please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We've lived near the Waterwitch for years so have been regular customers for birthdays, meals with friends and even Christmas once. There's plenty of choice, the food is always good but I feel the need to write a review as the past two occasions the service has been, to be honest, pretty awful.
This time we were left waiting a little longer than I would class as average (but nothing to complain about) but while we were waiting a waitress came to ask "if everything's alright" which seemed faintly ridiculous while we were still waiting. Surely an "apologies for the delay, it won't be long" would have been better, no big deal but slightly odd! When the food came they had messed up the order for my meal (this happened last time with my mum's meal so it's not a one off). Although they apologised and brought the correct dish 15 minutes later (when the other 4 in my party had eaten) they asked if we could come up to the till after to correct the receipt and bill for the meal actually ordered instead. Without an itemised receipt we couldn't tell if they'd taken for the right food anyway so instead we just ordered dessert and requested the single wrong meal price be removed completely (they did do this). The dessert came before they'd cleared anything from the main meal and the staff member just tried to put down the plates prompting us to have to ask to remove the previous dishes to make room. It just all appeared as if nobody had working in food service before and were horrendously unprepared for how the basics worked! Perhaps we've been unlucky and caught them on an off day or perhaps they're employing untrained staff to operate cheaply but now this has happened twice I'm afraid they've lost a regular customer.
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The Waterwitch hosted our wedding reception & provided a buffet for our party of 50. Couldn't have been happier; food was fantastic (hot & cold selection, no Iceland rubbish), staff were helpful & friendly, warm atmosphere & beautiful surroundings. All round winner
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Have previously visited the Waterwitch for lunch and everything has been excellent, however, we visited on Sunday 28th August 2011 for a Family Sunday Roast and were very disappointed. Upon placing our order we were advised they only had Gammon - no Beef, Chicken or Pork. We then had to wait the best part of an hour before our food arrived, the plate was swimming in gravy and one of the meals was minus the mash potato, the roast potatoes were extremely hard and the other vegtables seemed very crunchy. Due to the wait we did not attempt to order dessert. A very disappointing experience all round.
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The Waterwitch is a really nice pub, for a drink! I don't recommend having a meal there. Went there for Sunday lunch on 21st of August, for a Family meal. The meal was o.k, the meat was done good, and the Mash potatoe was done nice. However the Vegatables weren't done very nice, they were rock hard. But what was disappointing, was the quality of the service. Twice I had too go up to the waitress, first to order deserts, because she was too long, after finishing the main course too ask us if we would like anything else. Then when we did get to order it took long too come, and in fact we had our coffee before our desert, and in the end I had too go up and ask where it was, because it was so long coming, I'm pretty sure they'd forgotten about us. I'm doubtful I would have another meal for sometime, but I would still go there for a drink, as it is nice too sit out in the pub garden on a summers day.
slysi - 24 Aug 2011 23:27 |
Had a late afternoon lunch here. Very off-putting to find the pub deserted; no customers, no staff, all of whom were eventually found outside.
Food was very good and the patio outside has pleasant views of the canal.
But all let down by uncareing service. Why take us back inside to order, only to tell us we needed a table number to order, why not tell us when we were by the tables? Why not bring cutlery to the tables outside, and why, when we found the cutlery box, was it empty?
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Visited with a party of eight for Sunday lunch (May 2010 � hot summers day) - had booked table only to find that our table had been given to another large party, were given a separate room upstairs to eat (not good for one disabled 86 year old and one with a broken ankle). As the pub was full had a wait for an hour and a half for the food which arrived lukewarm and not much of it, charged for second round of drinks which never arrived - beer was average, but won't be going back � what a shame as a great location.
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I haven't been here for a while but it looks like it's been done up a bit with new furniture on the lovely terrace. Packed as usual on a sunny day but staff were lovely and a big jug of Pimms kept the ladies happy while we enjoyed great Abbot Ale.
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Visited the pub 3 yrs ago, experience was great. Revisited the pub again in Jan 2010. We were very disappointed by the lack of service, waited an hour, 45min for our Sunday Roast. Visited again yesterday and stood in a que at the bar for about 20 min. Perhaps the management should invest in more staff. Management should also be more flexible with table service outside. Wont go back. Sad, because it could be a really great pub.
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My disappointment with this pub made me sign up to BITE. The landlady and staff were rude and seemed uninterested in my custom. Poor selection of ale, so I resorted to a pint of Guinness which was poured all in one; yuck. Food portions were small, dry and expensive. Won't be back. Great shame as it's a lovely location.
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Poor beer. Average food. Wont be back
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Looked up this pub again to see if it had improved since my 1 & only visit--it doesn't seem to have Been lazy & not posted before & my visit was2 years ago my comment may interest But--having walked down Canal with wife 2 adult children & dog thought could murder a pint & light lunch--asked if could bring dog in -told no -fair enough lovely Jan sunny weather so told staff we would sit in garden--I went to Bar ordered drinks & asked about food--told all food on-took menus & drinks outside - wanted 4 baguettes-placed order at bar then was asked for table number-told them cos of dog we were in garden--I was told couldn't have food as not serving in the garden--I said only having Baguettes I would collect them take to garden & return plates--Told not serving in garden--I asked Why--then Manager got involved--He said 'Look all you need to know is we are not doing food in the garden'-I have never been spoken to like that--left pub & wrote to pub Head office--finally they got back to me & said that I could have taken my food into the garden--dohhh!!!!!I phoned them I told them that's what I wanted to do & the manager wouldn't let me---they wrote back said fully investigated & no further correspondence would be entered into !!!!Not 1 word of apology--I will never go to this pub again--& unless it is Summer don't try to order food for the garden !!!!!!!
darbi - 23 Feb 2010 13:18 |
Used to use this pub a lot for meeting up with friends. It improved over the past few years but appears now to be going through another bad spell. On our last visit the London Pride was off, the Courage Best was awful but at least the TEA was good.
The food has generally been pretty OK here, but this time it was very ordinary. No surprise then that the place was really quiet on an unseasonally fine Saturday lunchtime. It used to be heaving a few years back, whatever the weather. This time, we saw several people have to leave tables on the grass for ones on the paved area just because they wanted to eat. That's just bonkers!
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Went to this pub today and the landlady annoyed me enough to sign up to this site and make my opinion known.
There was about 12 of us so we sat at one of the big tables in the garden, lovely sunny day. Anyway after getting our drinks and being told that they do not sell pork scratchings,'because its not that sort of establishment', we decided to order some food.
There was a massive queue as for some reason they had only 2 people serving behind the bar, and no seperate line for just drinks or just food.
On going to place the order, after a lenghty wait, we were asked for our table number, to which we replied that we were sat at a table without one. Apparently they don't serve food to these tables and we should have seen one of the 'hundreds' of signs stating this, (still looking).
So we can't have food, because the 3 metre walk from the numbered tables onto the grass is a breach of health and safety. Apparently health and safety only applies to the staff, and not the young children and patrons sitting out in the garden =S.
'can we collect the food from the safe zone?' we ask.
'NO', we are too busy'.
The landlady was just plain rude, and carried on about her work, dismissive of us at the bar and unwilling to offer any kind of apology. It is not soo much the fact that in the credit crunch climate i was suprised to see that she soo willingly let 12 people walk away unsatisfied, still with pockets laden with money. It is the manor in which she acted.
Can honestly say she has no customer service skills and is clearly in the wrong job. The beer also tasted terrible and i would probably suggest to their brewery that they insure the lines are cleaned at least once a week.
Poor service, Poor beer! AVOID
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Good food- shame about the 1 hour 20 min wait to get it on the table - won't go again on a Saturday night - not even a glass of wine on the house as an apology!
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A disappointing pub.Not welcoming at all, staff steer you swiftly to a table, then do not know what beers are on draught, so you have to return to the bar anyway to see what`s on offer.Food is poor quality and overpriced. Manager unwelcoming, seems solely interested in getting your money as swiftly as possible. We were told on last visit (late February), that the food would be at least one hour. Tried to get some nuts to stave off hunger pangs, but was told they were sold out of peanuts!
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I don't think this is "just" a pub either. Then again i don't think it has been for quite some time. It is however a fairly good place to go for a decent pub/restaurant meal at reasonable prices. 3 courses for �12 if money is tight!
Friends visiting this weekend suggested we go there as we've taken them there in the past. I booked a table, I don't think they used to take bookings but they do now, just as well as the place was packed.
Standard ales, Bombadier, TEA and london Pride, not a particularly exciting choice but well kept (between us we tried all three) Food tasty, fairly quick given how busy it was, don't know if they sell crisps, not particularly bothered but they do sell some great smokey nuts which one of our party had instead of a starter. Nice to see a pub so popular when we keep being told how many are closing every week
Agree that if you want a proper old fashioned boozer The Bell is the place to go, but wouldn't it be boring if everywhere was the same
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This is not a pub! This place seems to want to concentrate on serving food. They are not keen on people who only want a drink, but even if you want to eat you'll be hard pressed to get a table without a reservation. If you want a drink, go to The Bell! I've given this a rating of 2, but only because they sell hand-pump beer.
And they don't sell crisps!!!
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I dont know why the reviews have stopped for this pub, but i visited it today for the first time, with 4 other friends and we found the service , food and prices excellent. A pleasant change to get table service in a pub, a warm and comfortable lunch time visit on a cold day. We did go there with the intention of enjoying a meal and we didnt expect fastfood or we would have got a takeaway. I suspect the managment and staff must have changed since the last lot of reviews or maybe we were in the wrong pub. I will be eating there again soon, If you do visit a pub on a hot summers day and its packed surely you should expect to wait longer for your food.
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I have tried this in the past and been disappointed. I now only stop for a drink if I'm passing by along the canal. Even constrained to just drinking the last experience wasn't nice. I can't remember ever feeling as much like cattle as I did trying to order my drinks. I grabbed them and headed outside. Drank up and went. On the plus side there is a lot of space outside, so if you don't mind lots of little people then it's ok for spending time outside.
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Got to eat here today with family. Extremely busy but waited a bit and got table on patio. Young staff under pressure and looking like they were feeling the heat, but then so were we. Told food would be 45 mins but seemed to be faster. V tasty. Ruddles Bitter a change from prev visit, well kept.
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This pub has a lovely large garden, unfortunately the staff are very miserable.
I cycle a lot and usually stop for a cold drink somewhere.
Popped in the waterwitch today as it was hot I fancied a pint of soda water with lime cordial.
The bar staff told me they cant serve a pint of soda water, only a tumbler size on the instruction of the manager/ess.
What the heck is that all about, I can buy a pint of beer but not a pint of sooda water!!
I left and wont be returning again. With that attitude I hope they go out of business.
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Very busy at weekend. Great choice of fairly reasonably priced wines for the wife and three real ales. TEA, Bombardier and Speckled Hen as the guest ale. Will go back again to try the food as I saw some tasty looking dishes.
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The Waterwitch is quite a large distance out of the way for us but we keep coming back because of the friendly welcome we get and the lovely food..
Life doesn�t get much better than a group of friends or family eating and drinking and laughing together and we like to do this at The Waterwitch as often as we possibly can.
I�m quite laid back, but my mother isn�t, so if the food wasn�t great, or if we were kept waiting too long she wouldn�t be so happy to go back time and time and time again.
I haven�t visited The Waterwitch for about six weeks, but a group of us are meeting up there this Saturday. I really hope it�s sunny because dinner and drinks on the gorgeous patio would be lovely.
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Hantstoryteller, you state you 'tried' to go here on the Sunday and then stated you did in fact go! You put a review in on Sunday 8th, which only had personal remarks with no mention of a visit. On the 11th you make more personal remarks with now the added story of a visit on the 8th!
One point i need to make, most of my visits have been on a weekday. The place has been nearly empty every time. This is no reason for the bad food and service i have received.
If you think it is acceptable to wait 1 hour and 20 minutes for your meal after you arrive, you need to get out more and try other venues. I offered to take my wife here the other night so i could give the location another chance, she refused to go because of the regular bad food and service we have had!!!
It's not just a case of 'agree to disagree', it's more a case that the majority expect higher standards of food and service for family, friends and clients.
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I took my partner here on sunday. I live locally and we were looking for somwhere to take our parents this coming weekend. The service has to be the slowest i have ever experienced. The portions were embarrassingly small. The food was overpriced, overcooked and tasted 'Tesco' cheap.I will not be putting my father let alone my partners father through this for this coming fathers day! I think the Swan Inn in North Warnborough is a better option.
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hampshiregal, you are so wrong.
There are many people who use this site who are enthralled by this budding romance between you and dcdevil69. It's just so romantic.
Why don't you arange to meet up for a romantic dinner at this pub?
Please keep up this affair, and please keep us informed.
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dcdevil Much as I enjoy our little discussions I don't think they are of much help to anyone else reading this site. Maybe we should just agree to disagree. Myself and many other people will carry on going here and enjoying it and you can go somewhere else where they cater better to your requirements. As a matter of interest i tried going there on Sunday but it was so busy I had to wait 20 mins to get a table. Yes the food did take a while but it was quicker than the hour they told me it could be when I ordered so I was happy. I'm aware I may be in the minority liking this place but the other 200 or so there must be as well. Please don't bother with any more personal remarks as I do not intend to post here again unless i have something to say about the pub, not you...
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HantsOLDgirl, it's a shame you admit to not being so bright. As you reply every night so late maybe in fact your the one who is 'sozzled', which would explain why your judgement is clouded. Do you eat for free at your clients expense? That's the only reason you must eat there as any sane person with a 'successful business' wouldn't waste their money there. Personally, this dive prevents me taking any family and friends. In fact i only go if i have a voucher as the food is of such poor quality. I have blogged all over the internet about the Waterwitch's failings as the customer service/food has been so bad. I have always tried to reach a reasonable outcome and always do elsewhere if i have a problem. Please remember, you are the minority!
You may reply...
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My dear dcdevil Whilst I'm sure running a pub may be the epitome of your aspirations it most certainly isn't mine. I may admire the MAN who runs the pub (short guy mid fifties) but it would be a contradiction of my gender and professional qualifications to claim that it's me. Thanks for the laugh though and any time you need a good accountant don't call me
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I have a life thank you and i drive every time i visit which ensures i have the best judgement. If you look at the reviews, you are 'the' minority! Your little rant just proves that you are in fact the landlady. Such a shame...
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dcdevil you really need to get a life. Or maybe the amount of time you spend in pubs to find something to moan about means you're constantly sozzled. I happen to run a very successful business in the Odiham area and keep an eye on the reviews on all the pubs in the area. This is to make sure that I am recommending the best one to clients when they ask for somewhere good to go while they're waiting. I don't see that its any of your business when I choose to post or maybe you feel threatened by someone wanting to put forward a balanced view. I find it strange that you feel the need to rebut any opinion contrary to your own, maybe employed by a competitor...
In pubs as with the rest of life I find it much more constructive to deal with any issues I may have face to face rather than slagging it off online.
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How strange that 'hampshiregal' has only ever posted 2 reviews and both have been after i have left bad reviews for this location. How strange the last was done with speed just in time for the bank holiday. How strange also that your review is not backed up with any other review on your profile.
This is a nasty Chef and Brewer and it lets the Chef and Brewer name down. I have reviewed many places and this has to be one of the best looking but one of the worst for food and service.
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Yes it is still a Chef & Brewer and while they're not always my first choice i have to say the this one is generally much better than th others in the area. I've enjoyed visits there in the past and now the nice weather has started I've been back.
The menu has definitely changed as one of my favourite dishes wasn't on there any more, oh well. I had one of the chicken dishes off the blackboard and it was great, staff did everything I needed them to do, although they were a bit pushed as is was packed. Husband had a steak which he was perfectly happy with. All in all it was a nice evening but then we do go out to enjoy ourselves not to pick fault, also I can read the sign which says order at the bar and didnt expect table service. I always thought it was supposed to be a pub not some poncy fine dining restaurant
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This is still a Chef and Brewer with the same 'Great' menu.(Priestleysj open your eyes) It seems the staff have changed but the food quality hasn't. Twice my wifes steak was returned and twice a new one was over cooked. There was no red in the meat. "Tough as old boots" were her words. The service was terrible, there was no table service. I had to return to the bar to ask for mustard and mayonaise. I also had to remind them we had ordered garlic bread which failed to appear. The waiting staff are the worse i have come across in this country. You only get one mushroom with a mixed grill!! There was also a massive amount of fat on the gammon. Terrible terrible food...
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Has this place changed hands? I see it's no longer listed as a Chef & Brewer pub on their website. We've been going there every 3 months or so during the Chef & Brewer period and always loved the ambience but were disappointed by the food -- the menu looked great, but when it arrived it was such a let-down. This weekend, the menu had changed since our last visit and was less pretentious, and the food was really, really good. Hog's Back and Ruddles to wash it down with, pleasant service, thoroughly enjoyable. A complete transformation -- if you've tried it before and didn't like it, or if you avoid Chef & Brewer pubs (like you should) go back and see how much better the Waterwitch is now.
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Pleasant welcoming waterside pub. Went early on a Saturday lunchtime and everything was just perfect. Beers: T.E.A and Marstons Ugly Sisters.
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LOL at watsonm's post! In all pubs and bars that I've ever been in you're supposed to wait your turn in the queue. I don't really understand their indignation about it. How did they know that every person in the queue in front of them was intending to order food?
Personally I love a bar with table service, but in an establishment whose level of trade is SO dictated by the weather, having enough staff on to do this when the sun comes out could be a tricky proposition.
I have queued much much longer in many other places and I'm particularly happy with The Waterwitch at the moment because when I rang on Boxing Day to see what our chances of getting a table for a party of seven at 12 noon were - they were honest with me and told me they were booked up for the first sitting. Many places would have told me to come on down and wait I'm sure.
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BBMatt Are you kidding?
As far as I know The Waterwitch has been a Chef & Brewer for about 8 years - And before that it was a bit of a hole. I used to skulk here wearing too much black and scowling over my snakebite about fifteen years ago.
Now granted it has had patchy management over the years but I like the way it's run now. I find te staff lovely (apart from there is that *one* stunningly unfriendly girl.)
Short of removing lots of tables to build a bigger bar, or bulding a bar in the garden what else can they do?
Yes there are logistical problems, but it's friendly, the food is pretty good and it's one of the few places I feel I can consistently rely on.
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The truth is that it's not a pub anymore just a restaurant that has a bar. It's a very attractive building in a pretty location.
The last time we tried to get a pint at the bar on a Sunday lunchtime we were instructed to join the end of a very long queue of people ordering food .
We didn't of course but went to the Bell instead.
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bbmatt has been misled. The pub was a toilet before it was bought and turned into a chef and Brewer. No queues to eat in those days! Some of the food can be a little bland (Roast Pork sunday lunch) but generally its good quality and good portions.
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I think some people would find something to moan about wherever they went and should probably stay at home. Every time I've been here its been really busy so they must be doing something right. Ive been here a couple of times recently, once with family and once with some friends.
Yes it was busy on both visits and i did have to queue to order my meals. I have to say its not the first time or the first place I've ever had to queue to be served so maybe I've been unlucky! I'd say there were about 150-200 people eating there on the Sunday lunch I took my mum and gran. They do need a much bigger bar to serve that many people. My food took about three quarters of an hour but was fine when it arrived. It wasn't cheap but was good enough value for money, also portion sizes arent that big but quality of food was fine and it looked nice.
Staff seemed under pressure but were pleasant enough and nice to my gran whos in a wheelchair. Maybe I have an easier time than some when I go out because I speak nicely to people and find they return it. Treat staff like dirt and they wont like it. And no I'm not employed,related etc to anyone there, I just live locally and appreciate having a decent place to go.
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Sadly, the place has completely lost it's soul.
Before it was franchised to a 'Chef and Brewer', I was told it was the best pub in the area.
It is now "England Anywhere", saved only by it's location.
If you plan to visit, make sure the weather is good and take a seat in the large beer garden by the canal.
The food is what you would expect from a franchise establishment - lacking in imagination. About all I can say is that it's edible, overpriced and served without care.
The staff are simply business like, there's no personal touch at all.
A pity, because the location is perfect.
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We had a very disappointing Sunday lunchtime meal here recently. The menu sounded lovely but the food was very disappointing when it came - it was over-cooked, over-priced and really small portions. You even have to pay extra to have vegetables with your meal! We saw customers leave to go elsewhere when they saw the long queue for food orders. On the plus side, the garden is great for children to run around and play. We may go back to drink, but definitely not to eat.
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Having seen the anonymous (landlord/landlady/family)entry, i have to let you all know about my recent visit here.I took my wife here for a meal. The landlady is ignorant and looked for others to serve rather than stop talking and do the job herself. My beer batter was soaked in oil and flat. The 7 chips were ok and well drained. Our sleeves stuck to the tables. The food here used to be good value for money in comfortable surroundings. Now it's poor value for money in sticky surroundings. The desserts are bought in and taste processed.(Look at how much cream you get.) The service is erractic and often poor. This is a good example of a good pub being driven into the ground by lazy residents. Lets hope the brewery change before the 'chavs' move in.
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Fantastic pub. Restaurant style and quality meals at pub grub prices. Best value for money in the area. I love to come here with my family, it's a breath of fresh air in an area of overpriced meals and stuffy service. Staff very friendly and always helpful, even to my wife who's a bit fussy! Can't wait for the summer as they have a fabulous enormous garden which my kids love. If you don't enjoy a visit here you should probably stay at home.
anonymous - 16 Mar 2007 16:41 |
Badly cooked food, unfriendly staff and expensive and not good value for money. This used to be a great pub but it is now not my choice for my clients. Saber
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Went with a family group of 10 today and came away having had a really nice time. All the staff who served us were polite, friendly and courteous and helped make it a pleasant experience. Unfortunately each course took quite a while to reach us and some could have been hotter but we all agreed we would go back.
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Nice pub! Completely non-smoking and a couple of nice real ales.
Perhaps not the most exciting pub in the world, but we will go back there whenever we don't want to smell like ashtrays :-)
Really good.
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I would have to say i used to love this pub! I spent a lot of time down there, even though yes it was overpriced really, but i didnt mind that because the staff down there were always so friendly and it was generally just a very nice place to spend an afternoon and then into the evening.
BUT
The new mangement has ruined this pub, the prices have gone up even further! And i have never been so insulted in a pub, i will spare you the details but i dont go for an evening out and expect to be insulted!
I wont be returning there which is a real shame as it is my local but i will find somewhere else to take my business and i suggest you do the same!
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Great summer-time afternoon hangout. HUGE beer-garden, pretty surroundings and great food. The bar's really tiny though for such a big place???
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Weather was too wet and chilly for the beer garden, but had two fires warming the interior. Hogs Back TEA was well kept and the food was fairly good (although my steak was a wee bit small and a wee bit overcooked). Quiet at first, but filled up quite nicely over the course of the evening. Good mix of ages, as a pub should have.
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the food isnt bad and the atmosphere is nice, but the new management is shocking! south africans are certainly not welcome there.
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I had a lovely pint of Hogs Back TEA in the Waterwitch and was most impressed. The beer garden is huge and you can havesome nice towpath walks from the pub too.
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this pub has got new managment again they are very welcoming people the food is wonderfull drink offer is excellent the service is really good and the garden wow very nice setting pub is beutiful
jules - 5 May 2004 00:45 |
Beautiful pub with the biggest beer garden I have ever seen, backing onto the Basingstoke Canal. It does good food, and has open fires in the wintertime. Beer prices are commensurate with the local area. Lots of parking. Under new management.
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Best visited on a Summer's evening when you can sit outside next to the Basingstoke canal. Best visited right now in fact.
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