I was wondering if anyone can clear something up for me, but over the past couple of years of visting this site i have noticed that most people dont like going in to the bulldog coffee shops, some people even verging on totally loathing them, why is this? At first i thought maybe it was because there weed quality wasnt as good but recenty a guy asked for a good CS to get just drinks from as he allready had his own weed and when bulldog was mentioned he said he couldnt even bring him self to enter one of those shops, even if for just a drink.
Im probably gonna be ripped apart now but i have never had a problem with the bulldog weed before, ever, i appreciate there is probably better elsewhere but surely there is worse elsewhere to? And surely it is not that bad from the bulldog, im no weed expert but im not a complete novice and i know when i get crap and i have always been happy with bulldog weed. The bulldog palace on leidsplein was my first CS so maybe im just sentimental for it and cant find fault with either quality of there goods or there staff.
Some clarifiaction would be great.
The Bulldog coffee shops?
Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
Being pedantic and knobbish since 1972
Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
I think it's a mix of tourist trap, being a bigger chain line of thought and over priced gear than crap as such?. I'll bet there are many more cs's with a simalar grade and price of gear as the Bulldog chain yet they dont get slated as they are single setups that I'll bet are popular for any number of reasons.
Also opinions change as a whole from time to time. I recall not to many years ago that the Old Church coffeeshop was a major faverate on here and channels, along with the likes of Amnesia that also hardly ever gets much of a mention these days. Yes Old Church was admited by many as being a "tourist trap" (never really like that phrase) and not having the best gear etc. But it was popular with many simply because of the view according to reviews at the time. Back then Basjoe hardly got a mention, look at that as a faverate now!
I personally dont mind the Bulldog chain. I'm not saying it would be my choice for buying from but I'd be more than happy to sit there with gear brought from elsewere.
Also opinions change as a whole from time to time. I recall not to many years ago that the Old Church coffeeshop was a major faverate on here and channels, along with the likes of Amnesia that also hardly ever gets much of a mention these days. Yes Old Church was admited by many as being a "tourist trap" (never really like that phrase) and not having the best gear etc. But it was popular with many simply because of the view according to reviews at the time. Back then Basjoe hardly got a mention, look at that as a faverate now!
I personally dont mind the Bulldog chain. I'm not saying it would be my choice for buying from but I'd be more than happy to sit there with gear brought from elsewere.
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minus orange
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
Not into the whole turnstile entrance with bouncers on the door thing.
I'd rather go to somewhere a bit more chilled out.
I'd rather go to somewhere a bit more chilled out.
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ed the head
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
Again Boner nails it, first with the link and then with his comment within.
If not the first, this is one of the first, and therefore has probably served A LOT more customers than most other coffeeshops. The poll indicates a 39% LIKE rating, which is arguably low but you do have to factor their longevity into the equation. Like many other forum members, I avoided buying weed out of the general consensus of TOURIST TRAP. When I did have an opportunity to buy cannabis at the Bulldog, it was at their Energy Shop next to their Hotel/Hostel. They had something that was sparse last 4/20 ... Hawaiian
something 
... it was excellent and though I don't rely on Bulldog for mass quantities, I no longer shun the Bulldog. I have not visited the Palace yet but I would like to check it out.
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dconstrukt
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
guys dont take this the wrong way.... cuz i'm from the states.... but when i pass by bulldog... any of them.... all you really see is shaved head, soccer hooligans.... not my scene...
its too much like a commercial store.... not chilled out and relaxing.... plus the gear isn't all that....
its too much like a commercial store.... not chilled out and relaxing.... plus the gear isn't all that....
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CHELSEA_SMOKERS_SOCIETY
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
the low opinion of the bulldogs is basically becuase of the fact that they are not known for good weed, and that they are the venue of choice for stag do's, football types, and boozy holiday people. (myself included on quite a few occasions 
)
the bulldog is amazingly succesfull chain/brand, and they have that 'naughty holiday' market really nailed. the sort of people who will 'try' a prerolled joint because they are in amsterdam, are not the sort of people who care about flavours and flushing and genetics. and bulldog has so many of those customers that they dont need to have a great selection.
it is worth saying though that i have had two purchases of the years from bulldog, one i dont remeber the name of, and one silver haze and both were perfectly adequate.
i actually really enjoy the bulldog late at night. i like to spend my mornign and day and evening in the more credible coffeeshops and brown bars, but when im really getting wankered, and its late, the bulldog serves a really good purpose for when you are at that point where you could fall asleep OR party harder and stay awake. couple of Jagermeisters and a beer and a spliff. lovely. its a lot like being allowed to smoke joints in the dodgy clubs/bars in your local high street.
the thing is, there are so many really good nights out to be had in smoker friendly bars that are not reminiscent of watford/chelmsford/portsmouth/bradford high street. Nes café for example is a great bar with a great atmosphere, you can smoke, drink, laugh and feel supremely happy. the unimaginative stag do types who never get passed the neon bulldog sign arent there either.
)the bulldog is amazingly succesfull chain/brand, and they have that 'naughty holiday' market really nailed. the sort of people who will 'try' a prerolled joint because they are in amsterdam, are not the sort of people who care about flavours and flushing and genetics. and bulldog has so many of those customers that they dont need to have a great selection.
it is worth saying though that i have had two purchases of the years from bulldog, one i dont remeber the name of, and one silver haze and both were perfectly adequate.
i actually really enjoy the bulldog late at night. i like to spend my mornign and day and evening in the more credible coffeeshops and brown bars, but when im really getting wankered, and its late, the bulldog serves a really good purpose for when you are at that point where you could fall asleep OR party harder and stay awake. couple of Jagermeisters and a beer and a spliff. lovely. its a lot like being allowed to smoke joints in the dodgy clubs/bars in your local high street.
the thing is, there are so many really good nights out to be had in smoker friendly bars that are not reminiscent of watford/chelmsford/portsmouth/bradford high street. Nes café for example is a great bar with a great atmosphere, you can smoke, drink, laugh and feel supremely happy. the unimaginative stag do types who never get passed the neon bulldog sign arent there either.
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
dconstrukt wrote:guys dont take this the wrong way.... cuz i'm from the states.... but when i pass by bulldog... any of them.... all you really see is shaved head, soccer hooligans.... not my scene...
its too much like a commercial store.... not chilled out and relaxing.... plus the gear isn't all that....
Yeah, the Lonsdale types tend to overflow into The Bulldog Leidseplein from The Satellite sports cafe next door...
As much as I think the Bulldog is the McD's of coffeeshops, when in a pinch you can find something on the menu. It's not like we're talking about Double Reggae...
Bad artists imitate, Great artists steal..
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ed the head
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
LOVE your avatar GuruYourGuru wrote:dconstrukt wrote:guys dont take this the wrong way.... cuz i'm from the states.... but when i pass by bulldog... any of them.... all you really see is shaved head, soccer hooligans.... not my scene...
its too much like a commercial store.... not chilled out and relaxing.... plus the gear isn't all that....
Yeah, the Lonsdale types tend to overflow into The Bulldog Leidseplein from The Satellite sports cafe next door...
As much as I think the Bulldog is the McD's of coffeeshops, when in a pinch you can find something on the menu. It's not like we're talking about Double Reggae...
He who tries to shine dims his own light
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elmer elevator
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
Sometimes you want a small, intimate, one-of-a-kind coffeeshop that only you know about, a hidden little place with spectacular smoke.
But sometimes I want the DisneyWorld of World Tourist Dope. I want to celebrate, with a big, noisy, happy crowd, a festival of decriminalized retail reefer. I want to spend a couple of hours in the most world-famous coffeeshop on earth. (And when I'm done, I buy the t-shirt and a whole bunch of Bulldog crapola.)
For the intimate experience, I park it at Softland and get hyperblasted on White Smurf.
But the Bulldog -- best damn fresh juice bar in Europe, and everything I could ask for in a coffeeshop. And perfectly excellent cannabis. I've never had a bad experience, and the rest of Leidseplein is filled with the greatest ethnic restaurants, shops, clubs. (Check out Djakarta on the next block. If you REALLY have the munchies, order the riifstafel.)
As long as my own unenlightened homeland still busts tokers and brands them criminals for life, I'll keep making a beeline to the Bulldog to celebrate reefer without cops and jails, with a huge, grinning crowd. I just get a huge kick out of the gaudy, noisy excess at the Bulldog.
But sometimes I want the DisneyWorld of World Tourist Dope. I want to celebrate, with a big, noisy, happy crowd, a festival of decriminalized retail reefer. I want to spend a couple of hours in the most world-famous coffeeshop on earth. (And when I'm done, I buy the t-shirt and a whole bunch of Bulldog crapola.)
For the intimate experience, I park it at Softland and get hyperblasted on White Smurf.
But the Bulldog -- best damn fresh juice bar in Europe, and everything I could ask for in a coffeeshop. And perfectly excellent cannabis. I've never had a bad experience, and the rest of Leidseplein is filled with the greatest ethnic restaurants, shops, clubs. (Check out Djakarta on the next block. If you REALLY have the munchies, order the riifstafel.)
As long as my own unenlightened homeland still busts tokers and brands them criminals for life, I'll keep making a beeline to the Bulldog to celebrate reefer without cops and jails, with a huge, grinning crowd. I just get a huge kick out of the gaudy, noisy excess at the Bulldog.
Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
elmer elevator wrote:Sometimes you want a small, intimate, one-of-a-kind coffeeshop that only you know about, a hidden little place with spectacular smoke.
But sometimes I want the DisneyWorld of World Tourist Dope. I want to celebrate, with a big, noisy, happy crowd, a festival of decriminalized retail reefer. I want to spend a couple of hours in the most world-famous coffeeshop on earth. (And when I'm done, I buy the t-shirt and a whole bunch of Bulldog crapola.)
For the intimate experience, I park it at Softland and get hyperblasted on White Smurf.
But the Bulldog -- best damn fresh juice bar in Europe, and everything I could ask for in a coffeeshop. And perfectly excellent cannabis. I've never had a bad experience, and the rest of Leidseplein is filled with the greatest ethnic restaurants, shops, clubs. (Check out Djakarta on the next block. If you REALLY have the munchies, order the riifstafel.)
As long as my own unenlightened homeland still busts tokers and brands them criminals for life, I'll keep making a beeline to the Bulldog to celebrate reefer without cops and jails, with a huge, grinning crowd. I just get a huge kick out of the gaudy, noisy excess at the Bulldog.
Beautiful First post Mate.
Bad artists imitate, Great artists steal..
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elmer elevator
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
Thanks!
Oh I've bumbled around the Directory before. I haven't been able to travel to Europe for a while, and it sorta hurt to be reminded of my beloved Amsterdam and the wonderful coffeeshops.
But things are looking up and I think I'll be back in NL within the year!
I don't know what I love and miss more, the coffeeshops or the Indonesian restaurants.
Oh I've bumbled around the Directory before. I haven't been able to travel to Europe for a while, and it sorta hurt to be reminded of my beloved Amsterdam and the wonderful coffeeshops.
But things are looking up and I think I'll be back in NL within the year!
I don't know what I love and miss more, the coffeeshops or the Indonesian restaurants.
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dubbel doja
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
I have been to most of their locations at some point or another. Usually when walking around with a big group of drunk people, the girls are inevitably attracted to the flashy exterior, and probably somewhere deep inside are hoping they might run into snoop dogg.
Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
On my first trip to Amsterdam I had a pre impression of what I expected a coffeeshop to be like on the inside. And Only the original Bulldog and Hill Street Blues lived up to my stereotypical idea of a coffeeshop.
I'll probably go to the 1 just up from there hotel next month, taking my own gear of cause, simply to see if crap gear aside if it feels any better to be in than the only other time I went in the month of october may years earlyer. As it seems to me the quality of the gear aside (has anyone actually tried it recently?) and the loud crouds that you probably dont get in the spring as much during the week (most known coffeeshops probably get a loudish croud at weekens anyway) it might be a pretty decent place to chill out at if there is not to loud a crowd and you take your own decent gear?.
I'll probably go to the 1 just up from there hotel next month, taking my own gear of cause, simply to see if crap gear aside if it feels any better to be in than the only other time I went in the month of october may years earlyer. As it seems to me the quality of the gear aside (has anyone actually tried it recently?) and the loud crouds that you probably dont get in the spring as much during the week (most known coffeeshops probably get a loudish croud at weekens anyway) it might be a pretty decent place to chill out at if there is not to loud a crowd and you take your own decent gear?.
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puffthemagicdragon
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Re: The Bulldog coffee shops?
The first time I went to Amsterdam I went in a Bulldog. Their weed was crap.
Also, at the Leidseplein one, I was looking for the Paradiso (going to a show there) and asked the bouncer on the door if he could point me in the right direction. He was so rude and aggressive - to the point he pushed me and told me to fuck off (and I'm a woman) that I swore I'd never go in there again ..... and I never will.
Others have commented on racist issues - well the bouncer who pushed me was a big black African guy and I'm white - whether that has any relevance who knows.
Also hate being around shaven thugs with football shirts and Bulldogs seem to attract a fair share of them.
Far nicer places to go in Amsterdam with lovely staff and great atmosphere.
Also, at the Leidseplein one, I was looking for the Paradiso (going to a show there) and asked the bouncer on the door if he could point me in the right direction. He was so rude and aggressive - to the point he pushed me and told me to fuck off (and I'm a woman) that I swore I'd never go in there again ..... and I never will.
Others have commented on racist issues - well the bouncer who pushed me was a big black African guy and I'm white - whether that has any relevance who knows.
Also hate being around shaven thugs with football shirts and Bulldogs seem to attract a fair share of them.
Far nicer places to go in Amsterdam with lovely staff and great atmosphere.