Pros
Applegate is a place where the employer gives a lot to staff, and also expects a lot in return. There is a feeling of being given trust and responsibility and being expected to handle that appropriately. You’d think that would be the norm in most companies, but in my experience it isn't! There are loads of opportunities to try new things, move fast and not be afraid of making mistakes. Several ideas I've had have been tried out, and the management genuinely listen to any ideas that might help the company and (crucially) also follow through with trying some of them and giving credit where it's due. Loads of employers talk about that but don’t really deliver, but Applegate does. Applegate is also by far the most flexible employer I've had, in terms of working my hours around my personal commitments.
Cons
I think some of the negative reviews stem from an alternative view of the points that I’ve put in the positive comment box. The company cares about its employees and expects employees to care about the company in return. The expectations are high you're expected to be flexible, have a go, and get stuck in to whatever projects are going on at the time. If you hate being out of your comfort zone at work (which is completely reasonable depending on what makes you tick), Applegate probably isn't for you.