The Fort St George, Cambridge

A very pleasant beer garden splendidly situated between the greenery of midsummer common and the cam fails entirely to make up for a lacklustre selection of beers, mediocre, overpriced food masquerading as gastropub fare and the most jaw-droppingly rude and incompetent staff in all of christendom. I would go there again, but only to drop off a congress of incontinent baboons, just before closing. Sure, that wouldn't make up for being made to pay again for a meal that wasn't put correctly through the till, or the abrasively rude manner in which the staff elected to deal with the matter from the outset, but it would be fun to watch them have to deal with some really difficult customers...

14 Aug 2009 22:21

The Porcupine, Leicester Square

Whilst upon first glance the porcupine would appear to be about as inoffensive as a pub in this part of London could be, the sunday evening staff made every attempt to be as unpleasant as possible for the time it took for us to order a drink, realise our mistake in electing to come here and go looking for somewhere else more welcoming. After being rudely told by the bartender that we wouldn't be served in one part of the pub we witnessed the same customer oriented individual respond to a request for assistance from an elderly patron who had just had her handbag stolen with repeated statements that the pub was now closed and no longer serving. When he finally understood what she was requesting his reponse of "it happens every day here, that's why we have signs up saying to watch your belongings" and subsequent refusal to be drawn further on the issue made me appreciate why the place was so empty in the first place. The sign we should have taken heed of was the name on the door - after all the porcupine is known for it's prick(le)s...

20 Aug 2007 00:35