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Black Boy, Shinfield

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user reviews of Black Boy, Shinfield

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Very poor experience. We booked a table for lunch with my 81 year old mother and 18 year old son. Very curt rude service by the waitress. We were not made to feel welcome.
The potatoes were not delivered with the salmon and we were told that they were under the fish. They were not.
When I informed the waitress that the potatoes were not there, she made no apology, huffed and just walked off. When they arrived they were not fully cooked so we sent them back. Still no apology and felt as if we were the inconvenience.
At the end I asked to see the manager. A man came who informed me he was the owner. I explained our experience to him and asked if he felt like adjusting our bill. He argued with us that in his opinion the potatoes were cooked, then took the bill and screwed it up in his hand and said that 'he would respect our decision not to come to his pub again'

My 81 year old mother was very upset to have been treated this way. We have been coming to this pub for many years celebrating large and small family occasions.
DINSY41 - 24 Mar 2016 09:53
Not exactly made to feel welcome at this pub. Came in at 8:25 and asked if they were doing food. A curt check on the till and told to find my table and order at the bar.

I did this, and then realised that a) they have a restaurant around the back with table service and b) they had a specials menu that no-one told me about.

Got the feeling I was in the way.

Food was fine and service good. Thirsty after a walk, so had a Stella and cannot comment on the real ale.
Mappiman - 9 Jul 2015 18:17
Surely one of the most awful rip-off prone pubs for miles. It has a reasonable interior but why are you charging consumers West London prices amid an economic collapse? No wonder so many pubs are closing. You may be too if you stick with prices like yours.
fender100 - 14 Jun 2012 23:51
More of a restaurant than a pub, including waitress service for some tables. Staff not very friendly if you just want a drink and it was packed on a Friday night! Also no dogs allowed indoors. Didn't try the food so can't comment on that, but won't be going back for drinks only.
Erdingerfan - 7 Sep 2011 12:36
Average pub with a 'food led' operation. Nice sized car park. Didn't try the beer as I was driving. The place was empty when I visited, but it was 3:00 in the afternoon!!! Overall it was clean and well presented, I will visit again.
wolvesfan - 23 Aug 2011 10:57
There have been several major changes to this pub in recent months and I have only seen a couple of them - all the signage has changed so the picture shown above is well out of date (it now shows a picture of a Black Horse - the Black Boy) and the owners are now doing works to the rear patio area. I think it is still a Greene King pub but it may have been sold with a beer tie. Looks like I will have to go there again to update this report!
mcroyal - 9 Feb 2011 21:00
Made a decent job of the refit, keeping the nice beamed feel with a general clean-up.

'Country pub' routine is ruined somewhat by bring slap-bang on the A327 and next to a busy section of the M4, as well as there being a TV. Feels a bit 'are you local?' outside of the major evening times.

Beer is Geene King, served fairly well but not really much to retain the interest beyond a pint really. I guess the selling point is the food, which I haven't tried and probably never will...!
Quinno - 13 Oct 2008 20:41
Not too bad but has that modern feel about the place and beer prices quite high but food looked good
superseagulls - 5 Oct 2008 16:59
Quite good food, but look a litte sterile
Ianatheling - 3 Aug 2008 01:43
Reopen after refited, look more like a restaurant with beer price high.
ckhinton - 14 May 2008 09:35
Very nice pub, will agree with the others, very smokey after a while.
siancollins - 17 Jan 2006 12:33
Very friendly place, although whoosh is right it can get a bit smokey.

The pub quiz on a Sunday night is a must if you can get out there... make friends with Paddy, he's an awesome knowitall!
thebigbosh - 12 Sep 2005 23:35
Nice food and great beer. Atmosphere a bit smokey.
whoosh - 16 Jun 2005 09:57
Friendly Greene King pub with variable menu, pleasant beergarden and plenty of parking, deceptively close to the M4.
bhowlett - 19 May 2005 14:49

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