Crabtree, Hemel Hempsteadback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Interesting range of ales including (on a recent visit) Purity and Rebellion breweries. Good, reasonably priced food and friendly, helpful staff.
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We've been pretty much every Thursday for two and a half years and rate this pub highly. It gets busy due to the quiz night and we get in before 7.30 else it can be hard to find a table. The pub had a makeover last summer and looks better for it, although the two TVs that went in for the World Cup don't show sport and I've only seen one on since and that was news with subtitles. They serve a range of well-kept ales* with up to three guests, although these can sell out quickly leaving GK IPA and Pride as standard. There's a good mix of ages and no chavs except a few in the summer when the beer garden's busy. The bar staff, with the exeption of the newer ones, aren't the most cheerful or efficient in the world but of late they have been quicker in coping when it gets busy.
The food is enjoyable if a bit unimaginative. Avoid the poppadoms: they come glistening with oil and when we asked for some dry ones they came back exactly the same. The chef's, sorry, cook's excuse was that they're deep fried as if the dry crispy ones are abnormal. For some reason, the gents toilet floor is permanently wet from leaking urinals which will, over time, make the new carpet in the toilet lobby stink. My gf says the ladies have most of the traps out of order and the sinks gurgle and emit bad smells. They really need to sort this.
*My mate and I both had beer squirts on one occasion during the summer when the pub had cellar temperature issues and the manager was away. We had to return several different beers and the barman seemed unconvinced that we knew what we were talking about but changed them anyway.
The Crabtree is a decent pub with only minor niggles so I've given it an 8/10.
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Around the time of weareleeds post I was barred from this establishment for requesting a drink, my second after I had just spent �25 on a round because I was standing next to someone at the bar who I knew and was drunk - as such I was told I could not have any more drinks, I had less than 2 units of alcohol in my system - proper ridiculous. Went in last weekend, seemed a little quiet for a Saturday but comfy and warm, food was good, beer was clean, no arseholes behind the jump - happy days
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Another Ember Inn, but totally different from the Fishery Inn, Boxmoor, just a few miles away. Timmy Taylors Landlord on one of the pumps, and very nice too. The food was served efficiently, and was pretty good. If in the area, worth a look at.
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Reply to We are Leeds- In fairness though, they stop food at 9.00pm and you admit you tried ordering after that time. Yes, it's only 5 minutes, but where would they draw the line? What if you were 15 minutes late? 30 minutes? An hour?
Where would it end? You can't expect them to leave grills/ovens/fryers on any longer than needed just on the off chance someone might be running late. On top of that, what about the chefs/kitchen staff, are you expecting them to unneccessarily extend their shifts just in case someone happens to walk in late?
Would you complain if you rocked up at Tescos 5 minutes after closing and demand they unlock the doors? I doubt it.
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dont agree with bad comments..ember inns is a great chain. nice food no annoying football and nice buildings.perfect place for women and older people to go., not thug friendly thank god...
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A mate drove from Leicester to Hemel to see me last night (Tuesday). He was delayed so we didn't get to the Crabtree until 9.05pm. We tried to order dinner as soon as we got there. We were told that the kitchen closed at 9pm. My mate's story about the 90 mile drive didn't interest the uncaring duty manager (or landlord). When I poliltely pointed out that a guy next to us at the bar had just ordered from the menu and paid I was just ignored.
Places like this aren't worth our money. We went to an Indian restaurant instead and the staff there couldn't do enough for us.
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For a local this place is alright, good size and there is usually plenty of seating space. There is also a good drinks selection that usually caters for most peoples tastes.
I must admit though there is room for improvement on the dining and service side of things, I too have received the wrong order more than once and have had similar issues with the lack of cutlery!
I go to the Thursday night quiz and more often than not enjoy it with no major complaints. However, going in of a weekend or weekday lunch is rediculous becasue they simply do not have enough well trained staff to cope with demand!
I really do think this would easily be one of the best pubs in Hemel if they just sorted things out a little...
anonymous - 16 Nov 2008 23:10 |
Im a bit torn about slating this place because the pub its self is actually very nice, it's decorated to a high standard and well maintained BUT the staff are completely rubbish !!
Was in there a few Saturdays ago and four of us ordered some lunch, my food was extremely poor, the chips were dark brown and my chicken burger was soaked with fat, it actually made me a bit sick looking at it, all of the others food was just as poor quality, we waited for a few minuets for Cutlery but it never come, so i went to the bar to ask for it - just as i was speaking to the lady she abruptly told me i was pushing in !!
after waiting for a man to order his 12 drinks !!! .... i was told to just take the stuff laying on another table .... by this point everyone had' had enough as our lukewarm food was now stone cold and we just walked out. I was so angry with the way they treated us, i don't think i would bother to go back.
Shame really because its actually nice inside but just run by complete idiots who really couldn't give a dame about the customers.
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Used to be my local, going to hell in a handcart!!!! Why do chains insist on employing"business managers" instead of landlords. Dirty, filthy toilets, crap food, staff with an attitude problem, poor beer. A perfect example of all that is going wrong with pubs today!!!!!
SiDer - 23 Oct 2007 20:33 |
1st time i went was ok. last visit was awful. busy pub, no staff, meal order was wrong, then told to wait for cutley as they were to busy to bring us some.
oh and a crab leg (apparently) in the scampi.
rude staff and bad service
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Im a former member of staff from the Crabtree. I returned to sunny hemel last weekend, i was thouroughly disgusted at the standards the crabtree has now employed. There were 5 staff working, and barely 25people in the pub,yet the pub was a mess, i had toclear one of the many vacant tables of glasses myself to get a place to sit. When i informed the staff that i needed the table wiping, i was handed a cloth! It was an utter disgrace! There were 2 guys sat at the bar drunk, ringin a bell all the time! All in all, i dont think i will return to the crabtree again.
anonymous - 19 Mar 2007 00:07 |
Massive garden out the front, really good for the summer, beer is not brilliant and the bar staff are pretty useless, food is a decent standard, they do a quiz night down there on a tuesday night which is ok.
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Not sure why, but this place seems to bring the worst out in me. Had some really good times in here but there is something definately lacking. Garden is best feature, especially in the summer but can get a bit chavish.
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Absolutely lovely in here. Always clean and well lit. Great meals as well... Katy, one of the bar staff is a real doll and is definitely an enjoyable evening.
The local to most of the staff that work in Dixons, HSBC and all the other corporates on Maylands Avenue Industrial Estate..
Great garden for in the summer x
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Not to bad , they do cook a mean mixed grill , but it is a bit pricey in there , nice place in all thought , been there a few time and it's all ways a nice freindly atmos
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This is a an ember inn,M&B .beer is good here but sadly these pubs are all the same,Its like going Macdonalds in another town,if we ignore these pubs ,pub chains might try to make more effort!
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