Peartree Bridge Inn, Milton Keynesback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A diabolically kept pint of London Pride and a couldn't care less barmaid made this a loser from the start, only partly salvaged by a half-decent and stunningly cheap carvery. The canalside location is good but it was an inauspicious start to a Milton Keynes pub crawl.
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A cavernous pub alongside the canal, this is a modern brick built affair on the edge of a housing estate, and unfortunately lacks the rustic charm of some of it�s more rural neighbours.
It is split in to two distinct halves inside joined by a meandering corridor. One half is very much a restaurant and featured a large carvery counter and some type of help yourself ice cream machine. The drinker�s half is a L-shape room at the other end of the pub. One leg of the �L� has a pool table, darts board and a plasma mounted up in the corner. The other leg is just tables and chairs. Decor wise, it�s the usual bland, corporate style with paintwork being a mixture of maroon and green, lots of carved wood including a wood panelled bar and wood panelling on the ceiling up above , along with various nautical artefacts such as a ship�s wheel, oars and pictures identifying several species of fish.
It�s a shame that the canal side location wasn�t factored in to the design a bit more. The pub runs lengthways along the edge of, and quite close to the canal, so although there are views from some of the tables inside the pub, there is no room for any outside seating. There are some benches adjacent to it, but instead of a nice beer garden it�s just a tarmac�d area with a view of the car park.
Food seems to be very much of the cheap and cheerful, mass produced variety and the focus was very much on the all day �3.99 carvery which seemed very popular, although I believe other options were available. A poster near the door advertised puddings from �1.99 which rather suggests that they�re not freshly prepared by a top chef. The solitary barman was doing his best, but it was apparently his first day at the pub and as he had to cope with punters both ordering drinks and food, there was inevitably something of a wait.
The solitary beer on tap was London Pride (unless you count keg John Smiths) although there was also a pump for Young�s Bitter but this appeared to have run out. Ciders fared little better with just Strongbow and Bulmer�s Original.
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It could be argued that the clientele aren�t the best to be associated with, but for value for money this place can�t be beaten. �5.39 for a carvery meal and a pint of Bombardier is exceptional if not unique. The food quality is by no means the finest but much better than you might expect for �3.50. A large portion of meat (selection of beef, turkey and gammon) and as much veg (a good range including cheese cauliflower, though some may say some of the veg are over cooked) as you can consume are complimented by a range of sauces/gravy. The beer has always been fine, though a very limited range of ales. The only problem with this place is it can get busy. I�ve been there twice now and ended up not eating (once was at 13:00 and the other at 20:00) because the queue was too long. Apparently pension day should be avoided at all costs as lots of slow people can be frustrating. Hidden away just yards from the A421, this place is well worth a visit if you're passing through.
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The carvery is OK but the staff can be a bit offhand.
If you stay there, you will see that the rooms are shabby and in dire need of refurbishment; curtains hanging off the rails, paint spattered in the bathroom, no remote to the TV, etc. etc. the whole place smacks of shoddy workmanship. And at �55 per night I expect a better standard of accommodation.
anonymous - 24 Jul 2007 15:52 |
Soulless modern place with bigscreen TV and a clientele that reflects this.
Your best bet is to tie your boat up outside and take a tray of beer to it. If they have any beer, that is - on one occasion they'd run out of handpumped ale, would you believe.
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We have visted the Carvery here on nomerous occaisions. We have always enjoyed our meal The decor needs some attention but the food is great. Service isfairly good.
Edith - 25 Aug 2005 00:01 |
Went here today, a meal we had been looking forward to for a while as it was my mothers 81st birthday. We were shown to a table straight away and then helped ourself to the carvary which was lovely. We finished our meal and looked throught the dessert and drinks menu, choosing various things to order, and we waited, and waited and waited. Finalling deciding we weren't going to be served and went to pay our bill. When we told the Front of House employee, she kindly informed us that she only had one pair of hands and couldn't be bothered. We won't be going there again.
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Bar area looking a bit shabby, beer questionable.
Right next to the Canal this place does have a lot of potential. But need major spend on re-furb
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i think this pub is a very nice and it has a lovely cravary that is very well priced and we enjoy going to it for lunch
elizabeth - 4 Sep 2004 21:47 |
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