Visited February 20th, 2008 by Malcolm & Raymond
“The Alexandra, the first pub to be visited (in alphabetical order) on our pub-crawl round Worthing. Due to it’s fearsome reputation as a back street pub, we confirmed with each other that neither of us were going to order a Campari and soda/Tia-Maria etc for fear of being thrown out! With this in mind,we held our breath and walked in!”
| Location: |
The Alexandra, Lyndhurst Road. |
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| Drink: |
Difficult to say, as on the day we visited they did not have any beer! If you’re into cider, this pub’s for you. Disappointingly, they for some reason advertised Speckled Hen, but do not have it at all! |
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| Food: |
‘Door-step’ sandwiches – a speciality. Freshly made to order, very enjoyable. Other food offered but not sampled. |
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| Staff: |
Flaunting a tattoo is considered a “must have”, but appearances can be deceptive! Initially intimidating, but turned out to be quite friendly. |
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| Service: |
Prompt and very polite. |
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Atmosphere/
Ambiance: |
Sadly lacking, very quiet at mid-day – ‘Rent-a-crowd’ would have helped! |
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| Decor: |
Run down – The 1920′s would have been its hay-day. A real “local”. |
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| Music: |
Background music – serenaded by Phil Collins. |
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| Beer Garden/ Children’s Play Area: |
Large secluded garden. |
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| Parking: |
None. |
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| Toilets: |
Above average cleanliness. Lovely original tiles. |
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| Disabled Accessibility: |
No apparent issues, but unnoted at the time. |
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| Kerb-side Appeal: |
First impression – dismal. Rusty old white van with broken windows on pavement, nice! |
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| Overall Rating: |
2/10 |
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| Would We Return?: |
Highly unlikely. |
Visited February 26th, 2008 by Malcolm & Raymond
“So to our 2nd pub, Bar Release(formerly The Assembly, Fathom and Firkin, The Fountain). As we old gits approached the pub, we commented that this is likely to be
a young persons pub and therefore gentlemen of our age might be viewed with deep suspicion. The customers would probably think that we were the Police! Undaunted,
we untucked our shirts from trousers and went in.”
| Location: |
Bar Release, Chapel Road. |
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| Drink: |
They only had one bitter, John Smith, but it was off, damn! Separate cocktail and wine lists on display. |
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| Food: |
Our sandwiches/baguettes were adequate. Menu boasted a good selection. |
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| Staff: |
Courteous, but out numbered customers. |
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| Service: |
Attentive and friendly. |
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Atmosphere/
Ambiance: |
Spacious feel, could have played 5 aside football – and not have been noticed. We put on our shades to shield our eyes from the bright lights of the numerous fruit machines. |
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| Decor: |
Psychedelic table tops and carpets, orange lampshades, mirror effect wall tiles, stone cladding around the bar – fab! |
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| Music: |
Played various artists including The Rolling Stones and viewed on wide-screen, could have stayed there all day! |
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| Beer Garden/ Children’s Play Area: |
Steps leading to an enclosed patio area with tables and parasols. |
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| Parking: |
None, probably a good idea though. Put your hand in your pocket and get a taxi home! |
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| Toilets: |
Superior grade. Looks like someone bought a ‘job lot’ or have shares in a ceramic tile company! |
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| Disabled Accessibility: |
Don’t come in the back, there’s only steps up. The front entrance has double doors which were kept open – flat surface, wide enough for a wheelchair. |
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| Kerb-side Appeal: |
Recently painted in pastel colours, eye catching as it’s on a corner plot. |
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| Overall Rating: |
5/10 |
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| Would We Return?: |
As long as we could be seen entering with our attractive daughters. |
Visited March 5th, 2008 by Malcolm & Raymond
“Bar Breeze? – never heard of it we said. What’s the address? Marine Parade. Oh, on the seafront – must be a trendy place then. So that we wouldn’t be too conspicuous
(fat chance!) we consulted (younger) family members to find out the sort of place that it was. Full of geezers a Son-in-Law said. Bit of a chavvy place said a daughter. What’s the difference between chavvy/trendy, geezer’ish we thought? So, in we strode with sunglasses on but alas the door was well and truly locked. A few rattles and shakes of the door and the barmaid decided that we wouldn’t go away and so she had to open up.”
| Location: |
Bar Breeze, Marine Parade. |
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| Drink: |
Enjoyed a great pint of Tetley bitter, Bar promoting the usual range of ciders and lagers. Loads of beers in cooler cabinets. |
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| Food: |
Food in not on the menu. If you’re a fast food freak, then a bag of pork scratchings and a packet of crisps may be enough. |
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| Staff: |
All of one, not exactly sex on a stick, but very polite. |
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| Service: |
Prompt. Call us old fashioned, but we prefer our pints pulled by women who look like the typical barmaid, a beaming smile, that lean forward and show off an obscene amount of cleavage. |
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Atmosphere/
Ambiance: |
Two of the Bar’s clientele, skinheads, kindly helped us up onto our bar stools. We sat back and basked in the glorious sunshine streaming in through the glass double doors. |
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| Decor: |
Plasma screen, stylish aluminum surrounds, laminate wood floors, red and black bar stools, pool table and gaming machines – just like at home! |
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| Music: |
They had on a radio station playing smooth soulful sounds. At weekends a DJ, we’re told, blasts out mainstream and funky house grooves, chill out – we can dig it, far out man! |
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| Beer Garden/ Children’s Play Area: |
Tables and chairs on patio area overlooking the seafront. Relax on a summer’s evening and watch the yobs go by. A ‘breeze’ block wall separates the patio from the adjacent property, probably where the Bar got it’s name from – I kid you not! |
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| Parking: |
In abundance (sadly not theirs) directly out front or in nearby cul-de-sac. Not our concern, we will be hot footing it down there using our ‘much sought after’ concessionary bus passes. Bar is in spitting distance of main shops and night clubs. |
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| Toilets: |
Average. Sir Edmund Hillary, God bless him, would have been pleased to have got to the top of these stairs. I made it just in time! If they’re giving away ‘a crane’ on benefit these days, you’re get to the top in your wheelchair. |
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| Disabled Accessibility: |
Difficult, two sets of double steps leading up to main doors, probably better to stay in your wheelchair on the pavement and shout in your order. Sit back and relax and watch the party revelers get legless and fall down them! No rear access. |
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| Kerb-side Appeal: |
Attractive façade, bombarded by the elements, seen better days, but if your young – who cares! Side of building displays only one sign, missed opportunity, bit of a waste of space – just like a lot of people I know! |
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| Overall Rating: |
4/10 |
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| Would We Return?: |
Yes, providing our ‘’Make me 30 years younger’’
pills have worked. |