The White Hart, Crystal Palace

I've reviewed this pub before but I feel the need to do so again. This pub, like so many others, seems to have a multiple personality. The service varies depending on how busy it is and whether it is night or day.

During the day the service seems fine and my wife and I have never felt that the staff were rude. A tad slow sometimes but never rude.

My only big criticism lies with the food. It's okay but not stellar and certainly doesn't warrant the prices charged. Their homemade nachos are awful and should be avoided at all costs.

The other thing I cannot stand is their obsession with what they call "skin-on" chips. They are served with almost everything. They try to make them sound trendy but what they really are are chips that the chef couldn't be bothered to peel before frying. A few days ago I asked if I could have ordinary chips instead and was told "sorry sir it's the only kind we do". I'm sorry but it cannot be beyoned the wit of the management to get some frozen chips in to give customers a choice and it's hardly as if it is hard to peel a potato.

Come on guys try harder. As others have said - you do have a lot of competition. You need to be worried when the local Wetherspoon is offering a better range of food than you are (and for half the price).

2 Sep 2009 11:22

The Sandrock Hotel, Shirley

Having just read the most recent reivew below I have to say that I fail to recognise the Sandrock that I know. Having said that I have only ever been there for lunch rather than dinner. My only guess is that the staff on duty of an evening are less able than those during the day.

My wife and I have lunched there at least a dozen times and have always had the most excellent food, drink and service. My only criticism is that the menu is a little limited and vegetarian options are virtually nil (although it is not something that worries me).

Don't be put off by the negative reviews shown here. Try this place out. If it fails to please you then that's fine but you don't want to miss out on a place purely based on someone else's negative experience. Every pub/restaurant has got at least one person out there who wasn't happy with it.

2 Sep 2009 11:12

The Anerley Arms, Anerley

I have been in this pub twice and the contrast on each occasion was stark. On the first occasion my wife and I went in on a Saturday afternoon and although a bit empty it was fine.

The next time I went on my own on a Sunday afteroon at about 12.30. The place contained about six regulars who looked at me as though I had six heads. I got my beer and read a paper but I was well aware that I was being regularly stared at. It was so creepy that I actually snuck out when no one was looking. I won't be in a hurry to go back.

3 Aug 2009 13:14