Very disappointing. On entering this establishment we were delighted to have discovered a great looking, traditional country pub. Surprisingly empty for early evening beside the canal when we had expected to find holiday makers and locals making the most of the Summer evening. We were soon to find out why! The guy we presumed was the landlord was less than enthusiastic to see us but we were impressed with the ales on offer and ordered our drinks.
We ordered from the substantial looking evening menu, accepted a substitute option because the preferred was not available (why still have it on the board as a special if it had run out? Run out? There were five people sat in a pub that could accommodate a hundred!).
Mr Happy brought the food and the omens weren't good on first sight. Chicken and chorizo, with goo (sorry, sauce), on mashed potato with seasonal veg. I swear I have never experienced a pub meal that has been so consistently poor. Presentation aside, the chicken was stringy and the sauce congealed. reheated perhaps. The mash potato was tasteless and lumpy I have done better myself but I do not claim to be a chef or cook. The carrots and broccoli were hard and soggy. The whole thing was dry and inedible. Not worth the £10 for that dish alone!
I spoke to the people on the table nearby as their daughter had similarly left her whole meal and we shared the same view on the quality. They left but the plateful remained. Mr Happy came by and I relayed my disappointment at not one aspect of the meal but every item being below quality. He shrugged and made some ridiculous comment about people being used to pellets for their mashed potato and this was fresh. Frankly we were gobsmacked at his attitude but more so the comment. What?! This was literally lumpy and quickly thrown together. I have had better textured and tastier 'Smash' powdered mash and in any case it did not address the overall quality of the meal and the comments I had made. He simply did not care and there was no recourse. Away he went, back to his lonely bar.
Looking at other reviews, it seems the quality and service have not improved in two years. Avoid this place like the plague unless you're just looking for a drink in the beer garden. Certainly done waste your money on one star food. In fact, one star given for the pub itself, but for service and food quality it would have been a zero! read more