User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
Approving photos with rpadam on the Pub Forum

The Waterside Inn, Ware

Bridgefoot
Ware
SG12 9DW

Return to pub summary

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Waterside Inn

The Waterside enjoys a prominent location at the end of the High Street on a busy roundabout. It is also situated alongside the River Lea, with an outdoor patio that I didn't get the opportunity to explore.

Inside, it is quite large with a number of different sections. I sat in the largest area adjacent to the bar. It was very noisy, with some loud locals and a few families with kids shouting. TVs were on, fruit machines were in action and music was also playing. None of this made for a relaxing pint. In hindsight, I probably should have explored the patio area in order to find some tranquility. However, having said that, I noticed that one corner area leading to the toilets was much quieter and quite cosy, so much so that one guy was working on his laptop from there.

Whilst I much preferred the more relaxed Brewery Tap down the road on this latest visit to Ware, the real ale range was slightly better in the Waterside. Sharp's Doom Bar & St Austell Proper Job are the regular ales. Guests were Adnams Ghost Ship, Brain's The Rev James, Oakham Bishop's Farewell, Tring Colley's Dog & Mighty Oak The Old Man and the Sea. My Bishop's Farewell was in a good condition. I'll give the pub a 6/10 for its ale range, but it's really not a nice environment (inside at least) to spend much time.

On 24th April 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Brainy Pool left this review about The Waterside Inn

Has obviously improved dramatically on the ale front - 8 pulls on the go on this visit, with a decent range including a few guests from the Tring brewery. I enjoyed their citra session. Shame the pub is depressingly dull, generic in every way, but the outside seating by the canal is pleasant enough. I would probably come back if just for the beer.

On 16th July 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1056 recommendations about 1021 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Waterside Inn

Love the last review - The Chavigator!

Functional riverside pub with 6 real ales on - Ringwood Ridgeback in decent condition at £3.20.

Offer a loyalty scheme.

Designed for families who want to eat. Pleasant enough.

Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2kfV3VM

On 29th January 2017 - rating: 6
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Navigator

This Smith and Jones chain pub was rather unkindly known as The Chavigator to Ware residents a few years ago ,although an internal refub has since created a better vibe.On entering you get the feel that this could be a 'spoons and certainly the bar stools to one side were occupied by all day drinkers harking back to the past,but the large picture windows, seating arrangements in booths and high ceilings means you can drink and eat well away from any raucous behaviour.
There are several different sections to the open plan interior with a large L shaped bar running along the rear wall.There are six handpumps which on my trip were offering CW Bombardier,Old Golden Hen,Morland Original,Jennings Cumberland and Cocker Hoop which at £2.65 was good value and well kept.There are multiple fonts for keg lager but only UK brewed output.Quiz nights on Wednesday.
On the grub front the same food service dishes are served as you would find in a 'spoons but the prices are higher,while the Big Eat promotion offers carb ,salt and sugar overload at between £9 and £11.
It's all very corporate,it gets "lively" at weekends when the flatscreens come into play yet the ale selection makes this a viable drinking venue in a town not noted for it's real ale scene.

On 19th November 2012 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Navigator

As mentioned the Navigator is an imposing building occupying the prime position of dominating the A1170 Bridge over the canal as you enter Ware. And for a town without a Wetherspoons , this place largely fills that void, by being a big internal space devoid of any character, selling cheep beer and plastic food and attracts the local pond life during the open hours of darkness, when it is best avoided unless you are under 25.
The only saving grace is that the seating space is comfortable and usually clean enough, there are several large screens to see the Sky Sport, there is an ale choice, albeit not a very inspiring one (two banks of 5 hand pumps were only mustering Abbotts, OSH and Doombar on my latest visit), and the patio area out back by the canal is a really nice spot to have a beer.
It is a decent enough choice if you are on a budget and require low cost lunchtime pub grub with a beer and I will confess I have utilised this place for that purpose in the past. But avoid it at all other times.

On 30th July 2011 - rating: 5
[User has posted 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


BobOs . left this review about The Navigator

Cheap (and nearly nasty) - local chav clientele really off-putting.

On 16th July 2011 - rating: 3
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Navigator

Largish (surprisingly so for a small town such as Ware) Smith & Jones pub in an imposing corner location. Inside, the 'L'-shaped bar is all a bit 'chain' in character but there is a decent-looking patio beer garden beside the navigation. Five of the six handpumps were in use, offering an unimaginative selection of Youngs Ordinary, Pride, Doom Bar, Broadside and Bombardier (which admittedly was great value at just £2.25). The food looked keenly priced too. Overall, just a bit dull...

On 14th August 2010 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]