please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
As of 8 Dec 2014 under new management.
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whats happened to this what was a friendly pub
so sad ide herd it wasnt like it was
try some were different
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well i ate here 3 years ago fantastic eat here last week food not good eaton mess was a mess
service one staff to run bar and waiting
no toilet paper only one toilet for gent with broken seat looks like its been like that a while
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I walked through the rain from Seaton to Colyford in the morning because i wanted to give a friend a hug (had a lot to drink and it's these little quests that keep me going sometimes!). I took refuge from the pouring rain under the canopy of the Wheelwright Inn and planned to buy a beer when it opened. There was a blackboard outside and i thought of writing a message for my friend on it. I popped around to the side where there were doors wide open, greeted the staff from the door and asked politely if i could write a message on the blackboard outside. They said the front of house staff weren't there yet to say so i wandered back to the cannopy to keep out of the rain. I went back about ten minutes or so later, knocked on the door which was opened by who i assume to be the head Chef or owner who said grumpily, what do you want? I asked if i could pay them money to put a message on their blackboard (an unusual but not unreasonable request). The guy said "go away or i'll call the Police... I'll call the Police". I went back to the Canopy at the front door to keep out of the rain, still expecting to go in and have a drink when it opened. Then a few minutes later, the Police arrived. I wandered up to the guy and said, "i assume i'm the unscrupulous fellow you're after". I sat down in the car, gave him my details and explained precisely what had happened. He went into the place, came out a minute later and said to keep off the premises in friendly manner. By then another police car turned up, heard the story, smiled at me, gave me a thumbs up and wished me well! From here, i stood in the rain and waited for my lift. Anyway, i certainly won't be going there any time soon because that Chef/ owner guy was such a complete and utter arsehole. Cannot believe what a complete Twat he was!
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Had visited the Wheelwright at Colyford for a drink and decided to return for a meal with friends. Lovely pub and atmosphere, very friendly staff but food a disappointment. The Wheelwright should remember it's a pub/restaurant and customers expect normal portions of food - not tiny portions. I had pork with parsnips. I asked if the dish came with any veg (as it wasn't mentioned on the menu) and was told yes, new potatoes. The dish when it came looked great but where were the potatoes/vegetables? I lifted the meat with my fork but couldn't see any and asked the waitress - I was told that was my portion. The 'portion' was one new potatoe cut in half; the parsnip was a piece of parsnip (cut in half, then that half cut in half and sliced lengthways). We asked for an extra portion of veg - for which we were charged. The food was delicious but portions were ridiculous. I emailed the pub sometime later with my comments/suggestions about portions, but no one has thought to respond.
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Two visits to the Wheelwright Inn, two disappointments.
We first went a a party of six and sat in a little room off the bar. At first we thought what a great little place for a meal however, two hours of of having to listen to their coffee perculator working throughout the evening (it was just three feet away from our table) really spoilt the whole evening.We couldn't have any conversation except in-between coffee making.
No complaints about service or attitude of staff, mixed reactions to the food, unanimously, we all thought it very expensive for what we got.
We went again earlier this week (just two of us) to give it a second try. We were given a different table which was in the middle of the main dining room, lots of waitresses brushing past us all the time, very noisy to the point where we couldn't hear each other talk yet we were just three feet from each other.
My partner thought the courses were very tasty, I thought the opposite and both of us considered the cost to be very expensive. After all, it's a pub on a main road, albeit a nice pub, it's still a pub and it's got a ceiling in terms of price which I think it's gone beyond.
The pub seems to have a "pile em in high and roll em out quick" type of approach.
We have agreed to not go again.
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Unfortunately we thought we would give it another go! Came here last Sept and was very disappointed. Nothing has changed except the landlord is even more obnoxious and the prices more extortionate than before and they wonder why pubs are going out of business! Definately not a "locals" place with atmosphere although from the outside it has character until you go inside.
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Fantastic! The staff were really friendly and helpful. The pub is lovely. The most important fact the food was delicious. It is of a high quality that puts nearly all British pubs to shame, that we have visited. It's not the usual 'pub grub' but who wants that anyway! We are quite local and have never visited the pub before but will be coming back and recommended it to all our friends and family.
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Waitress staff very arrogant and petty. Found in my starters crab shell and then in my main meal large bones in my fish despite no justification on the menu, caution this may contain bones. When told waitress of fish bones, was not offered replacement meal so when went to pay, i asked the bar staff 'do i have to pay for the fish' despite leaving it all, he got the landlord who was VERY arrogant and condensending towards me but did knock the fish off the final bill, thats not the point it should be stated in the menu that the fish may contain bones, lucky that i found the bones and my daughter wasnt eating the fish instead and could have choked! Overal a very unsatisfied customer. A poor pub/restaurant if that is what they want to call themselves, staff laugh at you for making a complaint and go away and natter about it, very cramped pub inside, tables are close together so you feel closed in and cant talk without the table beside you listening. POOR QUALITY of food and service.
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Its nice to see the the Wheelwright knows how to turn on a computer and write a review on themselves!!! on paper the menu sounds nice more than your average pub. However we visited the pub past summer and the atmosphere was friendly, alittle hyped but ok as it was the summer hoilday so what do you except? We had 3 children and we asked to sit in the front dining room and the look the bar staff gave the waitress was one on disgusted like we asked to sit in the royal box at ascot!!! we were escorted to the "back dining room" out of the way more like!!! my children are 4, 6 and 14 and are well behaved. the room was empty poorly lit and seemed lifeless. And what is good on with all the stupid things plastered around the place? sweets, chairs, cards all for sale? However the bar staff man with tatoo was very helpful polite, clean and very professional we had a glance into the kitchen as it has a hatch thing look clean but hard to tell? however the waitressing staff couldnt even sell hay to a dying horse. Were under staffed very unknowledgable in regards to menu and product information. They really let the place down. We had great staff last year and below standard food so it seems they havnt quite got a balance. Look nice from the outside to get you in.
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Feels more like a restaurant than a pub really, though a good choice of beers.
Floyd - 12 Apr 2010 18:23 |
ps if your look for good food try The Masons at Branscombe the next time your passing through.
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sorry luv, have to agree with the previous comment its not a pub any more its doesnt sell decent beers its gone to an upmarket restaurant selling expensive wines and not interested in the locals i should know i am a local you used to use this pub alot and they are always advertising for staff read the papers!
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With reply to food delights....my experience was very much real thankyou. How dare you suggest otherwise?!? I quite often frequent the Axmouth/Colyford area and have sampled the pubs in this area. To be honest, the others don't even come close. The other Hall and Woodhouse pub? The Harbour is it? With reference to the staff advertising.. i have good knowledge to say that The Wheelwight currently employs 7 chefs, and have a new head chef starting in June. infact, I heard that they were intersted in the pub just down the road from The Harbour.....a bit of healthy competition never hurt anyone eh??
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Please prey tell me that Natashaelizabeth's comment was a dream and not a nightmare! like I experienced in Sept 09. Roast Beef as tough as old shoe leather miminal choice of desserts and service alot to be desired and would not rush back to visit again. Having moved to the area in the last 12 months, the word on the street is that The Wheelwright used to be a very nice friendly pub where locals used to use it and visitors were made to feel welcome. Unfortunately it is now a very pricey gastro restuarant with a pub annex, always advertising in the local paper for new staff - what does that tell you?
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Having recently stopped of at The Wheelwright Inn with my fiancee for a meal and thought that the level of service and standard of food/drink was absolutely fantastic and should be recognised! My partner had a lge glass of the house sauvignon blanc and I had their season ale which at the time was hopping hare, unfortunately for me and my partner we were on our way back to Exeter and couldn't take the opportunity to try one of the bottles of wine from their hand made wine library of over 100 bins (I've never seen this idea in a pub before) and thought how wonderful it is to see something different than a bog standard wine menu. After taking the time and finally deciding on what we were going to eat I settled for the Lyme Bay scallops with mini lime and coriander crab cakes on minted crushed peas and citrus oil for a starter which was so delicious and very refreshing, my partner had the wood pigeon on champ mash with wild mushrooms and puy lentils, the pigeon was cooked to perfection and the sauce really complimented the dish, then moving on to mains I had the medallions of beef fillet
with celeriac puree, roasted shallots, saut�ed potatoes, wild mushrooms and Madeira cream sauce which was again cooked to perfection and my partner Annie had the rabbit
with wild mushrooms, leeks, pancetta, thyme and cream which was superurb, very gastro. After contemplating on having a dessert we both decided to try their spring collection which was a little taste of each of their homemade puddings served on a rather beautiful, large, blue/grey crackled effect dish, the puddings included from memory were millionaire tart (my favourite) gooseberry and raspberry crunchy nut crumble, bakewell tart, rhubarb and ginger panna cotta and honey and orange sponge. The meal that we had at the wheelwright was probably one of the best pub meals that I've ever had. The dishes were all beautifully presented on different shaped/ coloured plates giving them theatre and not the typical white round plates you see everywhere else. There is also the wheelwright's collectables and curios little shop selling homemade pate, chutneys and preserves to name but a few. The level of service we had from the waitresses was brilliant they were knowledgeable on the food and drink, very attentive and professional. We would safely say we would drive those extra miles to the wheelwright for the experience and quality of food/drink. I hope you take the time in reading my comments and see for yourselves what a fantastic pub this is and support my opinions and recommendation.
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Having seen the reviews on Beer in the Evening, we thought we would give it a try whilst we were in the area. Sadly to say our experience did not live upto the previous reviews. Yes it looks appealing from the outside but once you step across the threshold, thats where it ends. Admittedly we had not reserved a table, but the welcome we received from the gentleman behind the bar was not warm and friendly, infact distinctly cold an uninviting. Food ok but expensive for what you got . Service mediaoka. The impression we got was if you spent money i.e. ordered expensive wines, liquers etc the more attention you got. This is not a pub - its trying to be a gastro resturant. Lasting impresssions: Tried it would not go back
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My husband and I had dinner here last night. Very impressed. Lively but welcoming atmosphere, superb food (I had the tagine, my partner the liver and bacon). As a Dorset man my husband was very pleased with the range of Badger ales - though I cannot comment on them myself! And, despite it being busy, the staff were friendly and pleasant from start to finish. Thank you all for an enjoyable evening. We'll be telling our friends.
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Stopped of the pub on a off chance and what a pleasant experiance it was got greeted by the landlord and his staff, asked for a table as they were increadably busy, but told there was a bit of wait so we did just that, got served politely by the bar staff and had the best pint of badger in a long time and my partner had a glass of the house White, but the food was amazing the fish pie was brilliant and I had the ribeye steak, the chefs on that place know how to cook, this place is a treat for any dinner and I would reccomend it to anyone.
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Finished a (very) long weekend away in Devon here last night with my girlfriend. The pub had been recommended to us and it didn't disappoint. Steak and ale pie juicy and filled me up a treat, the missus had the duck, very nice. Table service was efficient if a little cold, but bar staff friendly and he certainly knew his wines. If back in this neck of the woods anytime soon I'd be sure to return.
am180 - 24 Sep 2009 15:20 |
2 Pubs In Colyford* Both begin "Wh..."*Both are on Swan Hill Road*Both have excellent cask ale* ONE is 70pence a pint more than the other..........
yep it's here but even the �3.20 mark up didn't stop my pint of Badger Lemony Cricket scoring a 10/10, hall and woodhouse you have done pubs and real ale proud!!!!!!!!!! 8/10
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What an unbeileveale pub with a welcoming atmosphere and brilliant food i can totally understand why they won there award, for the standard that i received was outstanding, the food well presented with knowledgable staff polite and helpfull, i will be eating here again no questions asked i would also recomend the pub to anyone.
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Heard this pub had won the best food award for s.west so we thought we would give it ago. Food good, can understand why they won the award even though we had to wait 45 mins between finishing the starters and mains - why??? It's a shame the rest of the evening didn't match up!! The service was terrible, waitress didn't have a clue what she was doing and the real ales a lot to be desired, the Tanglefoot was dead and the first gold not much better, although to be fair the bottle beers faired better. The bar staff looked fed up and uninterested in serving. Overal impressions, value for money? NO, not impressed.
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went for lunch after being recommended by my friend. could not have agreed more! being near to the coast decided to have the scallops and seabass, which were truely amazing. squeezed in a pud (colyford pudding with clotted cream) then fell asleep. zzzzz
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Driving past and thought we (my wife and i) would give it a go. Definitely the best pub we have been in, in a long time. We were greeted with a warm welcome, asked if we had booked? which we hadn't. so we were fitted in. which didn't seem to be a problem. Food was absolutely amazing!!!! Good range of beers (the wife drove home!). Will definitely make a return visit soon. Will need to book. Can very much see why they won Great British Food Pub Of The Year for the Southwest Region!!
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Would give this one a miss! Sunday roast not special at �9.95 for a piece of tough beef and luke warm veg! even choice of desserts were minimal. Service ok but could have better, not exactly welcoming, considering it was not busy. Not a place one would go back to in a hurry.
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Good food. Fish and chips were excellent. Only one drawback was the idiot behind the bar who looked at people like they were dirt and had all the charm of a mass grave. if I were the landlord I'd give this liability the boot. Apart from that they do serve a good pint.
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Went here for sunday lunch today DO NOT BOTHER ! rude landlord food dreadfull cold tasteless i can cook frozen roast potatoes myself and i also can & do cook my veg these were all undercooked and cold too.
At �9.95 per head for the main course this comes in very expensive the bottom of my shoe is more tender than the beef ! amazingly we did not stick around to try the dessert menu and at a guess it would be much the same as the main course menus
TAKE MY ADVICE DO NOT GO HERE GO TO THE MASONS ARMS IN BRANSCOMBE.
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Bank Holiday Wkend - Appearance & Ombience Good - Needs To Decide If Its A Pub/Restuarant or Gastro????? - Bar Staff Service Could Be Better Not Welcoming - Food Generally Ok But Very Expensive - Portion Size Minimal - Waiting Service Poor - Kept Waiting Between Courses - No Reasons Not Over Busy - Thought We Had Been Forgotton - Wines Choices Good But Pricey - Overal Impression - Wouldn't Go Back - Sorry
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Good food, apalling service, uncomfortable seating, offhand staff. Landlord made mistake with booking and acted as though he was doing us a favour by finding us a table. We waited 20 minutes before drinks order was taken. An hour after ordering food we questioned whether we had been forgotten and surly waitress told us the restaurant was very busy; not an acceptable reason for poor service - if they can't cope with a full house, they should not be in business. Overall a poor dining experience only slightly redeemed by some very good food.
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Rude landlord, dirty facilities, uncleaned ale lines and very average food. Sadly, it's my local !
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Bad Ale experience alert.
Can't believe 2 pubs owned by the same brewery only 2 miles apart can be so totally different. My husband and I were served by a rather unfriendly bar person, whom we later found out was the landlord Mr Valentine. He was so rude, condescending and not at all accommodating. Its surprising he has any trade with his attitude. My husband ordered a pint and half of Badger Ale Tanglefoot, (we like real ales) - when he asked should they look that cloudy and flat (looked like the dregs from the bottom of the barrel) - he was told in no uncertain terms that he didn't know what he was talking about and he kept his ales in first class condition. He didn't offer to change the ales or try a different one. Yet several days earlier we had had a fabulous lunch at another pub (same brewery) and certainly had no issues with the real ales we drunk there. How can this be? Same ales surely they should all be of the same standard?. Needless to say, we didn't stop after that.We were going to have lunch but not in a place that has attitude - his loss. Would NOT go back and certainly NOT recommend it. Shame because from the outside The Wheelwright looked inviting.
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Decent enough but a bit modern which detracts from the thatched exterior. Open all day which in these parts is a huge plus.
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Good food, competively priced. Badger beers, very tasty. good atmosphere. bar and first of two dining areas full by 7.30 on a mid week evening. service good and friendly staff. refurbishment good, nice and clean. would most certainly go again and recommend to all.
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try this one first a complete refit
nice large resturant good food
guest ale nice good coffee
food served from 10am
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this pub couldnt be any better
nice bar staff
reopens med feb 2008
try this pub for yourself
its having a refit just try it its good
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Totally agree with Daz2 visited last Sunday,only interested in wanting you to eat,And the prices for Drink,s are excessive,Such a shame,dave
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WHEELWRIGHT INN
This has become a very good pub good food good value try the fish pie mmmm nice .had a pint of tangle foot
fresh tasty went down well so i had another one
wife was pleased with her meal , thats what maters
so good food good beer , good price we coming here again
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Visited August 2007. Not impressed at all. The staff were just interested in getting you in and out of the door as quick as possible for food. Not welcoming or cosy - quite clincial in fact including the huge corporate computerised till that faces the customers - its all touch screen and industrial.
Badger beer on tap wasnt good and it was expensive. Plus the food was bad value - �8.25 for what was quite clearly a ping-pinged lasagne.
Not impressed - head for the White Hart.
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Excellent beer - food is traditional country Pub food and is well presented. The staff are very helpfull and easy to talk to they make everyone feel welcome. Excellent meal and a good choice.Well looked after Badger beer, we will be back.
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Lovely village pub,But Alas about to change landlord.And
to be modernised by Brewery,Going all modern.whatever
that means 9/10 at the moment
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Very nice local pub, excellent ale (Badger) and cider (Stowford Press), and crucially, very very nice welcoming landlords. Food maybe needs some attention, but for a quiet drink either lunchtime or evening you can't beat it.
Also has a (sometimes) resident friendly dog. Crisps compulsory!
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Recently changed hands after many years under previous landlord. Has still to get back to it's old standard. Good beer, food not as good as it was. will return in future.
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