On 5 Jul 2010 at 12:39pm ric71 wrote:
What's the story with the new-ish manager of the Volunteer? Jo and her partner (previous managers) did an amazing job of cleaning the place up, improving the food etc and making it into a really welcoming pub. The new guy seem to have no personality whatsoever and every time I've been in there recently there have been dirty glasses on the tables even though he clearly wasn't rushed off his feet. Several of the other tables were sticky with old beer and the place was virtually deserted! He says he doesn't provide newspapers anymore because people pinch them (possibly true but isn't it worth it if it attracts people looking for a quiet hr?), and even beer mats aren't provided. It seems to be slipping back into the bad old days of the Volunteer which is a real pity. The manager seems to be solely interested in selling beer and couldn't care less about anything else like saying hello or taking any interest in being part of the whole Lewes "thing", in which case he's definitely picked the wrong town. Lewes demands more than that! Anyone else with similar experiences or am I just turning into a grumpy middle-aged man??
On 5 Jul 2010 at 1:18pm Burning Bits wrote:
while your at it check out the fire escape door at the back with the chain around it, I'm not going back in there again.
On 5 Jul 2010 at 6:09pm Misery wrote:
Miserys guide to fitting in at The Volunteer:
1. Get a tattoo
2.Say "innit" make sure this is every sentence though or you will not fit in, innit.
3. Wear anything by Adidas or Nike, if you're not sure about dress code just remember it must be made of material that melts in a fire.
4. Tell people "I'm on the social...bloody Tories/Lib Dems".
5. Remember the word @uck, has to be used on at least occasions in every 2 minutes. (Cab be used as both Verb and Noun and indeed anyway you like)
6. Eat Chips and Crisps
7. Get a Fat backside, and Please ensure your undies are showing
*Bored now....
On 5 Jul 2010 at 10:50pm The Tooth Fairy wrote:
Misery, stop sugar coating the place. I can almost feel an urge for a pint of White Lightning.
On 6 Jul 2010 at 9:43am jrsussex wrote:
"Horses for courses" that what it is. In days gone by pubs such as the Volunteer were known as Ale Houses, premises mainly frequented by males with a high beer barrelage, very few spirit sales and definately not the place for fine wines. That the manner in which a particular type of pub is operated does not suit everyone's taste does not, in itself, make it a bad pub. Those that use it have an enjoyable evening out, not my cup of tea (or beer) but the world would be a poorer place if all pubs were the same. It is the very diversity of the British pub that brought it its world wide fame.
On 6 Jul 2010 at 11:55am ric71 wrote:
A fair point well made! I'm not objecting to the customers though, just to the indifferent management. I suspect they'll be finding their credit very crunchy soon unless they get a grip and learn to smile...
On 6 Jul 2010 at 1:37pm Taff wrote:
Didnt the previous lady and landlord take over the Trevor Arms?
On 6 Jul 2010 at 4:15pm Volly Drolly wrote:
Yes they did Taff
You can tell the Volly is slipping badly when they put on the Rubber Band (Best live band to do Lewes) and only a handful of punters turn up.
On 7 Jul 2010 at 8:32am Taff wrote:
And the Trevor is worse for them then.
less choice on the food. Smaller portions and prices up. Expensive drinks too.
Peter was always going to be a hard act to follow I know but the new people have succeeded.
A great shame, I always liked walking over to the Trevor or ending a longer walk there. Not so much now.
Sorry to go off topic. Someone will get it back on track I am sure.
On 7 Jul 2010 at 11:08pm Harpio wrote:
Ok -maybe there are better pubs in Lewes but the beer is good, they put on some great live music - I played there a couple of weeks ago (directly after a dismal England game) and the place was crowded and the dance floor packed. Don't recall hearing the f word at all let alone every 2 minutes. Catch it right and it's fine there.
On 8 Jul 2010 at 12:44am Snowie wrote:
Well said Harpio. Also it's a great place to sit in the sunshine and watch the world go by. I've always found Donna and her team to be very welcoming, they are child and dog friendly and the well kept beers are cheaper than in a lot of Lewes pubs I can think of.