BITE user comments - yvan
Comments by yvan
Beer: Very short pint of Doombar. Quoting staff: "it's the head". Grudging top-up so I had a quarter of an inch of foam instead of half an inch. There were floaties in the beer - probably not cleaning their lines properly.
Food: Several items looked like they'd been sitting under heat-lamps for half an hour. Though the burgers were reported to be OK.
Location: Very nice, beautiful in the sun by the river.
Conclusion: Not dire... but severely lacking. You're better off in an average Wetherspoons for beer and food.
25 Mar 2011 14:18
The Live and Let Live, Cambridge
Brilliant pub that is unfortunately overshadowed by more showy real-ale bars in the area. I travel through this part of Cambridge every day between work and the train station, I've tried all the pubs around this part of the Mill Road area and the Live & Let Live is the one I've decided to stick with for the odd after-work pint.
There's usually several real ales on offer, almost always something strong, something crisp and hoppy, and something dark - and if you don't feel like one of the ales the Belgian beer selection is also great.
It comes down to the atmosphere as much as the beer too. No screaming TV, no annoying music... just beer and happy beer drinkers.
7 Jul 2010 14:45
The Salisbury, Leicester Square
When the bar staff argue that a pint of ale with nearly an inch of head is "normal" the pub loses a lot of points. Sure, short measures are expected practice in London - but don't argue about it. Other than that, the Doombar and Deuchars IPA were in perfect condition, and the pub a pleasant stop on a Tuesday afternoon.
25 Aug 2009 16:24
"Permanent Real Ale Festival" pretty much defines this pub. Young's Special and Adnams bitter, plus 4 frequently changing ales. Sometimes by the time you've got through the 4, they've been replaced by a new set! Good food, perfect summer BBQs, and regular food events and pub games (no darts/pool.). A friendly and relaxing pub ideal for those who like to mellow out with a fine pint of excellent ale.
25 Jan 2009 14:45
Good food, decent beer - bucking the Green King pub norm. 5 hand pumps, mostly 'King, though occaisionally some Green-King-crushed gems such as Witchfinder Porter show their comely faces. Certainly hard to beat the price of a pint here. My XX Mild seems to be on the turn tonight unfortunately, not perfect.
24 Jan 2009 17:51
Since moving to Hitchin a little over a week ago The Nightingale is taking the role of our preferred local.
We've been in about every second night over 10 days and can say that the usual crowd is a small bunch of locals, some seem to be permanent fixtures, and none appear to be anywhere near 16! (I have no idea what the previous reviewer was on about.) The regulars and landlords are friendly, and the pub has a relaxing and accepting atmosphere.
The big pluses for this pub are:
* 5 hand pumps with real ales. Apparently they change regularly, but at the moment from Tring: Colley's Dog, Side Pocket for a Toad, Wild Boy Pete (May monthly); and from Nethergate: Umbel Ale (Corriander Porter, mmm), and Greedy Pike. They also have a Westons scrumpy.
* Superb patio area out the back with a BBQ and a pond. (The area is large enough that us non-smokers can usually find a corner upwind of the smokers.)
Other notes:
* There's also a dart board, a pool table, and plenty of seating inside, including some sofas.
* As reported previously, the mens' toilets are a little rough (but I've seen far worse throughout London.)
* The Nightingale tends to be rather quiet. Clearly a lot of effort has been put in with the new outdoor area and excellent beers. I really hope to see the place getting busier!
12 May 2008 11:50
The Albert Inn, Hitchin
Now has 2nd new landlord since Frank left in 2011. New guy, Paul, is friendly and a cask ale drinker (so the cask ale situation has improved!) - early days yet, reopened not long before Christmas 2011. Had very good pints of Buntingford Knights Templar & Bombardier this week.
6 Jan 2012 12:48