The Bell, Weyhill

WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! Having had 2 nice lunches with my husband at The Bell during Nov 09, we decided to book a family lunch there for his 40th birthday in Dec 09. However, 2 coach loads had been booked in for the same day, so we promptly ordered our food as soon as we got there (12 noon). 2 people had starters and they arrived, plus the children's meals, relatively quickly.

However, we then waited an hour for our main courses, as by then the coach parties had arrived and were given priority! We asked 3 times where our food was, and each time we were fobbed off with 'oh it won't be long'. When it did eventually arrive, mine and my father-in-law's battered fish was barely warm, let alone hot. It had obviously been left sat on the side for quite some time before being brought to us. We sent it back and were told the chef would do us a fresh one.

However, this arrived in just 5 minutes and there was no surprise really when we found the middle of the fish was STONE COLD AND UNCOOKED!!!! Again, we rejected the meals (I�m pregnant and he�s 76, so neither of us can afford to eat raw fish!!!). Everyone else had finished their meals by then, so out of pure exasperation we asked what the quickest and easiest thing was that they could do for us. We opted for a jacket potato with cheese.

However, 10 minutes later we were told that the chef was very sorry, but he'd RUN OUT OF CHEESE!!!! At this point, I burst into tears ... what should have been an enjoyable family lunch to celebrate my husband's 40th was completely ruined. Whilst the Manager/Landlady (Brenda) was fairly apologetic, she did keep saying 'we've never had a problem with the fish before', implying that maybe we�d imagined that it was cold and uncooked!!!

My sister-in-law overheard her talking with another member of staff when she visited the toilet, and they were heard saying 'oh well don't worry, they'll be gone soon and you won't have to worry about it any more'. Not exactly good customer service! I eventually had a ham sandwich which was on dry bread and the ham was fatty and had gristle in it. My father-in-law had a tuna jacket potato, but to be honest by then, we'd had enough so ate a few bites and got ready to depart.

My brother-in-law went to the pay the bill, and the member of staff, VERY RELUCTANTLY, took the 2 fish meals off the bill, and only took the drinks off the bill when pushed ... bearing in mind the appalling experience we'd just had, I think that was the least they could have done! We will NEVER RETURN, as it completely ruined our family celebration.

They appear to take a lot of coach bookings, however they SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY, STAFF OR SUITABLE PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO COPE WITH THAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON MASS, which unfortunately leads to other non-coach bookings being neglected and badly treated.

4 Jan 2010 12:05

The Spring Inn, Sulhamstead

Pub has just re-opened after a bit of a make-over, but not as 'cosy' as it was before. It looks rather clinical and bright - no candles or dim lighting. The dining area downstairs is now one big open room with no divisions, corners or closed in sections, so no atmosphere - it feels like you're sitting in a school dining hall!

The staff didn't really seem to know what they were doing - it took 3 bar staff to serve us our drinks - one doing the ordering/till, one doing the drinks and one telling them what to do! The menu is trying to be 'bistro/gastro' style, but fails to deliver as it's actually quite normal and boring, just more expensive than normal pub food. I had the worst 'posh' fish & chips ever, and at �11.50 it simply wasn't worth it. The menu said Beer Battered Cod with Chunky Chips and homemade Tartare Sauce & Pea puree. What I got was a solid lump of fish in batter that tasted like it was cooked in old cooking oil, about a dozen frozen 'fat' chips (not the homemade chunky ones I'd have expected), green goo for the pea puree and no tartare at all. When I asked the waitress for this, she looked confused. I eventually got a pot of shop bought tartare sauce!

The cooking/frying smells from the kitchen filled the entire pub, and when I got home all my clothes stank of it. To top it all, the ladies toilets were disgusting - they obvoiusly hadn't been cleaned at all that day as the floor was filthy, and one of the toilets was completely un-usable. There was no mirror on the wall, or any nice finishing touches such as flowers, tissues, pot-pourri etc.

Having said all that, it was busy, but no-one really looked they were enjoying themselves and there was no 'buzz' to the place. In fact, there wasn't even any background music to give it any atmosphere.

I suspect, as they've only been open a week, a lot of people are going there out of curiosity. It would be interesting to see how many go back a second time, as I for one, certainly won't be!

If you're looking for good pub food in that area, go to The Butt next to Aldermaston Canal (less than 5 minutes from the Spring Inn), where you'll get fantastic food, sensible prices and a nice friendly atmosphere!

30 Sep 2009 21:50

The Plough, Little London

One of the few traditional 'drinking' pubs still left - full of character, open log fires, oak beamed ceilings, real ales, bar billiards and darts. Friendly staff and superb hospitality.

27 Jan 2005 17:12