Lowndes Arms, Whaddonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A decent option amid rolling countryside on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, we enjoyed a vegetarian lasagne and a roast beef sandwich although travelling by car denied us the chance to sample several real ales on tap including 6X and Deuchars. A curious whiff from the beer garden proved to be down to a flock of slightly bedraggled sheep grazing nearby and the path crosses a field where one is told be be aware of the bull. The pub perhaps doesn't makes quite as much as it could of its decent location but is a suitable pit stop nevertheless.
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Recently under new ownership, this is a friendly village local that also appears to do accommodation in several rooms in a separate block at the rear. The pub is Tudor style with white washed stone work and black wooden beams, and there is a smallish beer garden at the rear with views across the fields.
Inside it�s split in to two with a dining area at the rear and a cosier lounge at the front. It�s carpeted throughout and the lounge has an massive stone built fireplace at one end with a wood burning stove that was kept topped up by the friendly barman. Decor wise it�s fairly traditional with whitewashed plaster walls, a few black beams on the ceiling, a wood panelled bar and some pictures of the local area dotted around. Seating was a mixture of tables and chairs, stools at the bar and red velvet bench style seating, although arranged in a circular fashion rather than the usual straight lengths.
The food offering was very much your traditional pub grub with dishes such as lasagne, fish & chips, ham egg & chips, etc., although there was also a selection of steaks. Most of the mains were around the �7 - �8 mark, and my Scampi & Chips was pleasant enough, if somewhat unexciting. But then, there�s a limit as to how exciting Scampi & Chips can be.
Beers on tap were Marco Pierre White�s The Guvnor, London Pride and Tribute. The solitary cider was Aspall�s Suffolk.
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Dear Pitmaster, sorry to hear that you were cold in August! The new Central Heating System was completed during September and is now fully operational.
The Beer prices have not been put up and we are always happy to comply with requests for new drinks from our customers; Aspalls on Draught (not just bottled) is one example. Our pipes are cleaned before every new barrel is put on and we are assured by our customers that the quality of our beer is excellent.
Children are not allowed in the Pub after 9 p.m. unless they are dining, with
the exception of the owners' daughter, which is permitted by law.
The Pub has been completely decorated, there is new Carpet and Curtains, new furniture is being delivered next week, the garden is being re-planted in the next couple of weeks and the Motel will be refurbished next spring.
We have refurbished the Kitchen and we have a new Chef, new Menu, new Staff and lots of smiles and enthusiasm.
We are always happy to speak to customers to discuss how we can make any improvements or changes to make everyone's visit as pleasurable as possible.
kind regards
Jeff and Suzy (new owners)
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Not a comfortable pub, the landlord objects to putting the heating on in the evening so you sit with your coat on. Now a Free house but still putting up the price of beer. Choice of real ale never changes and quality is poor. Too many young children in after nine at night. Suggest Shoulder of Mutton a better stop
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Visited this pub last night for the first time for about 5 years.
First Impressions; Staff were scruffy and lacklustre. Whole place stank of cigarette smoke. Pool table (ex dining room) has been re-done and now does not seem in keeping with the rest of the pub, very bright, making the rest of the bar seem even more dingy and grubby.
Beer was mediocre at best, IPA just didn�t quite taste right and larger wasn�t cold. Didn�t bother staying for a second pint. On the plus side, prices were ok for a village pub.
My suggestion- close for a week, totally redecorate and try again. Shame, as I can see this becoming another village pub closing before very soon.
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Richard and Emma have just recently taken over this lovely country pub, 2 weeks ago. They have got their work cut out, as the previous ( well lets just say) Baby sitters, have sent it to rack and ruin. Thier plans are to bring it back to a good old country pub, with home cooked food & accomodation to suit. They have asked us, with all honesty, to bare with them while the changes are made. They have 3 real ales on draught, 1 of which will change weekly, and a lager selection to suit all tastes. They will let everyone know, via this site, when all is up and running properly. In the mean time why not pop in for a drink to meet Them!
The rating is for the staff the now, quality of beer and friendlyness of the natives.
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Please beware. Most of the reviews of the Lowndes Arms you will find on the web are massively over rated! I can only assume they are written by mates of the landlord. The pub is in desperate need of decoration and the food is at best mediocre and very expensive for what you get. The staff are friendly enough but then again they are in most pubs. As for a B&B its probably one of the most expensive in MK are absolutely hideous. Rooms that smell of smoke and showers that hardly work. Maybe this place was good once but since changing hands its now a money oriented place and nothing more.
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Went to the pub for the first time on the 8th of July 2007. My husband and I found the girls behind the bar friendly and welcoming. We opted for the traditional roast beef sunday dinner, but we wished we hadn't, as we could of cooked a better roast at home! Wouldn't eat there again. The decor needs modernising and updating, it could be a wonderful gastro pub, if the food was better.
anonymous - 9 Jul 2007 14:43 |
Visited this pub on 16 Feb 2007. Main bar area was very cosy with a lovely blazing log fire. The beer was fine but the food was very disappointing.
The pastry on my steak & ale pie was rock hard on the bottom and the chips were swimming in gravy. My wife's cod & chips were said to be very tasty but in my view were extremely over-priced at �8.95 considering the small size of the fish.
We are unlikely to want to return.
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Went for lunch, first time since new management takeover. Good atmosphere - log fire - friendly service, food reasonable quality and price. Would definitely go there again.
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This pub used to have a really good atmosphere. Unfortunately, it suffered from a manager that managed to remove that and it has become a sterile estate pub. Which is strange as it is smack bang in the middle of a village. Beer Ok, Food OK, Atmosphere, hmmm.
anonymous - 28 Oct 2005 15:57 |
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