The Nelson Hotel, Westcliff on Sea

The last comment is correct. This pub is now closed for ever and due for re-development.

26 Nov 2013 21:36

The Plough, Westcliff on Sea

The best thing about the Plough is its customers - oldish geezers to a man - at least we know where they drink and can thus avoid them - I don't want to be rude but they are not my sort of people. On the few occasions when the weather or proximity to the crush bar at the Palace next door has forced us in, there was no cask beer at all and my friend was presented with a warm white wine from a fridge which was not switched on. The carpets...don't ask. The 'live' music at the weekends consists of more 'geezers' shouting into the mike with variable musicality. Sometimes it's Karaoke night, sometimes it's a big old boy with backing tracks. Either way, you drink up quickly (or leave it) hoping the noise will stop. It doesn't.
To be fair, I might be describing your kind of boozer. Horses for courses eh?

14 Nov 2013 17:43

The Trading Rooms, Westcliff on Sea

I believe their daytime focus is on food, and the menu and pricing is distinctly up-market. But a very civilised environment with quality service from what I've seen and occasionally tried.
As for the night-time drinking sessions - varies according to the weekday. Can get very crowded and 'shouty' of a weekend, with newly-18 kids flexing their social skills. Sometimes pre-clubbing hen and stag warm-ups can get boisterous, sweary and rude, but usually good humoured. Not seen a fight there yet.
As for the beer, variable would be my opinion, although they proudly display the 'Cask Marque' of excellence. There is always a good Courage Best and GK IPA, but the other 'guest ales' e.g. 'Speckled Hen' and 'Woodforde's Wherry', seem to linger too long in the cellar and can get very 'dusty' tasting or, on one occasion sour, and returned for refund. Fair to say that their evening clientele are largely throwing lagers and chasers down their necks, and so the uptake on guest cask barrels is not enough to keep them in peak condition. But that really is no excuse for serving 'off' beer, the cellar-person must 'know' when the cask has been there too long, that it will taste bad. There's an element of 'just a few more days' when it should be thrown out.
To be fair, the staff will always offer a 'try-before-buy' sipping glass - if they are not too busy.
The staff are friendly, courteous and neatly turned out, but keen to 'get rid' at the end of the night, with abrupt 'music off/lights up to maximum' as well as the traditional bell.

14 Nov 2013 17:28