Forum Topic

Pubs & Lemonade

I have to admit I rarely frequent pubs and therefore have scant knowledge of their prices.  However, I recently found myself at the refurbished Coach & Horses in London Road, Isleworth the other day for lunch, which was ok.  Not great but the pub itself is very nice.  Last time I was in it was probably 30 years aqo and I liked it then.Anyway, I took my two grandchildren there for lunch on Thursday last as it was a sunny day and they have a nice outside area.  I bought a bottle of their Chilean Sauvignon Blanc which according to the menu was £17.95 and my granddaughter wanted a lemonade (thankfully my grandson only wanted tap water).  When the barman rang up £18 + for the wine and then £2.40 for the lemonade, I naturally queried it.  It seemed he had overcharged for the wine but lemonade was £2.40 for less than half a pint (since the glass was full of ice)out of a gun (which is just syrup and soda) therefore presumably lemonade would be £4.80 a pint!  Since most of their beers there seem to be £4 a pint (which I am told is quite a lot anyway) can anyone tell me if £2.40 for a small lemonade is normal in pubs?  If so, How the heck can anyone afford to go out?  Last night I was in the Plough in Northfields where I ate probably the worst meal I have had out in a very long time.  Barnsley lamb chop with mash £12.95.  My nephew had the same.  Neither of us could chew the meat at all whether it was the cooking or the quality of the meat I do not know but it should have been in stew not served as a pub meal at a restaurant price.  I asked the barman how much lemonade was in there and got a very bizarre price structure.  Evidently he decided a splash of lemonade was £1.25, half pint would be £2.25 and a pint £2.65?  I am old enough to remember the days when soda and lemonade was free on the bars of most pubs. I am now on a mission to discover where it may be affordable in the area to take children not to mention somewhere that serves decent edible food that you do not need to take out a mortgage to buy so any ideas would be gratefully received.  I am well aware that pubs make their profits from the mixers and soft drinks but hey, there's profit and then there's plain robbery!

Bernadette Paul ● 5489d12 Comments

Hi Bernadette, Honest, that previous picture was of the Plough in Northfields.  I picked it up on the Internet!This following picture is of The Plough in Tentelow Lane, Norwood Green that is now recommended. Wonder if the Sultan of Brunei climbs over his garden fence to pop in there.  You never know! He once strolled into Wycombe House Cricket Club, and on other occasions has played golf at Wyke Green. What money can buy you!I recall that there is a 250 year old School building opposite. Brentford and district has it all!

Jim Lawes ● 5471d

Nice picture Jim but it's the wrong Plough!  I have tried eating in this one in Northfields a few times but have never had a decent meal yet.  I once had some kind of a pie that I would have needed to borrow someone else's teeth to eat it!  I was there a couple of weeks ago where once again I had something totally unmemorable except that it was vile and expensive - not a pub I would recomend if you were looking for good food but then again it is the only one in Northfields Avenue so does very well in spite of everything else.

Bernadette Paul ● 5472d

"Please go left or right..but certainly not straight ahead"!

Jim Lawes ● 5473d

"except for the new Waldorf Astoria where my son in law is the chef!"Top joint Bernadette! We won't rib you about that!

Jim Lawes ● 5477d

Does that mean the Sunday lunches are as good as they were in O'Brien's - if so I will definitely give it a go as O'Brien's is far and away topping my list for a really good pub Sunday lunch - except for the new Waldorf Astoria where my son in law is the chef!  However I expect The Plough would be cheaper and therefore well worth a visit.

Bernadette Paul ● 5477d

By the by, the Plough Norwood Green almost counts as "local" here, as it's now run by Derek O'Brien, ex of Brentford.

Bryan Betts ● 5478d

Thank you Jim, I will.  However who sets the prices?  The brewery or the publican?

Bernadette Paul ● 5486d

You can tell Youngs what you think of their prices here:http://www.youngs.co.uk/pub-detail.asp?PubID=273JL

Jim Linwood ● 5486d

I suspect there is a price list somewhere but they are seldom very visible.  Funnily enough At the weekend I was saying to my daughter that I believed pubs should issue itemised till receipts. It's probably the only shopping experience where, as you say Jim, we hand over the money and just accept the charges.  If you are involved in buying a large round you have no clue what you are paying for any of the drinks.  If I had a pound for everytime I have heard someone say "it's expensive here" but no one ever knows how much anything cost.  Madness.

Bernadette Paul ● 5486d

Lemonade at £4.80 a pint at the Coach and Horses.. sounds like "daylight robbery" to me.  Probably costs only 10p to produce!Isn't it the regulation that pubs should have a price list on display at the counter?So often we spend at such places without a thought at the price we're paying.... then there is the nonchalant way we accept the change without checking it!! (another subject!)

Jim Lawes ● 5486d

thanks Lydia it's going on my list!

Bernadette Paul ● 5489d

Sounds a lot to me.  £1.20 - £1.50 for half a soft drink is about right I think.  Normally a dash would be about 60p.  Soda water is often free, hence I tend to drink a flavoured vodka with a dash of soda - some pubs do charge though.  Try the Plough at Norwood Green - I was there today and there is a big garden with space for kids to run around, a chicken coop & the food is very nice!

Lydia Fowles ● 5489d