please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Mystifyingly busy of a weekday lunchtime given how isolated it is, this pub is a good stop off point if travelling north on a long journey. A pork, apple and cider pie's filling was superb although given it featured one of those puffy lids, a pie is really wasn't while a pint of Firkin' Freezing recalls a now defunct pub chain.
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Visited the pub last weekend. Bath Ales Summer Hare �3.10 was very good as was the food. Faggots mash and mushy peas at �4.25 was excellent as were the steak sandwich and smoked salmon sandwich. Chips were very good too. Well worth the visit.
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A recent visit found Adnams and Pedigree available as standard ales and Monkey Stout as a guest. Had a Pedigree and it wasn't good enough to warrant a second. Food however was very good and wine is obviously an option. This is a great pub for a meal but on my experience really doesn't warrant its' GBG entry so if you're looking for a session it's propably worth trying elsewhere.
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Cidersipper dont you know that pubs usually open at midday on a Sunday ? You sound like a delicate flower,did you actually sample the ale or the food?That would have been a more useful bit of info.
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Called here on Sunday 26th at 11.30. Front door open but barred by a chair. I stood in the doorway and asked politely when the pub opened. I was given a rather terse reply and as I walked away the door was slammed hard shut. It felt like a slap in the face and although the pub looks gorgeous and came with a recommendation it's made me feel so unwelcome I won't go back. Just goes to show how a thoughtless word or deed can have such a strong impact -- quite shocking behaviour from pub staff -- it's the worst 'first impression' I've ever had from a pub. A big shame and it could have been so different.
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I came here on the recommendation of a friend in Stafford, and I'm glad I did. The pub and gardens are very well presented, and the staff are friendly and helpful, especially the waitresses. I had a pint of Alton's Nemesis - it was a good fair pint but far too creamy for my taste. Good food but the portions were enormous - I thought I'd been brought a meal for two at first.
Well worth taking he trouble to find and I'd happily bring people here to eat or drink.
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Absolutely fantastic guest beers now available .Staffie from Blythe Brewery was in peak condition and was a pure joy to sup ,followed by Mini Cooper whose brewer I cant remember due to the amount of Staffie that I consumed.The pub is well known for it's food and there is a very reasonably priced lunch menu with quality grub.Thankfully there is a drinking area and the locals use this place as a pub,this certainly isnt a restaurant that also sells beer.Tip top !
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To be fair the landlord (Geoff IIRC) is very good at keeping track of the order in which people arrive and finding them a table appropriately - so although he doesn't take bookings, I've ararely had to wait longer than about 20 minutes even at really busy times. I do agree with kenmeller's remarks that the beer selection could be a little more interesting (and better served) here.
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It's a pity that this place doesn't take bookings - I travel 27 miles to get there (in my opinion it's that good) so it would be nice to know there was a table waiting with my name on it to sit at once I'd managed to find a parking space.
I've never had a bad pint of beer, so it must be being kept well, although the choice is limited (only one guest beer). The business this place place does means that it could easily offer more and still keep it fresh.
The garden and frontage are a sight to behold (especially in summer with all the plants) and the inside is warm and cosy.
The menu is extensive, from the usual to the downright exotic, and uses many locally sourced ingredients and many of the choices are very unusual. The greek lamb will beat most with a normal appetite. There is also a good range of vegetarian dishes.
If any publicans are bemoaning the reduction in trade after the smoking ban or due to the credit crunch, they need to come here and see how it should be done - maybe the result would be a reduction in my petrol bill.
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Agree with Graham H. Tables crammed in so tightly it's difficult to move. Beer is ok, but I doubt anyone goes there just to drink. Packed solid with eaters on a Thursday evening and no chance of a table within a reasonable time.
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It's an eating place that sells beer. Range of beer is not adventurous either. My pork chops were very average and a cheap cut, but other meals that I saw looked better (albeit its all meats and chips and very thin on veg/salad). Not my sort of place but very pretty.
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Grecian's comments accurate. The Holly Bush is in all the food guides. There is no booking, but you can get a table within 10 minutes or so.
Food is good and the ale is usually good: guests tend to be from the Marston's subsidiaries.
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It bills itself as one of England's oldest pubs, and certainly has some of the best food. Huge and wonderfully tasty portions of good, honest pub grub - a real "gastropub" with no pretentiousness. Ales are generally reasonably well-kept, although the vast majority of this small pub is dominated by eating, and it's the food people visit it for.
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