Let me start this review by saying that I'm only awarding one star to this establishment because it…read moreis not possible to rate it any lower.
I had the misfortune of visiting the Tudor Rose several times during the first half of 2013, as my Grandad lived nearby and it was where he always wanted to go for family meals. To give you some context, I am a man who enjoys his food. I like to think I have a sophisticated palate, but I have never been a fussy eater, and I enjoy pub food, when it's done well. However, there is only one meal I have ever been given that I would describe as inedible, and that was the 'sausage and mash' here at the Tudor Rose.
I only decided to plump for this particular dish because I had been so disappointed with the carvery meals on previous occasions - dry meat, overcooked vegetables, and a cheap, sickly desert. 'How wrong can they go with a simple dish like sausage & mash?', I thought. Well, the answer is 'atrociously'.
The mashed potato-like substance they'd splatted onto the plate was covered in a gravy that had congealed to the point where you could peel it off like a chicken skin. The mash itself had the consistency of wet sand, and the sausages looked and tasted cheaper than the 'value' range of any supermarket you care to mention. I took one bite of each and, for the first time in my life, I was unable to eat a meal that had been placed in front of me. It simply didn't deserve to be called food. I have never been to prison, so I don't know what kind of food they get served, but I can't imagine it can be any worse than this, as that would surely be an abuse of basic human rights.
I don't really like to leave scathing reviews such as this, but this was so bad that I was compelled to seek out this page, even two years later. I also noticed that some of the other reviews on here were suspiciously gushing in their praise, and overly keen to mention that they got their meals for under £9. I therefore felt a responsibility to let you know what the real deal is.
Let me be clear - I wasn't expecting gourmet cuisine and 5-star service here. When you go to an eatery like this, you know what you're in for - simple, 'meat and two veg' dishes. Nothing to write home about, but something that will do the job. After all, you get what you pay for... well, in theory, anyway. However, there are always exceptions to any rule, and I can honestly say that you could not pay me to eat here again.