Orwells used to be my "go too" bar and I was there for years at least once per week - sometimes more. The food is really good - fish and chips are amazing and the cooks are great. However the bar is pretty dumpy and dirty looking now - gloomy, dark and the carpets are absolutely filthy. Also I found they seem to have lost their friendly neighbourhood bar friendliness - the long term staff are never friendly even know they recognize me - would never dream of saying anymore than they am have to.
It used to always be a hit and never a miss but I find now based on how anonymous I feel after years of regular patronage - it's more miss than hit now. Not the fun friendly place it used to be. One star for service, 3.5 stars for food