please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Nearly 2 years since the last review but it still stands,Oldham_Drinker is spot on.
Great location and Superb historical building, this should be a 8 or 9 out of 10 but the poor beer selection lets it down. There are three taps on if they could give one over to one of the many a local breweries or even rotate then it becomes a destination and talked about pub.
Enjoyed the food but there are local places that do better.
juwwi - 25 May 2015 22:04 |
Great location which maybe helps to explain the below average beer and the unimaginitive, over priced food. A shame because if the food, and most importantly the beer, matched the location this would be a real destination boozer.
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Cracking location right on the canal. Food and service was good.
However, it's a bit grubby and they appear to have crammed in as many covers as possible. I would give the gents toilets a 2/10 :(
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Oddly, the only decent canalside pub for miles around. Great location, lovely trad Sunday roasts served out by the canal as you watch the barges go by with a pint of decent ale. Located down a very awkward single-track country lane but there is a handy car park once you get down there.
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Cracking location next to the canal. Pretty bridge near to it makes it a lovely setting. Beer was OK, nothing fantastic. Definitely worth a quick stop/half on the way to Berko.
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A cracking location by the Grand Union canal, this roomy pub has been elegantly refurbished, perhaps overly so - little plates encircling the walls were a tad too 'ye olde Engeland' for our tastes. The menu looked enticing even if prices could be lower and it seems primarily a destination for the denizens of Hemel to descend upon in their 4x4s. Charles Wells ales.
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Nice location. What puts me off is the bar staff. Like they really don't want to be there. It's only a small thing, but I'd rather not have my expensive beer served by a sullen faced barman who keeps calling you "pal", or a young girl who hides away and greats you with "yeah?".
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Couldnt resist a walk over the rickety bridge from the other side of the canal. I liked my eagle, it came in a ceremonial glass. All hail the eagle.
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0inus 2: no pricelist near bar
lus 1: receipt given without being asked.
�9.95p sunday roast
�r.65p half pint of 8ombadier.
0inus ) because waiter said "enjoy" after delivering my meal to my table.
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The food is good but this pub has joined the wetherspoons type boil in the bag/microwave brigade. The service is horrendous, we waited 30 minutes to place our order and were repeatedly ignored by the waitress, at which point upon complaining the owner/manager came and sat down at our table to engage in a full blown threatening attack on a member of our party. His reasoning that we should not expect decent service as his establishment was in fact a pub and not a restaurant was almost laughable. All in all a horrendous dining experience. Would I return? Definitely not!!!
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Really enjoyed an hour by the canal on Sunday with the Mrs and my son, so much so that i didn't even mind paying �4.40 for a pint of Erdinger & �4.10 for Staropramen.
Don't know that i would visit if it was raining as i think most of the appeal of this place is being able to site by the canal on the newly laid patio.
Worth a visit for a couple but couldn't afford a session in here.
Solid 7
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We used to be regulars but gave it a miss when its food became just like any other pub. Returned yesterday evening to find fantastic change. New head chef brought from sister pub in Oxford about a month ago has transformed the menu. We had fillets of sea bass and a steak, all cooked to perfection. Young staff were welcoming, cheerful and attentive without being obtrusive. Canalside deck currently being renovated but, once complete, it has to be one of the most idyllic settings on the Grand Union. If you haven't been there recently, give it a try.
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Really sad what has happened to this quaint old pub. A few years ago it was a perfect pub, fire blazing, conservative menu done well and good beer.
Now it has sadly joined the boil-in-the-bag brigade of restaurant pubs.
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Absolutely superb setting beside the Grand Union Canal. Must be really great on a warm summers' evening.
Three beers on, Charles Wells Bombardier and Eagle, and Courage Directors. Not too exciting, but the Directors was well kept. Can't vouch for the other two. The food was good, if a little on the pricey side and a little limited for a lunchtime. However, wouldn't rule out calling in again.
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started v good staff excellent ordered 6 sunday roasts and two childrens meals thee sausages were so spicy the children did not touch them
the six sunday roasts were ok but of small proportion when we asked for exta gravy and an extra yorkshire for one of the children we were charged 75p for each item.
This was top of the price range for a pub sunday lunch �15 each for two courses but you got very little for it
kids meal very pricy at �5+ for one sausage chips and baked beans
Would I go again probably not
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Very disappointing trip along to the Horseshoes on Bank Holiday Monday...
I have heard from neighbours that food service can be erratic, but had never experienced it here before.
Me and the missus don't get out that much on account of having a 10-month-old bundle of energy to look after, but treated ourselves to a stroll along the canal for a spot of lunch.
I thought a 50 mins wait for a burger and a panini (we're easily pleased) was more than long enough , whereupon I was told that I would need to re-order as the order had become "lost".
The staff seemed mad busy, and we weren't alone in searching for our food. Whilst everyone else seemed to get sorted we went hungry.
They dealt with the refund a little too well for my liking; perhaps that comes with experience...
I don't ask for much - you take my money, and you bring me my stuff - simple. It's put me off the place a bit
Moan, moan, moan...
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Brilliant setting beside the canal and a swing bridge, old world charm and surprisingly plenty of parking space. Charlie Wells beer, the pint of Eagle I had was well kept, the food looked OK but may be a bit pricey. Overall a good pub to come out to on a warm Sunday lunchtime.
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Lovely ye olde building with original beams and flagstone floors and two log fires. This is a great place to eat - good food and not overpriced. Three real ales on offer. Outside there are lots of tables by the canal - very popular in decent weather as it's a great location.
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this is a gorgeous pub,, and inexpensive. would I go there again?? YOU BET!!
it has lovely fires, lots of beams and candles.. and no scumbags in there either
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Fantastic setting, I was there yesterday. Didn't go inside but had OK beer (Black Sheep, not perfectly kept but OK) and good food (pork n leek sossies - yum!).
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nice oldy pub, cosy fires, lovely in the summer.
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All i can say this is a excellent pub and restaurant,
paul carl tim from scarborough(Ace Removals)All the best.
anonymous - 19 Jul 2007 19:48 |
Known simply as 'Winkwell' to many, this one's a long way out of town but has always been a bit of a local landmark. Superb in summer for its seats out on the canal, and superb in winter for its snug and cosy atmosphere. Great old C16 building too.
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Excellent setting with a nice good interior but not many beers to choose from. Staff attentive in the restaurant bit and very good food too. Just watch the canal at the back if you've had a few too many and the resident swan, he's a nasty bugger!
Hucks - 30 Sep 2006 12:40 |
Top pub by the canal (you can fall in after a Guiness the tables are so close to the edge) in the summer and roaring oak fireplaces in the winter. You don't get much better than this.
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Definitely the most picturesque pub in the Hemel area.
Food can by great, and much better value than in its over-priced past. They can make a pig's ear of it at times, though. Take your chances.
Not too much to sing about beer-wise, but the pub itself and the location go a long way to making up for that.
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Oak Inn Finest
Fantastic setting by canal, lovely food, great atmosphere, extreamly popular in the summer
Melanie Woodhouse - 9 Mar 2005 08:42 |
