Trivial things you don't understand/mildly annoy you

[Shaw Rosso]

The Blunsdon Arms is shit. Awful pub, awful service, average food.

I don't go in there, would rather support 'proper pubs' in the area.

Is that the one with Premier Inn strapped on the side of it?

[janaage]

Nah, that's the Cold Harbour, which is in Blunsdon. Blunsdon Arms is in Ash Brake, opposite the Toby Carvery.

Cold Harbour's alright, pretty good really.

[Shaw Rosso]

Ah yes I know where you mean now, had a blinding fry up at The Toby a while back, £3.99 all you can eat 

[Sippo]

The Blunsdon Arms is shit. Awful pub, awful service, average food.

I don't go in there, would rather support 'proper pubs' in the area.

We only go there cos its the closest. Although tawny owl and jovial is close as well. Tawny is more of a restaurant in my opinion, not many real ales on at the jovial.

[janaage]

Food up the Jovial's really good now Sippo, but you're right re: the ale. Awful selection.

[Sippo]

If only they did one guest ale I'd be happy.

[Batch]

What's the manor farm like? Could be an option.

[Barry Scott]

I go to the Manor Farm quite a lot. It's only a stone's throw from The Blunsdon Arms and Toby. It's just a chain pub, Marston's (The Blunsdon Arms is a Marston's isn't it?), but I am partial to their burgers. In fact all their food is decent grub.

[Simon Pieman]

Woodlands Edge? Depends if you want somewhere you can eat or a night down the pub. If it's the latter leave the kids at home and go to a proper pub.

[Sippo]

Woodlands is a bit far.

I think it's wrong that you have to eat to be served a beer with a child in toe. If you don't want kids in your pub fair enough (as the blunsdon arms used to be) but you can't pick and choose when you want kids in. I do feel for people who do want to go for a drink without kids, as there aren't many pubs in north Swindon that cater for that now.

The woodlands edge is ideal if it only were closer because they do have two sections. I can watch the football with the little one if needs be. There's no pressure to order food.

[Simon Pieman]

I think it's wrong that you have to eat to be served a beer with a child in toe.

Oh no, I'd agree with that. Only suggested the Wedge because it's only slightly further than the Tawny owl. I bloody hate the way the Tawny Owl treats itself like a restaurant. No, I do not need to book a table for two when half of the tables are empty. No idea if the attitude has changed much.

In contrast went to the Abbey Meads the other week. Food wasn't spectacular (but decent for what I paid) and the manager behind the bar was friendly. That's a family pub, though I'm not sure how it gets in the evening.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

I've been to the Abbey Mead a few times on a Friday or Saturday night in the past. Used to be pretty decent. A proper local boozer that wasn't trying to be a swanky trendy restaurant/wine bar type place. Only thing I will say is that you get a few rough looking ones in there in the evening. I wouldn't really class it as a family pub. Having said that though I haven't been there for a good 2-3 years now.

Also been to the Jovial 1 or 2 times. Decent enough pub. It looks a bit like a house than a pub from the outside though or maybe that was just me.

[Sippo]

We don't do evenings anyway so most of the time it's during the day.

The blunsdon incident was at half 2 in the afternoon.

[Batch]

The blunsdon incident was at half 2 in the afternoon.

That's just idiotic then. I can almost understand it after say 8, but 2 in the afternoon??

Personally I've not gone to the Blunsdon out of principle given their original no kids policy. There are too many other pubs that actually do want kids to worry about those who only change policy when times get tough.

[Sippo]

And we used to regulars...

Time to try the jovial next time.

Toby was ok as well in the bar area.