Navigator Changing Name

[Mel]

and you took the word of a 12 year old?

[FurtiveBertie]

I pretty much NEVER go in anywhere with a dress code (or bouncers).

If you've got to have a dress code (and/or bouncers), it means you're expecting clientèle who don't know how to behave, and you're thinking that if they dress smarter then they will behave better.

It doesn't work . So you end up with a lot of chavs wearing "smart" clothes.

It's rarely the "badly" dressed people who cause trouble.

I shan't be going.

FB

[Warewolf]

You may be right FB but you have to start somewhere and personally I prefer not to be drinking next to individuals in jogging bottoms and vest tops.

[mb1]

Interesting re: shorts Warewolf. I was wearing shorts (smart ones with belt) on Wednesday evening and nobody said a word. I liked it and was impressed by the new manager. I hope it works, the Chav was such a dive I stopped going, I hope this reincarnation works better.

[Alec]

Similarly, we were given the dress code warning for next time - t-shirts bad, collars good (very tempting to turn up in a collar & lead...) Daft, if you ask me, and I won't be dressing to please them. Good luck to them trying to keep to that policy on the quiet mid-week evenings!

Inside, though, very nice. Busy last night! Impressive selection of esoteric whiskeys behind the bar. Reasonable beers, not quite as cheap as the Chav, but not badly priced.

[TrapstyleResident]

We went there on Friday afternoon, the places looks lovely, especially the little outdoor area with the astro turf (I was wearing shorts and t-shirt, nobody said a word)

I think they still have a few issues though, loads of staff running around, only me and 1 other person but we still waited ten minutes to get served, one of the barman stopping to slap the barmaid's bum as she walked past
They also swear quite a lot, I'm not a prude but it doesn't make me think of a classy establishment when the 2 staff in front of me are discussing how this particular beer tap is "f*cked"
That behaviour passes in a Yates on a busy Saturday night

And then there was the 25min wait for 2 cocktails which I understand was because they didn't have the supplies as they had only been open a couple of days but it would've been nice for someone to come outside and tell us

Oh well, might give them the benefit of the doubt and try it again while it's still warm enough to enjoy the outside terrace


The clientèle looked the same as when it was the Nav, I've only been living in Ware a few years, did the Navigator get its nickname only from the fact it rhymed with chav or was it also based on the people who drank there?

[Andy B]

I have been watching this thread with interest and if you want the pub to change for the better then you have to give them the opportunity which means feedback. It could be that they think they are doing a great job since they opened and unless they receive your constructive comments they may never know. I appreciate that they could look on here but in the past establishment owners have not always taken a look here or joined into conversations and to be honest I wouldn't join in either.
So use the email link below and drop them a mail to tell them of your experience, who knows if you do it the right way you may get a free pint out of it or at least a better service and let them know they can take a look here.

[email protected]

[Warewolf]

I have been watching this thread with interest and if you want the pub to change for the better then you have to give them the opportunity which means feedback. It could be that they think they are doing a great job since they opened and unless they receive your constructive comments they may never know. I appreciate that they could look on here but in the past establishment owners have not always taken a look here or joined into conversations and to be honest I wouldn't join in either.
So use the email link below and drop them a mail to tell them of your experience, who knows if you do it the right way you may get a free pint out of it or at least a better service and let them know they can take a look here.

[email protected]

Or use the below link.

http://www.greattraditionalpubs.co.uk/contact/

[Smokey]

I went in Sunday evening & was pleasantly surprised. Food was excellent - we both had burgers- and the beer was good. I thought it was an interesting selection of beer too, there were a couple of good ones there. One of the staff members came and spent about 15 mins with us at our table asking for feedback, and he was really interested in what we had to say (I suggested a 'what's coming up' list of the real ales, and making sure the local Camra branch are aware of the change).

He also mentioned that they'd 'made a few mistakes' over the weekend with the door policy, so hopefully the dress code issues will get sorted. I agree with the other posters that it's all a bit old fashioned to insist on collared shirts etc - after all, in a fair number of pubs in London, it's the suits they don't get in, as that's an indication of being a potential idiot.

[Scouter]

My wife went in with a friend last night and they both came away suitably impressed.