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Detail Pages
The City Wall, Rochester
Rochester
ME1 1JT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The City Wall
Ghastly glitzy modern bar completely out of keeping with its surroundings. Feels more like an American diner than a pub in an historic High Street. Only keg beers to add insult to injury. There is a small patio off the pavement to the side.
On 15th August 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The City Wall
Basic modern bar with any benefits of having large windows and light decor more than offset by black furniture and horrible blue / green lighting. Facilities include a pool table, a multiplicity of sports TV screens and a fair-sized raised side patio. It also opens at 10 am and proclaims a food hygiene rating of 5. No real ale of course, and the inevitable John Smith's in the Extra Cold version will set you back £3.60.
On 18th February 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The City Wall
The City Wall s a long fronted pub that is very close to two other pubs,i got in this pub before 11am so it is another early opener.
Once inside there is a long oblong shaped room which runs the width of the pub,the bar faces on entry.
The seting is a mix of long tables and chairs and shorter ones,there is a pool table and two TV to the left,plus one more TV to the right,these were showing a music channel.
No real ales on the bar,i had a drink of John Smiths smooth crap which it was,the other keg bitter was Charles Wells DNA.
Background music was playing and food was also being served.
Despite the lack of real ale i took to this place with its laid back atmosphere,not sure why though.
Pub visited 6/6/2015
On 6th June 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The City Wall
I took advantage of the daily 10am opening at the City Wall last week when I popped in early doors for a quick half. The staff were having a meeting, but the barman was quick to jump up from their table to serve me a lager from the range of usual suspects.
The large windows that line the exterior walls of the L-shaped interior make this bar feel like a goldfish bowl and the drinks deals and other advertisements scrawled upon the windows do little to stop the passer-by from gawping in. I found the décor to be a cross between a late night bar and an American diner. Given the ambience it was not surprising to spot a menu that consisted mainly of burgers and other grilled meats.
I noted the inclusion of a pool table and counted three plasma screens which were all off during my visit, but Sky Sports is advertised. Also advertised was the weekly Wednesday evening quiz, live DJ nights on Fridays and Saturdays as well as karaoke on Thursdays and following an open mic session on Sundays. There is an extended license until 2 am on Friday and Saturday and until midnight on the other days of the week.
The toilet was clean, but I wasn’t that happy with the old Wild West pub saloon door on the cubicle. I think that the line between privacy and security has been misplaced.
To the right of the pub is an outside seating area that houses some picnic tables with views of the high street.
I didn’t warm to this bar so I will give it the swerve when next in the area.
On 30th July 2014
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The City Wall
The glitzy.shiny decor with its faux-snake skin chairs and faux-coral bar tiles is totally at odds with the historic location of this single large bar. The picture windows at the front look out onto the old City wall and the Corm Exchange, a view incongruous with the sound of the Devil breaking wind emitting from the loud speakers· There is an outside drinking/smoking area, gaming machines, multiple tv screens, a few drunks among the faux-human clientele. Karaoke and theme nights are offered to the under-cultured. No ales on draft, but there were a few decent bottled beers. If you are 18, drink, deaf and comfortable wearing a hoody, this is the place for you, but we are none of those things so we fauxed off to the Two Brewers just down the road.
On 2nd May 2013
- rating: 3
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The City Wall
Occupying a prime slot in the historic High Street where the old East Gate once stood (the outline is marked in the road outside), the City Wall should really be a lot better than it is. It isn’t that clear whether the place wants to be a pub, bar or café but it really doesn’t come over as anything more than a functional outlet on all 3 counts.
The interior is wide but shallow so the pub/bar/whatever looks a lot bigger from the street than it actually is. The décor is plain and furnishings very fish and chip shop, certainly nothing cosy or intimate. The light colours and glass frontage keep the place bright and airy but you certainly wouldn’t come here to admire the aesthetics. 3 TV screens adorn the walls, 2 at one end next to each other and one opposite, primarily aimed at Sport fans. The only feature of interest is the remnant of the old City Wall itself just by the entrance but it is hardly overwhelming. Outside are some benches in a pleasant off the High Street where the views are more rewarding.
The beers were reasonably priced but nothing beyond the bog standard High Street kegs and not even a token Real Ale. For a place that labels itself as a Wine Bar, I didn’t spot so much as a bottle or a menu. Admitedly my visit was during a lunch time and the place was geared for those looking for a bite to eat but even on that count, it is more egg and chips than sole meuniere.
Unless someone waves a magic wand and the place does a magical costume change later in the day, it is hard to see this place being anything beyond mundane as far as a drinking experience is concerned.
On 13th June 2012
- rating: 3
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]