Cricketers Arms Pub

Not really in an area I go to hang out but there was an Orlando City Soccer meet-​up here so I checked it out. It’s definitely a great place for a meetup! Extremely Irish so you know I liked it immediately.
Cider on tap, yep! Ordered a burger and it was just ok, however, everyone else really enjoyed their food so maybe it was just an off night for me? It was also pretty pricey since it’s in the «tourist» area.
I think I am going to listen to Aliya J’s advice and try the Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie next time!
Great spot to catch some sports, grab a drink or hang with friends!

Decent beer. Mediocre food. Hard to find.

I went here last Friday on a date and had a really good time. The staff was very friendly, and we were checked on regularly, so I don’t have any problem with the service. The atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors, is very pleasant, clean and welcoming. I ordered cheese quesadillas, which were about the type of quesadillas you get when you order them regardless of where you are, and my date had the fish & chips. (It seemed she enjoyed them, though she didn’t finish everything.)
I guess the only things that I thought were questionable were the prices. I believe my date’s fish & chips may have approached $ 10 (and were maybe even more?), and I had two snakebite drinks at I think $ 5.50 apiece, then a half-​pint of Yuengling for more money than I was expecting. Not sure how much my date’s drinks were (I think she had several rum & Cokes), but they must’ve been somewhat pricey. Not a big deal … we had a good time, and I like this place … I was just a little surprised by the bill at the end of the night.
A band playing cover songs began playing near where we were sitting about an hour into our date, and the volume was very loud. Of course, our table was maybe only 10 – 15 feet away from the stage, but once the music came on I was having a difficult time hearing my company speak. (My hearing’s kind of bad, though. Haha.) We moved to a booth quite a ways away from the stage, though the music was still pretty loud. It was good music, though — cover songs from the 70s-​current times. I just wasn’t expecting the volume to be as high as it was, especially since the pub area was not at all crowded.
Overall, I’d have no problem coming back to this place from time to time. I really liked the service — after my date and I moved outside for a while, several employees checked in on us to ensure we hadn’t been waiting for our orders to be taken. The staff is very courteous, polite and kind. The prices are the only things I’ll have to monitor on my next visit … just seemed that they crept up on me! Don’t let that deter you, though — this is a cool place.
Also, I’m unsure why some reviewers mentioned their difficulty in finding this establishment. I knew where it was before my most recent visit, so I obviously didn’t have trouble finding it, but I can’t imagine it’d be that hard for first-​time visitors to locate. It’s in Festival Bay, right off International Drive. It’s next to a Fuddruckers and a short walk from that Bass Pro Shops store. If you turn into the Festival Bay parking lot, you can’t miss this place. Right next door to Fuddruckers.

Place was hard to find. Bit of a mess inside. Many food items on the menu were not available (near 10:00pm). Waitress was stressed out and took some time to calm down.
Steak and Ale pie was a little too salty. Fish and chips was good. Hamburger was reported to be good. Good beers on tap.

This is a hard to find British Pub, it’s located @ Festival Bay Mall which is pretty empty most of the time.
I went there couple times for drinks and tried Shepherd’s Pie once, not a fan of the pie comparing to the pies I’ve had at other British pubs.
Also, they don’t give you a full pint if you are not a local, I guess I didn’t look like a local with my Asian face LOL, my friend that’s a real British and a local complained and they reluctantly poured me a real PINT of Strongbow.
Because of its location and high-​end price, it’s offering some free food after 6pm during weekdays I think, nothing fancy but it’s free. They also have live music late in the evening but I never stayed long enough for it.

I don’t visit the east coast much, so now that I’m traveling there for work I have to find a place every trip that carries Yuengling on draught. This place fit the bill and the mozzarella sticks weren’t bad either. Other than that there was nothing at all special about the atmosphere (part of a mall) or the service (curt), but it filled my needs just fine.

No need for a long-​winded review here, so I’ll be short… This place is your typical pub, but the food and service give it a bit of an upper edge. It’s cozy, perfect for grabbing a beer with a friend. Food and service = awesome! Been watching all the World Cup matches here… try the Chicken & Mushroom Pot Pie!

Met with some friends here for dinner & drinks. The service was horrid. It was 15 minutes before a drink order was taken. Maybe we were expected to «belly up» to the bar to place an order, but there was definitely waitstaff moving about.
$ 6 for a pint of Newcastle!!! Bloody hell! At least they seemed to have the serving temperature right.
I ordered Fish n Chips. You’d think they couldn’t screw this staple up, but they did. The fish tasted like it had been frozen, rather than fresh. The chips were uneventful at best.
I recommend staying away from this place unless you are keen on lousy service and even lousier food.

The first time I went here was to meet up with a friend who enjoys watching rugby. This is the spot to go if you are interested in watching rugby and drinking a few pints.
They offer hand pumped beers and a selection of micro brews from the likes of Lost Coast, and others.
At night its fun, during the day is a little slow.
Their burger the Steel City is ½ LB Sirloin Burger, built tall on a toasted bun with chips, cheese, slaw, lettuce, and tomato.
I ordered my medium rare and it was delicious and filling. My friend who got the Shepard’s pie, liked it but thought the serving size was a little small.
Go at night for fun, or entertainment, if you want something more low key go during the day

Came here for one hot mess of a dinner before a movie. The service was terrible (pretty sure it’s the manager that was serving us as well) and the food was a disaster.
One order of garlic wings for an app, so here ‘garlic wings’ are basically wings with fresh chopped garlic poured all over it. The wings were hot, so it slightly roasted some of the smaller pieces, but if you’ve ever chomped into raw garlic, you know that is just wrong.
I ordered a burger, the one that comes with slaw on it. Apparently the fries (er, chips) actually come in the burger as well. The monstrosity is served on what basically is a bread plate, so there is no gently eating the beast. Not to mention the quality of beef was really bad.
My BFs meal was also disastrous. He got the half roasted chicken with roasted potatoes and veggies. It came out on a platter, he did get half a chicken, 3 roasted potato quarters (which were still frozen in the center) and a very sad and scorched side of peas and carrots ala Green Giant.
This place is in tourist central, and like most restaurants in the area, they stay in business by scamming out of towners that wouldn’t be able to return anyway.
If you’re in Festival Bay and want a burger or even just a quick meal, go next door to Fuddruckers instead.

I went to the Cricketers on a Tuesday afternoon. It was my first time there, and I was in Orlando on business. It was a bit difficult to find, because i did not realize it was actually attached to the shopping mall. It has an authentic vibe – cool and dark and very old-​world tavern-​like. Huge draft selection including a number of cask options. However, I quickly learned that they were out of many of their choices. The staff is very nice, especially the bartender Matteo. I was a bit disappointed when I asked for a pint of bitter or a real ale and matteo offered up a Boddy’s. I am not sure he knew what i was talking about, though there was a tap of Fullers Bitter right in front of him. I ordered sausage rolls – my favorite Brit snack, and they arrived with the Coleman’s (see pic). They were pretty unremarkable, dry, and small with a pastry that had the taste and texture of a Pillsbury product. You could tell that they were obviously frozen. Otherwise, it was definitely worth checking out. Make sure you try the homemade «Jolly Rancher» watermelon vodka.

Yes please, let’s make the necessary corrections. Cricketers is definitely NOT an Irish pub; however, it is most definitely an English pub. Cricketers is exactly what a pub should be. A small place where people come together, enjoy a few drinks and indulge in some fabulous bar food. The occasional band makes a visit every once in a while, which makes the environment classic. The ambiance is dark, personal and fun. The pub itself has a log-​cabin style decore making the place very intimate for both lovers and friends alike. Last but not least, I absolutely love their fireplace.
I’ve been to Cricketers a few times in my day and I assure you, it is the place to go regardless of whether you’re a regular or first-​timer. The employees are amazing people. I don’t know any of them personally but they certainly know how to entertain their customers. I like the Italian guy that works there in the early afternoons. He is very social, kind, and an overall good person.
So far, I’ve tried the Fish and Chips, and the Bangers and Mash. Both are exquisite! I absolutely love bar food and Cricketers has amazing selections. The beer here is good as well, but it should be considering it is a pub. I would recommend anyone to come here!

There are enough reviews here so I’ll be brief, although a few reviews are in need of correction:
First of all, Cricketers is an English pub, not an Irish pub. It is owned by an Englishman and the staff comes from England, Ireland, continental Europe, and the U.S.
Second, it’s not cheesy; the location may leave a bit to be desired if you’re «dressed to kill» as one reviewer put it, however, the crowd is mostly composed of British ex-​pats, locals, football fans, and British tourists (eating with family during day time). And that is exactly what the place is meant for…
I like the old location a little better (though the new building is much nicer). Say what you will, the newer place is still better and more authentic than other places around, not to mention that you can watch just about every match here…
Beer selection is good. Good range including some hand pulled beers and IPAs. Happy hour until 7pm offers $ 2 pints (imperial pints mind you) of their current hand pulled choice. Mostly UK and U.S. beers, though they have Stella.
As for food, the desserts are good, try their sticky toffee or bread pudding.
The burgers are great.
They also make crisps sometimes, so ask for those, if you get lucky they’ll make them and they’re amazing.
Haven’t had much of the other food there, unfortunately.
If you’re looking for a night out drinking in west Orlando, this is a good place to go. An honest pub with an interesting staff.

Who knew a little Irish pub attached to the Festival Bay Mall could attract such crowds? But by golly it does! I went here after a movie with some friends who raved about it. Apparently it had just changed locations into a bigger store front due to its popularity. Of course I was still skeptical but that feeling quickly subsided upon seeing the people spilling out onto the sidewalk and patio area. We wanted some grub and asked for a table inside to also enjoy the live band my friends somehow knew. We were seated right away and I started seeing the light. This place had the most lively atmosphere and wonderful décor seemingly straight out of Dubland. I checked out the menu and ordered the cocktail shrimp, I know, I know, not Irish fare but I love shrimp. While we waited for our food I had a look around the place, It was packed, we were lucky to get a table at all. The clientele were mostly older people 40s and such out for a good time. families and tourists alike were having a thrill at Cricketer’s I saw. The band was playing sing along hits and the crowd was in fact happy to sing along. My shrimp arrived tasty as expected, and I enjoyed the several beers I had to accompany them. Service was pretty good considering how crowded it was, a little laggy but that’s too be expected with a packed house. Audience participation with the band was also encouraged, several regulars got up on stage to try their hand at lead vocalist on a few tunes. Did I mention how authentically Irish Cricketers Arms was? I felt as if I was in Ireland and by the amount of tourists in the place from over the pond I wasn’t alone. This is definitely a pub worth checking out, you’re sure to be entertained.

I’m writing this mainly for the Friday night entertainment which we can’t get enough of… Jeff Howell. He is a great guy and even though it is the same jokes and songs over and over we always have a blast. There are many nights we have partied at Cricketers; both at the new and the old Mercado location.
This new location is clean and much bigger than the old. They kept some of the charm by bringing with them the old wooden beams and cricket ties.
I’ve never been a huge fan of English food. The food I have had is OK, I usually play it safe and either order quesidillas or Shepperd’s pie. But after a few Stella’s and a couple of renditions of Brown Eyed Girl everyone is having a great time!

I don’t really like this place. There is nothing wrong with it, it’s actually pretty cool, done up in the old pub style, cricket paraphernalia, striped ties under glass, and all. It’s probably the most authentic English Bar I’ve been to in O-​town. Regardless, I don’t like going.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that it’s near the festival bay mall and draws a crowd that purposely comes in a disheveled three piece suit just to prove how important they are. I just don’t have that good of a time when I’m there.
The music is hit or miss, catering mostly to the singer-​songwriter variety that range in talent from highly original to highly not.

Had to go to a kids birthday party at Festival Bay today and after that the adults needed something… well… more adult. So we headed over to the Cricketers Arms.
We walked in and I was pleasantly surprised that this was in the middle of tourist mania. I loved the look and feel and was not surprised to read that the low rough hewn beams all around the pub are actually from a 450 year old english barn. I also liked the long tables and benches in the middle area. These were great for seating a large group of people and more especially– kids.
The menu was interesting with a large amount of true brit pub food featured such as the ploughmans, chip butty’s and an assortment of pies (steak and guinness, shepherds etc). We tried the sausage rolls and they were so good we had another round. Another plus is they also have coleman’s mustard. Nothing like some sinus clearing mustard to dip the rolls in– it was awesome. Chips were just ok but there was malt vinegar so that made it better. Decent service and a good selection of beers made it so that we’d definitely come again. This time without the kids!

First, the story of how I even wound up here in the first place: while in Orlando for an SAP convention for work, one the dreamiest men I’ve ever laid eyes upon stopped by my company’s booth. Once he had gone, my boss, having noticed me salivating, jokingly offered me this guy’s business card. I took it. You know, just in case. And that night, in a rare flash of chutzpah (or, more accurately, under the influence of five margaritas — it was Cinco de Mayo, after all), I made use of the contact information that it contained.
Fast forward to the following night. We’d just left a private Eric Clapton concert (seriously, how awesome is that?) and hopped into a cab, asking the cab driver to take us someplace non-​touristy, where locals might go. Probably our first mistake — asking a cab driver for nightlife recommendations. Now. I was dressed to kill, generally looking like the business, speaking with my nice Northeastern non-​regional diction. He was in a suit and from France. And the cab driver was aware of this as he was Haitian and he and my date discussed their various provenances, at length, in French.
Now what on earth would possess a cab driver to deposit such a well-​dressed, cosmopolitan pair at a cheesy Irish bar in the middle of a shopping plaza, right next door to a Fuddruckers?
I sure as hell don’t know.
However, they had Red Hook, so I got to feel a sense of camaraderie with my beer, given that we shared a home state. And the mixed drinks were huge, and all alcohol.
Otherwise, completely passable. Although I did enjoy seeing the locals come in after getting off work, many of them still in ridiculous costumes. Laughing at others always makes for a good time.

Cricketers Arms, located in the Festival Bay shopping center, is a big English pub which manages to maintain a lot of charm. It seems to be a big hit with UK ex-​pats; we heard many an accent, and not just from the soccer match on TV. The place is cleverly laid out, and low rough-​hewn beams which make it feel a lot cozier. In addition to a long, classy looking bar, there are candle-​lit tables and booths which feature pages from UK newspapers. I’m told the small stage inside features live music nightly. Oh, and there is an outdoor bar you’ll pass on the way in.
Best feature: a strong selection of UK beers, on draught and bottle. I mean, LOTS… maybe half-​a-​dozen on tap and a good 20 more in bottles. In addition there are the typical domestics and imports. I was told they had cask ale, but that’s a bit of a misnomer: though they sometimes get an actual cask, they have a few varieties «hand-​drawn»; kegged at a lower pressure and hand-​pulled to re-​create the muted carbonation of true cask stuff. I won’t lie, I had two and they were great.
The food: chicken quesadilla, AWESOME. Fish ‘n chips, not so much. I never trust fish that is SQUARE. The batter was good, but the firmness was a bit cafeteria-​grade. They have a wide selection, including steaks and cottage (i.e. shepherd’s) pie. I’m not gonna write them off for food entirely, until I try some more. Or just keep eating those quesadillas.
It’s a tad bit pricey; a couple English pints set me back $ 12, and entrees run $ 8 – 20. Then again, I-​Drive is a big money vacuum, so that’s no real surprise. I’ll come back for the atmosphere and the beer, though I need a bit of convincing on the food.