The Blacksmiths Arms, Adversane

We visited this pub with our 2 young children in Jan 2009 and met up with a couple also with two children.We meet here annually. We had booked in advance and explained on the phone who was in our party and they did not tell us they do not cater for children so we were really surprised and disappointed to find out that they didn't do a childrens menu or half portions!!! They want a 4 year old boy to have and pay for an adult meal!!!They dont let you have an extra plate either for you to give your child any of your meal (not even for the baby!!).They only offer a carvery and couple of fish dishes since been taken over by new management prior to Christmas.We are a vegetarian family (my husband and children do eat fish)The veggie option contained gluten which I cant eat as i am a coeliac ( everything has to be gluten free) so I asked for chips, which i'd seen on the menu, and veggies from the carvery instead. I was told I couldn't have the chips unless I ordered a steak despite the fact that many plates of chips kept walking past us to other luckier diners. Apparently as the chief is a "celebrity"?? he wont do such a thing.Surely a celebrity chef has more to his reportoire than meat and two veg!!The children were also not allowed any chips!!!!!The chef seemed really arrogant.He only wants older people with no children who just want meat. They made us feel very unwelcome and didn't even try to offer any flexibility with the menu or alternative option. I would never visit this pub again despite the lovely village location. All in all an unpleasant experience......

11 Jan 2009 20:53