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Ham and Blackbird, Farnborough

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user reviews of the Ham and Blackbird, Farnborough

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

All closed and boarded up on this lovely busy roundabout. Looks a mess, what will they do with it though?
BestBeerBoffin - 12 Apr 2017 18:10
All closed and boarded up on this lovely busy roundabout. Looks a mess, what will they do with it though?
BestBeerBoffin - 12 Apr 2017 18:10
All closed and boarded up on this lovely busy roundabout. Looks a mess, what will they do with it though?
BestBeerBoffin - 12 Apr 2017 18:10
Went in here with family after bowling for my boys birthday specifically to have a bite to eat. First impressions weren't great as the place stank, it was filthy. We were left to our own devices before asking how we ordered the food. After ordering the food we sat by the 'service' area of the kitchen. Whilst the staff were sat down having a good chat we could clearly see some of our food sat on the side waiting to be collected. We ended up getting it ourselves - well some of it. 2 of us waited for a further 5-10 minutes for our meals and to top it off we found a live caterpillar in the salad.

All in all a dreadful experience.
Christiano7 - 6 Dec 2011 12:30
Not sure what this pub was trying to be. It had loads of football posters on the wall but few screens to show any sport on. A few pool tables and an Xbox with Kinnect attached. Was not turned on though. Only one ale was available (if you can call Boddingtons draft flow and ale) and the only atmosphere was from very young children crying a lot. The biggest disappointment for me was that none of the memorabilia on the wall was for the local football teams. I was in the area to watch Farnborough FC but the walls were filled with Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool etc. What has a pub in Farnborough got to do with those clubs. No wonder local football is struggling when the local community doesn�t support it. The best thing about the visit though was the burger. It was really nice, especially the burger relish that came with it. Won�t be rushing to come back though.
LennyBanter - 27 Nov 2011 11:47
Farnborough is full of the scummiest ,filthiest chavs on earth mainly from the totland estate and aldershit i avoid farnborough and aldershit like the plague i would never drink there.


chelseamrb - 28 May 2011 17:01
Quite simply one of the worst pubs i've ever been in.

�3 to get in on Friday, thats �3, for a pub, in a roundabout.

Feckless bar staff, took me 20 mins to get served, the barmaid clearly had no clue about who's turn it was

Aggressive clientele. Myself and my friends were barged and threatened, independently on separate trips to the bar

The decor and demeanour of the place is tacky. They've clearly spent a lot of money badly.

Do yourself a favour and go to the Prince of Wales or The Swan nearby
cheapsuit - 28 May 2011 10:03
Despite previous comments by others, this place must be doing something right as it was packed. Most people seemed to be ordering food, and along with some mates had to wait ages at the bar to be served. Unfortunately the draught Bass was flat so didn't have a second, even I could have got served.
spikefromsurrey - 18 Mar 2011 18:12
It's got worse. Less atmosphere than the moon, no ales, and morale amongst the staff seems to be rock bottom - which seems to speak volumes about the 'new management'.

If nothing drastic is done, i can see this place ultimately going to be another block of flats, as soon as Wetherspoons opens up around the corner.
Ozymandious - 27 Dec 2010 11:45
cant get any worse.
anonymous - 11 Sep 2010 12:48
Just been past this place and a big sign says "Public house - under new management", all beefeater signs have been removed, will have to pop in and see what it's like now.
Will report back soon.
salty64 - 11 Sep 2010 12:27
Eating venue mainly, but a couple of real ales on. Large sitting space inside and out. Average venue.
Passing_By - 25 Jun 2010 22:26
It serves average bar food and average beer, a very average pub which you wouldn't go out of your way to visit. Convenient for the train station. With Farnborough lacking eating places at least you can get food here.
neillysane - 3 Aug 2009 12:11
This is an awful pub. It took over 15 minutes to get served at lunchtime with only one till working, one credit card machine and three overworked staff trying to do food and drink orders, wait tables (one had to ask where table 9 was!), clear away empties and wash up. When asked for a "dry cider" the barstaff hadn't a clue what was meant. OK, it's a Beefeater which generally means low standards and poor service but the H&B is bad even by Beefeater's standards.
Dan137 - 27 Jun 2008 21:21
For such a large building it seems strangly cramped inside. Beer poor service worse. Even with the two nearest pubs (the Tumbledown & the Alex.)temporarily closed, it doesn't seem to have picked up much new trade. The punters voting with their feet?
Dan137 - 18 May 2008 01:13
Less atmosphere than the Moon and the food can be terrible. Give it a miss.
makemineapint - 19 Apr 2008 17:12
The food here is sub-standard. Not sure why they are allowed to have a Cask Marque - I don't think there was any real ale when I was there. Probably they get the rail crowd and office drinkers from across the road & from the town centre. Now that the Tumbledown Dick is closed (temporarily) there aren't many alternatives in the area. But there aren't many above average pub alternatives in Farnborough anyway...
gypsygrrl - 26 Mar 2008 16:14
No real ale, no ambience in the bar area. Closes at 11 o'clock on a Saturday. Nuff said!!!!
GazzaTheBeerMan - 21 Jan 2008 14:47
not a very nice pub to be in a bit too cold and quite not muc atmosphere
anonymous - 19 Jul 2007 22:08
Could be great place with the layout but the staff don't really seem to care that much. Do not try the food in the pub - it is invariably crap. Shame.
paullyp - 15 Jul 2007 18:53
Stopped in for a quick meal before getting a train. Unusual setting in a roundabout! It said Cask Marque on the door, great I thought, no, the IPA was off and no sign they were even considering changing the barrel. Food was poor, vegitables were cooked ages ago and warmed up, you can tell, part of food was missing, prices to high. .......
NeilA - 22 Jul 2006 23:31
went to this place a few nights ago in the hope of getting a drink and a meal as I tried to park the car some snotty nosed kid ran from the door and told me you cant park there that space is for the manager. as there were no more spaces left I left and for sure will never be going to this place or any of there chain again.
spam - 20 Feb 2006 17:15
Simply put. Gash. A terrible pub on a roundabout thats really not worth crossing the road for.
Beermeup - 20 Sep 2005 12:56
Popped in for a pint while waiting for a train. Atmosphere none-existent, but in fairness that's true of almost all pubs near rail stations. Standard theme-pub, faux-country style, the sort of place that Americans would call "quaint", blissfully ignorant of the fact its part of a huge company.
DoctorEvil - 13 Sep 2005 18:31
This boozer has always been very poor. My first time in there ended with a ban as a unused, but unwrapped condom somehow found its way into a mustard pot, well funny!
JockStrap - 2 Sep 2005 14:19
Easily one of the worst pubs I have ever been to. The policy of no hats is outragious, excuses such as it covers customers faces for the CCTV - the place doesnt even have any CCTV's! The quaility of food is poor and the prices are Scandalous. My advice to anyone considering visiting this place is.... dont bother. On a positive note the beers are ok but their range is limited, but even their beers are over priced.
anonymous - 2 Sep 2005 14:07
This place is terible. The Spam and Sparrow has a ludicrous no hats policy which has provided me with many years of entertainment, continually wearing hats to be told by a 19 year old 'manager' that I cant wear them inside, which is fine because inside its about as lively as a mausoleum at midnight. I had the misfortune of eating here once, I wont be doing it again, over priced, under staffed and up its own arse. I only ever go in here if I've missed a train even then I sit outside and enjoy the lovely view across the roundabout and the near empty office building across the road. Has anyone successfully parked their car first time in one of the minature parking spaces?
Cidermaster - 13 Jul 2005 12:58
I have to agree with the last comment. The food can either be good or not so good. The Ham & Bigbird is a nicely decorated and there is some good beers on tap though.
wezmiester - 14 Mar 2005 22:01
This pub is a Beefeater resturant, they often seem under staffed and the food is sometimes not cooked too well, either under or over cooked. The decor however is comfortable and relaxing, there is a non smoking section which i love.
Kazanne - 20 Feb 2005 23:22
Apparently the H&B has just got a new menu. It was very limited - pub standards and short-order stuff like burgers. Service was slow and fairly incompetent, and the prices charged didn't reflect the very basic approach to providing food: the burgers were served in bowls with a handful of chips and a teaspoon of coleslaw.

I ordered filter coffees and was given highly sweetened coffee with a floating layer of cream, in liqueur coffee glasses. I definitely would not eat there again.
Karen - 31 Oct 2004 13:30
Expensive pub, although they do great steaks - so the prices can almost be forgiven. Normally very quiet, but can get VERY busy from Thursday through the weekend.
gorf - 11 Oct 2004 17:47
Agree modern decoration, relaxed atmosphere & conveniently located. Good food and drink, ales certified by the cask ale governing body. A very enjoyable venue.
smd - 7 Sep 2004 01:31
No atmosphere food not that nice either.
chris - 9 Jun 2004 16:10
I agree with Paul. A decent restaurant, but not a pub. With several pubs in easy walking distance of far superior quality this offers no watering hole for anyone who has their beer hats on!
Pete - 21 Mar 2004 13:38
Typical Beefeater chain pub. Not much atmosphere.
Paul - 25 Feb 2004 18:31
Modern decoration in quite a cool building with several levels. Food is good though you may have to wait a while. Pleasant to sit outside in the summer though near a main road. Conveniently located for both Farnborough rail stations.

Fairly young customers, though often 21 and over only at weekends.
Jason Holdcroft - 15 Jan 2004 15:23

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