BITE user comments - superfibre
Comments by superfibre
Went to this place last night for the first time. The staff were great, treated you like mates as soon as you walk in, drinks were good and reasonable prices. The atmosphere was laid back, cool and unique. Sure, it's a bit basic, so it's not a place for the wine bar luvvies - that's not the point. If you don't like the bogs here, you should try some of the places in Shoreditch - this is a palace in comparison.
Anyway, will definitely go back at the weekend some time as they have DJs apparently. Wish there were more places like this with a bit of character!
6 Nov 2008 00:05
What most of the people commenting here seem to have forgotten is that Sosho is predominantly a late night bar/club space, and if you think of it like that, it works quite well. Nice space, good DJs, and usually a lot of people making for a decent atmosphere.
Go along once you're already pissed and you're looking to make a proper night of it. I wouldn't go there straight after work for a cheeky pint as it's too noising and expensive for that.
22 Dec 2007 10:01
Was in here Tuesday night. My first time since it re-opened under the Lock Tavern management team. I used to love the old smokey Amersham where you could turn up and dance with a drunken Irish man any night of the week, at practically any time, but I will try to put the old pub out of my mind and give the new Amersham a fair hearing.
Have to say, I like what they've done with the place - it's not drastically different, just a bit more trendy, more eclectic. But, it does look a bit like they stole all their ideas from the excellent Royal Albert just down New Cross Road!
At 6.30 there were no tables free, so we propped ourselves at the bar. Service was fine at this point, but an hour or two later, when the place had started to fill up, the wait at the bar was really unacceptable - all because for some reason they have decided to offer novelty cocktails, with copious amounts of crushed ice (for which each drink requires a trip to the blender), hand sprinkled mint, swizzle sticks and sparklers!! Yes, all good fun, but I watched one guy (a red-headed young chap) spend literally 10 minutes making 2 cocktails, while a crowd looked on waiting patiently for their simple pints of beer. A nasty atmosphere was beginning to form, and I heard another group discussing going to the Walpole where they could "actually get served"!
Beer-wise, they had no real ales on at 6.30, although one did crop up about half way through the evening, I didn't catch what it was unfortunately. Their lager selection is extensive but not exactly exotic. I tried the Heineken and the Amstel, and I thought the latter was a little bit tangy for my liking (i.e. not great). That might just be moving from a crisp Heineken to an Amstel though. They also have Krony and Red Stripe on tap.
Once a table became free, we grabbed it and ordered food. We all opted for burgers, which probably took about 30 mins to come, and I must say at �6ish they were very good. There was a decent amount of chips and a nice dip too.
All in all, a good meeting place for a chat and some food, with a decent vibe, if a bit poncey. The only thing that worried me was the speed of service - if this is it on a Tuesday I hate to imagine later in the week.
Should point out, I've yet to try to club next door or the art gallery upstairs (!).
22 Nov 2007 17:56
Alchemist Bar, Club & Private Party Venue, Clapham
I was there last night (a Saturday), and I have to say - oh dear.
I think their main problem was that they just let too many people in. It's not a big bar, and the huge square padded seats get in the way. When I first arrived at 8 it was busy, but we could deal with it. Come 9.30, it was absolutely rammed. To the extent where you couldn't move anywhere - not to the bar, not to the loo - without asking politely or shoving your way through the crowds. This was not 'normal bar busy' is was stupid. They were obviously prepared to sacrifice customer's comfort and safety and the expense of a few quid on the door.
I was there for a birthday, and there was supposedly a private area. This was non-existent after about 8.30.
The drinks - well, they had a somewhat unlikely note up saying "sorry, due to residents complaints (!) we can only serve bottles, not draught beer". And only on a Saturday. What? Sounds like an excuse to make more money to me. Bottles were �3.20 and the cocktails were a budget busting �7! - this is West End prices, not half way between Wandsworth and Clapham. And they helpfully only serve double shots, so if you were thinking of an affordable vodka tonic, then you can forget it.
On the plus side, it scores well in that they don't have a person ready to take your money sat in the toilets. That is of course, when you get there after the queue!! And the girls enjoyed the disco - it was sort of wedding disco style with an edge. Not for me, but it went down well. And the wallpaper is nice.
I think Alchemist could be alright for a mid-week drink (but expensive). On a weekend, forget it. Overall, sorry Alchemist - must try harder.
4 Feb 2007 11:48
The Royal Albert - top pub. One of the best in the area - nice cross between old man character and a trendy muso pre-club venue. Good different beers. Always a nice atmos, plenty of cool people, but not arsey Shoreditch types. They promise to do food soon too.
4 Jan 2007 23:33
Service certainly lacked a smile when I popped in on Friday night. Shoddy pints and pushy punters a plenty. Nowhere to sit. Horrible.
14 May 2006 18:16
The Bavarian Beerhouse, Shoreditch
I love the concept for this place - we need more Bavarian beer houses! But on my visit the other day, it was a bit lacking flair. The place is underground in what looks like an old office. The wooden benches look authentic, but damn they're uncomfortable. I'm sure the ones on my trip to Munich were bigger and more forgiving! (made for the Bavarian bum!)
Vinrouge, you're right about the waitresses! It's just a shame they seemed so intent on ignoring us. I waited 5 minutes to be served, and it took all of our might to flag one down for the bill!
Bad things aside, it has some fantastic beers and is different, so scores brownie points for that! If you're local, try it. But maybe not quite worth a long journey. Definitely more of a lads pub as it's beer-beer-beer!
20 Apr 2006 13:52
Crofton Park & Brockley really seem to be getting their act together at the moment, and no doubt this place has been a catalyst for that. It's 50 times better than the old dive that used to be there, and it's a damn fine pub for a swift afternoon shandy, or a session in the evenings.
We popped in at about 7 on Saturday. The atmosphere was chilled and the crowd seemed friendly enough - a good mixture of locals and trendies. The beers cater for most tastes, and the decor looks great - not too flashy, or samey, but a real cool eclectic feel. Plus there is a wicked Brockley signs montage adorning one of the walls.
We went off for dinner down the road. When we walked past later at 10 it was really buzzing, although we didn't go in.
In all, a fine watering hole and I'm proud to count it as one of my locals.
20 Apr 2006 13:42
Really nice chilled out bar/cafe/pub - useful for chilling with coffee in the day, having a relaxed beer in the evening, or even catching some live music. The beer is not so expensive if you go for the litre bottles and share it. Good homemade food. A real asset to the Brockley community!
8 Apr 2006 15:14
I'm not trying to turn this review section into a discussion board, but I'd like to respond to dave71's comments.
My review was an honest account of a Friday night at the pub. I've worked in the city for an IT company for 3 years so I know most round this way, and was simply unimpressed with this one. Perhaps it is better on quiet nights, but my rating remains the same (note, I haven't rated again with this post, to keep things fair).
If I was a bitter landlord, why would I point people towards their other pub, the Prophet!?
11 Feb 2006 15:20
This is a new pub along Moorgate. First impressions were not good, although to be fair it was Friday night in the city. It was absolutely packed, and impossible to get to the bar, let alone get served!
The pub itself looks more like a shop, and inside it is pretty bland to be honest. They have the usual visible air-con ducts hanging down, plain seating, and nothing to get me going.
The beers were fairly good, but no care was taken in serving them. The barman looked like he'd rather be making a posh cocktail or sunning himself on the costa del sol, and hence the beers, already flat, were served with no head and not even to the top of the glass.
Come closing time we were shouted out the bar, even though we were all finishing our drinks quietly like reasonable people. The barman insisted on virtually sitting next to us and bellowing "Hellooo! Time to go!". Plain rudeness.
All in all, not one I'd go back to. It has a cellar bar downstairs that I didn't visit, and might be its saving grace, but I doubt it.
This pub is owned by the same people as the Prophet, by Finsbury Square, and that pub is much better!
7 Nov 2005 13:51
The Greenwich Union, Greenwich
Great friendly pub. Would be the best pub in Greenwich if it wasn't for the Cutty Sark.
Good place to take mates as it's a bit of a novelty - "home brew"! Because it's so good it is often crowded. :(
28 Sep 2005 13:56
The Forest Hill Tavern, Forest Hill
It's true, the pub itself is not bad, the food's alright, nothing too fussy but seemed decent, but when we were in there the locals were less than welcoming! Mostly young and middle aged men getting pissed up, meeting their mates with big dogs outside, etc. I too don't want a poncy pub but I think there are other pubs nearby that strike the balance a bit better. Doesn't help that the layout of the whole main bar area seems to revolve around being able to see the plasma. The garden was big and looked okay but a bit of a patio - needed more greenery.
3 Apr 2010 12:15