please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Lovely old building. Chef and Brewer, so you know they are more interested in diners.
Four hand pulls on and amongst the expected Greene King IPA and other dull beers was a rarely in these parts seen Theakstons Old Peculiar. Superb condition - so the brewer bit of the chain is doing his bit.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2rzLCTE
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16th century timber framed building which has the potential to be something quite special but, as part of the Chef and Brewer chain, its a bit tatty in places. Everyone (including the 9 of us) seemed to be on voucher deals and, although the service was pleasant, it was a little slow. Sunday roast beef was nothing special (no surprise given the price charged) but the Cask Marque beer wasn't bad at all. I tried the Ruddles County and the Greene King IPA which were both in good condition (and you get 10% discount as a CAMRA member meaning the IPA was only £3 a pint). Didn't try the Purity Pure UBU.
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The first of 2 Chef & Brewer establishments we visited on Saturday. This was one was slightly better than the Drum & Monkey in Bentely Heath. As stated previously, the building itself and its environs are very nice. This is very much a family-type restaurant with a small area set aside for drinking. Real ales available were Courage Best, Caledonian Over the Bar, Everards Tiger & Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted.
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Like the previous reviewer, I don't find the negative reviews typical of my many visits to The Bear. As an almost local (actually Meriden, the next village) I visit here for a meal maybe every few weeks or so and, yes, it's not fantastic but it's usually pretty good and always great value for money - typical Chef & Brewer fare, really. I've only had to complain about my meal once in about twenty plus visits and the offending meal was replaced without question. The biggest problem is the shortage of serving staff, they're hard-working and friendly but can be difficult to get hold of for extra drinks or to even to get the bill. It's a great old building in a lovely rural location with lots of interesting nooks and crannys and does a good pint of London Pride. More for eating in than drinking in though. 7/10
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Well, I booked a table at this pub for a meal for 6 before I checked this website but saw the reviews an hour before the actual visit. I was sorely tempted to cancel but decided it was too late and went ahead with it.
All I can say is my experience was the exact opposite to what I read here. The service was quick, friendly and polite, the food was lovely, the real ale beautiful, the surroundings pleasant and the atmosphere convivial. Either this establishment had problems but has sorted them out or some reviewers had an axe to grind.
We booked for early evening on a Friday (7.00pm) so whether it gets more hectic later I can't say but it was pretty busy when we left at 9.00, I can't believe it can be so bad with that amount of business being transacted. I can't praise it high enough.
colby - 14 May 2010 22:35 |
I echo everything the last reviewer has written. It has been a favourite of ours for many years but the last few visits have been awful. We were there a week ago and it wasn't clean, the service was poor and a few of us had bad bellies afterwards! Not good.
They brought us the wrong meals and looked annoyed when we said so saying "But its written down"
then they realised they were the wrong meals and took them away after about 15 minutes. Everytime they realised they had made another mistake they looked totally put out, despite the fact they were lucky we weren't making a fuss about it. The only reason we didn't make a fuss was because it was my husbands birthday and we didn't want to spoil it. However, he certainly didn't get a nice meal out for his birthday and we won't ever be going back unless we hear its been done out and got new management.
We were there for almost 3 hours! Not good when you have 3 children with you!
Despite the fact that they were aware of our long wait for food, being given wrong orders, cold food returned, etc. they didn't even offer one free drink. Our bill was over �100.
Well one thing is for sure, they won't be getting anymore money out of us.
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Wonderful setting in a lovely little village, shame about the bear at Berkwell, the place is looking tired in need of a refurbishment, the service is poor, the waiting staff are abrupt and is generally badly managed. They ran out of bacardi, ran out of bulmers cider, I ask you what kind of pub runs out of popular alcoholic beverages on a Saturday, a badly managed one.
The food was ok ish, shame about the waiting staff who present the cutlery on the table holding the knives and forks on the end leaving finger prints on them! they need to attend a course in hygeine, the tables are sticky and need of a new layer of varnish and a good clean. Why is this place so popular, I really don't know, all I can suggest is don't bother going hear unless you hear that it has been refurbished and has had a change of management. A truly awful experience and a disappointing evening. I am from Berkswell, this pub was a true gem at one time, shame it has got to this state.
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Awful service. Booked a table for 12 for a special occasion for 7.30pm - had to ask for service at 8.15 and meals turned up past 9.30. Wholly inadequate number of staff, poor management. Patrons on the tables also complaining bitterly. Terrible experience - won't ever go back.
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Poor service. Long wait for food. So long we walked out hungry. 'Choice' of real ales consists of 1 beer...which doesn't appear to be kept very well. We will not be going back.
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Worst restaurant experience ever! Avoid!! Terrible service, really lacks any managerial presence we didnt seem to have a waitor and we didnt see anyone all night sitting on the balcony apart from when our food came. Such slow service and really unejoyable.
Recently went for a meal with a group of friends. We were a table of six, me and my partner were late and when arrived a young waitress told us to go and see if we could find our friends! Was not served at the table although my friend told me it had recently changed to table service. We ordered at the bar and were not told a wait as the same with the other tables who we spoke to around us! We then waited half an hour for our starter and then had to go to the bar to ask someone to clear our plates we'd been sat waiting so long! The another 45 minutes for main. Dranks took a long time to arrive and wine came without any glasses so we went onto wait a further 10 minutes. Food overall wasnt a very high standard and as a chain its ridicously over priced as the thai prawn curry clearly tasted like a boil in the bag curry! A young dark haired woman seemed to be in charge but i rarely saw her around. We asked to speak to her as we'd been up many times to speak to a waitress about having such terrible service who was quite helpful to our faces but still nothing seemed to be done. When asking to speak to her the reply we got was she heard you've had a few problems and we'll take the food off your bill, we said we'd still like to talk to someone about the problems encountered and we were told she was busy and we could have free desserts as well! At quarter passed eleven, we declined and paid our bill minus the food and left!
Such a shame because this pub used to be lovely but has declined dramatically with the new ownership! We shall not be returning again, just be cautious if you do attempt and dont sit on the balcony area because you'll not recieve any sort of service!
anonymous - 16 Sep 2007 18:59 |
Warning!!!!!
This place is now selling Kronenburg through the 'Staropramen' tap. These punks are taking the piss, DO NOT buy your beer in here. (If you want good Staropramen go down Bulls Head in Meriden)
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This is a fantastic traditional pub with good service from friendly staff, and serving tasty food in a good atmosphere.
Not designed for children, but isn't it nice to go somewhere where they're not tearing around recklessly sometimes?
I go with my friends on a Friday lunchtime, what a treat.
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was once a magnificent pub but this place is a chef and brewer or some similar shitty chain now. beer is bad, rarely see a theakston's in here anymore, most probably you'll come across a 6X. just dont bother coming in if its a drink you want.
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Never had a bad pint of real ale in here. Cliental are a bit snobbish but my money's the same colour as their's....(Oh I do enjoy popping in when my armpits are full of sweat after a walk!!!) Not tried the food here but it looks good and, checking the menu, appears to be good value.
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The food used to be excellent, but on the last two visits it has been dire. Not exactly cheap either!
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Its ok, recently the foods gone off a bit. still nice in the summer(if you can avoid the wasps) great location for trysts
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Great Food but a bit snooty
Alan - 6 Sep 2004 19:22 |
