BITE user comments - roberttherambler
Comments by roberttherambler
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT I believe but first time for us
Certainly no sign of surly service and no other complaints either here.
We arrived to The Smugglers at 12.30 on a recent Wednesday lunch time, to greet us 5 walkers there were 4 friends so we were 9 in all.
I had phoned ahead and the landlady had laid us a large table for 9 in the restaurant with table linen and flowers on the table.
Before we went into the restaurant we supped some very well kept Shepherd Neame Real Ales, I had 2 pints of Spitfire (although they also had Bishops Finger and Masterbrew) sitting in a comfortable chair by the log fire in this lovely old pub in February 2011.
Beer was not cheap, Spitfire �3.35 a pint, Masterbrew �3.20 and Lager (Holsten) was �3.60 but all was in good condition and unless you are going to drink 10 pints or so, does it really matter if your pint is 10p or so more than some other places?
NOT TO ME!
There was no sign of the resident Ghost but the original wide curved Oak polished floor planking and Oak beams paid testament to the age of the pub, it OUGHT to have a Ghost!
Food was excellent
3 of us had Fish and Chips a �8.20 this was beer battered Cod and served with Petit pois, slice of lemon and tartare sauce and was very fresh and tasty
2 Had Steak and Kidney Pudding I think at �8.95,
1 had a special of Thai Fish Cakes which he reported as excellent,
1 had a Chicken Curry
2 had Ham Eggs and Chips
Puddings were also delicious and all priced at �4.60.
3 of us tucked into Apple and Blackberry Crumbles and others had Pavlova and Crem Brulee
Service was very good and we were asked if everything was ok twice before on leaving the landlady thanked us and when we all replied that we had enjoyed our meal she told me "It takes a long time to build a reputation but you can lose it in 1 bad meal or with poor sevice. Very True but nice they realise this.
Well we had superb food, good beer and excellent service and guess what? We will be going back soon!
For me 10 out of 10 we go to a different pub every Wednesday and have seen it all and WE were all very impressed with The Smugglers at Pevensey. Give it a try!
9 Feb 2011 20:42
Went here today weds lunchtime 21st July 2010 with 6 friends and the new landlord and staff have worked wonders.
I spoke to the landlord who took over in February and he told me he had brought all the staff with him when he took over the pub. Imogen the waitress was buzzing around and yes, WE were asked twice if we enjoyed the meal too and if they could get anything for us etc.
Excellent Green King IPA and ABBOT (�3.10 and 3.20 a pint)
5 of us had Liver and Bacon which was excellent with tender calf's liver and nice rich gravy another had sausages and mash and teh last grumpy old man enjoyed a cheese ploughman's.
It was a tad dear but in my opinion it was still good value for the food and the excellent service.
We will be going back for me it warrants a 9
21 Jul 2010 20:34
Can't understand all the negative comments here.
We always visit this pub at lunch times, maybe evenings are not so good?
Self and friends 6 in total visited Wednesday 30th June and had lovely meals and real ale in great condition. staff could not have been more friendly were very welcoming and readily joined in our friendly banter.
Try the cod with a rearebit topping @�8.95, juicy fresh cod it was too and it came with 4 veg and potatoes (or chips). The Banoffie pie and crumble with custard at �4.25 each went down well too!
Have been 5 times in last 2 years and never had a complaint.
We will be going back again soon.
A shame it is not closer to us is my only criticism.
Keep up the good work 2 Sawyers!
2 Jul 2010 19:51
3 of us walked here from Catsfield via the 1066 trail today, lunchtime weds 5th May 2010.
We met 2 other friends there.
Beer on hand pump was Harveys and it was in good condition, at the right temperature and reasonably priced these days at �2.80 a pint.
There was the usual stocks of Lagers, Keg beers, Wines and Spirits.
We all ate and all enjoyed our meals.
I and a friend had a gorgeous Lamb Casserole with new potatoes and fresh veg at �10.50.
Another friend had Ham Eggs and Chips at �7.95, another; Baked Salmon, new potatoes and fresh vegetables and the last a Mushroom and Bacon Tagliatelle.
There looked a good range of sweets but we were all more than satisfied with our main courses.
The pub was busy but service was still reasonable with always a friendly smile and a little enjoyable repartee from the landlady and her staff.
I Have HEARD of others getting a below average meal here BUT I speak as I find and vote with my feet. I enjoyed this lovely quaint old English pub in the middle of nowhere and I shall be returning. Thanks Ash Tree!
For me 9 10.
Might have been nice to have had a guest cask ale (realale) but I doubt there is sufficient turn over for it.
5 May 2010 18:32
Went here today, lunchtime Wednesday 21st April with 2 friends.
Harveys on Hand pump well kept, friendly landlord and staff, excellent good English food at very fair prices.
I had a lovely home made steak and kidney pie, new potatoes, cauli and broccoli.
Nice and hot and a good portion for �6.95.
A friend had Liver and Bacon at a similar price.
They do OAP portions at �4.50 and lovely traditional puddings like Apple Pie, Cherry Pie, and Spotted Dick from �3.50 all with Ice cream or Custard.
Also on the menu were other traditional favourites including fish and chips and a variety of steaks.
There was also a number of Italian dishes which looked very interesting but on this the first visit I could not eat any more!
Will be going back.
A good honest English pub that is trying hard and deserves success.
No I am not related to anyone who works here I just enjoyed this place.
Do give it a try!
For me 8 out of 10 Excellent!
21 Apr 2010 19:40
Seven of us (including 2 walkers with well cleaned boots although muddy waterproofs) arrived between 12 noon and 12.30 on a Wednesday lunch time and all was rather quiet, although we got a warm welcome from the friendly landlady.
The pub was clean tidy and largely as most pubs are these days laid out for dining.
The Beer on hand pump was Badgers best, Badgers Pickled Partridge and Tanglefoot which made a nice change from Harveys (not that there is anything wrong with Harveys)
I sampled Pickled Partridge and Badgers Best both were refreshing and well kept hoppy brews.
The choice of food was very good I settled for Duck Confit on a bed of mashed root veg and served with with some very tasty red cabbage, this was �8.50.
There were several other specials including Liver and Bacon Casserole at �7.95, Rack of Lamb, Bubble and Squeek, Local sausages and mash , Corned beef hash and a LOT more. There were also pub favourites such as Scampi and Burgers etc. There was Pie of the day and Curry of the day.
An over 60's special was Liver and bacon followed by a sweet all for �5.95!
There were some wonderful traditional sweets as well, such as Rice Pudding, Crumble, Sponge Pudding and Syrup and again a LOT more.
Compared to the poor food quality of The 8 Bells at Jevington not so far away THIS pub is SO MUCH BETTER if you want to eat!
Service was prompt despite the pub starting to fill up after 1pm.
Friendly happy staff doing a good job and serving excellent Beer and Food .. BUT DON'T tell too many people .....
Personally I don't MIND paying a few pence a pint more for beer when it is served by friendly people in nice surroundings, for those that do, well please vote with your feet!
For me The Red Lion at Willingdon deserves a good 8 10
9 Dec 2009 19:07
This pub has changed since my last review but not particularly for the worse.
Myself and a fellow rambler were made welcome in wet boots and rucksacks on a recent Wednesday lunch time.
REAL ALE on offer at the moment is Harveys and Doombar (a Cornish beer which may be a bit of an aquired sourish taste but is enjoyable) I think ours must have been the end of a barrel though as it tasted a bit flat.
Gone Now (new owner from 6 weeks ago we were told) is the huge choice on a specials blackboard at the back of the pub and also Gone Now is the very busy lunchtime trade (or so it seemed on our visit, there was no one at all in the restaurant area which is normally buzzing) The blackboard today had just 6 specials on it, although they all looked tempting.
We both settled for chicken breast covered in bacon and stuffed with Brie and Cranberries at �8.50. This came with new potatoes and LOTS of Vegetables, a very full plate!
The food was delicious and we will be going back.
Other specials were Curry, Salmon and a Pasta dishes... sorry, can't remember the rest.
The barmaid explained that the staff had not changed and that she had been there for 20 years, it was just the owners that had changed.
There was also a new menu that was handed to us which DID include regular meals like Liver and Bacon Casserole and Pie of The Day. I think this is a mistake as so MANY people are used to looking at the blackboard for all the meals and only seeing 6 rather posh items might think that there was nothing else.
Anyway we shall see.
The service was prompt, the food good and the beer ... well, hopefully it WAS just the end of the barrel and we should have complained shouldn't we?
Down one notch from my last visit.
Horse and Cart Peasmarsh for me now 7 out of 10
Still better than many other pubs in the area though...
10 Oct 2009 09:53
The Golden Galleon is a big sprawling rather open plan country pub and part of the Mitchel and Butler Vintage Inn chain and rather geared around food, but don't let that put you off. Apart from its lack of ambience it has everything you could wish for in comfort, beer and food for a flying visit.
ONE WORD OF WARNING AVOID SUNNY DAYTIMES DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
BUSY THEY CAN HANDLE, JAM PACKED AND THEY STRUGGLE
They are right on the South Downs way and are happy to welcome ramblers and cyclists.
Service although it was very busy on the Wednesday lunch time in late September when we visited was still excellent.
My friend and I both had Fish (Haddock) Chips and Peas. It was well cooked and plentiful at �7.95.
There were plenty of well priced choices and a big specials board, it was clean and staff were friendly and cheerful.
The Real Ale on offer was Harvey's and London Pride at �2.80 a pint and very good both were too!
Do forgive the ambience for the walks, the views, the beer, the food and the friendly service.
I did and I happily give the Golden Galleon a healthy 8 out of 10.
2 Oct 2009 10:58
The Inkerman Arms, Rye Harbour
We arrived at The Inkerman Arms at approximatley 12.15pm.
The landlord was friendly and pleased to see us, walking boots, ruck sacks and all and served us 2 nice pints of real ale from hand pumps.
I had Green King IPA and my friend had a pint of Harvey's. Both were well kept and very enjoyable.
The pub is popular despite being in an out of the way place and started to get quite busy so we ordered our meals.
I had Pan Fried Skate Wing, new potatoes and vegetables at �12 (Not bad for the size of the fish)
My Companion had a medium, battered, cod and chips priced at �8.95, again not bad for the size of the fish. Great that again he also was able to choose new potatoes and Veg rather than chips.
The vegetables were well cooked and they were also plentiful.
We were very pleased with quality of the food AND the dining experience and will go back again
This pub is (certainly at lunchtimes) more of an eatery than a drinking man's pub but it is clean, fresh and well furnished. I would not reccomend it to young people who wish to drink copious pints of lager and eat burgers and chips and I wonder if the 3 identical comments (could this have been used to reduce the pubs rating score unfairly?) by the previous reviewer indicate that he may be a disgruntled young person finding a local pub that was more atune to middle aged patrons?
If so shame on him.
If not then I respect his opinion and perhaps his experience was different to mine.
For Me this pub deserves 9 10 a good friendly local serving a good pint and excellent food.
Well Done Inkerman Arms
25 Sep 2009 20:25
The Rose Cottage Inn, Polegate
My self and 5 other ramblers met here on a recent Wednesday lunchtime at 12.30
As stated by others who have visited this pub, it is very special, a thriving, traditional English pub, it is well loved by all that come here.
As it was lunch time it was very busy but service was efficient and friendly.
Beer was Harveys and also Hophead which is a lovely light, refreshing summer ale, we always have this when we come here and it was as usual well kept.
The food is not the cheapest in the world but very good.
(If you want burger and chips I can reccomend Mc Donalds, please go there)
Lots of Fish dishes on the specials board, from Fisherman's Pie to Whole Plaice and sea Bass were on offer as well as all the regular pub favourites.
The the landlady assured us that the whole Plaice was particularly good so 4 of our party went for that, new potatoes, crrots, French beans, peas and broad beans this ran out at �10.95
The other 2 decided on Steak, Kidney and Ale pie, again with new potatoes and veg. at �8.95
The Plaice was large, fresh and cooked to perfecion and our pie eaters were also suitably impressed with their tender and tasty meals. Veg was plentiful, fresh and tasty.
We had no room left for puddings but they did look interesting.
If I could make an observation it would be that by 1.45pm 90% of the diners had gone and things were a bit quieter, next time we shall possibly try getting here a little later.
However I hope this pub does not ever change, it is special and well worth seeking out for good beer and very good food.
17 Sep 2009 10:09
Called in on a Wednesday Lunch time recently.
The Giants Rest is a real foodies pub,
I had South Downs Rabbit and Bacon pie with new potatoes, cabbage and rattatouille...... GORGEOUS and the rabbit of course tasted of Thyme this is because the rabbits hereabouts munch on it all day, and the flavour comes through. It was succulent and tender!
You can't get more local than a South Downs Rabbit at Wilmington, it was a very good and unusual dish at �9
The other 3 in our party had ham and bubble and squeek which they were not so happy with, complaining that the B and S was mushy and not fried well and was not much more than mash!
AH .. Glad I had That Rabbit then!
There were a variety of pub favourite dishes, I counted 6 different types of sausages available including wild boar to have with mash and some other interesting home made pies to choose from
There was a huge blackboard with plenty of choice.
Beer was good, we all (apart from one who had Harveys at �2.75 a pint excellent) drank a nice Summer Ale which at 5% was very tasty and also very potent!
A nice unspoilt country pub which although fairly busy still sported good friendly service and genuine home made food.
A refreshing change to plastic portion controlled pre cooked and frozen catering company food and tastless over cooked frozen chips. We will be going back (we muttered about it to the barman so hopefully the Bubble and Squeek will improve)
For me 8 10 Try it for a pleasent change!
14 Aug 2009 19:00
A friend and I walked to The Blacksmiths at Ninfield from Bexhill on a recent Wednesday lunch time, we met with 7 others there who had joined us on our advance reccomendation of good food from a previous visit. It still was excellent!
The welcome was good, the landlord and staff friendly as were the few locals there. I don't know why this pub is not a LOT busier everything is right, I guess it is that the Mitchel and Butler Carvery pub just down the road (�3.59 at the moment for a roast dinner) is taking all the business. This is a shame as The Blacksmiths is an excellent alternative for a few pounds more if you want to do MORE than fill an empty belly cheaply with basic food.
To continue, beer on hand pump was Harvey's best, Hawarth (I think) Summer ale (delicious and very refreshing) and Adnams best, all were well kept and various members of our party 6 men and 1 lady sampled all.
The pub was clean and well furnished and sported a good menu and a large specials board.
On offer were some very nice dishes, I had Pork Fillets in Apple and Calvados with mash and 4 roast vegetables served in a separate dish, very nice! Others of our party had Pan Fried Vennison, fish and chips, scampi and chips and ham egg and chips. I certainly was very pleased with my Pork and I heard no complaints from the other diners. Every thing was served piping hot and pretty quickly too!
We will be returning again, this pub does deserve more support, if you don't NEED to pay just �3.59 for a roast, TREAT yourself, drive a few hundred yards further and try the Blacksmiths, you will be pleased you did.
For me 8 10 for this friendly village pub!
5 Aug 2009 19:31
Walked to the Bulls Head from Pevensey on a recent Wednesday lunch time.
The Bulls Head has recently re opened and has another new owner from May 2009 the welcome was nice, a shame there were not more people on a pleasant summers lunch time between 12.30 and 2.15 I counted 6 other than ourselves.
Beer was good and well kept, all Harvey's .. Best, Harvey's Olympia (a nice light but potent 4.3%) Summer ale and Harveys Mild at 3%.
This pub has been very recently painted and smartened up quite a lot and was a bit more up market than before the new owners came.
There were just 2 specials on the chalk board but both looked tempting.
I chose half chicken in a tarragon and lime juice sauce with chips and salad.
Very tasty indeed and a large piece of chicken to boot, only criticism was that it looked a little pale (but perhaps that is a personal choice) Chips were standard deep fried frozen fayre.
For �7.50 it was nice though!
The other special was pan fried cod with pasta and cherry tomatoes, I THINK that was a little cheaper.
It is nice to see unusual things on a specials board.
The main menu included all the usual favourites, 1 of our party had ham and eggs and another an omlette. Two others had the pie of the day which today was chicken (�8.50), all were very happy with their meals although the pie crust also looked a bit pale (me again?)
This pub IS trying and I am sure word will get around and it will attract a loyal crowd soon. Perhaps it is already busy in the evenings?
For me The Bulls Head scores a 6 out of 10, I have had far worse and paid a lot more and we will be going back to try again when we do the same walk later this year.
30 Jul 2009 10:07
Myself and 2 friends walked to the Horse and Cart at Peasmarsh from Icklesham arriving on a recent Wednesday lunchtime at approx 12.50 and as usual were not dissapointed.
In boots and with rucksacks we were made welcopme and settled at a large table in the bar. The pub has a pool table and a juke box but neither were in use and I am sure they attract a younger crowd in the evenings.
There was background pop musak playing but when we asked the landlord if he could turn the volume down in our corner he happily obliged and in fact turned it off altogether! Brilliant!
The pub was very busy and the restaurant was quite full but still service was prompt, organised and friendly.
As an aside, try coming here on a Tuesday lunch time (if you are over 59) as a large sign promises 2 courses for �5.50 on Tuesday lunch times for anyone 59 plus!
Beer was Harveys Best on handpump plus usual array of lagers, wines etc. There were 3 other handpumps with beer name plates turned around and I am sure we have had other beers here in the past, I guess they were off that day.
Harveys was very nice though and well kept at �2.90 a pint.
There is a large blackboard at the back of the pub with a huge array of food on offer at reasonable prices.
I remember various fish, pies and bistro and vegetarian favourites and felt spoilt for choice.
After studying the board and surrepticiously glancing at the meals on the plate of nearby diners, I was torn between several offerings but with a friendly couples reccomendation,
I plumped for the lamb shank (at �8.75) with new potatoes and veg. it was very good with the meat falling off the bone as it should do.
My 2 friends both went for the lamb chops one at the same price as my shank and the other having a "pensioners portion" for a few pounds less.
Both reported tasty meals although one comment was that the meat was a little chewy and probably had been cooked too fast? This I was surprised at as mine was so good ..........but Lamb can be tricky can't it?
All the customers here as well as staff, seem very friendly, the place has a wonderful open atmosphere!
This is a nice, unspoilt, friendly local, we have been here many times when walking and it remains a firm favourite.
We will be back probably several times this year I am sure. 8 10 from me.
16 Jul 2009 20:57
The Plough and Harrow, Litlington
Three of us got to The Plough and Harrow at Littlington at about 12.45 pm after a 6 mile walk on a recent Wednesday lunchtime and it was very busy, seemed only 1 person serving for a while and we had to queue for 10 minutes with 6 others while the one person battled with a coffee machine on the bar.
When served the beer was ok if a tad warm (we are regular real ale drinkers and don't expect lager type chilling but this was a bit too warm.)
On hand pump and all at the same temperature, (we sampled 3 of the 4) were, Harveys, Sharp's Doombar, Hop Head, and another we did not try called "Summer ale"
Other than the temperature, they all seemed well kept.
Prices ranged from �3.10 for Doombar to Harveys at �2.80.
Food was not slow coming considering the bussiness of the pub but only one of us was satisfied with the quality, price and quantity of the food.
The GOOD result was the Ham Egg and chips (not cheap though at �8.50)
Ham was thick and home cooked and chips were readily exchanged on ordering for new potatoes, plenty of everything my companion said and in his opinion his meal rated 8 10
The Not So Good meals were the Lamb shanks in Minty gravy with Mash and Veg which 2 of us did not enjoy.
At �13.95 we excpected it to be filling and as the blackboard said the meat was "falling off the bone" we expected it to be tender.
It was NEITHER,
I think it was overcooked as it was hard, rather tough, fatty and mine was rather grisly.
I should have complained but we Brits never do, do we? We just don't go back .......
The mash was good but was rather drowned by the rather glutinous VERY minty gravy.
The veg for 2 people arrived in one small dish and my share seemed to be 2 slices of courgette, a small spoon of carrots and a spoon of swede cubes or maybe it was turnip (it had no real taste.)
There was a big sign at the bar saying that they did not charge for service and that tips were at the diners discretion.
I considered that at �13.95 for my not very nice lamb shank and veg, that they could take any tip due for the average service out of the over the top price charged for the food.
SO, for us just 6 out of 10.
Maybe they were having a bad day but this is the second below average meal out of 2 in the last 6 months, so maybe NOT! (LAST time, very small portion of Belly Pork, pitiful lack of crackling and nothing but tough meat)
Will not be returning again, certainly not till next year when we will perhaps try a different season of the year, maybe when the pub is less busy and they have more time to do the job properly.
I don't LIKE giving bad reviews, particularly when they are at odds with others who enjoyed their meal bu I MUST speak as I find or this website is pointless.
9 Jul 2009 14:51
Called in after a nice 6 mile walk with 3 friends at 12 noon on a sunny Wednesday Lunchtime very recently.
The interior was packed as was the garden, I think this is the place for the county set, maybe the place we are all supposed to rave over BUT the lovely old pub or the beer MAY be the reason!
On handpump were Harveys, Adnams Broadside (4.75% and a delicious malty beer) and Everards Tiger all at reasonable prices for their ilk.
All were sampled and all were well kept.
That was where the good stuff ended for me.
Have been here before and food was OK- ish BUT THIS TIME
Food was NOT good.
I really wanted a light summer salad but could not see one on the board or menu, perhaps I should have asked but it was SO busy...
One of our company spotted Mackerel fish cakes with salad as a special but we were told this was sold out .. at 12.30 lunchtime ! (BUT not surprisingly really as most of the other dishes were expensive and not summer food) , a 25 degree Centigrade HOT and sticky day and Shepherds Pie and Liver and Bacon etc .. were chalked on the board and were Just NOT SUITABLE for most people.
Come on guys watch the weather forecast!
Against my better judgement I had Cod and chips and one friend joined me. Our tiny minnows of fish in a beer batter were over battered, overcooked and dried up as were the mountains of dark brown tastless chips (the sort you get from a cheap frozen food supplier) and the cost of �9.50 was well over the top.
As an alternative, The Lamb at Hooe does a huge portion of fish in a light batter with perfectly cooked chips for �7.25 as does The Golden Galleon at Exeat.
Another friend had Liver and Bacon and mash with Veg, at �10.50 This was a bit steep for offal but certainly better cooked than our fish. The mashed potato was however not nice and seemed dry and lumpy.
The last of our party had Scampi and chips, plenty of it but again those horrrible over cooked dry old chips.
The only saving grace was the Real Ale.
This may have been a one off and the pub was VERY busy but I think next time we are in the area (and this is wonderful walking country, so it may not be too long) we will just stick to the beer and eat before or after our visit.
There are too many GOOD pubs that deserve patronage to be bothered with over priced, poor quality food.
3 Jul 2009 20:46
When I and a rambling friend arrived hot and sticky (but not in any way dishevelled or rough in appearance) after a good 5 mile walk in 28 degree heat to meet 3 others already there, there was no one behind the bar for 10 minutes or so and I was rather disconcerted when an older chap with a beard, (I think Father of the landlady) finally arrived to serve us.
Reason being was that he arrived at the same time as two locals appeared from the garden and proceeded to ignore me and serve them first without asking who WAS first, a small point but when you are rather needy of refreshment, one that is rather poingnant.
I was then asked "Yes? What do YOU want?"
This was NOT a very welcoming start!
I bit my tongue and ordered 2 pints of (Wadsworth) Henry's IPA at �2.70 a pint (not bad these days) Please!
Other beers on hand pump were Harvey's and Ringwood Brewery's 49'er ( I ssume after the alcohol content of 4.9%)
During our brief visit I sampled all and they seemed well kept.
The only reason I gave this pub 7 out of 10 was that the pub was clean and pleasant and the food although expensive was ample in quantity, restaurant quality and mostly excellent.
We WERE rather pushed to order by the chap with the beard, he told us that a party of 10 was due and that it would take a while to serve them (Goodness I thought, we had better order, if they are locals they will get served before US anyway if they get within a 100 yards of the place)
So to the food.............
Two of us had Wild Boar Sausages (3 off and lovely tasty spicy and a wonderful light texture they were too) mash, swede and lovey thick gravy for �10.50 a portion.
One of our company had Soft Cod's Roe's on toast (this was normally a starter but friend had a double portion for around �13.00)
he liked them well enough but they were not not MY cup of tea, I tried a piece, (they were small pieces in batter) and thought they were very soft and tender but also very rich and rather too much for me)
Another friend had Sea Bass Fillets for �13.95 with roast potatoes, and spinach which went down well enough and another had a Ham Ploughmans at �6.50, this was lovely home cooked Ham, Salad and Branston pickle but my friend said the bread was rather stale and thought that perhaps it had been reheated to try to disguise this.
Sevice was not snappy but then I think everything was cooked to order from fresh so fair enough.
All in all we were fairly satisfied, it is very difficult to earn a living from a small country pub in the middle of no-where without "going gastro"
The Plough is trying hard, I have had far worse fare (although not I would say at a HIGHER price)
I speak as I find, I hope fairly, warts and all.......
Would we go back?
Yes I think we would, next time we walk that way, maybe the chap who served us was having a bad day, we all have those, so 7 out of 10 from me.
Try it yourself it is worth seeking out!
Robert The Rambler
27 Jun 2009 17:09
Excellent, member of the very good Vintage Inn chain, I think owned by Mitchel and Butler.
Plenty of room, large car park and a pleasent garden too!
Can be a bit busy during peak times, particularly in the summer so best to go early or late however, friendly, efficient staff keep up with demand 90% of the time.
Cask conditioned ale (real ale) is Harvey's and usually a guest or 2 as well.
Caters for all ages, easy, flat access for disabled visitors.
I have been there many times in the last 3 years and food is always good with a large, varied menuand always several home made specials.
Try the fish and chips, �7.25 and it lives up to its name it is as billed "A Whale of a Fish"
14 Jun 2009 18:19
Self and 4 friends ate here lunch time today, Wednesday 10th June 2009.
DO NOT PASS THIS PUB BY because it is right on the road and looks nothing special!
The Beer was well kept, Shepherd Neame Master Brew and Spitfire on hand pump plus usual range of other beers, lagers, wines and spirits etc.
BUT THE MAIN REASON IS THE Wonderful Food.
I Have only been here once (so far) but I was VERY impressed by both the Home made Favourites which included the likes of Liver and Bacon and Steak and Ale Pie amongst many traditional dishes and there were several Veggie options.
The specials board today included Roast Guinea Fowl (�6.25) and Trout (�6.50) In a Poncey Pub or restaurant certainly the Guinea Fowl would cost double, it was not dry as is often the case, the meat fell of the bone and was cooked in a delicious sauce.
All meals we enjoyed included New Potatoes, Brocolli, Cauliflower, New baby carrots and Green Beans.
The plates were red hot as was the food which was well cooked and delicious. The service was friendly and efficient.
The restaurant area seats 40 or so in comfort but was not busy today, maybe it was because it was rather a wet and miserable day.
This pub deserves your support!
We will be going back!
10 Jun 2009 17:17
Back to roberttherambler's profile
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Willingdon
Went here with 8 friends recently one Wednesday lunch time.
Pub smells a bit damp as you go in but you soon forget that, 4 good cask ales on today including Harveys, Timothy Taylor "Landlord" AND Betty Stoggs. Our party sampled them all and all were in good condition at reasonable prices (�3.20 or less)
The pub is friendly and was quite busy.
The menu is rather limited but what they do they do well, 4 of us had a very nice and very tasty Liver and Bacon with mash and fresh veg, (not cheap at �9.95 each but VERY good) 3 others had ham eggs and chips which was not on the blackboard (only menu) but was on the web site, they only had 6 eggs so we were limited to 3 portions at �8.95, very good though with thick home cooked ham. The last 2 in our party had burger and chips, again home made with hand cut chips, very nice .. sorry, can't remember the price. Puddings at �4.75 were tasty and looked good although we thought the very shallow plates that looked like dishes were a bit of a swiz!
All in all this is more a drinkers pub I think but none the worse for that. as I said, what they do they do very well.
We will be going back.
For me 7 10 and probably best in this area, certainly for beer!
10 Mar 2011 19:30