skip nav  
 


Stags Head, Goosnargh

back to pub details

user reviews of the Stags Head, Goosnargh

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Sadly the previous comments and views all seem to have reach a rather pathetic conclusion. Sadly for the people of the vilage not the over inflated landlord. His activities as reported by friends who live there have been nothing short of bizarre. Sacks his top bar staff for phoning the police when a patient from the near by hospital was in danger of being knocked down. Half the locals boycot the place. He decides to shut the pub at all different times whether you had just got a drink or not. Breaks his brother in laws jaw for asllegedly stealing. The story could continue - below is from the Lancashire Evening Post.

Published on Wednesday 14 March 2012 09:12

An award-winning village pub which closed down suddenly has been left looking like a �horrible� shell after its contents were stripped out.

The Stag�s Head, in Whittingham Lane, Goosnargh, was renowned for its food, traditional character and beer garden, but is now shut and its bar area cleared of many of its fixtures and fittings.

Neighbours and former locals said the pub was emptied shortly after it closed with reports kitchen appliances, copper piping, tables and chairs have been removed.

When the Evening Post visited the pub, which closed around a month ago, the bar area was empty, and the remains of a large fire were visible in the beer garden.

The pub is owned by Scottish and Newcastle Pub Company, and was leased by publican Mike Robins, who took over around a year ago, after running bars in Spain. But the brewery was unable to reveal details of the lease, including ownership of the fixture and fittings.

Neighbours today spoke of their shock at the state of the pub which was last year given the Business Achievement Award for Pub Restaurant of the Year.

Mark Watkinson, 38, who lives in the village and was a pub regular, said: �We have got the field day (Goosnargh and Whittingham Whitsuntide Festival).

�We are concerned it won�t happen.

�It looks like he has taken the kitchen. The tables and chairs have been removed, they have been there since I was born.

�It is horrible what�s happened. Goosnargh used to have three pubs then it was down to two and now there is only one open.

�We need to keep the everything (community facilities) together, that�s why hopefully we can get this back up and running but it will need a lot of work doing to it.�

Mrs Haigh, who lives in the village and works in the nearby Londis shop and Post Office, said: �There had been a removal van and a bonfire.

�I was a semi-regular there and we are now missing a good pub with a good reputation that meant people outside the area would come into the village.

�That had a knock-on effect for the other businesses because they might pop in here or the chemist.�

Sue Mackie, 66, who works in the Poodleoo sweet shop opposite the pub, said: �My daughter told me there had been a lot of people complaining about the noise, which was very loud late at night.

�It is a shame for the village, there is only one left now.

�I was born in Goosnargh and it was always a feature.�

A 73-year-old man, said: �It is a shame, I have spent half my life in there.

�My son saw them taking the kitchen and all the outside furniture from the back of the pub.�

A spokesman for Scottish and Newcastle Pub Company, said: �The Stag�s Head in Goosnargh was leased to an independent business person to run as their own business.

�Unfortunately and despite our efforts, last week we had to take back possession of the pub.

�We are currently assessing the state of the premises and we hope we will shortly be in a position to re-advertise this pub and find a new lessee who will return the site to full operation, ensuring once again, that it serves our valued local community.�

Despite repeated attempts by the Evening Post to contact Mr Robins, he did not respond.

SPEW - 15 Mar 2012 16:10
Been popping in for lunch for years. Recently went in for the first time since it changed hands and had probably the worst food experience ever and that was only a sandwich! Old menu is being used but the new owner's take on it is nothing like edible and breaks every trade descriptions regulation. Do they really think we are so thick that we can believe industrial cheddar is Singletons Lancashire? (Mrs Singleton get down there and do a taste test) Hand cut beef dripping chips - er no? Industrial regulation machine cut rectangles from a freezer bag - yes.
Stale ciabatta. Sour cheap mayonnaise I didn't ask for, mixed in with the cheese - yuk. The owner says the new chef is better than the previous one. In your dreams mate. I have had better quality food from the bacon butty and burger bar in the layby up the road on the A6 at Broughton crossroads and a darn sight cheaper and tastier.
homegrown - 16 Jun 2011 22:05
Wanted to have a meal before going to Village Carnival. arrived at Stags Head to find that the car park entrances were blocked off by cars although it was nearly empty. Before we had a chance to say we are here for a meal the member of staff just walked off. Total rudeness. With the public house situation in this country at present being as it is, can anybody be blamed for buying their beer from supermarkets and drinking it at home.
trainman123 - 4 Jun 2011 21:42
Stayed with friends in Longridge who took me to The Stags 'Annual Family Fun Day' at the Bank Holiday. I was not too keen as my last visit in April, after a gap of a two years, was a disaster. The start was not auspices as when I asked how many years the event had been running I was told this was the first. Still I suppose 'Annual' has to start somewhere! We arrived (party of three adults and two children) and the place was heaving. There was one lad behind the bar doing his best and It took us 20 minutes to be served with a drink. I say 'drink' loosely. The kid's cokes were flavoured water and our Theakestones was warm, cloudy and frankly undrinkable. I took them back and waited and waited and waited. Eventually the lad (now joined by a young lass) came over and I told him the problem. He was fine and I asked for a refund which was duly given.

We then took my April advice and went to the Grapes. I think 'Annual' may be rather ambitious.
SPEW - 2 Jun 2011 14:53
Not what is used to be as far as a dining out venue; it wasn't always perfect before (chef was a bit of a madam and the toilets weren't always that clean) but it's certainly gone downhill now; one major problem is that it appears to be run by two "bouncers" who give the impression they don't really care; hard to nail on the head but signs like the owners Porsche blocking the entrance and the wines being plain awful suggest that we're not looking at a "Foodies" place anymore - the food is now average and the service a bit too amateur for the prices. It could get better - let's hope so
Baytree23 - 27 May 2011 22:17
The beer and ale here is completely overpriced now, almost 3.50 for a pint of regular real ale. The food arrived late, and at complaining we just got 'I can't do anything about it' from the threatening owner 'Mike'. Yes you can do something - you're the Landlord, you can do anything you can to please your customers. Very disappointing.

This used to be a great Pub - the best in the area, but a few months ago, in about December 2010, some new owners came in - British but have been living in the Costa Del Sol. Since they have arrived this place has gotten worse and worse.

Most of the great friendly staff that all the regulars used to know have left since the new owners took over, this is a real shame. I have seen some of the old staff around and heard their horror stories about how the place is now run.

The interior decor used to have that real British countryside pub feel, now it has been decorated in a more modern way - more suited to the British areas of the Costa Del Sol than Goosnargh!

It's a real shame what's happened to the Stag's Head, and a lot of the residents of the local area feel the same way, we used to have a great British pub to drink in, now it's become a nightmare. I won't be going in anytime soon.
PubGuy101 - 16 May 2011 17:50
New people have taken over and had run a bar in Spain prior to this. Benidorm and Goosnargh don't mix! The food is poor and the beer prices have rocketed (cask up 50p).

At least it is still open but I would suggest you go down the road to the Grapes.
SPEW - 22 Apr 2011 14:00
I went to the stags head for a girlie lunch thinking it would be nice to go somewhere in the country, i was far from wrong. The food was vile and un edible in the end we had to pay and go. I did complain about the food as obviously there was a lot left and was not offered a refund only a replacement which I clearly would not like. I am very disappointed in this.
helenbeattie22 - 25 Jan 2011 13:34
I find this pub one of the worst I have visited the menu was shockingly strange everything deep fried with a different mayonaise., they even fried asparagus now thats horrific! What made me laugh the most was cheesy crumpets, fish finger butties and cornbeef, they really are something you would only eat in desperation. The worst part was when I got in my car and saw rats near the bins please sort this problem out!! So beware aswell as crap food it looks a very unhygenic place to eat.
thomash - 19 Jun 2009 21:41
Great food. Annual beer festival is a treat.
breadfan - 1 May 2008 12:12
I found this to be a very average pub. The beer was mediocre (a couple of real ales but the dark ale I had didn't taste at its best) with dull food cooked by 16-year-old kids. Not a place I think I'd return to in a hurry.
ukteq - 25 Feb 2008 23:09
The pub has its own beer festival, which is nice! Good Ale and decent decor, if a bit 'mock-old-fashioned'.
woodyptom - 5 Aug 2006 02:00
Went here on New Years Day 2005. Even though the restaurant was not officially open we were allowed to sit in there and be served! Oh, and the beer is great also!
anonymous - 28 Apr 2005 12:35
The Stags Has a Great reputation for Live Entertainment Every friday. Award winning food this is a Pub Not to be missed.
Tony Herring - 10 Oct 2004 11:32

got anything to say about this pub?

Please read our reviews policy before posting.
Only registered users can post reviews. Please log in. If you don't have an account yet, register here.