Stuart's reviews
Review of The Benbow
13 Nov 07, 14:59
Poor Local Pub with Huge Car Park 
The Benbow on the border between Wheatley Hills and Intake is a big pub near the local playing fields. Personally I think the only redeeming quality for this pub is its very large car park which unsurprisingly is under used because its a dark, dingy interior. I haven't been here for quite a while so things may have turned for the better but I'd only come here if I was really thirsty or really curious to see the new refurbishment. At the moment I'm in neither mood.
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Review of Edwards
13 Nov 07, 14:57
I'm disappointed it's still open
I had heard through a friend that Edwards Bar on Hallgate in the center of town had closed down. But much to my disappointment it is still open and still attracting a young crowd last Christmas. If you like very noisy pubs and unwelcoming door staff then definitely come here along with the Goose around the corner. Personally I think there are better places to go in Doncaster so I won't waste one more second thinking of the place.
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Review of Berlins
13 Nov 07, 14:54
Very Large Underground Bar 
Here is a useless fact for you. It used to be the entrance to the Laser Quest before it got turned into a bar. But this should give you an indication into the size of the place for an underground bar. It's a very popular bar on the town circuit. Its cheap drinks with a lively atmosphere with a lot of offers on the weekend to entice people in works a treat. As a result it attracts chavs like a blue light to a fly but if you like that hussle and bussle of a place then its just about worth a visit here.
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Review of Coach & Horses
13 Nov 07, 14:48
Formerly good pub now gone to commerical 
I used to drink at the Coach and Horses a lot when I was younger because it has a bit of character about it. It then got a DJ in most nights and it got really busy which for a small poky pub is a bad thing. So they took half the seating out so people could stand around and mingle better. Because of this, its lost an edge of being a relaxed pub in a lively area of town. The only redeeming feature now is the cheap shots but its not enough to make me want to go then again in a hurry.
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Review of The Goose
13 Nov 07, 14:46
Way Too Loud to Socialise in
I hate the Goose and for a fan of chain pubs (that are good) I'm disappointed to have to say this places is rubbish. If you like pubs playing really loud music so you cant hear your friends chatting to you then come here. If you like to hear yourself think then go somewhere else. It wasn't impressed at all so I wouldn't recommended going. Whats worse than this is the unfriendly and quite blunt door staff which I hope the management replace very soon.
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Review of Toast
13 Nov 07, 14:43
Comfy Trendy Bar with Good Music 
Initially I had reservations about this bar, it seems too pretentious and too expensive but I gave the place a second chance when it was a lot busier and I found it too be very good. Good music (thats not too loud), nice comfy sofas and a quick bar service. But its still quite expensive with few drink offers so probably not someone you would want to stay all night unless you can afford it.
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Review of The Tut 'n' Shive
13 Nov 07, 14:42
One of My Favourite Pubs in Doncaster 
The Tut and Shive is one of my favourite Pubs in Doncaster. Great Jukebox but a very small pub, so it has a distinct lack of seating,but it attracts a young and lively crowd and a very quick bar service. My only grumble with this pub is the small and dirty toilets with some kind of old British Rail look to them. I've spent many a night here and will no doubt do so in the future. Theres a pub quiz on Sundays that I recommend you come too and if you like big screen sports come here.
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Review of The Salutation
13 Nov 07, 14:40
One of the Best Pubs in Doncaster
For me The Salutation is one of the best pubs in Doncaster along with the Tut and Shive. It is a small pub, but its got a lot of drinks available including ales, a weekly pub quiz as well as an obligatory quiz machine in the corner, friendly staff and a good atmosphere. I think its great value for money but try and get there early on a weekend to get a seat as theres not much room to stand.
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Review of Plough Inn
13 Nov 07, 14:39
Nice Friendly Local Pub in Town Centre
I much prefer next doors pub, The Tut n Shive but credit where credits due this has been described as the perfect locals' pub; friendly, welcoming, warm if the door to the gents' isn't open! It lacks the atmosphere for me but I can see why people like it. It has more seating than the Tut n Shive but its just a little too far off the main drag of the pub circuit to make it worth while going regularly.
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Review of Livingstones
13 Nov 07, 14:36
Spacious Town Centre Bar in the Heart of the Action
I avoided Livingstone's on silver street for a very long time. A lot of people drink here before going to next door's Nightclub Trilogy. However it is a place to go if you want to go to a late night bar rather than a nightclub. There are a few crazy people knocking about on a weekend but somehow this adds to a good atmosphere. Its quite big as well and it does has some live bands to rival the leopard on the other side of town. Worth a visit when you have the time.
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Review of The Leopard
13 Nov 07, 14:34
Good for Live Bands but Nothing Else
The Leopard on West Street is well off the beaten track in terms of the doncaster pub crawl. I don't think theres much going on here although they are one of the only few venues left in the town that can accommodate good live music. That said unless you were going to see a band there, I wouldn't go. Its got an old dirty decor to it and not much of a young atmosphere going on.
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Review of The Gate House
13 Nov 07, 14:30
Airport Lounge Interior with Cheap Drinks
There is nothing special about this Wetherspoons, but for some reason I really like it here. The interior reminds me of a 1970's airport lounge but it has plenty of seating and a good atmosphere on a weekend. I once even saw a queue outside of people trying to get in! So it appears I'm not alone in thinking that its a good place to drink, but then again its in Doncaster!
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Review of White Bear
13 Nov 07, 14:28
Town Centre Pub thats Slowly Got Worse
I used to come here a lot on a Monday for the karaoke with my friend Rob but then they decided to refit it and have an 80's theme bar upstairs and install 4 pole dancers by the door for the girls to dance around on a weekend. It looks cheap and tacky now so I don't go there but it has cheap drinks and its right in the heart of the action on a weekend so I might be worth a try if theres queues outside other pubs.
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Review of The Walkabout
13 Nov 07, 14:27
Surprisingly Good for a Theme Chain Bar
I can see why people like the place, its one of the biggest places around, drinks are quite cheap, theres lots of seating and it even has TV's in the toilet. It feels like a place that always has something going on. Its also got a stage for live bands which is very unique for Doncaster and a late night license so I can avoid going to the nightclub after the pubs shut. Even thought its a chain pub, I really like it.
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Review of Red Lion
13 Nov 07, 11:01
Much Friendly Pub Now Its a Wetherspoons
Wetherspoon's bought this pub out a few years ago because its right on the doorstep of the market which is perfect for passing trade. As a result the pub is very busy all the time including at night, has some classic old features and has a mix of youth with the usual older crowd. I liked it here but its very close to the other wetherspoons (newly built). Probably best for the a more relaxed atmosphere as its just off the pub circuit.
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Review of Number Fifteen
13 Nov 07, 11:00
Restaurant and Bar in Town Centre
I've stopped at Number Fifteen a few times for lunch to meet friends and they have all been good occasions. The price of the food menu was a bit high for the portions of food you get but the service is quick and the place seems neat and tidy. Its also a bar at night and I've been here for a quick drink during town center pub crawls. The drinks were a bit pricey (a bit like the food) compared to other places but they did have a better wine selection than a lot of other bars around.
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Review of Mood
13 Nov 07, 10:57
Bags of Potential but No Customers
Mood Bar looks nice on the outside with lots of space and with lots of quirky nooks and crannies to get some privacy. But when I went in on the weekend it was dead quiet with a few customers mingling about. It just doesn't attract many people probably due to expensive drinks list and very little drink offers compared to its competitors. However it has potential to be a great place to go. Perhaps its biggest downfall which is beyond its control, is the fact its sandwiched between a huge walkabout pub and the local wetherspoons.
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Review of Gaskell & Webb
13 Nov 07, 10:23
Very Friendly Local Pharmacy
Gaskell and Webb had a refurbishment doen recently which makes the shop a lot more attractive to customers. It's a really good pharmacy near my parents house but its not particularly big. Nevertheless they still seemed to have all the essentials in stock. I used to pick up my prescriptions there which were always quick to be dealt with. The staff are friendly and helpful and I would definitely recommend coming here to pick up your medicine if you live locally.
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Review of K & J Darvill
13 Nov 07, 10:17
Super Butchers with Really Fresh Produce
K Darvill is one of only a few local butchers left in Wheatley and the Wheatley Hills area. I highly recommend them event though they are only a small shop. We often get our Christmas Turkey from them and although its not the cheapest butchers, its the friendliest and the meat always tastes really fresh. Try getting your weekly meat from here rather than the local Sainsburys down Thorne Road.
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Review of Wheatley Hills Post Office
13 Nov 07, 10:14
Very Friendly Local Post Office
This used to be my local post office as a child and I always remember it being a very dark small shop with a large amount of sweets jars. It got bought by another couple and few years ago and had a refurbishment which makes the shop look terrific inside. There are two post office counters and the queues are normally quite small. The staff are friendly and it has a community feel about the place.
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Review of Cooplands
13 Nov 07, 10:09
Nice Friendly Bakery in Intake
There are several small bakery branches of Coopland in Doncaster. This one is situated on one of the main roads in the area. I've stopped here many a time mostly on impulse as the smell of the bakery whaffs onto the main road and its just to hard to resist sometimes. Although it could do with a fresh look the shop is quite airy and bright and the staff were excellent. I recommend the chocolate eclairs.
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Review of Cooplands
13 Nov 07, 10:07
Small Chain Bakery in Suburbs
A small branch of the Coopland Bakery which has some great tasting food, very much like Greggs is now. Unfortunately its surrounded by the local council areas so its not really somewhere to go unless you have too. That said, the food is great and the staff are very accommodating. I felt thou that the shop was still a little dingy and that a refurbishing would breath some fresh life into the shop and maybe some new customers.
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Review of The Cumberland
13 Nov 07, 10:06
Good Pub to Take The Family in Summer
This is technically a Hotel near the Hospital with a bar open to non guests. They also have a large dining area mainly aimed at families, particularly those with small children as they have a large hotel front with some playground equipment. I have been here several times as a child and adult and nothing has changed much inside. The food is good thou and it has a warm relaxing atmosphere. It's also extremely busy in the summer so arrive early especially on sunny weekends.
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Review of Hogshead
13 Nov 07, 10:04
Too Busy, Too Loud and Few Seats
I found the hogshead on the main high street now suffering form its own popularity. The place is very overcrowded with dj's on the weekend pumping music out far too loud for anyone to have an meaningful conversation inside. They also looked like they were understaffed and there weren't many seats around especially when they try to entice people in with group drink offers. Overall I found this place to be a disappointing experience.
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Review of The Great Northern
13 Nov 07, 10:03
Town Centre in Need of New Ideas
The Great Northern has gone through many face lifts to catch up with newer more modern bars that spring up in Doncaster, Unfortunately it fails everytime but people still see potential in the bar largely due to its locality in the town center. The last time I went the drinks were cheap and they had a food menu that copied the wetherspoons formula. Personally I would rather go to the Wetherspoons instead as this place has nothing about it which is a shame as the interior and staff are nice.
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Review of The Railway
13 Nov 07, 10:00
Surprinsgly Good Pub near Train Station
This is the closest pub to the main railway station. Me and a couple of friends stumbled in here a while back only to discover the place full of very old men. But we stay for several drinks as the landlord was very welcoming and non of the pub regulars minded us being there. I'm not sure if I would come here again thou as its a bit of the pub circuit. The only other pub close to it for 5-10mins is the leopard but full marks to the staff for being warm and friendly.
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Review of Yates's
13 Nov 07, 09:59
Sub-Standard Chain Pub in Town Centre
This used to be one of the more popular weekend pubs in the town center but its been overshadowed a bit by other bars. Its still a go place to go, its certainly one of the bigger pubs in the town and there is an upstairs bar as well which is open on the weekends. The drinks are a good price and the staff service is very quick. Yates also has a food menu very much in the mold of wetherspoons e.g 2 meals for £6 which although isn't the best thing Ive tasted still filling.
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Review of Hallcross
13 Nov 07, 09:58
Formerly Good Pub Now Not So Sure
The Hallcross used to have a lot of real ales of tap but over the years this has dwindle along with the number of customers. Only on the weekend does this place come alive like many pubs in the town center. They used to have live bands playing here as well but I believe they have cut back on that now as well as there isn't much demand. I think the pub suffers from the fact its in Doncaster, but its worth stopping off for a drink on the way down the high street in the evening.
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Review of Staff Of Life
13 Nov 07, 09:57
The Closest Pub to the Local Jobcentre
I don't think I need to describe this pub too much for you to get the idea as to what its like. Basically its the closest pub to the town center Job center. I have actually been in here a few times just to see what it was like, and I was surprised to see a pub accept Giro Cheques as payment for drinks. The interior is old and dingy and the pint wasn't that much to be desired.
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