HUB Shinsaibashi — Restaurant in Osaka

Formerly known as The Pig and Whistle when it boasted a dart board and didn't have TVs and the sense of a large, bland chain.

The prices could be better.

Opens late at 16:00 and doesn't have rugby, Aussie rules or cricket on its TVs.

The location, opposite the South Korean consulate-general, is very convenient.

The staff need better training in how to pour a pint of Guinness.

The range of ales and stouts is limited.

It appears that the association football team, "Cerezo Osaka" is connected to the venue, either through sponsorship or something else, but the paraphernalia is distracting.

It doesn't have the authentic pub atmosphere that it used to enjoy.

Recently it has some arbitrary and irrational rules on seating, irrespective of a patron's physical ability to stand because of injuries or medical reasons.

The staff were uncompromising and lacked good judgement.

The dripping ceiling fan right above the table was very serious and can be a source of Legionnaire's disease.

The pub has too many distracting flat screen televisions, all with the volume turned up so loud as to make conversation impossible.

The MC spoke in a loud voice in a small room on a public address system. It was so loud and annoying that our table and two adjacent tables left after one expensive pint because none of us could enjoy the conversation and company of our companions and went elsewhere.

The standards are dropping dramatically and the management doesn't seem to understand the situation.

I wouldn't...

I’ve had to go to this place on three separate occasions as a meeting point for friends from out of town. Each time has been horrendous.

Smoking is permitted. They have a “non-smoking section” which is a few tables behind a wall. The smoke travels throughout the room, making this area pointless.

The beer is overpriced as are the cocktails. Don’t fall for the “Happy Hour” specials. They use the same amount of spirits/alcohol, but just double up on the mixer.

The staff will ask you at the door how many people are in your party, which again is pointless, as once you’re inside it’s a free-for-all for space.

Speaking of the staff, they will also permit entry to anyone, no mater how horrendously drunk they are. I watched a Japanese guy come through the door, fall into a table, before stumbling into me and my group of friends. Even when we asked him to leave us alone, he persisted. When I explained (in Japanese) to the staff, they just said “Sorry” but did nothing about him. Eventually he stumbled away to bother someone else, before throwing up on the table.

If you are visiting Japan, this might be a good place for you to “feel at home” for a while. But why you’d fly 3,000 miles to Japan, to spend your time in a British pub is beyond me. If you must visit a pub for whatever reason (watching a sport or something on TV) There are much better (and cheaper) places in the area. I’d...

Reliable place to stop by for a drink. I went there on a Saturday night, and it was crowded. The staffs were very friendly to guide us about the tables though. They know the order of who’s coming first and so, so whenever a table is empty, they will give that table to the ones waiting first. The drinks were great as usual. The only thing that this branch is only have 1 floor, I hope they can expand and...