The Granta, Cambridge

Fine if all you want is a drink, but don't be lured by the promises of food.

I went here with some friends on what felt like the loveliest day of the year, to cap off the great weekend we'd had. Too bad then that it took around ten minutes to get served at the bar, and that the food we ordered took an hour to arrive. The fancy-pants vibrating contraptions they gave us to let us know the food was ready didn't work and when we did get the food, the orders were variously wrong, cold and inedible. Some orders were sent back and refunds received. Others just sat on the plate looking sad and unloved, a few bites taken from one edge, the owner having neither the energy or patience to face the management.

All the stuff about the great location, outdoor seating is true - they should just accept they don't have the resources to do food as well. (Even we had to smile when they said it would be an hour wait for a slice of cake...) A true stinker.

15 Sep 2008 16:13

The Elk in the Woods, Islington

Poor poor brusque service, smokey, pokey and pretentious . A nice interior tarnished by a poor attitude.

16 Jun 2006 14:24

The Nobody Inn, Newington Green

This is my local and very happy I am with it too. It's a spacious, well-lit pub, great for a quiet pint or a throughough beering. It has couple of pool-tables and several screens that are generally showing Sky Sport. And yes, a randomly placed red-telephone box. Not sure why it's there but it can be good place to get some peace and quiet while you think about what you've done.

They sell a good variety of beers too, ranging from your basic cooking lager to your fancy-schmancy continental stuff, as well as well-kept tradidtional ales such as Pride and Adnams. They do a guest beers too.

Staff are dead friendly, as are most of the people that drink there.

16 Jun 2006 14:11