New Inn, Horningback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Having read the reviews above i feel some need for balance. This pub has 3 real ales on the bar, on my visit Abbott and 2 bitters. Had lunch on a bank holiday. Really enjoyed the food, plenty of the menu is homemade, had a very tasty chocolate brownie. Clearly a busy pub in a holiday area with moorings. Do give it a try.
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Winner of 2 Awards at The 2011 Broads Awards for Most Smoker Friendly Pub and Best Pub Moorings.
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This pub is one to avoid in my honest opinion. I visited this pub with my better half for an evening meal on the 17th of september. We arrived there at 8.10pm.Now bearing in mind this was a saturday night and out of the high season you would assume that you would get served at that time almost anywhere in the uk.
We however were greeted/belittled by a most rude woman who told me in no uncertain terms that they had stopped serving before i had even said good evening! I quickly retreated to the door after noticing there were at least 8 empty tables(2 or three with reserved signs on).
Fortunately, we went into THE SWAN just down road at Horning ferry. The food there was superb and the service was brilliant. They were not surprised when i told then how badly we had just been treated.
I would advise people to avoid this pub like the plague if thats the way it wants to run its business. I will say the landlady there ultimately did us a favour as her pub is a bit of an outdated dump ,it looked like a care home inside unlike the atmospheric SWAN! unless your over 65 with a dodgy hearing aid ,give this place a wide berth.......
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On lovely day In August went to the new whose positioning on the Broads is excellent, however, the food can only be described as dreadful, it was undercooked & the staff serve you will a grimice rather than a smile. The beer selection was good, although gain the bar staff could learn from a customer service course, by comparison the following evenin we strolled down to the Swan Inn, reasonable pub food, but the staff were outstanding compared to the New inn as nothing was too much trouble.
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A great looking pub from the water front, and having passed it on the river and been recommended to go there by a local hire boat company, we thought we would go and pay a visit for a meal one evening. I'm sorry but I wish we hadn't. Despite the rather poor welcome by one of the older members of bar staff, I continued to enquire about food, and was told that I had to have a word with the kitchen staff to see if they could fit us in - surely that should be the bar staff's roll? but hey, I went along with it and went to find someone - and was then told rather grumpily that I couldn't order any food for another 15 minutes.... strange I thought, but thought, I am in Norfolk..... after waiting my 15 minutes and finished the first drinks, we returned to the bar to order food - and brilliant, someone that could actually smile served us - 15 minutes later the food arrived - and although the waitress did say 'enjoy your meal' she couldn't have been more disinterested.... to top that, the Scampi on the Fisherman's Platter wasn't even cooked properly - The Norfolk Chicken was lovely though! A big NO I'm afraid, which is a shame for what is a lovely location
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We've been to this pub before for lunch when we hired a day boat a few years ago. So when we hired a cruiser for a week, we made a bee-line for it!! Big mistake!! We arrived at about 8pm - still in plenty of time to order food before 9pm. Ordered drinks, and chose our food. When we tried to order at about 8.20pm we were told that they weren't serving food anymore. This was despite the fact plates of food had just been taken past us to other customers. When we asked why we hadn't been told this when we asked for menus, we were abrubtly told that chef had stopped serving!! No apology, no further explanation. We enquired about snacks / refunds for the drinks, but were basically ignored - with members of staff turning their backs on us, and walking away!! Rather than causing a scene we decided to leave and find somewhere else!! (Ended up at the Swan - lovely food & great staff).
I appreciate that everywhere has staff / quality issues occasionally - however, its how complaints are dealt with that can make or break a place. The fact that we wrote to the landlord to complain 6 or 7 weeks ago and we haven't heard back says it all really!! Such a shame - nice looking tradtional pub in one of the best locations - but everything else lets it down!!
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Overall review would be average to good. We had an evening meal here (which I would say was very average). Some meals seemed better than others however. We found the service hit and miss. Some of the younger men and girls that work in the bar were very pleasant and helpful, but some of the older ladies in the bar seemed a bit hostile if you enquired about ordering a meal (very strict on booking, don't bank on just walking in for a meal). This was somewhat annoying when we were willing to pay for a full family of meals, and were made to feel like we had to fight for it!
Outdoors was very pleasant, lovely riverside views and amusement machines for my children. This was a very pleasant place overall but I'm afraid having tried The Swan the following night, they got our business for the rest of the week.
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Went in here with my family, my wife and daughter ordered a lager and 4 diet cokes. When they sat down and past the drinks around they all commented that the post mix coke was very weak and was near undrinkable. After a few sips my wife and daughter decided that they could not drink any more and took all three cokes back to the bar where a very misrable looking lady came slowly over to ask what the problem was. My wife politely explained and asked if we could have a replacement or mayby a lemonade, the women grabed my wifes drink and tasted it , she then informed my wife that there was nothing wrong with the drink and that she could not have lemonade as it was from the same dispenser and the walked off.
My wife came back to the table and informed me what had happened, I was futher shocked to find that she had drunk from my wifes glass and offered no refund at all. I then went to the bar and spoke to a young lad and asked if we could have our money back, with the rude woman staring at him , he grab one of the cokes and tasted it stating there was no problem with the drinks. At this stage I was getting really fed up and asked him for our money back, he looked at the unpleasent woman who walked over towards me , stared at me and said to the lad give him the money , and then walked off.
We operate a local b&b and would never treat our customers like this, we will of course be taking this pub of our places to eat and drink list.
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Have been visiting the broads annually since 1987 with this year being no exception. For the first time in the last 22 years we visited The New Inn (on September 8th - possibly at the same time as SWRIGHT below) and I can only echo SWRIGHTs comments by offering this establishment the almighty thumbs up. Much investment has taken place (apparently) by Gus the new man at the helm. Both beer (Woodfordes Wherry) and food (Cromer crab sarnie) were of the highest standard. To round things off nicely we spotted an otter as we left by boat !
Keep up the grand work Gus - that's what I say.
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My family and I stayed in Horning for a week and we went to The New Inn for 4 times throughout the week, we dined at The New Inn one evening and I couldn't have faulted it at all, The service, food, drink , the grounds etc were fantastic. I loved the steak and stilton pie! This pub was recommended to us by a friend and I am so glad they recommended it, I would revisit if I was in the area. Many Thanks to the staff.
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Can't agree with the previous comments regarding the food, there were 14 of us visiting the pub, all our food was very acceptable. The beers were well kept and the service was efficient. This is a tourist pub serving high numbers at lunch time they do a good job and I would go back again.
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I had Steak and Ale pie here. Never again, it was a dry tasteless offering. The beer was warm and the staff offhand. As usual people who run pubs in such fantastic locations do not seem to think that they need to make an effort.
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Just returned from Sunday lunch at the New Inn. My wife's fish was raw, my pork was reheated and dry. No apology from staff or the offer of a refund. Also, Adnams bitter almost frozen. Will not go again.
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Can't praise the staff enough as we had a medical emergency whilst on a boat moored at the jetty next door. The young First Aider on the staff was most helpful. The beer and food are also very good.
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Still seems ok, beer good, food good and staff seemed friendly. Pub and garden both smart and tidy.
NeilA - 30 Jul 2008 21:19 |
Absolutely awful pub. Nice view shame about the staff.
anonymous - 9 Sep 2007 10:00 |
What can i say about this pub. As a local i go in every friday for a drink after work. Tonight i have to say i feel upset and let down by the attuide and the service of the staff. I go in have my two pints with my work friends and go. Today, every table was reserved for the diners coming for dinner. At 5.30pm i asked very nicely if i could sit at the reserved table, the table was reserved at 7.30pm, and i was told no. When i explained i only wanted a drink the lad behind the bar told me just go and speak to the lady over there and walked off. I undertand the need to reserve tables for dinner but two hours in advance!!! Dont know how i now feel about this place now but its got bad attuide staff, poor cusotomer serce and bad table planning. Do your self a favor and think twice if you want a drink and hopefully in the winter months the landlord might get his head round the fact the drinkers are just as inportant as diners.
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I remember this pub from when I used to holiday in Horning and it was the best pub in the village. However, it has now become a pub to avoid at all costs. Food is terrible and beer not much better. Agree with previous comments the staff seem to be there for thier benefit and not the customers
anonymous - 13 Aug 2007 07:24 |
We visited the New Inn while on holiday and have to say that (though the setting is lovely and watching novices reverse their boats into the mooring is hugely entertaining) they serve possibly the worst food that we have ever tasted. I had lasagne, which was inedible and my husband optimistically ordered split tailed scampi - which actually should have read "frozen scampi balls from Iceland, over cooked". Until eating here I was unaware that it was possible to ruin peas.
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Although the New Inn's card boasts a warm welcome, this was rather absent when we arrived for sunday lunch. Hint to the landlord and staff: You work in a public house. Try smiling at the customers on occasion, rather than glaring. It won't hurt.
The pub has a lovely large garden which runs down to the River Bure, with moorings. Unfortunately, it looks like the cost of the improvements to this garden and decking is being recovered via the menu, which offers pretty average pub food at way above average prices (e.g. burger and chips type meals at around 7 or 8 quid), and no snacks (baked spuds or baguettes for example) on the menu. So far, so okay.
The main issue we had with the New Inn however, was that of one of the mains we ordered, sweet and sour chicken balls, was served to my (5 months pregnant!) wife, not cooked fully. Well, a bit raw, you could say. We returned this, as yes, anyone can make a mistake. The key to any establishment's class in this case, though, is the level of "Cock-up recovery". Well, with no hint of an apology later, my wife received the cooked version of what she ordered (with a rather limp side salad). The rest of us, of course, had finished eating. On settling our bill (best part of �50, four adults and a kid eating), we registered our dismay with the landlord, there was no apology, no offer of any sort of partial refund, just a statement "well that shouldn't happen....I'll have a word". Don't worry, we won't be back to see if you did.
Pubs like this can get away with this appalling level of service (it wasn't even busy!) because they have a captive tourist market in this pretty Broads village.
In summary? Beer fine, lovely setting, questionable food, shocking service
Advice? If you want to stay in Horning, head for the Swan. For a way better time, head for the Fur and Feather in Woodbastwick, or the Wildebeest a wee bit further away in Stoke Holy Cross.
anonymous - 8 Oct 2006 21:47 |
On my visit to the broads I was pleasently suprised to find that this pub was right next to the cottage we rented for the week. It only took us 30 seconds to walk there! Nice interior and big exterior garden just been done up. Inside there is lots of sailing and boat stuff on the walls and aeroplanes hanging from the ceiling. Outside there is ample seating and boats can be moored but usually have to be reserved. There is a really friendly and helpful guy there who helps tie up the boats. There are kids amusements there like games machines and pool tables but these are locked in a shed so don't really spoil the place.
The beer! They offer Adnams Bitter, GK IPA and Woodfordes Nelsons Revenge. All are superb but the Nelsons stood out by a very long way. It has such a lovely taste so I had to down a few of those. There are plenty of other drinks to keep the women happy. There is a small TV so they could watch the world cup but it doesn't draw a loud crowd.
The food is OK but I have had better from similar pubs. The menu isnt that extensive and almost all meals seem to be served with chips, no potatoes as another option :( Also a lack of veg with the food too. However it all tasted ok. If you want quality food, try some of the restaurants along Horning High Street.
We sat in the garden with the nice beer watching some of the plebs trying to fish. I tell you, you really do get some idiots there.
Overall a great pub.
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good landlord, good food, pleasent atmostphere,riverside seating during the summer.
recommended
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