I asked about Jacket Potato's she pointed to the board listing baguettes and, again without looking up, said "or crisps!"
We left and so did the couple who had followed us in, who had sat down at a table to be told "I don't do table service".
Won't be going back anytime soon.
18 Feb 2016 21:25