please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
During the 17th century the Ostrich Inn had a very famous chef who went by the name of the Jarman. Recipes such as Deep Fried Fat Pig and Cole-in-the-Brook, and Trap-Door-Baguette were enjoyed by the locals.
The good food came to an end due to his unfortunate execution.
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Dick Jarmam , a landlord from Medieval days is said to have murdered up to 60 guests at this pub by tipping them out of their beds through a trapdoor into a boiling cauldron below.
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Rumour is they just got 3 out of 5 as a hygiene award, which means "Generally Satisfactory".
Food must be much better than their beer, that's all I can say!
Funnily enough, Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre, which helps repatriate unwanted immigrants, got 5 out of 5.
colen - 20 Jan 2014 14:31 |
Dear Phillip,
you asked me to come into your pub. You asked me to retract my previous review because your bitter was perfect. You refused to allow me to taste your "perfect" bitter.
I have never called you a French wanker as I am certainly no racist. You on the other hand apparently cannot keep real ale or accept criticism. I cannot make it any clearer to you or any other user of this website. I want a pub which offers:
A nice drinking environment.
A nice selection of good quality drinks.
Good hygiene.
You fail most certainly on the first two. Do you really think I would want to come and drink in a below aveage environment with rubbish beer just because you can clean glasses? Sorry but I do not.
Please be assured that I have no interest in drinking in any establishment you manage.
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I was relieved to find this place when stranded in a hole up the road just a few years back.
I thought the food was OK as was the beer, but a bit pricey perhaps.
However, as some have said that might have kept some local clowns out.
I must say though, in general on BITE, personal disputes between management and posters always look bad: it's really for the punters to fight it out amongst themselves. If a place is good they'll usually come to its defence against unfair criticism.
Owners and staff are advised to leave it to customer reviewers.
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Dear Colen, Regarding your first review: You did target me as A "French w..ker" who knows Best??? Why then would you come back to taste my beer as you think.. in fact that is you who knows Best?
The irony of this situation make me smile... as did not ask you to come back???
Please be ensured that I am going to enjoy right now one of My Most Awfull Pint of Real Ale.
I shall see you in 2 years time ;-)
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Two years ago I posted about the Ostrich. Then the manager banned me! All I wanted was to be able to drink a decent pint of beer in a nice environment.
Last week I was asked, through an intermediary, to rescind my earlier comments.
I visited the pub and spoke to the manager. He asked me personally to apologise for my "erroneous" posting and said if I did I would be "allowed" to return to his pub.
I asked if the issue he had with keeping real ale had been resolved. He told me it had. I asked to try the beer. He told me that if I posted a favourable review on the beer, I would be allowed to come in and drink it!
I explained that I cannot post a review on something that I have no knowledge of.
So I guess I am still banned.
colen - 27 Sep 2013 08:18 |
Just found out the pub I used to love and spent many a happy night in is up for sale. I have never wanted to win the lottery so much in my life. I`m just hoping whoever buys it restores it back to the traditional, ancient, coaching inn reeking with character myself and a lot of disgruntled regulars miss so much.
I`ve set foot once in there in eight years due to one of the ponciest unsympathetic refurbs I`ve ever had the misfortune to witness..
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expensive pints, and far too gastropubby. shame.
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I visited The Ostrich recently and found the drink and food to be good (albeit the food is a bit pricy). The staff were friendly as well.
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Got to say love this pub not cheap mind, but great beer all local and the food is so good. very nice staff and a very nice place to spend an evening.
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Scott ran this pub for about 3 ? years.
Great team of staff.
Superb beer and okay food.
Prices were steep but helped keep the riff raff out - Apart from me :-).
A French bloke took over and destroyed it in as many days. Beer is crap and undrinkable. Still charging �4.50 for a lager that has yeast in the lines.
All the real ales have a haze which is conducive to a cellar that is too cold.
Have tried to advise the new manager but the w**ker knows best!
So, after the Ostrich being in the top position for so long, I have to say "Shit pub, shit beer".
What a shame.
At least the furniture in the bar is ready for the pub to be turned into a library when the french tosser gets sacked.
colen - 21 Aug 2011 06:55 |
Magnificent building,but curiously inappropriate modern furniture in the bar and restaurant.Well kept Doom Barb at �3.50.
Pleasant staff and charming French manager who will hopefully be successful
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What a Great Pub !!
And a Great Selection of Amazing locally brewed real ales.
We where spoilt for choice.
Visitig from the US (expat) I really missed a proper pint. Well I was not dissapointed. All the Ostrich's beers are locally brewed and incredible tasting.
I was not sure which to have next :)
Spoilt for choice with lots of locally brewed ales
Guardsman - Windsor & Eton Brewery
Posh Pooch - Ascot Ales
Doom Bar -Sharps - Rock Cornwall
Spitfire - Shepherd Neame
TEA - Hogs Back.
I can only but highly recommend a night at The Otrich.
Great food, great ale
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Isn't it very odd that the last 2 positive reviews were written with exactly the same style putting capital letters all over the place in the middle of sentences !!!!
So I think we can safely dismiss them as an inside job !!
"The chef trained at Claridges" - lol that really made me chuckle.
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Fantastic Gastropub and the Third Oldest Inn in the Country.
The Ostrich has had a revival since the new management took over.
Fantastic Staff, Great Ambiance, and Incredible Food.
They also sell a great range of English Ales and Lagers.
When I was in, they had Spitfire from Sheperd neame, Tea from Hogs Back Brewery, and Doombar from Cornwall on Pump.
The Barman informed me that they alternate their Real Ales and That they Also Sold a Locally micro Brewed Beer from Windsor and Eton Brewery; Knight of the Garter. Which is produced just 5 miles down the road and a range from Greene king including there new Golden Beer St Edmunds.
They also had a range of unusual Lagers including the Japanese Beer Asahi which tastes Incredible. My group can vouch for that as we had a quite a few. Also a new English Micro Brewed English Lager Called Freedom Four which is apparently made from Burton Spring Water and only Natural Ingredients.
They also sold one of my favourite ciders Aspalls.
We ending staying for dinner and the food was some of the best I have ever Tasted. Congratulations to the Chef
I Highly recommend you spend an evening at The Ostrich.
I am sure after our experience it will not Disappoint.
Great Pub, Great Staff and a Great Place
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I wanted to post this review as I have had an amazing experience at the Ostrich this weekend.
Not only was the ambiance and atmosphere Incredible.
The Food was exceptional, and the service and Staff even better.
I have dined in some of the best restaurants in and around London. And The Ostrich comes very close to the top of my List.
I Believe you should take some of the previous reviews with a Pinch of Salt as obviously the people commenting are Closed Minded and not open to Change for the better.
I can Highly Recommend the food, the service, and Experience.
They sell local quality products at a reasonable price, and I hear the head Chef trained in Claridges.
EXCEPTIONAL 5 STAR EXPERIENCE
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Sorry you cant read the reviews, they`ve been deleted, funnily enough the suspect pro comments still remain, funny that
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Was once a regular in the pre -refurb Ostrich, now find it too upsetting to even go in there. Always read the reviews avidly and I think its been blatantly obvious that the horrendous refurb had been an absolute disaster ,and to say its been universally unpopular is an understatement.
There was no consultation from the new owners, straight in they came and brutally stripped centuries of character almost overnight and they actually believe its better, what an absolute joke. LOOK AT THE REVIEWS
This is the third oldest pub in England,a listed building, one of the last traditional coaching inns to boot, how on earth did English Heritage allow this to happen??... very very sad
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Don't do it !! I have no idea whose refurbishment this was but its an assault on the eyes ! It looks like someones try to cram a 1950's Happy Days type breakfast bar into a centuries old fine english building. It so doesn't work its not funny and you can almost hear the buildings tears!.
We went there for Sunday lunch which if I'm entirely fair was very poor. Probably bourne out by only 2 other tables there whilst we were there.
One plate of beef had a 2 inch wide vein of fat through the middle and even allowing for me liking my beef on the rare side was simply uncooked. (The chef said "its supposed to be like that") !! Er news to chef -- its not !
Despite a cost of I think about 12 quid per person we were allowed 1.5 potatoes each! when we asked for more we were charged roughly a pound a spud.
You are going to be hard pressed to find a more unforgettable Sunday lunch than here. (oh and take dark glasses !)
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Went to this pub yesterday lunchtime, nice sunny day thought we would sit outside. Service good, not many people there. Food choice good, but only wanted snack - bit limited.
Decided on a fairly safe prawn sandwich on granary bread with garnish and fries.
Loads of filling but.... brown sliced bread, not overly fresh, with lashings of spread; not at all as expected. Too many fries, other people (2) on next table had left most of theirs on the plate.
Would have preferred bread as listed on menu and dressed salad leaves.
Shame. Won't go back.
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very poor unfriendly service, food bland and not value for money ..... probably explained all the empty tables, i visited a couple of years ago before it was refurbished or should i say destroyed, looks like a pub that should be somewhere else ..... in a city centre, not in a sleepy village in berkshire. wont be going back
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When Most Haunted Visited The Old Osritch, I Was Part Of The Most Haunted Team On This Investigation. Although The Building Was Steeped In Paranormal Activity an History, I Did Feel That, Even At The Time Of Filming, This Building Had Been Transformed Into A 20th Century Boozer. The Rooms Where Some Of The Reported Crimes Had Taken Place Were Bare And The "Trap Door" That had Once, So History States, Taken Guests At The Inn To A Lower Floor And Ultimately To Their Deaths, Had Been Hidden By Concrete, A Stud Wall Seperating It From The Actual Bedroom Itself. I Travelled Back The Ostritch To Find That There Was Nothing Left Of What Used To Be An Inn Full Of History And Paranormal Activity, It Is Now Nothing More That A Modern "Gastro Bar" And I Cant Help Feeling Thant The Brewery Has Made A BIG Mistake.
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I HAVE LIVED IN COLNBROOK FOR 20 YEARS - I WILL NEVER GO TO THE OSTRICH. THEY HAVE STRIPED IT OF ALL ITS HISTORY - SHAME ON THE BREWERY !!! IKEA SHOWROOM - NO CHARACTER AND OVERPRICED FOOD
A NO NO
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Certainly has a modern feel, staff were not on top of their game, but quite acceptable for a local pub experience so close to Heathrow.
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Absolutely spot on CaptainMorgan, though i must warn you to expect your review (and this) to be removed, as were the overwhelming majority of negative comments regarding that diabolical refurb. Ancient historic coaching inn transformed into an ikea showroom!!, beggars belief
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A perfect example of how to tear history apart all the old world charm has been messed up by this new refurb its such a shame the beers and wines are still good but its like drinking in a modern pub rather than a warm cosey historical inn. The Captain recommends avoiding only 3-10 for this spoilt inn
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I visited the Ostrich for the first time last weekend and therefore cannot compare to what it was like before the refurbishment. The food was excellent, with great attention to detail and very generous portions. The menu had something to offer for everyone and the staff had a good understanding of the dishes and were helpful in recommending accordingly. The place has a light airy feel for a building so steeped in history and the open fire and faint smell of wood-smoke help create a country atmosphere. I would definitely go again.
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I have no idea why all any negative comments are being made about this fantastic place. I loved it and had a great evening. The staff were incredibly friendly, the food was superb and the experience was well worth the drive up from London. Hurray for the refurb, that's what I say!
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I have been to the Ostrich before and after the refurb and to be honest it's a country mile better now. The food is great and so are the atmosphere and staff. It's a great place to eat whereas before it was fine for a quick pint but that was it. The only downside so far has been there's so many brilliant things to choose from! At least that's a perfect excuse to keep going back.
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Always had a soft spot for The Ostrich. Use it extensively for "corporate". The yanks just love it. Beer always well kept. Bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Extensive and imaginative menu, always well cooked and presented. Love The Ostrich!
RoyTheBike
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I went to this pub at the weekend and must say that, having reviews here, I did not know what to expect. However, I was really pleasantly surprised.
I had not been to the Ostrich before the re-fit and cannot comment on the "before" look, but on entering the pub, it is clean and has a pleasant atmosphere. There is a lovely old fireplace near the bar (which is very modern-looking and perhaps out of keeping with the history of the building) but I liked the "feel" of the place.
The room we ate in was a little cold to begin with (it was not near the fireplace) but it soon warmed up once we started eating.
The food was fantastic. A little pricey but very good. Service was excellent. We were shown the large function room upstairs, which was very impressive and the character of the upstairs has been kept very much intact.
I can understand that locals may not be happy with the refurbishment. The pub is very old and it would have been nice to see more of the character kept downstairs. However, I was very impressed by the cleanliness (the glasses were crystal-clear, the cutlery, crockery and tables were all clean and not sticky like you get in some places and the floors and surfaces were all spotless. Toilets likewise).
I really have nothing to complain about. when I go out for a meal, I think about the following things when making a judgement:
1. Was the place clean and would I be happy to eat there again? (yes)
2. Am I getting value for money? (we had the set Christmas menu and I thought it was priced about right - we had three courses plus coffee and mince pies and chocolates. With drinks it came to under �30/head).
3. Would I recommend it to my friends? (absolutely)
4. Were the staff friendly and was the service good? (the service was excellent).
So, in all, I would definately recommend this pub for its food.
Negatives - a personal comment: I would prefer to see less of the artistic photos of the pub on the wallsand more of the history. The pub has an interesting story and I would have liked to have read more about it during my visit.
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I have been to the Ostrich a couple of times and will go back again. The food is delicious and well presented and the ice-cream!!! All home made, each visit an adventure. The staff are pleasant, chatty and polite. I can only muse that the negative comments about this pub are posted by individuals whose idea of haute cuisine is a TV dinner and I would recommend in future that they stick to one of the burger joints run by the namesake of that famous Scottish clan. I would commend this venue to all perceptive diners.
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Amazed at the negative comments. The burger at �8 was fantastic value; the Chowder the best I have eaten in years and presentation was as good as it could have been. All together a great place for a good sunday lunch. Wines well priced and it isnt the fault of the Staff that they are understaffed and rushed. The staff were friendly, courteous and professional.
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This is a great place. Can't undrstand some of the other comments. The Ostrich burger, OK it's not cheap, but it is the BEST burger I have ever tasted & one of the biggest. Interesting & diverse food menu. Staff are ALL friendly. The drinks are on the pricey side but this gives a better class of customer, not local kids looking for a belly full of lager.
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Hamburger, I think Innkeeper means Ostrich burger!
Exceptional value for money for this freshly cooked and prepared food. Try the Cod and chips it was 12 inches long!
Staff very friendly yet remain professional.
Can see it upsetting a lot more locals though as they focus more on food and more people from the surrounding areas start to visit.
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**A lovely Sunday lunch out, highly recommended**
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Travelling round on a Sunday looking for a good home made Sunday Roast and stumbled across here, what a find!!, Even though the place does look a bit old and tatty it fits in with the atmosphere and history and the Sunday Roast was excellent!.. Highly recommended
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me2, been watching most haunted have we?
Not a bad episode I must admit, but seen a lot of better ones.
Not been to this pub yet, although I plan to in the next couple of nights, but i've heard the food is well worth the price......
anonymous - 10 Jan 2005 16:44 |
I saw Jeremy Beadle in here in 1997. He was eating a bag of mini cheddars.
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A very old english pub steeped in history with a lovely open fire. This pub was once owned by Jarman the murderous landlord who killed and robbed his wealthy overnight guests by dropping them into a vat of boiling oil through a trap door in the bedroom floor. Food is excellent, a bit pricey though. Well worth a visit!
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