A GOOD MIX
Okay, so Mrs SD liked the mix of leather and wooden furniture and even said one table would go well in her kitchen, but it’s all a bit functional and soulless.
Perhaps it’s this slightly bland, but inoffensive, feel which makes it an attractive alternative to working from home. Several people were set up on laptops or making calls from mobiles and one fellow didn’t touch his large coke for the whole hour we were in.
With no pool table, darts or jukebox to cause interruptions I suppose it’s a good place to conduct business, interestingly the screen displaying the news and all three fruit machines were also set to silent.
Okay, there was background music but even Slade were played quietly and following them was some dreadful dirge produced by The Smithereens, Christmas Time is Here Again. had just been left under the grill a few moments longer they would have been cooked through too. As it was Mrs SD left the translucent bits to one side – this was a shame as otherwise the sarnies and side salad were fresh and nicely presented.
There’s much to commend this place, beautiful winter hanging baskets, live bands once a month and a quiz every other Thursday. But, despite these efforts, it just doesn’t have the heart or soul of some of the better Greene King pubs I’ve visited.
The gas fire halfway up the wall might have given the place a warmer feel but didn’t look like it had been switched on for a while and I’m afraid to say that even without the power of sight you’d know if you’d been teleported to the gents – they looked clean but the whiff was enough to bring a tear to the eye.
I’m sure some folk will have enjoyed their office party here and others will appreciate the family friendly feel of the place but for me it’s much less Christmas cracker and more soggy sprouts.