BITE user comments - steej
Comments by steej
This used to be a regular of mine from my uni days when I had a friend living on the way out of Oxford on the Woodstock Road. I came here about a month ago on a visit to Oxford for the water polo Varsity match, and not a lot has changed, to be honest. The pub is still an interconnected warren of little rooms that leaves you feeling a little disorientated on your first wander round (or your last if you've been there for a while...), the beer is still decent and the food is still really good.
The tables out the front of the pub never seem to move, but are a nice spot to settle in on a summers evening (it was definitely a bit too cold when I was there to contemplate using them). The bar staff are always friendly and attentive, which obviously adds to the charms of the place. And I would agree with the earlier poster who mentioned that the toilets are pretty nice - definitely a differentiator between a good and bad pub.
10 Mar 2010 15:46
A group of friends involved in a squash ladder occasionally use the courts at St Paul's school on weekends, and this pub is perfectly placed for a recovery beer and dinner.
A group of six of us poppoed in on Sunday for dinner. I've been here a few times previously and it always seems a pretty nice place. The beer is always OK, and they had Doom Bar on tap at the weekend which is always a nice pint.
We also had a Sunday lunch while we were there - they do a special menu on Sundays - 4 courses for �19-�20 (starter, main, pudding and cheese), but having played squash I wasn't really in the mood for a massive feast. I couldn't pass up the roast completely however - I had the beef, and it was very nice. Good quality food for a pub, although the roast on it's own was still �14 or so, which isn't cheap.
I would have to agree with previous reviewers on the quality of service - we were waiting a long time for the food to come, and I can imagine that this would be problematic if you were in a rush (fortunately, we weren't so it didn't really affect our experience badly). The waiting staff did seem quite helpful, although there was a bit of confusion when we tried to pay our food bill at the bar - apparently these are on "two different systems".
One thing to note is that if you are planning on coming for food on a Sunday lunchtime, it's probably worth booking in advance, as it was pretty rammed when we arrived (although we did still manage to get a table eventually).
All in all though, it's not a bad pub, and the food is well worth a look.
10 Mar 2010 15:29
The Ship and Shovell, Charing Cross
As many others have already mentioned, this is a hidden gem of a pub stuck down a little back alley out of the way of the majority of the commuter class.
The pub itself is split into two with a bar in each. The service is excellent - we went in on Friday last week, and despite it being rammed the waitress still went to the trouble of bringing over some crisps to our table when they had run out at the bar.
Add to that the fact that you can drink lovely Badger beers - the Tangle Foot was very nice - and we even managed to get a table in the back, and it all adds up to one of the best pubs in London.
10 Feb 2010 16:50
This pub was the final stop on our 'Brentford Corners' crawl last night. It came the most highly rated by friends and well-wishers, although I was a little disappointed with it.
We went after the game and it was a bit busy, but we still managed to get a seat, and the locals were pretty friendly (a far cry from the ones in the Royal Oak down the road).
We had a quick pint of Pride, which was pretty good (although I usually avoid Pride given the option), although a bit pricey. The atmosphere was good, and it's well set up for a match night, and also looked like it would have been pretty good on a non-match night.
PS. The atmosphere might have been helped slightly by QPR getting thumped 5-0 - the locals seemed to be pleased with that for some reason...
It comes 2nd in my ranking of the four corners, just because I thought the New Inn was a bit more welcoming. However, it's a close second, and I would happily recommend either of those to any fans planning on visiting Brentford any time soon.
27 Jan 2010 17:35
This was the third stop on our 'Brentford Corners' crawl. Having visited the Princess Royal and the New Inn before Brentford v Southampton, we paid this one a visit straight after the game.
What a disappointment. After the New Inn was so welcoming, this was rough as. When we asked the bar staff what real ale they had on, we were told we were "better off trying down the road".
I ended up drinking a pint of some awful watery lager in front of a massive big screen while a big bunch of Brentford fans chanted outside and tried to kick off a big fight with the away fans. Very intimidating atmosphere for a group of neutral/away fans. Then on the way out some idiot chav grabbed my balls - I couldn't believe it.
If you've got a pair of brain cells to rub together, I'd give this pub a wide berth. Certainly if you're an away fan going to Brentford, go to the New Inn down the road - better beer and no attitude from the locals.
27 Jan 2010 17:26
This was stop number two on our 'Brentford Corners' crawl. Definitely the pick of the bunch. Beer was nice, bar staff were welcoming, local regulars even chatted to me about Liverpool without making fun!
The best thing I can say about this pub is that I would be delighted to go back on a non-match night. The pub was cosy and had a nice outdoor garden, and felt like a good traditional boozer.
They have a big screen or two showing the football if you don't fancy a live match too.
Easily the best of the four corners.
27 Jan 2010 17:18
Did the 'Brentford Corners' crawl with a Southampton fan before and after the game yesterday. Started with the Princess Royal. I have to say I wasn't overly impressed - the pub itself was obviously designed for the match, with all the furniture ripped out to make one massive room.
The crowd in the pub didn't feel very welcoming, and they had unfortunately run out of Chiswick on keg, meaning I had to resort to London Pride, which didn't go down all that well.
I wasn't massively impressed with the service either - I appreciate on a match day it's always going to be busy, but surely they should have had more than three people behind the bar! On the positive, the bar staff tried to keep smiling, even under the glare of twenty thirsty football fans baying for beer.
It would be interesting to see what this was like on a non-match night, but I'm not convinced it would be all that much better. I'd definitely rank it 3rd out of the 4 corners.
27 Jan 2010 17:15
I've been to The Speaker a fair few times, and I'm always glad to be back. The beer on tap is good quality and nicely kept, and the food is excellent. The home-made pate is great, but my favourite is the ham ploughmans - just the job after a tough day at work.
Dennis is always friendly, and happy to have a chat when it's not too busy. He knows his beer too, and will dish out recommendations for his upcoming guest ales. I'm yet to be disappointed.
Positives:
- Great beer
- Great food
- Great bar staff
- No TV/quiz machine/slot machine distractions
Negatives:
- It is a bit of a faff to find if you don't work in the area (although well worth the effort)
- It's only little, so can get pretty packed in the early evening, although tends to quiet down again later on
- It's not open on Sundays (I was distraught to find this out this weekend, having promised my girlfriend's parents some tasty food)
All in all though, this is definately one of the best pubs I've been to, and easily the best in the area.
25 Jan 2010 13:42
Took my girlfriends parents on a tourist trip around London on Sunday, and after walking past the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, I needed to find a pub for a spot of lunch.
Being a Sunday, it's always a bit difficult, and my usual favourite (The Speaker) was closed.
We stumbled across this place having wandered around for a bit, and it did just the job. I had a nice pint of Director's and the London Pride was pretty good as well by all accounts. They also had Bombardier and Young's Special on tap.
In the end we didn't stop for food, as the menu was mainly big meals, where I was really after a small bite of lunch, but if you fancied a meal there was plenty to go for, including a roast of the day.
If it had been a bit busier when we arrived, I'd have probably been more impressed, but as it was it was decent on a Sunday, but I wouldn't pick it over other nearby pubs.
25 Jan 2010 13:36
Some friends of mine live nearby and had heard good things about this place, so we took a trip for a "pub lunch" at the weekend. Wasn't really what I was expecting - one of the posters below got it right when they said it has more of a wine bar than pub feel to it.
Have to say it was jam-packed on Saturday lunch time and we ended up waiting 30 minutes for a table for lunch. They had a couple of ales on, including Harveys, which was well kept and nice enough. Can't say the same about the rest of the clientele - they all seemed a bit narky to me, although as a beer and a Coke came to nearly �8, I'm not that surprised...
Once we got sat down, the food was good. I had chicken stuffed with bacon and cheese, and the rest of the group tried the wild boar stew and one of the pizzas. All good quality, again a bit pricier than your traditional pub grub, although you get what you pay for.
Although the beer here is pretty good, I get the impression that the choice is Harvey's or Adnams, and that isn't likely to change, and certainly on a Saturday lunchtime there wasn't much room to just sit and while away a few hours.
I saw some signs up in the gents advertising a weekly film night (can't remember which day it said it was, possibly Tuesday), which sounds like a good idea - go down to the pub and sit down with a beer and a classic film on - but I'd have to visit again before passing judgement.
I suppose in the end it comes down to what you're looking for. If you want a traditional English pub where you can sit down and have a few beers (which is my usual ideal) then probably give this one a miss. If you want a posher place for a meal out, then this is pretty good. It's not one for me, but for what it is, it's not a bad place.
18 Jan 2010 12:52
It's around 5 minutes walk from my office, and that of a fair few other big firms, so it can get a bit busy around rush hour, but the large bar means you're not usually waiting too long for a pint.
Although I wouldn't pick Sam Smiths beers given a choice, it's decent enough, and especially in Central London there is no arguing with the prices.
Also worth a look in at lunchtimes. The Cellar Bar (which is usually OK in the evenings, when it's open) is used as a carvery and does a good selection of hot food, which is also more than reasonable. Last time I visited they had a really nice steak pie which went down a treat.
The main room upstairs has plenty of little booths if you prefer your privacy, although you need to be there early to get one of those. Otherwise you can stand in the rest of the room or head down to tables at the back. The size of the room means that even if it's crowded there's normally somewhere to stand, although navigating the bar can be tough.
One negative point in my experience is that the bar staff can be a little bit dour. I like to be served with a smile, and sometimes the guys here just seem really depressed, although it could just be me!
15 Jan 2010 16:58
Started visiting this pub a couple of months ago to participate in their Tuesday night pub quiz. Since then we've won a few bar tab vouchers which has meant we've returned fairly regularly, always on a Tuesday.
It can get a bit busy, especially around 6-7pm, but quietens down later on in the evening, and is fairly pleasant once the crowds have dispersed.
Youngs bitter is OK, and since I've been going they've had Tribute on as a guest beer, which has been going down very nicely. The food is decent, and for a little while they had a "two dinners and a bottle of wine for �20" offer on, although I'm not sure that's still running.
Without the pub quiz I'm not sure I'd go back regularly, mainly due to the lack of beer choice, but the quiz is pitched at the sort of level that means you stand a chance of winning or coming second, and then you can go back the next week and drink for free! That's a good enough reason for me...
13 Jan 2010 16:59
I visited this pub over Christmas while I was back home. It's just round the corner, and I used to visit fairly regularly, but the management had been a bit of a pain and the food had gone downhill in recent years.
I'm happy to say that the new management have done a great job of turning it around. I went during the day on Christmas Eve and there was a roaring fire in the dining room ensuring we were nice and warm, and I had a really nice game pie for lunch. Plus the mens loos now have posters of boxers all over the walls, which makes a nice change from the Wetherspoons adverts everywhere.
They had a good pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord on as guest beer, but I've seen them do nice Beartown beers from the brewery up the road and it's always been well kept.
I went back with friends on a Tuesday night, and they had a pub quiz on, although it was a bit hard for us!
So all in all it seems they've done a good job on the pub.
On top of the things I've mentioned, there's a beer garden round the back, which used to have a kiddies climbing frame (although I don't know if it's there any more), and there's a separate bar area, ostensibly for walkers. There used to be a TV in there. They do a lunch and dinner menu, and have a cigarette machine, and I believe there may also be a dart board somewhere.
8 Jan 2010 16:09
All Bar One, Moorgate
Avoid like the plague. Having been to the Barbican after work, we stumbled across this and decided to risk it for some dinner. We ended up ordering food at the bar, and the barmaid looked like we'd thrown up on her shoes by suggesting we'd like to eat there.
Having waited 40 minutes for food, I went and spoke to the bar staff again, and another 20 minutes later, half of our food arrived with no sign of the other half. Having (unsuccessfully) tried to get a refund from an increasingly annoyed barmaid (not as annoyed as me having not been fed!) I ended up having to speak to the manager to get my money back and went home hungry.
They were serving Doom Bar, hence they get a 1 rating, but steer clear if you have any sense at all.
29 Apr 2010 16:20