"Alan Harrison" wrote in message ...
"MrFalafel" wrote in message
om...

Slug and Lettuce ranks just behind Wetherspoons pubs as the most
souless pubs in the UK. Most airport lounges have better atmosphere
(and beer) than those places

I don't agree. I've generally found Wetherspoon's OK, or better, on beer
quality, and I like the "no recorded music, no big screen football" policy
amenable (tho' I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the latter plague has
found its way into the one in Charing X Road). They are also refreshingly
cheap in London, where most boozers charge over two quid a pint.

Alan Harrison

Different strokes for different folks, but the atmosphere of a pub is
as important as the pints they serve.

The Wetherspoons in Islington is usually full of old men muttering to
themselves before shuffling off with their plastic bags. The patrons
of the wetherspoons in Camden is a veritable whos-who of mental
illness and the wetherspoons in Farringdon is where people go before
commiting suicide from boredom. If you've found a wetherspoons to your
liking then congratulations. But would you really recommend one of
them to a tourist who's interested in experiencing 'a London pub'?

Paul Shirley wrote:

You're going to be really upset then: JDW have announced a move toward
music in more pubs, driven by its success in Lloyds No1 outlets.

Well, I won't go to them, then.

I'd also mention they usually have large, well-ventilated non-smoking
areas. I couldn't care a bit about the ambience of a pub if I have to
inhale other people's smoke- which is why I usually don't go to pubs
with "ambience."

I've taken advantage of many JDW smoke free areas, only one (The
Imperial in Exeter) was actually smoke free. Smoke free areas are a
cruel joke in almost all cases ;(

The ones I've been in were well-ventilated, and in some cases,
completely cut off from smoking areas.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.co.uk
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

Unless I'm very much mistaken, it was MrFalafel ),
in message who said:

Different strokes for different folks, but the atmosphere of a pub is
as important as the pints they serve.

The Wetherspoons in Islington is usually full of old men muttering to
themselves before shuffling off with their plastic bags. The patrons
of the wetherspoons in Camden is a veritable whos-who of mental
illness and the wetherspoons in Farringdon is where people go before
commiting suicide from boredom. If you've found a wetherspoons to your
liking then congratulations. But would you really recommend one of
them to a tourist who's interested in experiencing 'a London pub'?


I'd recommend a few of them to London tourists who wanted to see
architectually/historically interesting buildings.

Knights Templar and Crosse Keys are both fantastic historical conversions,
while the Printworks in Farringdon is also pretty impressive for very
different reasons.

Any of the converted cinemas/theatres are impressive too.

BTN

I've taken advantage of many JDW smoke free areas, only one (The
Imperial in Exeter) was actually smoke free. Smoke free areas are a
cruel joke in almost all cases ;(

On us smokers undoubtedly. No smoking at the bar. I must loan my cigar
when I approach the bar for drinks with the obscure ruling.
Dave

David wrote:

On us smokers undoubtedly. No smoking at the bar. I must loan my cigar
when I approach the bar for drinks with the obscure ruling.

Oh, my heart bleeds for you.

David

--
David Horne- www.davidhorne.co.uk
davidhorne (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk

In article , MrFalafel
writes

Cittie of York pub on Holborn, near Chancery Lane tube station, is a
Samuel Smiths pub and sells very good beer for under £2 a pint. Plus,
it has very interesting historical decor, atmosphere and is a great
place to meet people. This is the type of pub most tourists want to
see rather than a sterile hotel lobby like Wetherspoons pubs.

It's practically my local, though for some unknown [1] reason most
people I work with tend to drink at Holborn Colony on Brooke Street.

[1] - most likely because it's the nearest drinking hole to the office.

--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com

"MrFalafel" wrote in message
om...
The Wetherspoons in Islington is usually full of old men muttering to
themselves before shuffling off with their plastic bags.

Now, if it was the Uxbridge one, that could be me!

If you've found a wetherspoons to your
liking then congratulations. But would you really recommend one of
them to a tourist who's interested in experiencing 'a London pub'?

Depends how well I know the area, and what I know about it. Generally
they're a safe bet in a strange place. I would certainly recommend, say, the
one in Broad Street, Birmingham, over the nearby "yoof" venues.

Alan Harrison

(David Horne) wrote in message news:1g2knf4.1501nmd1vpz6rrN%this_address_is_for_ ...
David wrote:

On us smokers undoubtedly. No smoking at the bar. I must loan my cigar
when I approach the bar for drinks with the obscure ruling.

Oh, my heart bleeds for you.

David

It is one of the many sacrifices one must make in pursuit of the
perfect evening. Mind you , not many perfect evenings have included
JDW. Either traditional pubs or Piano and Pitcher bars with the
mandatory doubles are my drinking holes of choice.

JDW does exactly what it says on the tin.
Dave

(David) wrote in message . com...

I've taken advantage of many JDW smoke free areas, only one (The
Imperial in Exeter) was actually smoke free. Smoke free areas are a
cruel joke in almost all cases ;(

On us smokers undoubtedly. No smoking at the bar. I must loan my cigar
when I approach the bar for drinks with the obscure ruling.
Dave

let me clear away the obscurity - the 'no smoking at the bar rule' is
for the benefit of those working behind the bar - they are at work &
should not have to spend an 8-12hr shift breathing in dense tobacco
smoke (pub co.s seem to be enforcing it - whether out of obedience to
law, to protect their staff, or to avoid future lawsuits, I'm not
sure)

incidentally IIRC ireland's smoking ban was brought in mainly on the
same grounds - to protecting workers, not customers.
MikeMcG

(MikeMcG) writes:


let me clear away the obscurity - the 'no smoking at the bar rule' is
for the benefit of those working behind the bar - they are at work &
should not have to spend an 8-12hr shift breathing in dense tobacco
smoke (pub co.s seem to be enforcing it - whether out of obedience to
law, to protect their staff, or to avoid future lawsuits, I'm not
sure)

incidentally IIRC ireland's smoking ban was brought in mainly on the
same grounds - to protecting workers, not customers.
MikeMcG

Ireland's ban isn't in yet (1 Jan 2004) but is much more sweeping:
no smoking in any indoor workplace, no exceptions. You can't even
smoke in your hotel room, and unless they allow a specific
exemption, nor in your prison cell.

The "hospitality" industry is up in arms, but polls show support
for the move. I'm delighted, because cigarette smoke really takes
the edge off my enjoyment of a few pints. I just hope that the
minister who has the balls to push the measure through also has the
balls to enforce it.

Brendan
--
Brendan Halpin, Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Ireland
Tel: w +353-61-213147 f +353-61-202569 h +353-61-390476; Room F2-025 x 3147
http://www.ul.ie/sociology/brendan.halpin.html

HEY YOU I WORK FRO WETHERSPOON YOUR NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT ONES THE PUB I
WORK AT HAS THE BEST ATMOSPHERE FRIENDLY STAFF GOOD LOOKING BAR STAFF AND
THE BEST BEER IN TOWN AND THE SLUG AND LETTUCE IS WAY BEHIND US ON SALES
MORON
"MrFalafel" wrote in message
om...
(MikeMcG) wrote in message
. com...
Reid© wrote in message
. ..
Following up to Andy Bolstridge

Well, the Slug and Lettuce in Henley on Thames has (very pretty)
waitress
service, and not just for food.

sounds like my sort of place.

hmm, keg only draught beer (IIRC Stella, Kronenbourg &
JohnSmithSmooth*) in a town which until recently boasted one of the
best old breweries in the country (Brakspear - "one of the best"
because it was a beautiful old place & made great beer) & Henley still
has one of my favourite pubs - The Bird In Hand, where (shock!) you
still have to go to the bar yourself to get simple food & stunningly
good cask beers.

(* actually I'm thinking of Henley's BarMed, but I suspect the range
in S&L isn't much better)
cheers
MikeMcG

Slug and Lettuce ranks just behind Wetherspoons pubs as the most
souless pubs in the UK. Most airport lounges have better atmosphere
(and beer) than those places. They are better avoided at all costs.
You can always find a good local near a Slug and Lettuce, there is
never a need to go into one.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 23:58:18 +0100, "Samantha Hall"
wrote:

HEY YOU I WORK FRO WETHERSPOON YOUR NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT ONES THE PUB I
WORK AT HAS THE BEST ATMOSPHERE FRIENDLY STAFF GOOD LOOKING BAR STAFF AND
THE BEST BEER IN TOWN AND THE SLUG AND LETTUCE IS WAY BEHIND US ON SALES
MORON

You used to be a telegrapher, right?

************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

or is using one of the text/speech things

Hatunen wrote:

On Tue, 21 Oct 2003 23:58:18 +0100, "Samantha Hall"
wrote:


HEY YOU I WORK FRO WETHERSPOON YOUR NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT ONES THE PUB I
WORK AT HAS THE BEST ATMOSPHERE FRIENDLY STAFF GOOD LOOKING BAR STAFF AND
THE BEST BEER IN TOWN AND THE SLUG AND LETTUCE IS WAY BEHIND US ON SALES
MORON


You used to be a telegrapher, right?

************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *

--
"Disperse, you rebels -- Damn you, throw down your arms and disperse!"
Maj. John Pitcairn (British Army), Lexington, Mass., April 19, 1775

Following up to Samantha Hall

MORON

Don't be so hard on yourself with your sig file, "Sam" would be
fine.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
UK walking "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" -- you can email us@ this site
Spain,cuisines and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" -- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap

On Wed, 22 Oct 2003 09:43:50 +0100, Reid© wrote:

Following up to Samantha Hall

MORON

Don't be so hard on yourself with your sig file, "Sam" would be
fine.

LOL !
--
Tim.

If the human brain were simple enough that we could understand it, we would
be so simple that we couldn't.