BITE user comments - squizita
Comments by squizita
I've been here a few times as it's a nice place for a swift pint when walking or visiting the gallery. From the outide it's god awful ugly but the good news is, from the inside, you can see evrything except the pub itself!
The Youngs is well-kept and they have guest ales on. I'm a Londoner so drink Youngs quite often: so I DO have London pubs to compare it against. It is often crowded (and yes, people-who-raise-their-Londoner-cred-by-hating-tourists...some people ARE shock horror not Londoners) but the staff seem quite used to it and I've never had to wait too long to be served. A decent pint in an area with a lot of dross - not the kind of place you might choose for a celebration, rather somewhere to refresh yourself while in the area.
The ladies' has a disembodied voice that tells you to keep an eye on your handbag. I believe it is some kind of safer neighbourhood police thing. Either that or a particularly boring ghost.
16 Apr 2009 19:59
I went here and it was OK. A bit expensive, however nice beer and pretty. Worth a one-of visit for the historic aspect.
There are now 3 bars, one in each 'room' (though one is a wine bar). I had a pint of 'their' bitter and it was OK, nothing amazing but perfectly smooth and thirst quenching.
A few odd types hanging around the garden area (drinking plastic bottle cider and eyeing tourist handbags) and odder types in the yard of the poncey wine bar next door.
Yes, there were tourists here however if those who are enraged by that, I hope, have never gone on holiday themselves, and if so, have never gone into a traditional bar or bistro once they go there (because let's face it this place is the real McCoy). Otherwise they'd just be being glib hypocrites mouthing off about something that keeps a lot of Londoners employed/pubs open and isn't really THAT inconvenient to us, wouldn't they?
16 Apr 2009 19:47
The Old Thameside Inn, London Bridge
They DO have real ale and guest ales, too, here. The staff were polite. It's in a 1970s bland building, however the interior is clean and the views from both the decking and indoors are of St Pauls and The Golden Hinde so you cannot fault that.
Apart from the fact that there are tourists in here (and I hope that those of you who hate that fact never stoop to visit a bar in a city centre when you are on holiday... and yes, the authentic ones you think are 'real' are probably like this place in their cities!!) this is a perfectly normal pub. I agree with the review that said to calm down and smile!!
16 Apr 2009 19:40
On several sites, people have commented on the doormen. A well-known London website will show you plenty. Here's my (bad) experience...
During the cold snap in Feb, I went with my partner and another couple. We sat at a sofa where my partner had two small whiskies; we'd just had dinner, so this wasn't going to have gotten him drunk. He comes across as a rather serious/old-fashioned/non-chavvy type, not the kind of person who would be seen as a troublemaker at all. Part-way through he went outside (without his coat) to smoke. It got down to -3 that night. As he tried to re-enter, the bouncer refused him, claiming he 'appeared to have had a lot to drink' and this might offend/upset women inside (ie suggesting he would be a leering letch, in spite of the fact he's come with a partner and was sitting at a table). The bouncer's evidence (and this is where the temperature comes in) was that he was 'shivering' and 'moving from one foot to the other' - he was in a shirt at -3, remember. The bouncer refused to let him inside even to collect his coat or tell me/our guests where he was.
My partner explained that he would like to speak to the manager. When the manager arrived, she actually conceded that the bouncer had been wrong!! However in a 'nod wink' way she said she'd watch our party closely as 'she' (me or our female guest, I'm unsure) had bought several drinks therefore they thought 'she' might be drunk. She attempted to mis-quote the law. She became very worried when my partner explained the law with regards to licencing/bouncing and she realised that not only was he not drunk but had know-how in that legal area from work.
They said they'd let us in- but by then we all leftf for another bar. Never to return.
11 Apr 2009 21:05
Went in for a swift one- was OK. A 'local' place but I didn't feel anyone was giving us the evil eye or anything- I've been in far more Rysten-Vasey type pubs than this! It was prety relaxed and just a nice normal local pub.
28 Feb 2009 17:12
A good range of lagers and beers, quiet (no music) but nice atmosphere. Not for a wild night out but good for a chat etc'. Don't know where the idea they'd serve slops comes from- it seemed 100% clean and well run to me.
28 Feb 2009 17:10
Lovely little pub. It has a nice, unique vibe.
The drinks are varied and they even did real cornish cider last summer ... they warned my boyf that it might be too strong for me (sweet!) but he explained that I'm into real cider and therefore have guts of cast iron.
The art and decor make it, along with a real variety of customers. A gem.
21 Feb 2009 17:35
The Common Room, Ealing Common
Nice food, drinks and clientelle. Some seem a bit like they think they're actually famous LOL!! Looking round to check who's watching them rather than enjoying their night out. Makes for great people watching.
For the smokers, the outside seating is good, especially as it is sheltered should it rain.
The 'smug' notes in the toilets that treat you like the management is your chum makes me grind my teeth a little- trying tooooo hard to be trendy and facebooky. I'll decide whether I like your new menu OK? You shouldn't assume - even better try asking.
A nice bar-perhaps they need to take a hint from their clients and step down the smugness a little! Mind you they have got a nice little place to be proud of.
21 Feb 2009 17:24
It's quite student/young and noisy- pretty much a typical ONeill's. I've never found it rough though- it tends to be the 'reputation' of people walking up that road with its many pubs and deciding it MUST be rough.
Come on... we all know what an ONeill's is don't we? Expecting it to be genuine Irish is like expecting Pizza hut to produce a stonebaked traditional pizza!
It's nothing special but for a younger crowd perhaps with less cash to splash it serves a purpose.
21 Feb 2009 17:18
This pub looks a bit 'shopping centre-y' from the outside but is actually rather nice inside.
Clean, decent food, real ales and a good range of wines/lagers/ciders. It has a small garden too.
21 Feb 2009 17:14
I tend to meet here before moving on. Basically it can be va bit vacant/vapid and (because it's opposite a station) seems to just have people passing through.
The drinks aren't inspiring and with ealing all around it has nothing to 'keep' me drinking there.
Also it can get a bit whiffy round the loos etc'. Not terrible, but not worth staying in when you've got loads of other bars to go to very nearby.
21 Feb 2009 17:13
This is a nice local-ish pub. Nice beer and reasonable food.
Some funny (aka drunk) characters come in here and will try and chat with everyone. They aren't menacing or anything but if you're a bit prissy about that kind of thing you might get a fright!!
21 Feb 2009 17:10
I really look forward to summer and spending lazy days here! This pub always has a good range of beers, wines and spirits. It does food (BBQ in summer) which is on the pricey side but that's because it is decent home-cooked stuff ... the kind of pub you can take your parents to for a proper roast. It's neither too chavvy nor too pretentious and it has lots of historic charm.
The garden is large and has plenty of tables. In summer people also take their beer to watch the cricken on the adjoining green. It still gets very crowded though! I've actually be disappointed and had to wait for a table or get one with wasps around, which is the major downside.
I would recommend this place for a nice relaxed afternoon or evening.
21 Feb 2009 17:07
No longer the rat and parrot!!
Have been in there for a swift one when shopping with the boyf. OK in the day- looks like it's lively in the evening but haven't been there after dark so can't comment.
Beer (lager) and food both nice. Clean, well run, friendly - again though bear in mind this is in the daytime when it's less crowded.
21 Feb 2009 17:02
This wetherspoons is deffo one of those for the 'as much as you can drink before 5pm' crowd. Always has loads of drunks in whatever time of day. This is a real shame 'cause Wetherspoons without the drunkard quota are good for drinks offers and food in the day or early evening (I don't go there in the evening because I like a bit of music or sport if I'm out later).
Disappointing. :-(
21 Feb 2009 17:00
Nothing terribly bad about this place except it hasn't changed in over 15 years, since I myself drank there with a fake ID.
It's OK for a high street pub and pretty much what you expect. I wouldn't go out of my way to find this place but if I'm around Harrow and a mate says 'let's go there' I'll pop in.
21 Feb 2009 16:56
I prefer this place to many of the other pubs in central Harrow, which are either totally chainy and bland or slightly chavvy and menacing!
Trinity has character- OK it isn't shiny and new but that's why it's unique. You can tell it is going to be a bit rock-y and different as soon as you walk in. The beer is reasonably priced, they do live music and football on a big screen (in such a small pub this means you see a lot).
I've never had any problems with the bouncer (or his dog) who seems very fair and I reckon the 'full of freaks' comment came from someone who is less tolerant of people with alternative looks ... dare I say like a lot of folk in the other pubs nearby!! And for the record I'm not 'alternative' in any way I just believe people have the right to enjoy their beer, their music and their fashion without ignorant comments.
21 Feb 2009 16:53
The Black Lion, Hammersmith
I went here and found the beer pricy but not obscene- on a par with similar places. I also post to another 'Londone' review type website and think some of these reviews have some 'politics' in them about preferring the old management?? Who can tell but it seems people who don't know the 'history' enjoy the pub for the following reasons:
-4 well kept real ales on tap;
-Wine drinkers can taste before they buy, even for a glass;
-very clean and well kept pub and toilets;
-Nice range of customers- not too 'posh', not chavvy in any way;
-Good music and decor.
Our round worked out at about �3.50 a drink- so on a par with other places in the area.
I found it less crowded than the 'bang on the river' places, too, which was great.
I haven't eaten there so can't comment on the food
7 Jun 2009 19:00