The Sandrock Hotel, Shirley

I found The Sandrock on this website after I Googled it on Saturday afternoon. I wanted the phone number as my wife and I were going there for a bite to eat and thinking it may be very busy, that I might need to make a reservation.

Once I had read all the awful reviews, I was tempted to not go. But when I told my wife, she quite correctly said that we had been many times and never had a problem. We have taken our 2 year old son, who is quite lively and the staff have been excellent with him.

So we went and had a super meal (moules marini�res, sea bass, homemade burger and a lovely lemon cheesecake for dessert). The service was good, polite, efficient and friendly. The whole meal came to �44 with drinks and as usual I left 10% service. The Sandrock's food is well above average pub fare; well cooked and presented, offering a good choice of fresh food and all at reasonable prices.

I could not fathom why so many people would take exception to this pub, we have been at least 10 times over the past 2 years and never had an issue. We are both discerning diners with high standards when it comes to cleanliness, service and quality.

I have drawn the conclusion that when the new/recent landlords took over this pub and gave it a long-overdue refurb and spruce, in doing so they upset a large group of "regulars". I know what the Sandrock was like years ago and it was a smoke filled regular�s pub. This sort of patronage is no good for new business. They make an establishment seem cliquey and unwelcoming. I am surmising here but I suspect that anyone taking over the pub would have put the prices up to drive out the "all night nursing a pint" crowd and bring in some new fresh custom, who would spend good money on quality food and wine in comfortable and relaxed surroundings.

You could argue that The Sandrock is just a pub but there's no denying that it's a good gastro pub, which I can say would be a real shame if you did not try it for yourself.

5 Jul 2010 12:29