The Alexandra, Clapham

I share the feelings of whiskybob. This place has changed in the last 6 months, and I can claim to be a 10 year regular. It was always our football and gaelic pub, and at least 5 of us would be at least once a week to watch whatever football match was on, and have a fair few pints. But on Monday when we went in to watch the first round of the Lge 1 Play-offs (Leeds v Carlisle) the Eastern European bar maid didn't even know if there was any football on. After consulting with her fellow barman, they agreed that it was in the back, and at the side. There were approx 50 footie fans all sat in the back waiting the start - at which point these same "wonderful" bar staff, refused point blank to put on the volume. There was absolutely no-one else in the pub (Monday night, v hot), but for no reason, they said no volume - it wasn't their choice apparently, but they had been instructed .......It wasn't just the lack of volume, it was the way they didn't tell us prior to the start of the match (we were all sat waiting, many in football strips), and then just turned plain rude and nasty, when we queried the reason (oh, but i musnt forget - they did put on the volume in the tiny tv at the side, so the whole bar squeezed in to watch that, while the rest of the bar emptied). I was shocked at how abrupt and unpleasant the staff were, and certainly they've lost our custom

15 May 2008 12:05

Goodman's Field, Whitechapel

Fairly standard wetherspoons - does what it says on the tin. The beer is cheap, plenty of space to sit down and the service is quick. The best bit is the toilets - sparkingly clean, on the same level and with a sofa in the ladies. Definitely not your standard Wetherspoons
Can't comment on the food too much, as only had the nachos, but they were the usual hearty helping, and again v quick and cheap.
Admittedly, I didn't order anything complicated, but the staff member who served me was a particularly friendly irish guy. Can't imagine he would have had an issue with repeating anything
I don't know about Hammersteins steak, but at Wetherspoons prices you can't expect Gordon Ramsey food.

7 Feb 2008 13:47