Culver Haven Inn, Sandown

This pub does not imediately impress. It is an unprepossessing modernish building with a spacious interior furnished with slightly dated style dark-stained tables and chairs. However, two things made it a winner for for me:

First. Situated at the top of Culver Down at the eastern extremity of the Isle of Wight, the views from the garden are absolutely stunning on a good day. You can see about 300 degrees around, from Spithead & the Solent in the north to almost the whole island in the south and east. All from an ordinary pub garden seat!

Second. It has good quality local real ales, served with a smile. Oh, it also does food, but it didn't seem important!

24 Apr 2011 23:03

Bridge, Shawford

Visited on a Saturday lunchtime. The place had been totally made over since my last visit, when it admitted to being a Chef & Brewer joint. No visible signs of any 'brand' this time, although it's most definitely got the look of a managed chain pub-restaurant. I found the make-over almost intimidating. Landscaping outside with lots of posh square blue umbrellas. Heavy timber garden chairs plus those uncomfortable looking steel-mesh ones. Through the windows, huge wine glasses were neatly ranked on the wooden tables in the minimalist-looking interior. We ventured in and were immediately captured and whisked to a table. (I do like to choose myself!). As real-ale buffs, we dashed to the bar to check what was on. Three ales, all Hampshire or very close by (top marks!). The TEA was very good (but expensive). The main courses looked expensive, and didn't give us veggies much to whet our appetites. So we went for the sandwiches. Now here's a story ! There were three 'Doorstep' sandwiches and three 'Deli' sandwiches. My 'Bomber Cheddar' & chutney one was �4.45 and my partner's one with a foreign cheese and some olive fragments was �6.95. Something 'deli' in there was worth a whole �2.50 !

When they arrived I discovered that a Shawford doorstep is smaller than most people's doorstop. It consisted of two diagonally sliced bits of soft baguette, with grated mousetrap, a pot containing 1/3 of a packet of crisps, and a salad garnish. The 'Deli' sandwich looked exactly the same, including the crisps ! (I admit the filling was a bit different). The ingredients were all in top nick (including the crisps), but it did raise two questions:

Why call a fairly ordinary moderately sized sandwich a doorstep?
Why differentiate between the 'Doorsteps' and the 'Delis' on the menu when there is no difference except in the fillings between the baguette slices. (The fillings are already satisfactorily described on the menu)

I expect a doorstep sandwich to give me jaw cramps. Good wholemeal cobs can be frozen and microwaved back to life (or even provided bakery fresh !) to provide that real doorstop experience. (And some adequate carbs to fuel the weary).

To add to which, when I ordered our second drinks, the manageress seemed to be shouting at me. Perfectly polite, but a decibel or two louder than necessary. I know I'm a senior, but I am not deaf.

The service was brusque. Perhaps we didn't fit in with the decor (although we were tidy and adequately turned out)

All in all, a triumph of presentation over reality. The locals had seen through the facade, as they looked as ordinary as we felt. It was sort of busy, so obviously fills a niche of some sort. I'll go again for the beer if I'm passing but won't travel any distance for the food.

1 Jun 2010 18:28

The Bull, Sonning

I stopped here for a light lunch on a walk from Reading to Henley. They had Gales Festival Mild on. It's a seasonal brew from Fullers, so has to be grabbed wherever it turns up, being exceptionally nice (unlike most people's assumptions about mild). It was superb, so I had two pints. Food wise was not so much fun. Being a veggie always limits my choice, but increasingly I find that the sandwich choice available to me is Cheddar (with or without chutney or pickle) or Cheddar. That was what was on the menu. At the till I was offered some additions, so I had tomato. Being a foody looking place I expected something reasonably grand. How wrong could I be ! Two bits of anaemic soft baguette, straight out of the microwave, with grated mousetrap spilling about over the plate, all finished with 3 thin slices of tomato sliding around on top. I'm sorry guys, but I consider soft baguette to be one step up from sliced white! A good wholemeal cob can also be frozen, and then be revived in the old microwave, and still be ten times better than this.

1 Jun 2010 17:42