The Cock & Bull Pub & Restaurant

I have only visited the Cock & Bull three times, and while I DO like the place - decent food and beverage selection - I have a couple observations that bother me.  Loss of star #1:  Be prepared for a pricey night out at the C&B -- now, I am quite willing to pay a fair price, for a fair night of entertainment, but in my opinion the costs at C&B are just way too high - especially when it comes to the "Happy Hour" menu.  Happy Hour is Tues-Thurs from 4:00 to 6:32PM  (that's not a typo - 6:32PM), and each food item on the special menu is $9 + $1 more for a pint of beer.  The menu is clearly marked that the Happy Hour food portions are smaller, "trial sized," and they are not kidding.  Ridiculously, laughably, small!  If you are the least bit hungry, go straight to the "regular" menu (and pay a higher price).  DO NOT waste time/money on the Happy Hour menu, as you will just go home hungry.  If you purchase something from the Happy Hour menu, with the bonus beer, you're essentially purchasing a $10 beer.  Loss of star #2:  I am a beer lover.  I don't profess to be a high-brow expert, but I brew at home and know my hops from my malts.  In short, C&B has a wide selection of American craft microbrews, but (when I visited) only ONE British beer on tap.  I am told that their beer offerings change periodically, but be advised that the vast majority of their beer selections are non-British and/or served in bottles.  I lived in London for many years and when I sit down in a real pub, I'm expecting a much wider offering of British beers on draught.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy American craft beers very much, but IMHO C&B is tracking the chic/trendy beer angle as opposed to more typical British pub beers.

I've come here a few times with friends for trivia nights.  I was really excited about the idea of this place - English pub food, craft beers, cool atmosphere, trivia...I mean they wouldn't have really had to try much harder than that to get my vote.  

Food is pretty pricey, but it does taste good so I don't mind that so much.  Because of the way their specials work, you can't get every item on the menu anytime you go in, and I'm not a huge fan of that.  

The deal breaker for me is the service.  My fiancé asked the waiter if we could change one of the TVs to a different channel, and we watched as the man asked some of the other guests if that was okay.  They said no, and since they were there first that was NBD.  Didn't see our waiter again after that point.  I think he was afraid to be the bearer of bad news, because he didn't come back to refill our waters or take our subsequent drink orders.  I actually stood up and waved him over at one point because I was so starving for some food.  There were all of 4 other people in the entire place, so he couldn't really hide from that...

Manager talked to me at the end of the night, and subtly suggested that I must have been mistaken that our service was poor.  That was the biggest minus for me.

I'd be willing to go again if my friends dragged me, because they do have good food and beer menus.  But it's not a place I'd consider when I'm planning a night out.

Fabulous beer selection, and the beers are in good condition. Bartenders will help you find something to drink and will let you taste samples begore you commit to a glass. They know their beer and are fun to talk to.
But dont expect good food here. They've been through several staff turnovers in the kitchen, and the food still isnt what it should be. Stick with the hamburger, and dont expect crispy fries.