BITE user comments - watsonworld
Comments by watsonworld
A great location at the rear of the churchyard, we found this one on our wanderings up from the Three Pigeons. Tried the HSB and another from Gales which escapes me. Initially, we would've sat out in the pub garden - (more like a patio with 4 tables) but the aforementioned jukebox was pumping out some 50's dirge, which isn't what you need on a sunny early evening. It' seemed a little quieter inaside. It's tastefully done out for sure but seemed to have a stand at the bar locals crowd, rather than pasing trade. We only got a snapshot, as were weren't there long, so I'd definitly go back for another beer !
23 May 2010 17:40
Tried them out on a rect visit to Guildford. Impressive ales board outside, although only 6 available. (I say only but that's the best haul I'd seen in one location during my visit. Got to try a few I'd not had before. Sat at the window in the upper "bar", although got the impression this was prefered for diners as we, and others were asked "when" we'd be ordering. The beers were well kept, and not overly expensive. I'll try their ales on my next visit.
23 May 2010 17:30
Great building, and tastefully done out. Everything you'd want from a Spoon except possibly the location. (Bang in the middle of a gyratory, with other favourite Trixie watering holes on the other side of the busy road !) Without the pavement barriers, the WKD fuelled death toll would be like a Kabul car bomb every weekend ! Shame the choice of ales was a bit restricted, but the staff as per usual, were 99% knowledgable about real ale. Plus we got to sit upstairs and watch sober people trying to commit suicide by running the red pedestrian lights ! (It's a Lloyds by the way, which means after 6-ish, Jeckyl turns to Hyde, with dimmer lighting, dumber music, and scrums of Ben Sherman's eying up scantily clad jailbait !) - Enjoy !
23 May 2010 17:24
Called in here because of the impressive array of ales featured and pumps lining the bar. Reasonably sort of layout but they were setting up for a bit of live music as we entered. Decided to park ourselves at a bench on the pavement and watch the world go by. (And most of the world did go by in honking buses and tooting taxis !) True to form, my nutter magnet must've been dialed up to 8 and we were joined by an old campaigner who told a good tale about war and ill health, punctuated only by rabid swearing directed at passing beggars ! We opted for 4 halves of various ales and I thought they were well kept. However, I thought �6.75, for what we're mostly local ales, was taking the frothing pils !
23 May 2010 17:04
Visited this Spoon as we were in Brighton recently. Quite bright ands spacious, although seemed to be heaving the lunchtime we went in there with families and some healthcare type conference going on round the corner. The following afternoon early evening almost like a different place, although you can't fault the prices, I agree that the staffing was erratic and the real ale choice poor for a flagship branch.
23 May 2010 16:34
Had freebie pint vouchers for me and the wife, so headed there when we first got to Worthing. Nice pint of GK IPA, (always tastes good when it's free !). Good layout and bigger than it appears to be. Very pleasant sitting out front watching the world strole by on a sunny day. The staff seem friendly and approachable. Although we didn't eat here, I know most generic GK pubs do good, reasonably price food. Well set up for the footie, and a couple of pool tables in a side room. Definitely give this one a look.
23 May 2010 09:59
Dropped in a couple of times last week (Late May). Can't argue with the prices of food or beer. Not as big as some other Spoons we've visited and consequently the real ale selection wasn't plentiful. That said, we did find a few new local brews. As is typical with this brand, it's a case of Wetherspoons Roulette which determines if your visit is overshadowed by a table full of foul mouth chavs - (Not this time luckily !). Always impressed with 99% of the staff when it comes to their ale knowledge.
23 May 2010 09:48
Called in on a recent trip to Worthing as it was close to the hotel. On first inspection, outside and in, it looks like an authentic cottage style pub, all beams and interesting little nooks. We hand a few halves of local ale which was good and not overly expensive for the coast. Soaking it all in for a while, it's been a bit "overdone" like the interior of a Harvester that you know full well was finished last week, but box loads of brass, books and the odd watering can have been nailed up to give it that "Olde" rustic / historical look that the tourists seem to like. That said, I didn't mind the place, the staff we're prompt, and the food seem reasonably priced.
23 May 2010 09:37
We try and make this a regular stop if we're touring the pubs of Theale. It's a cosy place and there's usually a bit of lively, if not rather mad banter going on at the bar. Nick & Lynne are perfect hosts and the 3 cask ales are very well kept. I must try the Sunday lunches, everyone is raving about them !
21 Feb 2010 15:16
The food gets rave reviews and rightly so. Great spread of well kept ales for a relatively small venue. This is a real community pub, where you can stoke the fire and shoot the breeze with the locals. The music selection is unbelievable - Just request it - I bet they've got it ! It's particulary a riot when you get a good Sunday crowd in !
21 Feb 2010 15:10
Happy to call this pub my local, and what a change we've seen in the last couple of years. The food is posh nosh restaurant quality and not too pricey either. This is definitely not your generic Harvester type grub ! The Bull has become the most popular Eat-Out location in Theale, with the kitchen buzzing even on weekday nights ! Regular live bands, (a favourite venue for Reading band The Quotes). Two weekly Quiz Nights, - Large screen for sports coverage. (Upstairs area enables coverage of 2 games or Rugby + Footie combo. Upper bar also doubles as private venue for meetings / meals / parties etc. The refurb of the "back room" has really brought the place to life - almost like stepping from the pub into a different venue. Good choice of wine - 2 or 3 well kept Wadsworths Ales on at all times. Can't believe all of this is 1/4 mile from my house !
21 Feb 2010 15:05
New landlord / landlady have really turned this place round and it is often the busiest place in the village, which was not always the case. The in house Chinese Take Away is great value and eating in with your pint is the popular option. Nearly always 3 cask ales on - West Berks Good Old Boy + Bombardier, then the third has alternated between TT's Landlord / St. Austells Tribute / and Misc. Loddon Brewery Ale. Regular bands at least once a month, and a fortnightly Thursday night quiz add to the buzz.
I must declare an interest here as there is an Open Mic. Night which I'm heavily involved with - First Wednesday of each month - Come and have a go !
21 Feb 2010 14:47
Recently underwent a refurb and re-opened mid Feb 2010. It's a GK Hungry Horse pub with a good layout. It now has a distinct "pub" type area, TV's etc showing sport next to the outdoor seating /smoking section. Further down the pub is a little more private with booths some with mini TV screens. The food has always been good value from this chain, if a little generic. We had a Sunday roast, and whilst not the hottest (some other diners made comments) - and not all fresh ingredients, it hit the spot for the price. (�16 for two large plates and a pint and a half.) Food served all day unlike some of the more expensive and more rustic options out in the wilds of Berkshire. The staff were attentive, friendly and prompt. Would probably try their Mon-Fri 2 meals for �8 another time. There is a lot of competition in this market and in this postcode ! What with Sizzler / Harvester / Beefeater etc.
21 Feb 2010 14:37
The Bull has undergone somewhat of a transformation in the last few years. The standard of food started heading in the right direction with the previous landlord and has happily continued with the current boss. Sky was installed last year, (not everyones cup of tea,) but of all the pubs in Theale, this is the one with the best layout to enable mass viewing, and the venue of choice for Champions League and Rugby Union fans alike. Good live bands play about twice a month, with many up and coming young groups warmly received along with the more established and equally popular covers outfits. The covered outdoor area for smokers has been tastefully done, (By Dean of Fox Fencing), so much so that many of us non smokers can be found there, weather permitting. The quiz on alternate Thursdays is gaining popularity, and I've always found the ales to be well kept. Gone are the dark days of aggro, kids in the pool room, (now a function type restaurant space), and regular visits from the law.
What would I change if the place were mine to run ? I'd have a regular open mike night. I'd stock a super cold lager - "Buy One Get One Free" and I'd enforce an immediate ban on children, dogs and Sunderland supporters. (C'mon Boro !)
1 Aug 2008 11:39
Jack George Phillips, Godalming
I see W/Spoons seems to get the same sort of reviews from the usual suspects. Does what it says on the tin is fair comment, although service and table clearing was better than expected on the two occasions we visited. The food is average but ridiculously cheap, especially the food + pint combos ! And the array of drinks at yesterdays prices, well what can I say !
I have to admit, I wasn't there at chucking up time and so I missed the obligatory - "Leave it Wayne ! He's not worth it !!!!" (Doh !!!!!!!!!!)
29 Jul 2008 23:56
Stayed at the campsite when the pub reopened in July. Nice old place, good beers. Colin seems a good sort, but some of the young lads behind the bar had been working late the previous evening to get everything open on time. (Perhaps a bit too late as they seem to look right through a couple of people waiting to be served.) Tom and George seem to favour this chav fashion for wearing their jeans at half mast. You get a full on view of "Pants du Jour" each time they bend down for fruit juice ! (Is it just me !?)
29 Jul 2008 23:47
I live in Theale and have always like the charming decor and good food served here. We booked a table for six to celebrate a birthday. We went for the earliest available sitting - Midday on Saturday in mid July. The initial bar service was "relaxed" and the "brewed on the premises" Spring Ale, is very good for a low ABV tipple. We found the food good although a little pricey - (�125 for 6 starters / 6 mains / 1 dessert + lunchtime drinks). The service was snail-like however. It probably took 20-30 minutes before we saw our starters. The main course took even longer and don't get me started about one cup of coffee and a single Creme Brulee ! (which had sunk, presumably while cooling on a worktop somewhere !) We order drinks but the round came up short, and when I went down to retrieve my missing beer, it had been "poured away !". The two waitresses serving upstairs looked overstretched, this despite the fact we were there early to avoid the rush ! They failed to take payment until we all got up and walked downstairs - (or potentially out the door !) It was probably close to 3pm when we got back to Theale ! Please, please, please, employ more staff - as we do genuinely love this place !
20 Jul 2008 09:12
My wife and I visited the Boathouse on two occasions in June 2008 when camping in Wallingford. It's a bit of a Jekyll & Hyde this one. Thursday, it was relatively empty, with polite, attentive bar staff. It's a great place to watch the comings and goings by the river, with large comfy sofas to sink into after dark. Friday evening, even early on, there was security on the gate, easily a hundred Wayne's and Trixie's trying to out shout each other on the river terrace. It's definitely the place to pull on the weekends if you like that sort of thing. Me and the wife don't look too old for our age so we stuck around to observe the unfolding cabaret. I think I even heard the immortal line -"Leave it Craig - He's not worth it'" so we left before it got to the -"Are you looking at my bird...?" -time of the night.
29 Jun 2008 19:20
Visited the Dolphin couple of times at the end of June 2008 when camping in Wallingford. The relatively small main bar is absolutely bedecked with foreign currency, Americana, chintzy trinkets, and Rolling Stones memorablia. Not to everyones taste but I quite liked it. We watched some of the Euro 2008 in here although it's a bit of a squeeze when they're palying darts. The locals seem friendly enough and the lager's good and cold albeit a bit pricey like most of Oxfordshire it seems.
29 Jun 2008 18:58
My wife and I visited this pub at the end of June 2008. It's a charming place with a quaint rear courtyard (mostly populated with smokers). Watch out for the low beams, the inglenook fireplace and the tasteful furnishing. It's mostly a hangout for the older more affluent crowd but not at all snobby like some establishments. No one minded our windswept camping garb when we strolled in and caught the Spain v Russia game. (The Spanish barmaid was very happy that evening !) Pricewise, Oxfordshire is probably above average, but no more so that other local pubs.
The food smells emanating from the kitchen were to die for, but our budget didn't stretch that far !
29 Jun 2008 18:51
The Volunteer, Theale
Tend to start up at the "far end" of the village, if we're doing a mini crawl and I'm never disappointed by the well kept Fullers trio on the hand pumps. The food seems to have crept up in price however, and we're just starting to hear comments about how it's not as good as it once was. This was once consistently the best place for a meal in Theale, but I'm afraid they're slipping out of the Champions League places on recent perfomances ! Still got the most character of all the locals, especially on a cold winters night with the fire roaring !
31 May 2010 10:01