The Green Man, Fitzrovia

My view of this pub is very similar to that of the experience of other people who have reviewed it.

It has a very impressive selection of Cider, it's the only place around the area that I know of at least which does so many. It's also got a few ales.
That's really where the positives end though.

The main problem starts with the bar, it's really small. This probably wouldn't be such an issue if the bar staff were on it, but sadly they are some of the worst I've seen in the area. I'd echo previous comments that they seem to be quite young and are more into talking to each other and flirting in the corner of the bar, rather than serve the masses of customers. I'm not sure where the manager/owner is, but they might want to do something about it, because the problem is that everyone ends up waiting ages to be served. Which is something everyone I was enjoying a drink with also commented on.

What really angers everyone the most is that after a certain time, the bar staff force everyone to try and go inside the pub; I believe due to local licensing laws because of the proximity to local housing. This is usually enforced by one member of the useless bar staff who gets very angry with people, often threatening them with his broom. The irony is that once you have gone inside, they have already stopped serving drinks, then about five minutes later they are trying to force everyone outside the pub to clear off. It's all a bit ridiculous, and especially when there is so much spite from the bar staff when it's taken so long to get a drink all night because of their incompetence.

I can't comment on the food as I've not eaten here.
Toilets aren't up to much.
I think the place really needs a decent refit and a manager who can control the staff a bit better.

3 Oct 2009 13:13

The John Snow, Soho

Best thing about this place really is that the beer is really cheap. It does have a lot of pavement outside, but that's where the problem begins.

Back in Autumn of last year, which is when I also notice a few of the other reviews of this pub took place, there was a large bouncer, I think maybe from Argentinia. He was basically employed to walk around outside and tell anyone who even put a foot in the road to get back on the kerb, or he would take away your drink.

Now, most of the normal staff were quite curteous about the fact that it is a chore, but could you make sure you are on the pavement. The trouble is, it's hard to avoid having to step out with the number of people, especially if somebody needs to get past.

After being given one warning for having one foot on the kerb and one foot into the road, I later had to step out again to let someone by to get into the pub. The second I did so, the bouncer comes over and tries to take my drink from me, I refuse to do so, and he then tells me to come inside, as he would like to talk to me. I refuse, he tells me I have to come inside to speak, at which again I inform him that I am not going inside and he has no right to make me go inside the pub. He then tells me that because of the law, he can make me do whatever. Having worked in bars and clubs when I was younger I then ask what law that is exactly. He tells me that he has taken the 'bar exam' and that he knows. So I then ask him what his job actually is, clearly he isn't the landlord and is just a hired goon. So after getting a bit more shirty with me, I ask to see his door staff lisence, which all bouncers have to have. He clearly doesn't have one, as going by his lack of knowledge of the English language is obviously just an immigrant being paid to make people's nights a misery. At this point, he just walked away from me, then a few minutes later came back to say that I wasn't welcome and that I should go elsewhere.

Now I've spent enough of my cash at this pub and always acted in a courteous manner, so I think its pretty crap that I should be told to FO just because I stepped onto the road to let someone by, to get into their pub!

Hopefully they have gotten rid of this idiot now, as I've not been back since.

17 Feb 2009 08:59