BITE user comments - winstone
Comments by winstone
Yes, it does have 1 hand pump that when I went in there sold pretty miserable London Pride. Far better pubs to go to in town!
1 Nov 2011 21:42
I would love to know what attracts people to this pub. The beer is terrible and the atmosphere is not great, especially if you are not a local face. But, it was busy so they are obviously doing something right!!
1 Nov 2011 21:41
Very pleased to see that this place now has 3 ale pumps, very encouraging. Also do a 20p discount for camra members. I hope this can be sustained, good luck!
1 Nov 2011 21:38
The Stocks Bar (Crown and Thistle Hotel), Abingdon
Oh dear, oh dear. What is going on with this place!! How can a pub that was in the good beer guide only a year ago slide down hill so badly!! Very poor selection of ale, apparently the new managemant don't care much for the stuff and can't be bothered, even though it still has 7 hand pumps!! Such a shame!
1 Nov 2011 21:35
Gone for good. Becoming yet another Tesco express. Like the town really needs another one of those!!!!!!
1 Nov 2011 21:33
I was forced to take a dump here and I can honestly say it has scared me for life!!! Terrible place
6 Mar 2011 20:58
For a Greene King pub I was very suprised to see all the guest Ales. They are apparently not allowed to sell the Local Loose cannon beer which is a shame. LIke a small independant Brewery is going to dent Greene Kings 300 million pound anual profits!!!
9 Dec 2010 13:36
Pub is closing soon. It has been bought by Tesco and they plan to turn it into one of their local stores. Shame
9 Dec 2010 13:32
Top pub. Very good ale and the food was superb. Highly recommand
22 Nov 2010 16:47
The pub has recently been taken over and the new landlord is really making an effort with the place. New menu that is reasonably priced and 40p off a pint if you are a Camra member. The beer is mainly boring Green King but its normally in very good condition
13 Sep 2010 16:42
Forgot to mention 50p off a pint if you're a Camra member, Brilliant!!!!
13 Sep 2010 16:39
It is so nice to see a pub selling ale from a stillage! You just don't see that anymore. Not only that its always in top condition. Yes the pub could do with a bit of a hoover in places but when the beer is that good, quite frankly so what!!! If you are in the area, well worth a visit
13 Sep 2010 16:38
I find it hard to believe that its been over a year since any comments on this pub and the last one was myself!! It has been taken over recently but it has not affected the place at all. They still have 8 ales on pretty much all the time. Most of them are Wadsworth but they usually have about 4 guest ales. The food is very good and the general atmosphere of the place is lovely. The staff are friendly and the same highly entertaining quiz night is still on a Monday evenings. Well worth a visit
13 Sep 2010 16:35
Lovely pub. Has the feeling of a village pub in a town centre which is bizzare. What puts me off going is what most other people have said. The prices are crazy!! Way too expensive. If I was in central London then I would expect it but not Reading. They need to address this as it is putting a lot of people off going there. I used to go in there a lot with colleagues from work on a Friday. We generally go to the Nags Head now as it 50p a pint cheaper.
13 Sep 2010 16:28
Soon to re-open. No music though. All the unique furniture and decorations have already been removed. It's going to be a boring, bog standard pub by the sounds of things concentrating on food and beer!!!
30 Jan 2010 07:49
Brilliant place. 6 Real ale pumps that are ever changing. Mainly local Scottish ales but there were some on the other day from the south of England. Landlord is very real ale focused and is having a real ale festival in March 2010 with 50+ ales. If you like ale then you will love this pub.
4 Dec 2009 07:42
If you want to get your head kicked it or glassed for looking at someone the wrong way then this is the place to be. A lot of very dangerous and violent people drink in this place. If your are not a local its best to avoid
19 Nov 2009 18:04
The Kings Head and Bell, Abingdon
Went to the opening night and was very impressed indeed. They have done a really nice job on the place and it has not lost any of its character. There is an extention on the side of building but it still leaves plenty of space in the garden including a very nice under cover seated smoking area. Adnams and Hook Norton ales were on sale and in good condition. The landlord seems to be keen on getting different guest ales on which is very encouraging. The upstairs area has also been refurbished. They have plans on having quiz and poker nights up there.
All in all a very positive start. I wish the staff every success and I look forward to my next visit.
3 Nov 2009 09:27
The Stocks Bar (Crown and Thistle Hotel), Abingdon
Landlord has moved on. I only hope the new person is equally real ale minded. I have my fingers crossed!!
21 Oct 2009 13:34
Popped in here again yesterday. Why can't all pubs be like this? 12 stunning ales on tap. Tried most of them!! Even though it was packed it had a lovely chilled out atmosphere. There were all sorts of different people in there young and old. A group of metallers in one corner and a load of football fans in another. Not a single crossed word between them. Perfect!!! You really can't get better than this place. I recommend it to everyone I know
4 Oct 2009 17:56
The beer is quite good, not the best I've ever had. The food was very good indeed. The only thing that put me off returning to this pub was the service. I went in there on a wednesday night, it was not very busy but I still had to wait what seemed like forever for the food I ordered. I complianed to the staff and I was fobbed off with a feeble apology.
4 Oct 2009 17:50
Nice pub. Didn't think too much of their own beer from The Roseland Brewery. Tasted a bit like my dad's home brew and that isn't a good thing!!
4 Oct 2009 17:47
The Kings Head and Bell, Abingdon
That's great news. If they are going to have cask ales I hope they concentrate on locally produced ale from the Oxfordshire area and not boring old london pride and green king which you can get everywhere!!!
25 Sep 2009 21:47
The Kings Head and Bell, Abingdon
Rumour is that this pub will be re-opening as a wine bar in the not too distant future
7 Sep 2009 11:30
Wonderful Ale pub. Always a great selection on and not just Wadworth ales. Try and come down on a Monday night if you can. Really great pub quiz. The presenter is a top bloke and very entertaining
11 Aug 2009 16:00
Sorry mate, still full of drug dealers. Went in there a few weeks ago and recognised at least 2 people that deal in Abingdon!!
23 Jul 2009 12:31
Dreadful place!!! Looks lovely from the outside and many years ago it was a top pub. The problem is the mangeress. She clearly does not enjoy her job unless gets a kick out of having a shocking attitude problem. Avoid at all costs. Take a short walk to the Spread Eagle around the corner. At least the staff there generally smile at you!!!
23 Jul 2009 12:29
The Stocks Bar (Crown and Thistle Hotel), Abingdon
I think the new manager should be very proud of what he has acheived. He has filled a very obvious gap in Abindgon as it lacked pubs with proper beer. Very good selection of ale and friendly staff. Only draw back is that it can be very busy and loud on a saturday night, so if that's not your thing then its best to avoid.
17 Jul 2009 14:34
Place has become a right dump recently, such a shame, used to be a top pub!!
17 Jul 2009 14:24
If you are an ale drinker you will struggle to find a better pub then the Nags. I absolutely love it in there. I wish I could get there more often then I do as the list of ales is forever changing. Keep it up, you are doing a fantastic job
17 Jul 2009 14:22
Thought I would give this place another chance as I was back in the area. Went in there last saturday night for a pint and a game of pool. After being in there for 10 minutes a fight broke out between a couple of local chav types resulting in one of them getting knocked out!! Lovely!!! So much for getting rid of the local idiots, there still seems to be plenty in there. Avoid!!!!!!!
17 Jul 2009 14:18
Quite a nice pub, went in there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The decor is pleasant enough. Only ale is green king and Abbot ale!!! Would be nice to have a guest ale on. Some of the locals are interesting. Got chatting to a bloke called D, he spends most of his life in there. He certainly has a story or 2 to tell!!
You get a lot of under age drinkers in there and best to avoid on a Friday night as you might disturb the drug dealing in the tiolets. Otherwise not too bad at all really
7 Jan 2009 11:57
OK Pub_man, you clearly at not a lover of rock/metal music. Fair enough, no one is asking you to be. The Turks has changed a lot, but a completely disagree with your comments. I have found the staff to be very welcoming and friendly. The music on a Saturday night is loud but heavy metal played quietly does not work. The Turks is unique to Reading. There aren't any other alternative pubs about. There are no end of towney chav pubs in Reading so I suggest you go to one of them for a pint
30 Sep 2006 11:52
The Stocks Bar (Crown and Thistle Hotel), Abingdon
One of the best places to drink in Abingdon. Totally disagree with the last comment. It also now has a license til 1am on friday and saturday nights.
29 Aug 2005 17:44
Fantastic pub!! Very unique, it's a no frills place and that is great as far as I'm concerned. Watch out if you are tall, very low ceiling. Lovely pub with a very warm and friendly atmosphere. Highly recommened
17 Aug 2005 15:56
A very genuine pub. Doesn't try to be anything it's not. Nice beer, rumoured to be Green King's next victim
17 Aug 2005 15:54
The Kings Head and Bell, Abingdon
Yet another pub that has changed it's face over the years. Back in the early 90's it looked very different. Broken chairs with the foam ripped out of them. Nicotine stains everywhere you looked. Nackered tiolets that regularly blocked up and flooded the floor, it was great!! The garden now looks like something out of lego land and the pub itself is full of cheap nasty ornaments to make it authentic looking to the time King Charles passed through the town and stayed at the pub. But saying that it is a good pub and to be honest the town is badly lacking them these days. Green King has closed most of them down. Red Lion, Horse and Jockey R.I.P. Just to name a few. Well worth a visit!!
17 Aug 2005 15:52
Nice pub, bring back Big dave's quiz night, that American bloke is useless, can't understand what he is saying because of his accent
28 Jul 2005 21:27
Good starting point for the ock run!!! If your local you will know what I mean, but saying that it's not such a challenge any more now green king have closed most of the pubs down
28 Jul 2005 21:26
Totally disagree with the last 2 posts. It's not like that at all, beer prices have shot up a bit recently but it's a good pub. Something on most evenings, nice beer garden now its just been done up.
28 Jul 2005 21:24
Full of drug dealers, very dodgey place to go unless you are a local
28 Jul 2005 21:22
Very expensive prices. �2.70 for a pint of fosters!!! Apparently it is high to keep the squaddies away, well it's worked on me too!!!
28 Jul 2005 21:20
Nags Head On The Thames, Abingdon
My god how this place has changed. It was bad enough when they closed it down in the early 90's and tarted it up. Yes it was run down but it had real character!! I went in there for the first time in years and I stayed for a pint and left; I actually felt threatened by the people in there. It was full of under age Chavs power drinking Stella and shouting and urguing with each other. It was horrible. Unless you are 16 and generally wear a lot of Burberry, avoid like the plague!!!
28 Jul 2005 21:18
Nice quiet little pub. Locals are genrally very friendly. Good place to take a partner for a quiet drink
28 Jul 2005 21:15
Nags Head On The Thames, Abingdon
The pub has just re-opened!!!! It has been taken over by the landlord from the Broad face. He did wonders with that pub so hopefully the futures bright. Also, its a free house so no horrible Greene King beer. Loose cannon's Abingdon Bridge is the house beer, but as its on Abingdon Bridge it would be rude not to!! Really looking forward to the summer as the garden by the rivere is superb on a warm evening. Well worth a visit
21 Oct 2012 22:31