The Blacksmiths Arms, Willesborough

Really well situated, but limited and expensive. Never really felt comfortable as it is very much the William Harvey Hospital's watering hole.

15 Aug 2013 19:54

Honest Miller, Brook

I could complain about the service, but they're under-staffed at the moment -- any qualified jobseekers in the area would be doing us all a favour if they helped this place out.

Food as has been noted is good, they no longer serve sauces in sachets! Doom Bar and Lond. Pride are typically on with a guest ale, often quite interesting. Interestingly royalist decor, lots of coronation memorabilia.

Family friendly, which may as well be a negative point from most visitors' perspectives, as there is also a fenced off area in the garden with a few pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens) that children, I presume, are encouraged to interact with. Not that the pets seemed enthusiastic, and both pets and children are left unsupervised. Perhaps an issue with the clientele rather than the staff -- again, understaffed, and pubs don't generally include childminding in their services. Frankly you'd have to leave tips if they did. Friendly though.

15 Aug 2013 19:49

The Windsor Castle, Kensington

Well run, good drinks, traditional service, hedonistic food. The locals are very fond of it and it's almost as crowded as the churchill down the road most nights. If you get a table, you need to guard it with your life.

15 Aug 2013 18:47