Having uses this establishment for many years and been extremely happy with both the service and quality of food, sister being a local and used this venue with positive reports, we booked a family meal on a Sunday afternoon, specifically at 4.30 so wouldn’t be over busy, to celebrate sisters’ 50th Birthday (so a reasonably prominent event). The party was a compact family unit; self and wife, mum, niece and the birthday girl herself. With all of us being busy, it’s not often we manage to get together, in fact the last occasion being younger brothers funeral a couple of years ago. Birthday Girl wanted to pay as here treat for all of us getting together. Arriving a little early, drinks ordered at the bar, promptly shown to the table… This is where things started to fall apart. Granted it’s been a while since we’ve been here so things do change, the menu seemed to be a lot more limited than we remembered, a quick request to the staff on the availability of other menus (bar menu, specials etc.) received a curt response of ‘no we don’t do that now’ Okay not a problem, reading deeper through the descriptions of the dishes, it was becoming evident the kitchen had become far more aspirational since the remodelling of the hotel and the lick of paint given to the ‘restaurant’ section (do seem to remember there being table cloths a few years ago, much better than the slightly sticky bare tables on offer now). Finally, we all managed to have a bit of a catch up while deciding what to eat. Staff approached to take the order… What’s the soup? Don’t know I’ll just go and check… (good start?) On return “what’s the fish in this particular dish?” Don’t know I’ll just go check (okay she’s young maybe they’ve thrown her in at the deep end and needs a bit more training and support) This is where I must hold my hand up and say I’m fussy about ‘Jus’ ‘Gravy’ sauces or dressing of any description. So was specific in requesting a dish with the jus’ served separately (in a boat rather than straight on the dish) this was repeated to ensure the staff understood the instruction (simple enough we all thought). Staff did a quick read through of the order, didn’t feel quite right, “are you sure you got all the meals?” “think so I’ll just read it back.” The Lamb (mum) The Gammon (birthday girl) The Steak (wife) The Fish without the prawns (niece) The lamb with the sauce in the boat (self) (starters where all correct) Great thanks that’s correct, (keep this list in mind for later) Around 40 mins later we had to ask where our starters where, on return “just being plated, will just be a couple of minutes” (what a coincidence) The dishes where acceptable but we ran out of drinks half way through, it took 5 minutes to get the attention of staff to be able to order more. Half the drinks arrived with a “can I get you anything else?” “I’m still waiting for a pint” “What did you order?” (this is getting better) Drinks complete, starters finished, table cleared. At least another 20 minutes’ pass before we start commenting again on timings. The mains eventually arrive. Waitress stands next to mum and says “Lamb” and serves mum, Gammon and serves Sister, Fish, serves niece, another staff stands next to me and says’ Steak, serves wife then states Lamb and what can only be described as ‘Clods’ a plate under my elbow to the table (perhaps it was a bit heavy and awkward to hold as it looked more like a tray than a plate), but did straighten it up so it sat nice in front of me. It was instantly obvious that this was the wrong dish, “that’s not what I ordered” was my instant response. Politely enough an apology and how did you order? was the question. Repeated the that I asked for the jus’ on the side rather than on the meat. No problem I’ll change it. Very quickly (couple of minutes) the meal came back. Wow that was quick… The meal had been stripped off the plate, individual parts put in separate dishes and the pile of potatoes and Meat lifted, scraped off and dropped on a new plate (sauce still on the top layer everything else bone dry), this just about tips sister and myself over the edge. Niece, diplomatically takes my plate to kitchen (before sis and I have chance to explode). The ‘Bistro’ manager now shows up at the table to find out what the problem was. After a heated discussion & a host of simpering excuses, he was beginning to understand that this was not acceptable, asking “ok what do you want”. The dish was returned to kitchen while the rest of the party had to wait to eat with their dishes cooling rapidly (despite insistence to eat while I waited). Eventually a new dish was rushed out of the kitchen (far faster than the original). This was delivered with another round of simpering excuses to the point I had to ask the manager to stop talking (he persisted) and was eventually shouted at to ‘go away’ twice Everyone agreed that the food was not to the standard we had expected. The bill was requested and presented by the manager (with the most efficiency we had seen all evening). There was a compensation of my meal being removed from the final bill. This hardly seemed adequate when we explained the service had been slow to the level of incompetence, the fish was dry, the gammon over cooked (to a cinder) both Lamb (different) dishes tough and grisly, the steak just okay (wife later stated it wasn’t that good but didn’t want to make any further fuss). More grovelling excuses and eventually a further reduction of drinks taken from the bill, with the comment “that’s all I can do”. This was accepted as we had had a couple of beers, couple of soft drinks and a bottle and couple of glasses of wine. Sister payed this by card punching in pin in extreme embarrassment with a wish to be away as quick as possible. On checking through receipts the following day, its discovered that only my drinks had been taken off the bill, not as we had all understood on the evening. A further compliant made to business manager, with numerous calls between the business, myself and sister leaves this matter unresolved. In summary, while I applaud aspiration to better any standard a shot of reality must also be employed, a venue at this price point delivering dishes with the level of pretention displayed on Sunday, (something I would expect at a high-end restaurant/Bistro with a named chef in a city centre, akin to the ones I often use on business) would be expected to provide service that is exemplary with food that was impeccable. None of this was evident on the evening. Give time to train the young staff and assist managers in dealing with customer complaints or stick to the ‘pub grub’ with a restaurant that was extremely successful for many years, a thoroughly unenjoyable evening that will not be repeated. Hardly “Fine dining for any occasion”

Cant beleive we fell for the usual excuse "well the food is freshly made " this is the third time you have said the same thing,When i booked the table i "EVEN" mentioned the previous time we came, to be assured no we are not busy AT THE MOMENT. How long can you keep using the same excuse ? The owner needs to take responsibilty for this, he is more the able to address this,but clearly he does not care. Food was over cooked this time,Burgers were dry, wedges dry. The manager did refund our drinks bill, which they also did last time. Hopefully he will take my comments and many others from what i have seen, and maybe change I used to recommend this place but never again.

We went on avwdnesday night it was not very busy. I ordered a chicken skewer on a ciabatta , it came on the thinnest slice f bread that was rok solid and I could not cut it. But never mind according to the waiter that's fine that's how it comes . He said he would tell the kitchen but did not return to tell us what te kitchen said. What a shame they don't care more about the customers we won't go back .

went to this eaterie on sunday 13 may . from the out side, well it could do with an over haul but so could so many places in our town . inside well what can i say,,,, modern and light . good selection of beers and wines. menu ok to. bar and bistro food available and as it was sunday it would be rude not to try a roast .. traditional it was to with probably the biggest yorkshire pudding you have seen .... aunt bessie should take note .. lots of beef and sauce "gravy" and vegetables to with nice crisp roast potato ... service not to bad either ...dessert well what can i say the meringue is again huge .. icecream and strawberries with cream .. my other half had the cheese ...lancashire bomb apparently ... i wonder were that gets its name .. all in all for 2 less than 30 quid .... a gem maybe ...i will tell you after our next visit

We went to The Brinsop for a family gathering - 17 of us, we had booked well in advance and pail a deposit. The service was painfully slow, the male waiting staff were extremely surly and "couldn't care less". When the main courses eventually arrived we waited so long for the side dishes and vegetables that the mains had gone cold.I personally had ordered veal escalopes and even if they had been luke warm or even hot I would describe them as inedible at best.

We went for Mothers Day 2012, we have not been for about a year and the service was painfully slow. We had been in 20 mins before being given our drinks, where the bottle of wine was dumped on the table and we have to pour ourselves. There was 2 adults and a 2 year old child but there were larger parties in who were being given more service. After ordering we were then told somehting was not on the menu which was disappointing, although the food was good it was rushed as after an hour we had only eaten starters. We were not asked at anytime if we need more drinks (only 1 person drinking wine). Very disappointed this time espically being Mothers day and not a full capacity they seemed very under staff and no special treatment given or made to fele special

Having visited this venue for Mothers' Day and had a lovely meal we visited again on Good Friday and were very disapointed with the service and the attitude of the manager. We were booked in for 6.30 pm and arrived at 6.20 pm. We were shown directly to our table and our drinks order was taken. We then waited for 20 minutes before we were given menus. The pub part of the Brinsop was very busy with people having pub grub but the restaurant was almost empty. We ordered and my husband ordered one of the specials from the blackboard, we actually pointed it out to the waitress. The starters duly came and were very good. I hadn't ordered one. After the starters were cleared away we then waited ages for the main course to come (one hour after entering the restaurant) as you can imagine I was quite hungry by this time. The waitress had got my husband's order wrong so we sent it back. The manager then came and said that the dish that we had ordered had run out. I said it would have been better to have been told that one hour ago. He said that the waitress didn't know that it had run out???? Still no excuse for bringing the wrong dish! He then said that my husband had ordered "special chicken" which was the spatchcock chicken the waitress delivered to our table. I pointed out that we had in fact ordered the chicken stuffed with crab mousse and had actually pointed it out to the waitress as we ordered. The manager then very begrudgingly said it was the restaurant's mistake and would my husband have the spatchcock chicken instead. My husband declined this and had fish and chips which were very good but the whole experience was spoiled not so much by the waitress' mistake but by the manager arguing with us. Mistakes happen but it is the mark of a good business that they correct that mistake as best they can - not to argue with the customer. I don't think we will be visiting the Brinsop again, which is a shame because the food is good.

The beauty of 'The Brinsop Arms Westhoughton' is, they serve Peronyles!
I mean come on, if me and the Wyles couldn't get Peronyles from here.....I'd be all like....HEY!! Where's the Peronyles??

We had our wedding reception at the Brinsop in Spring 2007 and the food, drink and atmosphere for a low key, intimate gathering was perfect and I have fabulous memories. The buffet has been described by guests as the best by far they've ever had! I highly recommend the Brinsop for any function, as the prices are extremely reasonable for quality food and drink. You can custom design your meal options and nothing is too much hassle.

At The Brinsop Arms the food was excellent - lounge and bistro menu both served in Bistro. Comfortable, attractive surroundings. Friendly staff.

Would go again - but only if we've plenty time - and would say at the start what service we expect. A bit of a wait for the food once ordered - but as food is prepared fresh is expected and worth the wait.