BITE user comments - son_of_odin
Comments by son_of_odin
Wee Jimmy Krankie was in there the other night (it is just across road from theatre)
19 Dec 2016 15:12
Traditional pub with decent beer at reasonable price, and a big screen at one end of the bar showing football
23 Sep 2016 08:00
My first visit to the A since the new tenant took over the lease.
Positives. There is now a decent quality free wifi. Guinness remains the same quality at the same price. A lot of the real ale has disappeared to be replaced by so called craft beers, which means some of the irritating beer tickers now go down the road. Toilets remain unhygienic which will keep on deterring the sorts of blokes who user moisturiser and hair gel.
Negatives. No bags of scratchings available. No pork pies. No lottery. Jukebox has disappeared to be replaced by APP run by the landlord, so the diverse music chosen and paid for by customers replaced by safe anodyne soft rock. No football on TV, which probably explains why it was unusually quiet before and after the Blues game (usually heaving on match day Saturdays). Bar seems to be full of grumpy old regulars grumbling about the changes that have happened and rumoured forthcoming changes, such as turning it into a wine bar, getting rid of Guinness and replacing the pool table with dining tables.
19 Sep 2016 14:22
Selection of real ales, but not kept very well. Guinness shooters are good.Thursday night seems to be kareoke night.
11 Jan 2015 20:53
Overpriced, low grade real ale, customers look like Apprentice wannabees.
11 Jan 2015 20:51
The Hen and Chickens, Birmingham
Looks a bit of a dive from the outside, and is on the border of civilisation (city centre) and dodgy innercity area, but inside is ok. Pool and 2 big tellys showing football, acceptable beer though nothing on draught for real ale bores. Has an exclusively injun menu, reasonably priced, massive portions, and those eatng seemed happy with their grub.
12 Dec 2013 13:09
Went in there once, scary place, downed pint very quickly. Not that surprised that someone got shot there at the weekend. Usually a paddywagon or two outside on match days.
12 Aug 2013 21:18
The Figure of Eight, Birmingham
Seems fairly civilised on a Thursday evening, good service, reasonable beer at competitive prices.
20 Apr 2013 18:46
The Figure of Eight, Birmingham
Seems fairly civilised on a Thursday evening, good service, reasonable beer at competitive prices.
20 Apr 2013 18:46
Visited this place for first time in ages, on a recommendation, having been told it had had a makeover. On the plus side, the plastic glasses have been replaced with glass glasses, so must be a lot safer. This may be due to pricing chavs out of the place, £3.60 for poorly poured sour, tasting Guinness, should do the trick,. Decor wise, the ony noticeable change is that the stage has been replaced by an oversized dj booth (has Barry been poached from down the road?). There are also a load of church hall style foldaway tables, presumably stowed away when the disco starts. A pub for rich people with hearing difficulties, no taste buds nor sense of smell.
20 Apr 2013 18:43
Visited this place for first time in ages, on a recommendation, having been told it had had a makeover. On the plus side, the plastic glasses have been replaced with glass glasses, so must be a lot safer. This may be due to pricing chavs out of the place, £3.60 for poorly poured sour, tasting Guinness, should do the trick,. Decor wise, the ony noticeable change is that the stage has been replaced by an oversized dj booth (has Barry been poached from down the road?). There are also a load of church hall style foldaway tables, presumably stowed away when the disco starts. A pub for rich people with hearing difficulties, no taste buds nor sense of smell.
20 Apr 2013 18:43
Sainsburys opened here a couple of months ago, can buy beer here at 7am on a Sunday morning
11 Apr 2013 20:47
The Shakespeare Inn, Birmingham
Reasonable pub, if a little dull. Beer good and leather chairs very comfy.
11 Apr 2013 20:33
Still quite a rough place, my mate said it was like an estate pub, even though it is in the city centre. Toilets easy to find, use your nose.
11 Apr 2013 20:32
Dull clean pub, food reasonable and fairly priced. Big telly for footie but couldnt find jukebox. Does food all day. No nutters present.
24 Oct 2012 20:32
The Bridge, Birmingham New Street station
Station bar, so a place for a quick pint between trains, though I got the impression some of the punters were regulars. No one in there looked particularly happy. �3.80 for a fairly insipid pint. Didn't appear to be any toilets, though there are the ones on the station concourse that cost 30p to enter, which if one were to have session there, could beciome very expensive. There was was a menu on the table which was very minimalist. Bacon rolls available until 11, whilst the all day menu had one item, hot dogs!
3 Apr 2012 13:01
Dropped in here, whilst the bird was having a haircut, as it was the nearest boozer to the hairdressers. Over �4 a pint!!!!!!!
18 Jan 2012 12:57
Dropped in here, whilst the bird was having a haircut, as it was the nearest boozer to the hairdressers. Over �4 a pint!!!!!!!
18 Jan 2012 12:57
Very expensive more like a restaurant than a pub. Nice location.
15 Dec 2011 12:31
Might claim to be a rock bar, but didn't hear any TRUE METAL in there
15 Dec 2011 07:46
In addition previous review, dog friendly, good food, toilets need decorating.
15 Dec 2011 07:44
Closed down, being converted into an Italian themed family restaurant.
15 Dec 2011 07:42
Been there again recently, nothing much has changed from my prebious review apart from the prices.
15 Dec 2011 07:36
If you order the Sunday roast in here, you only get 2 (admittedly very tasty)small roast potatoes, with the roast beef and Yorkshires.
9 May 2011 12:59
Former railway station, with tables outside, so wopuld be a dream pub for trainspotters. Except, there aren't many trains going past. Clean inside, beer acceptable, comfy chairs, SKY TV. In smarter part of Harrogate so not many riff raff in there.
9 May 2011 12:56
Pretentious and overpriced. Table servers don't know the difference between diet and full fat pop. The person who wrote the specials menu yesterday, needs to resit their CSEs.
27 Apr 2011 12:46
The Queens Head Inn, Kettlesing
Out of the way village pub. Seems to be aimed more at diners rather than drinkers, though the place did appear to have a small number of aged, red nosed regulars. Had a couple of decent pints of Old Peculiar. This place apparently takes pride in the reputation of the steaks it serves. Mine was a good steak, but I don't think it is worth going out of your way to eat here.
11 Apr 2011 13:02
The Devonshire Hotel, Grassington
Beer garden at back and tables at the front on the main drag in the village. This hotel doesn't appear to employ a cleaner, so I would never consider staying, eating or sitting indoors at this place. Couldn't fault the beer though I was told the bottled pop was flat.
11 Apr 2011 12:56
Dog friendly pub in Dales village. Large, partially covered, south facing beer garden overlooking the river. Good beer and food, though, in the heights of summer, this place is a wasp magnet.
11 Apr 2011 12:51
The Wellington Hotel, Birmingham
Made an unplanned visit last night due to mammoth queues outside the O2 for the Manowar gig. Place was full of metallers, giving a cracking atmosphere. A couple of points to the management. If you are charging �3.50 for a (decent tasting) Guinness, then don't rip the punters off even more by leaving a 2 inch head on it. Second, if you are going to put up food menus in the gents, employ a cleaner, a builder and a plumber.
Still had to queue half an hour to get in to Manowar.
28 Mar 2011 12:54
Wierd place. Pub hasn't got a name, hasn't got a roof or a door. So cold in winter they have portable industrial heaters. Standard Wetherspoons fare. Bookies next door.
23 Mar 2011 13:02
Currently being refurbished, looks as though it is going to be another one of those dreadful, all the poor quality food you can eat for a fiver, chinese banquet places.
23 Mar 2011 12:52
The bouncers wear gloves, presumably so the punches don't leave any fingerprints.
23 Mar 2011 12:49
There is a secret entrance, at the back of the wholesale market.
23 Mar 2011 12:48
Front cover of UB40s Best of Volume 1 was snapped in the toilets.Ised to be a good boozer.
22 Mar 2011 12:50
The Lathkil Hotel, Over Haddon
Good location, good beer, wouldn't eat hear - see comment by Steve 2905.
22 Mar 2011 07:40
The Bulls Head, Ashford in the Water
Walked in, had a look around, decided to go to the other pub in the village across the road.
22 Mar 2011 07:37
The Monsal Head Hotel, Monsal Head
Not a very big place, probably only seats about 30 people, and too many of these are having tea or coffee, despite the fact that next door there is a tea room. Room for a lot more in the beer garden (with plenty of covered seats for whenit rains) with views over the Monsall viaduct. Food a bit expensive but the steak is very good. Toilets need refurbishing and a cleaner. There appears to be an unused area upstairs, so if I ran the place I would look to develop that. Dogs allowed inside. Reasonable choice of beer.
22 Mar 2011 07:33
Large (even by their standards) Wetherspoons. Nipped in for a swift one on Saturday morning whilst woman was in barbers. Populated by couples out shopping drinking coffee plus the regulatory quota of alcoholics. Has got a decent sized south facing patio area outside, which catches the sun from 10am onwards, and looks onto a car park. Pint I had was acceptable and prcies were as expected. Overall, not a bad place for a quick pint or two but not a place to spend a whole session.
21 Mar 2011 12:50
Square and Compasses, North Rigton
Food is allegedly very good in here. Me and the woman went in there last Saturday evening, and found the menu was far too extravagent. No starter she could have (only 1 I would eat), and nothing on the standard mains menu for either of us (far too vegetarian and poncey). There was a steak on the specials board and that was it. Place was virtually deserted.
21 Mar 2011 12:41
One good thing about this place not selling Guinness, is that on St Patricks night, it wasn't plagued by Plastics.
18 Mar 2011 11:38
If you order the gammon, you have to choose between egg or pineapple. If you have both, 35p for the egg will appear on the tab. Apart from that, a decent, cosy, village pub. Good food, selection of ales plus a shop selling fudge, jam etc.
14 Mar 2011 07:43
The other review of this place from 18 months ago seems fairly accurate. Would also add that it has a big telly showing the football and that the hot roast beef baguettes, are almost a foot long, and come with gravy and a good portion of chips. One downside of the place was that were some noisy infants in there.
14 Mar 2011 07:38
Exceptionally good Guinness served in here. Keep off the carpet.
10 Mar 2011 07:31
Jug and Glass Inn, Nether Langwith
Picturesque pub in Nottinghamshire village, southy facing with stream and grass outside. Just up the road across the border into Derbyshire, there is a council estate, so this place gets a variety of customers.
Starvin Marvin Blastbeat would approve of the mixed grill in here. Also does a very good lamb pudding.
3 Mar 2011 12:53
Starvin Marvin Blastbeat must have no tastebuds if he managed to finish off his plate in here.
1 Mar 2011 12:41
When England failed to win the bid for the 2018 World Cup, it was suggested this may have been due to "goings on" at FIFA. I have an alternative, theory. I believe the delegates visited Wembley in the same way as the average fan. Namely they arrived by train at Wembley Central Statiion, an old school Eastern European style concrete dungeon, smelling of stale urine, came out into the open air to see a grim high street with Primark, Poundland and boarded up shops. Feeling thirsty they would have gone into the first pub they found, in the direction of the stadium. The Bear.
As it was a match day, the clientele were all bluenoses, so it is hard to judge what they regulars are like , but based on the state of the toilets (far worse than any O'Neills and almost as bad as the Costers), and the overall state of the place, it would be safe to assume that personal hygiene is not one of their priorities. Although the place sold a couple of ales (if Courage counts as that) I decided it would be wiser to stick to Stella. The plastic beaker it was served in, made it taste warmer and weaker that usual and left a nasty plastic taste in the mouth. All draught pints were �3.35, whether it was house lager, Guinness or premium lager, the pricing policy for match day, according to one of the old brasses serving the beer. Geezer in front of me looked horriified when he handed over a tenner for 3 pints of house lager and was told it wasn't enough. Most of the staff seemed to be typical cockney stereotypes. The glass collectors were short, potbellied, tattooed old blokes in grubby white England tops, the Doris behind the bar was revealing far too much cleavage for her age whilst the bouncers looked like extras from the Sweeney.
A few plus points. Sky Sports on a couple of big screens and the beer was 95p a pint cheaper, and despite what I've said about the quality, considerably better than the slops on sale inside the stadium.
1 Mar 2011 12:37
My taxi took me past here well after midnight last Saturday, and what I saw will probably explain why I've never been brave enough to venture inside despite the fact that it is probably the 4th nearest pub (and less than 15 minutes walk) from my place. As the taxi got within 200 yards I could see a blue flashing light, when it got closer, there were loads of police cars, an ambulance, the sound of barking police dogs and all of the customers hanging around outside. Needless to say, I'll continue to give this place a wide berth.
1 Mar 2011 12:30
Country pub, that brews its' own beers, ranging from 3.6% to over 6%. Bottles can be bought to take away.
Tried a pint of the Amber (5%), not to my liking, bit of harsh taste. Next, a pint of IPA (5%), which |I would highly recommend. Then a pint of Blackout (5%), which was a stout with a strong but strange treacle flavour, unsure about this one, might have to go back and have another pint.
Place does food, the chips are possibly the best I've ever had in a pub.
Dog friendly. Only gets 8 out of 10, as too family friendly. If dogs have to be kept on leads, so should children.
21 Feb 2011 13:08
The Wellington Hotel, Birmingham
Drove past this place yesterday evening, a few blokes in tracksuits were standing outside in doorway, in a cloud of smoke. Enough said.
21 Feb 2011 12:58
A few notable events on my last visit that I observed from my perch. Didn't seem to be as busy as usual.
Beer I had (number 1) was perfectly acceptable.
Some geezers took their pints back and got them changed, overheard it was something to with sparklers.
A tramp was going round selling the Big Issue, only it wasn't the Big Issue. He was waving some free magazineabout, hoping, people would pay him to go away.
Couple of middle aged blokes almost came to blows, one left, after a very heated debate and some handbags.
16 Feb 2011 13:26
Good to report that the price of Guinness, is still the same as it was before the January VAT and beer duty increases.
16 Feb 2011 13:17
The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
Blastbeat - you didn't specify the type of wine, this can vary in quality quite considerably. �6 for a glass of house paint stripper would be quite extreme but , if it was a 250 cl glass, from a bottle, that would be in the shops for over a tenner, then the mark up would be reasonable.
3 Feb 2011 12:48
On of those pubs with quite a few hand pumps at the bar, all with the labels turned round. Only beers available appeared to be the house bitter and lager plus the Guinness (which was reasonably good). Lethargic staff, comfy sofas, Sky TV, though not many customers for a Saturday.
3 Feb 2011 12:41
Reasonable place to go for a couple of pints to break up a shopping trip, slap bang in the centre.
23 Dec 2010 10:58
Not too bad for a Yates. One of the better pubs I've been to in Blackpool.
23 Dec 2010 10:51
Went in on a Sunday lunchtime and place looked as though it hadn't been cleaned after the Saturday night. Most customers seemed to be stags and hens having hair of the dog. Nothing interesting to drink. Pie contained mainly gravy, with a bit of gristle, whilst the battered cod was almost hollow. If you brave the loos, then you are brave.
23 Dec 2010 10:49
Heard a rumour this is going to be converted into a Sainsburys Local
23 Dec 2010 10:44
Someone who drinks in there, told me at the weekend, that this place is still like it was when it featured on "Britain's Toughest Pubs" a few years ago.
23 Dec 2010 10:37
Popped in for a quick pint, on the way from the Peg to Scruffys, a few weeks ago. It was 10.50pm on a Saturday night, probably about 30 customers in there, and barman said last orders had been and gone. Lights behind the bar were dimmed and a few people leaving as we walked in, so very much doubt it was a case of barman not wanting us in his pub.
Nice to see pubs doing so well, that they can afford to shut up shop early on a Saturday night.
23 Dec 2010 10:27
No longer with us. Opposite the Court, so a place where the crims could celebrate getting away with it. Last time I went in, when the DJ put on the Stealers Wheel song that features in Reservoir Dogs, the criminal classes started violently bashing their beer mugs, to accompany the music.
23 Dec 2010 10:15
Don't go if you are thirsty. After waiting over 10 minutes at bar, the lone barman, who ignored the 10 or so customers waiting, to complete table orders, told everyone that he only served drinks and that food should only be ordered at the tables. Sat down, ordered at table, waitress initially refused to take drinks order, food only was her job. Finally 35 minutes after entering the pub, the burgers arrived, a minute later the drinks arrived.
14 Dec 2010 12:52
Not sure I would be brave enough to go in there on a Friday night. It had "that" sort of look about it, plus the bonus feature of a gigantic George Cross painted on the outside wall, adjacent to the bungalow pub style car park. Went in on a lunchtime, when it was quiet. Food was cheap, but nothing special, would fill a hole if hungry. A small selection of real ales amongst the kegs, and a few big screens showing the football.
29 Nov 2010 14:23
Was open this time I tried it. Traditional pub in upmarket village, Sam Smiths bitter, stout and lager. Stone floor, log fire, armchairs and surprisingly cheap, but the food was of a good quality. Steak and stout pudding was quality winter fayre. Couldn't work out out why there were only about a dozen customers in the place at a peak time.
29 Nov 2010 14:14
Convivial atmosphere when I walked place a couple of weeks ago. A couple of hundred regulars, drinking on the pavement outside. Half a dozen police vans stopping them from meeting and greeting, a large number of visitors from East London, being given a gratis guided tour of Digbeth and Bordesley by the local community bobbies.
22 Nov 2010 13:40
Never seen any worrying "incidents" in this place, my previous comment was referring to a different pub.
22 Nov 2010 13:21
Real ale quid a pint (while stocks last). Probably explains why bouncers had to rugby tackle some big inebriated geezer and sit on him until the police turned up.
22 Nov 2010 13:20
Someone get shot outside here at the weekend. BBC and local papers haven't said if any customers were involved.
22 Nov 2010 13:18
This place gets better and better. Couldn't drag myself away last Saturday. Loads of bands playing for free including Furyon and a hardcore outfit a Rolf Harris looaklike.
22 Nov 2010 13:14
Had a pint of number 1 the other day (Wye Valley I think), served by a fairly surly member of staff. Although perfectly drinkable, I wasn't over impressed with it, and have had better ales in the last couple of weeks such as ESB, Badger and Black Sheep.
22 Nov 2010 13:09
Real ale quid a pint (while stocks last). Probably explains why bouncers had to rugby tackle some big inebriated geezer and sit on him until the police turned up.
22 Nov 2010 13:03
Went here last Monday lunchtime, around 1pm. It was shut. Looked ok through the windows. Blackboard outside says it does Sunday roasts.
18 Nov 2010 09:45
The Grosvenor Arms Aldford, Aldford
Visited again. Had a few pints of decent, refreshing 4% ale called Lord Lucan. Game pie very good too.
1 Nov 2010 16:32
The Figure of Eight, Birmingham
Ok during the week, does the standard JDW meals and must say the Thursday night hot chicken massala is, with a side portion of bombay spuds is better, in terms of price and quality than some of the balti houses nearby.
Avoid at the weekend, has a bloke in the gents selling toiletries, and it attracts the tanked up lower orders, having a cheap pre Flares pint, who are too tight to go in the Walkabout, O'Neills or the Sports Bar.
19 Oct 2010 13:02
Ok during the week, does the standard JDW meals and must say the Thursday night hot chicken massala is, with a side portion of bombay spuds is better, in terms of price and quality than some of the balti houses nearby.
Avoid at the weekend, has a bloke in the gents selling toiletries, and it attracts the tanked up lower orders, having a cheap pre Flares pint, who are too tight to go in the Walkabout, O'Neills or the Sports Bar.
12 Oct 2010 15:32
Decent, dog friendly pub in small town / large village. Reasonably priced food, would recommend the meat pie, but order an extra portion of chips as, they seem to be rationed. Was driving so, stuck to shandy, so unable to comment on the beer, but seemed to have a few ales available, and it had the feel of a place that knew how to serve beer properly.
12 Oct 2010 07:40
Village pub that seems to be aimed at diners, with all of the tables laid out, and mostly reserved. There is however quite a bit of room, for those just wanting a drink, it certainly isn't cramped.
Food very good, would recommend their shoulder of mutton. Has a selection of real ales and also does Stella.
12 Oct 2010 07:33
The Coach and Horses, Harrogate
Had a couple of decent, reasonably priced (for the location) pints of Copper Dragon, which was poured properly, northern style.
11 Oct 2010 13:00
The Brown Horse Inn, Bowness on Windermere
Country pub, a few miles on A4074 out of Bowness. Some of the beers are made on site in the micro brewery. Big telly showing SKY football. Food very good.
29 Sep 2010 12:49
First visit in 12 years, and the first person spotted has a shaven head and a neck tattoo bigger than Kerry Kings'. A traditional Irish boozer, decent Guinness, Ansells mild, real ale for �2.50, attentive staff, trio of diddymen playing Whiskey In The Jar and other Irish standards - but not drowning out the conversation, comfy seats, dark lighting, candles in wine bottles on the tables, old biddies twirly dancing to the band. My mate said the only thing this place was missing was Peter Kay (in Brian Potter mode). Recommend the place.
22 Sep 2010 13:48
�6.20 for a Guinness and a bottle of Holsten Pils served by disinterested staff. Located in a run down industrial wasteland, about a mile from the city centre. No real ales. Band playing Beatles instumentals in Ska style. Neds attracted by said band. Someone thrown out to prevent a fight starting. Gang of layabouts skulking around furtively in the dark outside. Customers driving cars away from pub with no silencer on exhaust. What more could you want from a pub?
22 Sep 2010 13:39
The Pit and Pendulum, Nottingham
If you visit Nottingham, this is one THE places to go to.
16 Sep 2010 15:09
Agree with with nokegthanks about the general ambience. Can't fault the beer though it does seem to have a stalinist attitude to anything that hasn't been brewed in a micro brewery, and this type of attitude seems to be reflected in the dullards who frequent the place. There are plenty of better places selling a range of quality beers within walking distance of here, where you can enjoy yourself. Anchor, Old Joint Stock and Old Contemptibles to name a few.
16 Sep 2010 07:29
Snug clean pub, in run down bit of Brum. Bit dull and quiet to spend a whole evening there, but 5 or so minutes walk from the Anchor and White Swan in Digbeth, so worth dropping in for a couple on a crawl or when the Anchor has ticker festivals on. Decent beer, clean customers. Also a bit like a Tardis (you'll have to go to find out).
16 Sep 2010 07:18
Agree with zmills, walked through the door, very musty smell to the place walked straight out to another pub in the village.
15 Sep 2010 07:48
Food is very good, but yet another place that is geared towards diners rather than drinkers.
15 Sep 2010 07:45
Fine for a few drinks, quite tatty inside so muddy boots and dogs welcome, but the food (admittedly in large portions for those with no taste buds) looks atrocious. If you are hungry, go up the road to the Scotsmans Pack.
15 Sep 2010 07:42
Scotsmans Pack Inn, Hathersage
Very good food, but not the place to go if you just want a pint, as most of the place is reserved for diners. If in Hathersage, come here if you want some decent pub grub, go to the Littlejohn about 5 minutes walk away if you want a few jars.
15 Sep 2010 07:39
Good beer , good food, good service. Shame it isn't open all day for food at weekends.
14 Sep 2010 16:02
The Anglers Rest, Millers Dale
Good little pub, ideal to stop here for a pint and a sandwich if doing the Monsall Trail. Does a few real ales and also proper meals.
Bar area, which probably seats around 30, is muddy boot and dog friendly. Was in there once when there were 9 dogs, slightly out numbering the humans. Can get packed at weekends, especially if a tribe of thrifty middle class ramblers come in. These can be spotted by the fact that the blokes nurse a half, while their women have a coffee (often from their own flask) and eat their own sandwiches.
14 Sep 2010 15:54
This place could be a goldmine. Nearest pub to Dovedale car park, which is rammed at weekends, even in winter. Just needs to employ a cleaner and a cook.
14 Sep 2010 15:30
Watts Russel Arms, Alstonefield
Disagree with goalman2000. People who run this place are very friendly, if a little eccentric. The food is of a very high quality, you pay for what you get. Can always go to the chippy in Longnor.
The pub dog, Hector, is massive. Well worth a visit just to meet him.
14 Sep 2010 15:17
Seems to have changed a pub that that offered a few simple, but tasty offerings (pies, steaks etc) , to a foodie establishment.
14 Sep 2010 15:12
The Devonshire Arms, Hartington
Good place to visit after (or during) a walk in this parts of The Peaks. Beer garden at rear, benches and tables at the front, plus an ice cream van and occasionally some morris dancers. Small cosy dog friendly bar and bigger lounge / restaurant if boots aren't muddy. Does food all day at weekend, decent sized portions at reasonable prices. Also worth nipping over the road to buy some cheese from the cheese factory shop, whilst there.
14 Sep 2010 14:59
The Princess Victoria, Matlock Bath
Had a makeover a couple of years ago. Don't use it anymore.
14 Sep 2010 14:19
Reasonable pub. Riverside beer garden. Food edible but not special.
14 Sep 2010 14:17
Fine to sit outside, with a good pint, but a smells like a bit of a Vinegar Joes chippy inside.
14 Sep 2010 14:14
Place to go in Matlock Bath, if you like steak or fish. Very cramped inside, but tables outside, so you can admire the scenery and the motorbikes. If you are lucky, someone will order oysters, so you can watch them eat them with a big bib on.
14 Sep 2010 14:04
Afon Conwy, Llandudno Junction
Infested with children, the staff wear clown costumes. Do I need to go on?
14 Sep 2010 13:00
The only proper pub in this part of the city centre (the rest of the area was demolished and rebuilt with cheap concrete years ago). Across the road is the gay quarter, straight ahead a few dangerous chav disco bars and Mr Egg and to the right the chinese quarter and a load of bars that don't sell beer, so the customers seem to be a mixed bag.
Can get a real ale in here for �2.50, which I'm told was very good and Guinness is under the critical �3 pricing barrier. Place has a neatly furnished lounge plus a smaller bar area, which has a big telly showing football.
Has a menu with reasonably cheap bar meals served all day, the usuals like chicken burgers or pie and chips for a fiver etc, plus, one you don't see in many pubs nowadays, faggots.
Best to get a window seat in the bar or one of the pavement tables outside, as there are always plenty of people watching opportunities, whether it's drag queens going to the other side of the road, or police scrapping with the chavs.
Not a place to spend to spend the whole evening in, bit if going to the O2 or Eddies, a good pre-gig watering hole.
14 Sep 2010 07:35
The Wellington Hotel, Birmingham
Guinness �3.35 seemed a bit dear, for such a shabby place, just away from the city centre. Toilets were on a par with what you would expect in a rock pub. Anyway, it is good place to go if you are going to see a band at the O2, as it is just across the road, 60p a pint cheaper and served in a glass container.
13 Sep 2010 12:49
Lively pub, well worth a visit, if doing a tour of Moseley. Guinness was a bit on the dear side at �3 a pint, but it was a good pint. Loud jukebox, dominated by Indie rock. Before it was fully refurbished quite a few years ago, this pub used to be known as the Trafalgar, as it is on the corner of Trafalgar Road. Would suggest it reverts back to the traditional name, and have a mural of Lord Nelson instead of some poet.
13 Sep 2010 12:41
The Wetherspoons in Moseley, Guinness �2.45 a pint, all the usual prices / standards etc etc. Visited last Friday evening, having not been there for a few months, and the place seemed to have gained a large number male drinkers, not old enough to have fully learned the basics of barroom etiquette. Heard on the grapevine that a fight had broken out, late that evening in the gents around closing time with a carpenter required to repair one of the doors.
13 Sep 2010 12:41
One of the better pubs in Moseley, aka The Fat Farm. Guinness �2.70 a pint, efficient staff, bouncer to keep the nutcases out, toilets could do with a refurb. Usually have a band or singer doing a couple of turns on a Friday night, each act seeming to use the same songbook.
13 Sep 2010 12:40
Selection of 10 draught beers. You know you are near this bar (it isn't what I would call a pub), especially on a warm night because you can hear the loud braying Hooray Henry sound of the pretentious customers, sitting at the tables on the large slab of concrete outside (no grass so it aint a beer garden). Quiet inside as everyone is outside, though in winter the wooden floors echo and amplify the cacophony. The array of beer pumps, each with an "authentic" mini blackboard attached, detailing the price, ABV etc initially looks impressive, but, what's this!!!! 9 pumps in a row, 8 lagers and 1 Guinness. In the dunces corner, stuck on it's own with the token draught cider, the token bitter, London Pride. This will go down well in the Wellington! Cheapest beer was �3.20 for the London Pride, which they ran out of. Think the dearest lager was �3.80. The Guinness, �3.30 looked flat, so the barman was stirring it to whip up a head. I must assume most of the glasses were oversized, as they were rarely full to the brim. Barstaff served beer in nearest glass that could be found, so for one of our rounds, the 4 Guinness' bcame in 3 different types of glass (none remotely shaped like a Guinness glass). If paying a premium price for a pint, I expect a good pint,served correctly. On a plus point, plenty of eye candy in there, even on a Thursday night.
10 Sep 2010 11:49
The Drunken Duck Inn, Barngates
Good selection of ales, can sit outside.
Haven't eaten here, but read the menu, and was surprised, given the reputation it has for fine dining, that the prices didn't look too expensive.
9 Sep 2010 07:48
The Sun on the Hill, Birmingham
This could be a very good venue. Perhaps having bands on that would pull in 300+ punters. Ideally located just off New Street, big square shaped room with a balcony. Small stage at one end, with big screen that comes down for football.
The downside, I've been in there, more than once, on a Saturday night, when they've only had one draught beer available (I don't mean just 1 real ale, I mean just one type of any beer/lager), as they had either run out or more probably trying to clear out aging stock. "Pint of Pedigree please", "sorry only got Carling, will that do instead"
9 Sep 2010 07:43
The smoking area, right in front of the front door, must be more densely populated than Hong Kong.
9 Sep 2010 07:32
Great pub to visit after a country walk. Very cramped inside, a few small rooms, seems to be quite an old building and you have to duck to get into the john. Probaly built when the average height of a man was around 5 foot. A few real ales, serves a decent sandwich, plenty of tables outside. If these are full, and it is dry, you can always take your pint across the road, like many do, and sit on the grass on the small village green.
9 Sep 2010 07:30
The Crewe and Harpur Arms, Longnor
Used to be the best of the 4 pubs in this village. Now converted into apartments.
8 Sep 2010 12:57
80s bar that plays what was worst about that era (you won't get any NWOBHM, Indie or Thrash played in here). Overpriced, sloppy service, safer to drink bottled beer if you are unfortunate enough to end up in here. Don't recall seeing any bitter on sale, certainly not real ale. Avoid eye contact, with the numerous packs of shaven headed chavs, or you may end up eating through a straw. Plenty of ladies frequent the place, if sows in lipstick are your preference. If this hasn't put you off, it is free to get in before 10pm at weekends.
8 Sep 2010 07:42
Shame this one went up in smoke, a fine pub, one to go to for the atmosphere rather than the standard of the beer, one to go to later in the evening, when the taste buds have been tranquilised.
Toilets were of the standard one would expect in a rock pub, though if I remember correctly, it was possible to lock the cubicles.
8 Sep 2010 07:32
Another pub that's gone up in smoke durimg the recession. Used to be ok in there.
7 Sep 2010 15:27
With reference to the previous review, it looked open when I walked past it last week.
7 Sep 2010 15:26
Was going to drop in for a quick pint, the other day, as I was passing, to see if this has improved, since my last visit, as other reviews suggest.Standing outside the main door, drinking from a can, was a big burly, shaven headed, menacing looking bloke. I decided I wasn't that thirsty after all.
6 Sep 2010 13:00
A busy, city centre, medium sized, Wetherspoons pub with a hotel above it, just off New Street. Good place to start in, if doing a tour of Brums more civilised pubs. Usual selection of beers, had a good pint as usual last weekend. Clean toilets, a bit of a trek into the dungeons to find them, the tables could do with cleaning a bit more often and the place does have an overall shabby feel to it. Would love to see the Hotel Inpsector review this place on her TV show. Standard JDW menu, though wasn't impressed with the full english I had a couple of months ago, food not a patch on other JDWs I've eaten in such as the Square Peg and Figure of Eight.
6 Sep 2010 10:11
A busy, city centre, medium sized, Wetherspoons pub with a hotel above it, just off New Street. Good place to start in, if doing a tour of Brums more civilised pubs. Usual selection of beers, had a good pint as usual last weekend. Clean toilets, a bit of a trek into the dungeons to find them, the tables could do with cleaning a bit more often and the place does have an overall shabby feel to it. Would love to see the Hotel Inpsector review this place on her TV show. Standard JDW menu, though wasn't impressed with the full english I had a couple of months ago, food not a patch on other JDWs I've eaten in such as the Square Peg and Figure of Eight.
6 Sep 2010 10:10
The Old Contemptibles, Birmingham
Traditional looking Victorian pub, both from the outside and the inside furniture and decor. Subdued lighting inside, makes it feel more like a pub rather than a bar. 9 real ales on display, pint I had went down well. Interesting looking menu, serving a variety of sausage dishes. Barman accidentally shortchanged me, but quickly rectified his error immediately. Didn't seem particularly busy for a weekend evening, and no idiots in there. Sort of place to pop in to for couple of pints, doing a tour of a few pubs.
6 Sep 2010 09:24
Looks like a proper Victorian street corner pub from the outside. Went in there, for the first time, prime time Saturday night. The regulars must have stayed in to watch X Factor as there were only about half a dozen other customers. 3 real ales, good pint of Guinness, no nutcases, clean, spacious, but the lighting was too bright. Wouldn't go there for a session, but maybe again on a crawl.
6 Sep 2010 07:53
Pleasant, clean, quiet pub, decent, if a little bit dull. Good place to go to when the Anchor gets invaded by tickers.
3 Sep 2010 11:47
Scary looking place. Go past it regularly. Looks to be the sort of place that shows Deal or no Deal on the big screen.
3 Sep 2010 07:26
Small inn, 2 miles up a hill from Betws y Coed.Only seems to be open in the evenings from around 6pm, so don't plan a walk with this as your mid-day watering hole. Food is good and reasonably priced, seats outside, dog friendly in the bar area and a couple of real ales. Decent pub, though not sure if it deserves the glowing write up in the AA good pub guide.
3 Sep 2010 07:21
Never been, but any pub named after a Priest classic must be worth a visit.
1 Sep 2010 13:12
Saracen's Head Hotel, Beddgelert
Been to Beddgelert many a time, been here once, for 1 drink. If you've got a dog go to the Prince LLewellyn, if not the Tanronnen. Still, it is beter than the Royal Goat.
1 Sep 2010 13:11
The Prince Llewellyn, Beddgelert
Dog friendly, OK for a drink, but better to sit on the benches outside, as it is a tad tatty inside. Wouldn't consider eating anything except crisps in here. Staff and locals speak a lot of Welsh.
1 Sep 2010 13:08
Best of the 4 pubs in Beddgelert. Had a refreshing pint of their summer ale (3.5%) at the weekend and it also does Double Hop (5%) if you've got a chauffeur.
A few benches outside, though they don't catch the sun until around 4pm, but you can sit there and watch the chavs waddle between their illegally parked cars, the fudge shop and the ice cream parlour.
In the evening the place fills up with the types who think they're Scott of the Antarctic, just because they've been up Snowdon on one of the more difficult paths.
Serves reasonable pub grub, nothing fancy and not too dear. Lamb shank recommended.
For a pub in a very rural area, I am surprised it doesn't allow dogs, even though the place is happy enough to supply beer to the dog show in the adjoing field. Lose 2 marks.
Another, mark lost because in, in keeping with virtually every other pub in Snowdonia, you can't get anything to eat between dinner time and teatime, not even a sandwich.
1 Sep 2010 13:01
The Grosvenor Arms Aldford, Aldford
Upmarket pub in upmarket Cheshire village.Food and beer is a bit pricy but the quality is very good.
Had about 8 ales on including 4 or 5 "guest" ales.
Serves food all day.Mains range from around �9 to the �22 fillet steak with all the trimmings, all portions are generously sized.
Large south & west facing beer garden at back, so get sun in afternoon and early evening.
Dogs allowed in the bar.
Does seem to attract a few loud moothed golf boors.
1 Sep 2010 12:47
Award winning pub. A bit on the dear side, but very good food and dog friendly and had the feel of atrdaitioanl pub. The "red" bitter, which I think was called Great Welsh was 4.1%, and went down well. They also had another ale called Orme, and a selection of bottles which I understand are from the family brewery.
Easy to find on the Conwy to Betws y Coed road, and big car park and beer garden.
1 Sep 2010 07:40
Hotel, bar, restaurant. Place that seems to prefer diners to drinkers at lunch time. Food is very food with massive portions, size of the lamb shank is unbelievable. Sadly, one of those rural pubs, in a place where loads of dogs are taken on holiday, which despite having no carpets, won't allow dogs in the bar. Because of the dog rule, there will be 2 empty chairs in the bar this Saturday lunchtime.
26 Aug 2010 07:42
Agree with the other comments. Spotty. pale, malnourished, ratboys in baseball caps and tracksuits, drinking from cans made up the majority of the dozen or so customers in this rundown pub. Add a few of their dowdy molls and the obligatory incoherent old blokes and the scene is set. One of these ratboys served us, no idea if he was the official barman. Pool table heavily stained. Didn't dare use the toilet. Wouldn't advise drinking in there without a minder.
25 Aug 2010 15:38
Sign in the window says "Real Ale Traditional - Straight from the keg �1.00 per pint", (got a photo of the sign as proof) a very rundown boozer, with singer singing along to a kareoke machine.
25 Aug 2010 15:26
Boarded up, being converted into one of those "eat as much poor quality food as you can for a tenner places". Used to be a very very scary place.
25 Aug 2010 13:27
On last visit, 2 groups of blokes were having a somewhat "heated debate". Making a hasty exit before it boiled over seemed to be the sensible thing to do. Beer is ok if you are brave enough to enter.
25 Aug 2010 13:23
The Old Joint Stock, Birmingham
Fairly smart upmarket pub, by pigeon park, just round the corner from the Wellington, should you find that place disagreeable. Good selection of beers and occasionally has a beer festival. A bit more expensive than some of the other pubs nearby, not much change from �10 for 3 pints. Interesting looking building, which contains a theatre, not sure it is ever in use, but there are usually a few theatrical types hovering around in there.
25 Aug 2010 10:49
Big busy pub, even by Wetherspoons standards, located bang in the central shopping area. Used to be Lewis's department store many years ago. Usual range of beers you would expect at affordable prices. Standard JDW menu (which I've sampled a couple of times, no complaints), clean toilets, efficient staff. Use this place 2 or 3 times a month.
Big screens with no sound, that usually have Sky Sports News on (did show champions league final this year) , but this will probably change now that SSN hasleft Freeview.
A good place to start out on an evening in Brum, as within 5 minutes walk of the 3 main railway stations, and most of the main bus routes come past here. Also, has a lot of solitary drinkers, so if you are meeting people here, you won't stand out like a billy-no-mates, if you turn up first.
One does have to watch out for the occasional undesirable bothering you, such as the beggars wanting 20p to help buy a pint and grubby types wanting to shake your hand. Or if you are one of those gents who shaves his head every day, to disguise an ever increasing horseshoe, you may get a member of an extreme right wing political group trying to get pally with you.
25 Aug 2010 07:39
Since the Gallows got burnt down and Costers closed, this place is clearly the finest rock pub in Brum.
No real ale but usually serves a decent pint, that doesn't hurt the wallet, though when it is busy, and the staff are rushed, the heads on the pints can be an inch bigger than they should be.
Improved on Saturdays, since classic rock was moved upstairs and the modern obscure stuff demoted to the basement. Sometimes they have bands on, which are usually worth a listen..
The place attracts a broad clientele, metallers, rockers, bikers, punks, goths, emos and even a few stiffs passing by on their way to clubland in M&S shirts, chinos and shiny shoes.
24 Aug 2010 07:29
Bouncers won't let you in unless wearing a proper shirt, jeans frowned upon. Enough said.
18 Aug 2010 07:28
Lively "fat farm" pub in the centre of the Broad Street meat market. Saturday night is party night, Chesney Hawkes, Tiffany and The Grease Medley rule the roost. If a hen party walks in, Barry the DJ, will turn down the volume and shout "nurses in the house" or "policewomen in the house" etc.
If you do have the misfortune to end up here, say, on a works night out or a stag crawl, then bottled beer recommended over draught.
Toilets are as per usual O'Neills standards.
18 Aug 2010 07:27
This is technically my local, though rarely I go in, as it is a very scary place, especially at weekends. My bus stop, is across the road from it so I observe the types going in there. The sort of place where bouncers go on their night off.
17 Aug 2010 07:31
been there once, not in rush to go back, though hear it has been refurbished
16 Aug 2010 15:21
The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath
Best pub in Kings Heath without a doubt, though it doesn't have much competition.
16 Aug 2010 15:20
Worst Wetherspoons I've ever been in. More tramps and chavs than your usual JDW, not very clean. Beer and prices are JDWs usual standard.
16 Aug 2010 15:16
Odd place as it doesn't look like a pub, more like one of those big old houses, that are now doctors surgeries or dentists. Because of this, having driven past it almost daily for over 10 years, I only "discovered" it recently. A well kept secret, as it certainly doesn't have many chavs or tramps in there. Civilised pub serving good beer, but lacks atmosphere.
16 Aug 2010 15:12
Goose on Two Streets, Kings Heath
One of those places where you have to keep an eye on your pint at all times, otherwise it may go awol. Prices are lower than the Wetherspoons just down the road, and the clientele reflect that fact. Also has a few bouncers on the door but doesn't seem to employ a cleaner.
16 Aug 2010 15:02
Best pub in Moseley Village, apart from sometimes having the atmosphere of a tea dance. Has a good jukebox with plenty of rock on it, but person(s) unknown, continuously feed it with pound coins, so get about half a dozen 50s swing tunes played repeatedly. A few real ales including Cumberland and Brakesspeare, SKY, competitive prices, not too many idjuts, been told that the food is good, friendly staff, dartboard and beer garden.
16 Aug 2010 09:39
The Dog and Duck, Kings Clipstone
Seems to be more a restaurant than a pub, though there are areas for drinkers.
Decor is very tacky, looks like a harem in a bollywood musical.
Table service incredibly slow. 2 drinks took more than 5 minutes to arrive despite the place not being too busy. Menus given to us when we ordered the drinks but they didn't take the order until 15 minutes after bringing the drinks (other tables seemed to get equally slovenly service). Food, when it finally arrived, almost an hour after we sat down, was admittedly very good. Waited 10 minutes for server to bring dessert menu, after he offerred to fetch one. He never came back, so we paid at bar and left.
Top marks for food, low marks for service, only had a shandy as driving so unable to judge the beer.
16 Aug 2010 07:37
Upmarket pub in pleasant Nottinghamshire village. Seems to be aimed at diners rather than drinkers, but there is another pub around the corner that looks more like a drinkers pub. Plenty of outside tables, bar and restaurant and food served all day ( full English until noon).
Food was excellent, if a bit expensive for a pub. About 3 real ales available plus Guinness, Kronenburg, house lager and a speciality lager.
16 Aug 2010 07:26
Went there recently for the first time in ages, food was "disappointing". DoctorRadio description pretty accurate.
10 Aug 2010 07:36
Have dined here a few times. Food here is fairly cheap, but good quality, in big sized portions, well above the standard of the big chains. �10 will get a 2 course meal. Lamb shank, steak and ale pie and the steaks all recommended.
1 portion of garlic bread will do for 2 as a starters, same for the cheesy potato wedges.
Food seems to be cooked properly on the premises, not those pre-chilled offerings some places offer.
Has early bird offers on between 5 and 7, for some of the items on the menu.
Good beer too.
10 Aug 2010 07:34
Having heard that this place had recently been refurbished I made my first visit there in over 6 months over the weekend, having considered the place a bit expensive, and with at least 8 other pubs within a 5 minutes walk, competition is keen in Moseley Village.
Well what has changed.
- A pint of Guinness plus a pint of standard lager cost �6.10, that evening, the same round cost �4.90 at The Village Inn and �5.40 in O'Neills.
- New look staff, in comedy uniforms, who don't seem very cheerful, tend to serve the person in front of them, rather than the customer who has been waiting longest.
.- A new bar and pastel painted walls certainly makes the place feel a lot cleaner and some of the down market clients seem to have abandoned the place.
- The famous moose head has vanished.
- The big telly has has been moved to a spot where it is harder for those sat down to watch, the old position was much better.
- The irritating "Trendy Ben" disco that used to drown out conversation has gone, a big plus point.
9 Aug 2010 10:26
The Lamp Tavern, Birmingham
Seemed to be full of former regulars of the Anchor, fed up with the new regime.
Beer is cheaper than the A and don't need a step ladder to get into the pint.
19 Dec 2016 15:14