Chef & Brewer Reviews
Latest Reviews
★★☆☆☆
“Didsbury Manchester”
Written on: 20/03/2013
Didsbury is halfway between friends so we meet there every few months regularly.Today we arrived at 12.00 for lunch.Meal ordered,there was no coffee available to start,waitress must have missed out on customer service training.Ordered 3x fish and chips---came with thick batter,chips cooked twice but cold along with cold mushy peas.Upholstered dining chairs were horribly stained and the toilets appeared clean but had a really terrible offensive smell.Not a lunch experience to be repeated.Jean... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Dont go to the Chef and Brewer - Fox and Hounds Bursledon.”
Written on: 05/11/2012
I took a family party to this place over a year ago and my steak and chips came with just 13 small chips. When I complained to the waitress I was told it was their normal portion, the manageress also said the same thing. I recently returned to this establishment and ordered the Bass fillet risotto. The amount of rice risotto I was served would not have filled a soup spoon four times, the fillet was so small I doubt if the fish it came from would have passed the landing size limit for UK... (read more)
★★★★★
“Outstanding ”
Written on: 23/10/2012 by Zulo42
Bet food ever even the chef served it very happy Keep it up chef (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Poor service”
Written on: 28/09/2012
I am currently attending the green man at offley , the evening went like this: 15 minutes waiting at the bar, even though no one else was waiting in the public side obviously a shortage of staff ! Well then we waited for our table( pre booked) 10 minutes until someone spotted us(8 bodies in limbo!) service for taking our orders was fine however !! One hour later the food started to arrive! However my family had finished theirs before I got mine! Two members birthdays ! Spoilt ! Get this as... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Green Man Offley (bad service and food)”
Written on: 19/08/2012
I visited the above public house for lunch on Saturday 18th.August with my wife granddaughter and her boyfriend. There was one staff member on that I could see, shown to a table asked if we wanted drinks, I asked what bitter beer was available they were waiting for a delivery, ordered drinks asked for ice, told that the ice making machine had broken down over a week ago. Drinks arrived approx 10 mins. We ordered our meals, I ordered calves liver and asked for it to be medium to rare, when... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Chequers at Eversley Hampshire”
Written on: 04/08/2012
Didn't like the lack of welcome, bad table situation, inexperienced staff, non-caring management, badly served and badly cooked food etc. etc. etc. (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Lamb served raw.”
Written on: 08/07/2012 by davsgril (1 review written)
The Shire Horse is either great or dire. Last evening I ordered the Saltmarsh lamb, they mistook the order for I like it pink for rare and servers it raw. It looked foul and when I complained took it away and re-cooked the meat, sticking it back on the now cold meal. It was inedible. This course cost over £16 ..... They dealt with it my not charging for my £4 dessert. As I was with friends I did not wish to make a fuss, but was very unhappy. I have had some really good meals here and... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Short Staff”
Written on: 06/07/2012
I live in Luton and have been to the Green Mann at Offley and The Bell in Harpenden. Food is very good but terrible service. Due to never having enough staff. I wonder if Chef and Brewer have any thought of there customers by giving such terrible service. Surely having more capable staff people would recommend friends to go to there restaurants. (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“stay away from fairmile chef and brewer in esher”
Written on: 24/06/2012
very bad experience today. probably the worst sunday lunch we have ever experienced. Food was definitely microwaved and vegetables hard. Service terrible. Complained to manager who was not interested but he has probably heard it all before. Actually felt sorry for the young staff serving as they were working in an environment which has actually lost the plot !!! We should have realised as not many people having meals at peak time Sunday lunch time - many tables empty. Will never visit... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“DIABOLICAL”
Written on: 19/06/2012 by ladieswholunch (1 review written)
THE BULL, HOCKLEY ESSEX. - Arrived for lunch, was told to find a table waitress would take our drinks order, after 15 mins was still waiting! decided to go to bar & was told waitress would be over. After another 5 mins our order was taken (20 MINS IN TOTAL JUST WAITING FOR A DRINK!) Another 15 mins wait for starter, prawns were overcooked shriveled and hard. (35 MINS FROM ARRIVAL TO STARTER). Waited another 20 mins for mains, decided to approach bar again thought they had forgotten about... (read more)
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Showing 1 - 10 of 173 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Pub restaurant that delivers terribly!”
Written on: 17/06/2012
My 2 friends & I went for lunch at Battle Axes in Elstree Hertfordshire today. Having gone there on my recommendation, I was gutted and embarrassed with the experience! Being father's day I can understand that anywhere can be rushed of their feet. But we got there at 3pm well after the busy period. A number of the staff were just walking around suggesting a quiet time. When we went to the bar to order at the buy we were served by a new starter who had worked in a pub before. He was... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“food awful”
Written on: 10/06/2012
The food we had had was awful cold and wouldn't feed a child my a chef and it was so poor (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Crown St Neots”
Written on: 19/05/2012
A pub that could be good. Friendly staff but absolutely aweful food, poorly cooked, poorly presented and terrible value for money. This establishment seems OK for bar snacks but the steak meals were very poor and vegetarian dishes were even worse. We would like to frequent the pub more often for a meal but not with the current poor quality and poor value for money. What a shame! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Dreadfull Food and Service”
Written on: 08/05/2012
We have used the Fox at Boars Hill, Oxford for over 30 years and have just returned from the poorest food and service during that time. to many issues to write about. (read more)
★★★☆☆
“Fish Pie Swan Ash Vale”
Written on: 07/05/2012
Having thoroughly enjoyed ,many times your Fish Pie, I ordered some at the Swan Ash Vale on the 3rd May in the evening. I was very disappointed to find the dish, as well as the ‘Haddock, Salmon and Prawns in white sauce’ was also full of a large amount of PEAS which where hard!!!! Unfortunately I am not too keen on peas, and it was impossible to’ lift a fork full’ minus peas!!! I complained to the staff , who , to be fair apologised, I was then told that the recipe had been... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The worst meal ever!!!!”
Written on: 29/04/2012
After its recent refurb and change of franchise we decided to go for a meal to what used to be our "local"the refurb has been done to a high standard and The Fairmile at Cobham Surrey looked warm and inviting we were told possible half hour wait but not prepared for two hour wait and food was abysmal the poorest meal i have ever experienced the price of the meals were not comparitive to the quality and roccket salad is not watercress, beetroot chutney is not sweet /sour sauce!!!and not one... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Ferry Boat,Wilford,Notts.”
Written on: 06/04/2012
Very slow service,small portions for the price.Bad choice for vegetarians,more like a snack than a meal. Cannot recommend it and would never go there again. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Real Disappointment-Lunch time -Kilton Inn Lymm. Knutsford”
Written on: 30/03/2012
We arrived and ordered the meals at approx. 12.35 (Lunch time)party of 10. Waited 3/4 of an hour for food to arrive. One starter was hardly worth plating up.Our main courses took another 20 minutes and coffee's arrived at approx. 20/25 mins.after ordering. The problem was no Staff, only one male (maybe the manager) and one female,these two doing everything. We feel that more staff need employing as after today customers I feel will not return. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Avoid the Grange at Boreham ”
Written on: 18/03/2012
Booked for 2pm mothers day.. after waiting an hour and half the children started to become very bored with waiting and Mcdonalds was becoming tempting. The waitress insited it would be just a further 10 minutes wait which actually became 20. Really was not worth the wait, really sub standard, no chicken on the chicken leg..carrot tops and other unidentyfiable objcets in the food..nut roast pastry burnt..the list goes on. Clearly poor or non existance of management. The staff seem demoralised... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The Grange Boreham - Don't bother”
Written on: 18/03/2012 by cojo150 (1 review written)
Had to wait hour and forty minutes to get main course having booked for noon to avoid the rush on Mothers Day Food was pretty insipid, luke warm and the roast potatoes were dire. The worst thing was that there appeared to be nobody in charge and nobody really went out of there way to apologise or even give a hoot that we'd waited so long. Avoid this place. (read more)
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Showing 11 - 20 of 173 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“crooked billet Iver Heath”
Written on: 11/03/2012 by gunner14 (1 review written)
Don't go-Sunday roasts not available at 6pm on Sunday despite being advertised as all day-Don't expect to be offered a drink because we weren't,Service appalling, prepare to be ignored and wear a good set of teeth because you will need them for the steaks. Don't expect the menu to be accurate as its not! No mushy peas with the fish/no Zinfandel/no roasts on Sunday despite being advertised as all day/and you probably wont be able to read it as the light weren't working on some of the... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“ATROCIOUS SERVICE AND APALLING STANDARDS”
Written on: 16/01/2012
Our party arrived at 5.15pm, after 10 minutes I went to the bar to order. I asked what bottled sugar free soft drinks were available (one of our party is diabetic) the answer - NON!!!, the barmaid then searched the cellar and found a mixer style and sized diet lemonade. After getting all the drinks I ordered the food. The food order consisted of 1 cod and chips, 1 Chicago chicken and 2 kids sausage with mash and beans - NOTHING ELABORATE THERE. The barmaid stated that it was table service... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Very disappointing”
Written on: 07/12/2011 by Scleverley (1 review written)
Our first, and possibly last visit to a Chef and Brewer. Food was Luke warm at best and staff unhelpful in resolving the issue. Staff attempted to charge £65 for a one course meal for two, without thinking hat there could be a mistake somewhere. Our recommendation - find somewhere else! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Misrepresentation”
Written on: 21/11/2011 by erix (1 review written)
I sent the e-mail below on November 10th, and have not even had the courtesy of an acnowlegement - let alone a reply. Be warned 'I am extremely disappointed to find that – despite your Christmas Lunch menu stating that lunches were available from November 21st they are – in fact - not available until December 1st. We have a small lunch party which meet every month at the Wick (Bristol) Chef & Brewer, and were delighted to find that, according to your menu attached, we could have our... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“Disappointing chef and brewer ”
Written on: 31/10/2011
Our first visit since refurb and change from Beefeater to Chef and Brewer. The menu was not bad. The service was very slow apparently there was only 1 chef on duty. The waitress was very efficient but no interaction. The starters were fine apart from the garnish of a spring onion and wilted salad leaves. The mains were ok - had better and nothing to write home about. My daughters had fish and chips and it was overcooked and tasteless. It was not worth complaining - it took so long for... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Disappointed @shirehorse”
Written on: 09/10/2011 by Sydplatt (1 review written)
went to the shire horse pub at maidenhead for lunch today ( father in laws 81 st birthday) not very busy 12:45 pm no staff behind bar! Eventually duty manager turned up and served ( dark haired lady) Mixed seafood starter, very poor, never seen so much frozen pre- breaded lumps of indeterminate fish, I should have eaten it all because what followed was virtually inedible. Two roast dinners turned up cold, the chefs special ( hold your head in shame) duck salad,how could quality ingredients... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“The first and last time we go here.”
Written on: 07/10/2011
Nice looking country pub, but that's all. The dining area was not full, but the service was very slow(could it be deliberate, because they want you to buy more drinks during your long wait?). As a result, the children with us got bored and restless waiting, so we had to take them outside to run around on the green. Main course was small and lacking. Pudding very small and disgraceful(supposed to have been gooseberry crumble, more like a jam cake in a small dish). I will not be going to this... (read more)
★★★★★
“Spanish Night at the Swan & Bottle in Uxbridge”
Written on: 30/07/2011 by DeepFluff (1 review written)
We eat in this restaurant about once a month and have always felt that the service was very good, the food was very good. Now they have completed a refurbishment, the restaurant is really smart and comfortable. We had a chat with the General Manager Claire and told her how successfull the refurb was to us as customers. Claire runs a tight ship and really seems to enjoy herself, she is easy to talk to. Our last visit (19th July) was a real eye opener. It was a Spanish Taster night. Five... (read more)
★★★☆☆
“average pub grub”
Written on: 30/07/2011
First time to this pub since taken over by Chef & Brewer. Waiters were very attentive and polite, menu was typical 'Harvester'/brewery chain type menu. I was with my elderly parents. My mother & I ordered pie meals, mine Chicken/Ham & Leek with veg, mash and gravy, Mum having the steak & ale. The meals came and were hot and presented reasonably well. Shortly after the waiter returned to ask if everything was ok although we hadn't really started to 'tuck in'. My pie was fine, however my... (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“PUB REFURB BUT DEFINATELY NOT FOR THE BETTER !!!”
Written on: 12/07/2011 by STEVELEWIS (1 review written)
USED TO BE GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY AND TASTY FOOD. SINCE REFURB AND REBRANDING HALF SIZE PORTIONS FOR TWICE THE PRICE AND LESS CHOICE AND A DEFINATE DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD.WOULD NOT RECOMMEND AT ALL IN ITS PRESENT FORMAT.WHY CHANGE SOMETHING THATS WORKING FINE? (read more)
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Showing 21 - 30 of 173 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“What Happened?”
Written on: 01/06/2011
I decided to revisit The Didsbury recently. What used to be one of my favourite "Gastro" pubs. Lots of interesting dishes, the menu chalked up on boards around the dining area and the food never disappointed. Unfortunately all that has to be kept in the past tense as roll on to the present day... I first got a bad feeling when I noticed that the pub was now part of the Chef and Brewer chain. Food was on a par with a Harvester pub, only difference was the price. The service was lack... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“After having been disappointed at a family meal for 10...”
Written on: 19/05/2011
After having been disappointed at a family meal for 10 in March at The Greyhound Pub at Milton Malsor NN7, when 4 out of the 10 meals were all but inedible, we left it till tonight, 19 May 2011 to walk the two minutes to our local restaurant for a celebratory meal. With 10% of the tables filled we were initially shown to a table where the chairs actually backed onto the swinging entrance doors and asked to be seated elsewhere. Our drinks order was taken and delivered swiftly and... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“My wife, myself and friends decided to try the Grange...”
Written on: 18/05/2011
My wife, myself and friends decided to try the Grange at Boreham Chelmsford Essex, (Part of the Chef & Brewer group) for an anniversary celebration. This was our first visit to this restaurant it looks nice from the outside and we thought it would be nice to try somewhere new.
We were seated immediately as the restaurant was not very busy for a Saturday night (I think I know why now) and ordered a round of drinks while we viewed the menu.
When the waitress returned quite some time later...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Chef and Brewer have gone down hill rapidly. Meat for...”
Written on: 08/05/2011
Chef and Brewer have gone down hill rapidly. Meat for Sunday roast was discusting and tough.
Service attention and staff lovely but badly let down by quality of main meals.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“What happened to this place. I used to stop here...”
Written on: 04/05/2011
What happened to this place. I used to stop here quite frequently over the summer of 2010. The food and service was of a high standard especially the Trio Sunday Roast which consisted of a good choice of fine quality meat and fresh vegetables. However in 2011 i have visited here twice and it has really gone down hill. The meat has since been replaced with Makro pre-packed and reformed rubbish and the specials menu which was great appears to have been retired. The last time we visited... (read more)
★★★★★
“A friendly pub atmosphere with helpful and pleasnant...”
Written on: 20/04/2011
A friendly pub atmosphere with helpful and pleasnant staff. Good value for money. (read more)
★★★★★
“Pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Staff friendly and...”
Written on: 12/04/2011
Pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. Staff friendly and helpful.Good food well presented and served efficiently. Good value for money. We will be back. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Used to be brilliant. Lovely food, discreet but good...”
Written on: 20/03/2011
Used to be brilliant. Lovely food, discreet but good service. Went yesterday, fish pie really poor (rubbery and unpleasant fish added). Woman who was either a Manager or owner spoke to her staff rudely and loudly in front of customers. Too many waiters who were wandering around getting told off or serving. Didn't check orders as they always used to do and waited a long time for plates to be taken away. Cheese and biscuits, far too much, 1 butter. Appeared to have lost its Chef and... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Went for a Sunday Lunch, We have eaten here mid week...”
Written on: 13/02/2011 by David Ryder (1 review written)
Went for a Sunday Lunch, We have eaten here mid week and the meal was ok, but the Beef today could have resoled my shoes, we sent back the first meal as we could not cut the Beef with the cutlery, the second came out marginally better only marginally, we left it, ate the vegetables and departed. the staff were good but the food appalling. Would NOT go on a Sunday again or have the beef dinner. (read more)
★★☆☆☆
“This is my local pub but, following a recent...”
Written on: 05/02/2011
This is my local pub but, following a recent refurbishment, we no longer feel welcome. There used to be a weekly quiz which was good fun and brought in lots of custom. This stopped at Christmas and, despite promises that it would re-start in the New Year, nothing came of it and we now understand that the brewery want the place to be an 'eaterie' rather than just a pub. This view is bourne out by friends who went there recently for a quiet drink and were told that, if they weren't eating... (read more)
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Showing 31 - 40 of 173 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Good evening ”
Written on: 02/01/2011
Good evening
My name is roger and I booked the BRIDGE at Waterbeach back in November 2010 for a birthday party of 11 to take place on Sunday 2nd Jan 2011. On arrival the staff could not find a booking for me so what they said was no problem they can put some tables together and it should be ok, well that was the first let down second the tables were not of the right shape nor were they the same height so we had to sit at 1x round then an oblong then a round table not a very pleasant seating...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“The exterior of the premises is in desperate need of...”
Written on: 30/12/2010
The exterior of the premises is in desperate need of redecoration.
On Boxing Day this year 2010 there was no salt put down in the car park due to the ice and snow making walking very dangerous.
There was nobody available to greet us once inside for several minutes.Our table for our party of seven had been re-positioned due to a leak in the roof so we were told.
The tables and chairs were in a particularly bad state of wear due to sun damage and general wear and tear. They were in need of re-...
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“we arrived at 8pm was told we had a 45 min wait wich...”
Written on: 29/12/2010
we arrived at 8pm was told we had a 45 min wait wich we decided we would wait,so we sat and had a drink. at 9.10 we were showen to our table, after ordering we waited and waited at 9.45 the waiter came to say their was a 10min wait . He than came back and said that we couldnt have our meal after all because the kitchen had turn the grills off, so we ask to see the manager who never came, but then the waiter came back to tell us that we could have our meal after all. and we coud have a... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Had evening meal on boxing day with family. Service...”
Written on: 28/12/2010
Had evening meal on boxing day with family. Service very slow even tho the restaurant was only half full.
Food was very poor quality and badly cooked. Starters were just OK . Mains vegetables had been kept warmed over. no-one finished their plate.
Desserts just Ok.
Wouldn't go there again.
(read more)
★★★★★
“I have found this pub to have consistently good food...”
Written on: 28/12/2010 by fishydishy (1 review written)
I have found this pub to have consistently good food and service. The food is good value for money and the drinks prices, while not dirt cheap, are ok if you have one or two with your meal. The recent revamp had a lavatory update (not fantastic in the past). This all helps to give the pub a good atmosphere. the pub industry is changing. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Food very poor and Spirts you get SHORT MEASURES!! ”
Written on: 25/12/2010
Food very poor and Spirts you get SHORT MEASURES!! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“I came here 20th December to join a party of 10...”
Written on: 24/12/2010 by Pauline bell (1 review written)
I came here 20th December to join a party of 10 friends. I would like to register my utter disgust with the following:-
1. The reception was cold, and unwelcoming.
2. Food (not what was originally orderer): vegetables cold and less than al dente:steak more than med-rare:
3. No fresh coffee available: machine broken.
Altogether a very disappointing meal.
.
(read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“This particular restaurant has just undergone a...”
Written on: 22/12/2010 by jonsue (1 review written)
This particular restaurant has just undergone a refurbishment so we decided to go for a pre xmas lunch with family. First impressions were poor. The enterance had not been clear of snow or ice and things didn't improve once inside,the floor was wet and slippery through to the bar and in the two and half hours we were sat there no one tried to clean it up. Previously we have been welcomed and asked if we were eating or drinking, this time no staff approached and we had to ask how we got a... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Took our daughter and her boyfriend for a birthday...”
Written on: 21/12/2010
Took our daughter and her boyfriend for a birthday treat. What a laugh. Some staff were rude and unhelpful. Drinks were a rip off (£3.oo for a pint of flat coke). Food took an age to arrive and was below pub grub standard. Portions were average and the food was only tepid. Only two of our party opted for dessert, and although they were nice the portions were small considering the cost (£4.95 each). A complete let down, please don't waste your money there. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Lunch today was awful. Staff attitude very poor with...”
Written on: 20/12/2010 by Margot Curtis (1 review written)
Lunch today was awful. Staff attitude very poor with no apparent training to welcome guests.
Quality of food was dreadful -- Pate arrived with 2 chunks of thick bread but staff removed it and toasted the bread. Vegetables luke warm. My steak, ordered as RARE arrived well done.
Sweets, pre-ordered, were unavailable. In a party of 10 all plates were left with uneaten food.
Coffee machine out of order, no fresh coffee as advertised at front door.
A very disappointing visit -- ...
(read more)
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Showing 41 - 50 of 173 Reviews
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