The Bull, Otford

Long an advocate of "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything", this no longer applies. I have lived in the village for only five years now but have used the pub regularly through its publicized ups and downs, averaging a couple of visits a month, sometimes with food and have put up with its lack of quality, at least the people running it have been friendly and polite...until tonight. The new landlord patrolled an otherwise empty and previously accessible area of the pub, basically asking people what they were doing there and telling them in no uncertain terms that it was fully booked. There never used to be a booking policy so perhaps the surly fellow couldn't understand my bemusement, add a soupcon of sarcasm to boot, I was informed by him that it was New Years Day as if I shouldn't know. The food had better be really good cos you seem to think you're Gordon Ramsey. Pub Co's, who needs them, another journeyman landlord who doesn't give a damn about people. Pubs used to be places for making people relax and enjoy themselves, now we pay over the top prices for offensive and arrogant visiting pubkeepers, not landlords. Go to the Crown if you want a friendly landlord who cares about his clientele and offers a reasonably priced and well kept pint. This pub is being let down and so are its customers.

2 Jan 2010 01:38