please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A few years ago this pub closed as The Squire Bassett and is now open as Gurkha Village. Delicious Nepalese food, very friendly staff, delightful atmosphere, good drinks and decent prices. Outstanding restaurant!
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Seems to have its ups and downs. Went in the other day, had a good Hobgoblin but they keep it a secret - no pump clips on the bar!
Atmosphere could be improved a bit but the weird manequins have gone...
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Friendly staff and friendly customer, Great beer too
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Mmmm....it certainly wins the prize for the pub with the most banner signs!!
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Yeah I certainly agree it's better than it was in the days of the Squire Bassett, and they are trying hard. To be fair I haven't tried the food. They could do with improving the front forecourt if they want to attract more people in.
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I have to disagree with the last post (By a SELF APPOINTED PUB TESTER!!!) as someone who has lived in the local area for many years the now Dogwood (formally The Squire Bassett) has never been better. The new owner (who has been here since last summer) has scrubed the place from top to bottom, it is always clean and tidy, the staff are friendly, food is excellent and at great prices, the pub garden has had a good tidy and now has a kids play area (which is great for the kids). As someone who visits The Dogwood on a regular basis i cant recomend it enough.
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Nothing special, modern interior and lacking a bit in atmosphere. Service ok and reasonable beer, just nothing to get excited about.
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I have been going to the dogwood on a sunday with various family members for the last few months pretty much every sunday. I am a also a regular visior at other times during the week. On the sunday roast I have found it to be consistently excellent. There is always topside available but my favourite is the shoulder of lamb, huge shoulder cooked to perfection. Now they have rebuilt the conservatory it is easily the best place for a sunday roast in the area. The service is great too, not too formal but efficient.
For �10.95 I had the shoulder of lamb with proper roast spuds, parsnips and swede, followed by a gorgeous sticky toffee pudding and custard and a filter coffee to end. I consider this to be great value considering I have paid similar in other pubs for boil in the bag rubbish!!
I have also eaten on a mid-week evening and apart from a free bottle of wine (always welcome!) the food is great, especially the steaks which are cooked perfectly, the sirloin I had the other day was just about the best steak I've had in years. There are great things happening at the dogwood and my only selfish hope is that word doesn't spread too quickly and I can't a get a table anymore!!
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Diane, yes, you may ask why! It's because I live in the London area, and go to the Dogwood sometimes when visiting friends who live nearby. I say it like I see it. The roast WAS bland, and on the pricey side. Maybe myself, my wife and friends had bad luck on the day, but our verdict was unanimous. Or maybe you have been lucky!!!
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Not sure what your problem is Frank. You've been there once in nearly a year!!! Might I ask why so long between visits? I and my husband are quire regular visitors and I have never been disappointed with the food. It's always fresh, well presented and well cooked. I remember what it was like before the new owner and my goodness this chap deserves some credit and encouragement!!! I would and do recommend the dogwood to friends and family - if we don;t support this then we risk losing it and having it return to the awful hole it used to be. Please god no! Come on you curmudgeons let's have some appreciation! By the way the sunday lunch I had was gorgeous because it was evidently cooked from fresh - not out of an awful bag as so many are these days. The roast spuds and veg were terrific!
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I have to disagree with Rasp68 about the food. Had Sunday lunch (�7.95) last weekend. Food was acceptable, if a little bland. Prices have gone up by over 50% across the menu since my last visit in March 2006, and the choice has slimmed down considerably - possibly a good move. Now repainted in more acceptable colour, and renamed 'The Dogwood'
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A complete transformation.Clive has completly transformed this one time unfriendly dirty and yob frequented hovel of a pub. You will now recieve a warm friendly welcome with no televison and a good selection of both beers and wines.Low lighting and candles make for a pleasant atmosphere.This added to the superb food made the evening a memeorable one.Not
something that could have been said about 'The Squire'
in the recent past.
The food is homemade,served piping hot and well presented without any sillyness on the plate.Good wholesome pub food!In particular i can heartily recommend the sunday roast.Excellent value for money.
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I got a very nice leaflet through my door about this place and the change of hands. Knowing how terrible it used to be I thought I'd give it a fair hearing.
I was so surprised - no terrible TV's, proper service at the bar, low lights and a lovely atmosphere. Clean and tidy. I decided to rry the food and had a fresh brie and ham omelette which was utterly delicious and my partner had a home made lasage - also excellent.
Didn't meet the new owner as apparently he was in the kitchen. All I can say is congratulations and keep up the good work - I will be back.
anonymous - 14 Nov 2006 23:35 |
I went in here for the first time in ages and it has changed hands. It's clean and the staff are friendly, nice atmosphere, no TVs and the beer was clean - they do Black Sheep and Ruddles as well as Hoegaarden and a good range of lagers.Didn't eat but the food coming out of the kitchen looked good.
Couldn't recommend it before but recommend strongly now.
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Modern pub with beer garden including children's play area. Cosy conservatory area for eating, and IPA + Bombadier real ales as well as usual fizz. Very reasonably priced, food in a varied menu. Staff are efficient, but not very friendly. Can't miss it as you drive past. Bright yellow exterior.
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