The Bird in Hand, Beck Row

Upon our arrival here 1.5 years ago we stopped in this pub because it was close to the base and we were hungry. We had never eaten in a pub before and didn't realize that we had to order our meal at the bar. It wasn't busy at all and the waitress keep walking back and forth and would not acknowlege us or another couple even after we spoke to her. She was not real friendly nor had the intelligence to realize that after 2 tables walked out that perhaps it would be business like to let us know that we must go up to the bar to order. I would think that the owners who probably would like to make a profit lost out on 2 tables. We had good intentions to eat there we just had never experienced this concept before. We said we would never be back. Well, my work had a 'going away' dinner here for one of our staff so we had to eat there. We called 4 days in advance and asked for a table for 8 to expand up to perhaps 12. When I arrived no tables were put together and there was a lot of food all over the floors that I had to dodge. After speaking with 3 different people at the bar and their checking my reservation I asked which tables I could start putting together because other customers were coming in and I soon saw that we would not be able to sit together. I moved the tables and chairs myself. The food was pretty bad. My husband ordered a breakfast dish which included eggs and blood sausage. Well, they forgot the eggs and the blood sausage was so greasy it was swimming and was only about the size of a half dollar coin, and everything else on his plate was cold. They were out of baked potatoes at 1800, the fried fish was like mush, and I noticed hardly anyone finished their meals. We fought off the flies for most of our meal and prayed we wouldn't get any gastro-intesinal discomfort after leaving. I wonder how they stay open when they serve such mediocre food that isn't even hot? YUCK!! Eat anywhere else but here.

25 Sep 2007 00:41

The Plough Inn, Icklingham

My husband and I have dined here at least 10 times in the last 1.5 years with at least a one day reservation. The food is delicious and the service is great. The wine is not. On our very first dining experience my husband who enjoys dry red wine and has been drinking it for years ordered a glass from a older woman at the bar who acted like an owner. The wine was carmelized and my husband let her know. I'm not a wine drinker myself but I usually taste a little of my husbands. It was horrible. She was very rude to us and argued in front of the other diners that they apply a special 'cap' to the bottle after it is opened that allows them to keep the bottle for 6 months. We told her the cap wasn't working and perhaps the wine was older than 6 months, my husband thought something like more than a year because they didn't even have a date on the bottle when they opened it. Her argumentive demeaner was really unbelievable and ruined our evening. We felt uncomfortable and embarrassed we even said anything but at least this web site entry may help others to avoid this woman and her wine. She didn't even take the glass of wine off our bill. What a shame, we would probably dine there more often but when my husband is in the mood for wine we just go somewhere else. We don't feel that there is an option to order a whole bottle because we now question that perhaps they don't handle or store those correctly either.

25 Sep 2007 00:20

The Golden Boar Inn, Freckenham

Older bartender was very friendly. Food just wasn't that good. Won't be back

24 Sep 2007 23:53