please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
We were there last night to dine with family but I still managed a few pints. The local Silhill Brewery Twinkle Twinkle Little Star wasn't very good and nor was the Greene King IPA. Fortunately, the Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph was much better and the Tribute wasn't far behind (and they were all priced fairly at around £3.40 a pint). It's been many years since I was last in the Drum but I don't remember any exposed timber work from my last visit (has it been added to make this 1860s pub look older?). Whatever its date, the timber post in the middle of our table didn't exactly help conversation. Overall, a mixed bag and I can't see us rushing back too soon.
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Just nipped in for a quick drink. Service is beyond comparison, excellent. Recommend highly. Didn't try the food this visit.
Will always come again for the ale and the friendly staff.
Only nipped in for a drink, a Big 9..
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Busy Chef & Brewer pub that was full with people seemingly enjoying 2 for 1 meals. The atmosphere was similar to a real pub. But this is still very much a restaurant. Real ales available were Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale & Old Speckled Hen & Holdens Golden Glow. There were other people only there for the beer. But being the minority, I didn't manage to get too comfortable.
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I visited this pub today with my family and it was dire. Fish with bones in, lumpy gravy, chips that were overcooked to the point of being inedible as well as tasting of very old fat, an "apple salad" that consisted of a few random lumps of apple on a bunch of watercress - added to a dirty sticky table, (plenty to read though, lots of graffiti scratched upon it), a filthy stained bench seat plus an even dirtier carpet (ugh!) and to cap it all - a manager who just said it was all down to "head office" and they had lots of people in yesterday and the oil was changed twice a week! No wonder it all tasted awful - oh and if you are supplying gravy made with gravy granules (yuck!) please at least have the decency to remove the lumps before slopping it down in front of your customers! Take my advice, just dont go there.
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Nice place nice staff nice food,never had a problem here.
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We visited the Drum and Monkey on Sunday 31st August at 6pm - The Pub was half empty. I wish I had read the other reviews before we arrived. Our experience shows that nothing has changed since Dec 07.
We found that several dishes from the menu were unavailable, we ordered from the standard menu not 'specials'. Our food took 45-50mins to arrive after ordering, the food quality was very poor - chicken and sauce, I've had better microwaved ready meals! Vegetables hard with brown edges, "not al dente" just undercooked! Waiting staff very apologetic when told about complaints but took no action to rectify. priority seems to be to sell extra drinks, fine if this is what you are looking for, but from our experience do not consider the food.
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been there since take over. lovely big garden. Food was good and lots to choose from on the menu. I am led to believe they have a good selection of beer, they certainly did wines.
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First I would like to apologise to everyone who has had a unenjoyable meal out at The Drum and Monkey. The pub has now been taken over by a new manager who is not a relief manager and has put in alot of hard work to change the pubs reputation.
The pub now uses table service so all you need to do is pick a table and the waiting staff will do the rest! Since the last review, end of 2007 there are more staff and it is a good team.
Food is always served pipiing hot and yes just like any other pub/restaurant there maybe times where a certain food is unavailable but the extensive range of food on the menus should componsate for this minor blip. Some customers who stopped eating at The Drum and Monkey have now started sampling the food again and commented on how it has improved.
The past three events taken place since the new manager started have all been enjoyable and I look forward to the future.
I'm not going to say that there are never problems because that would be wrong but I can guarantee you that whatever the problem Edd and his team will do everything to ensure you come back time and time again.
I hope this has made you want to reconsider visiting The Drum and Monkey.
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Echo everything from the last post. The Bum & Spunkey should take a leaf out of the Forest's book because it's in a great location, but it's rubbish. The only real thing it has going for it is the large beer garden which is great in the Summer.
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Food takes an age to be delivered by the dopiest staff on god's green earth.
When you do get it, it's not up to much (tough steak, run out of things e.t.c.)
I'ts a pity because this is walking distance from my house but it's so grim in their it makes the cemetery more appealing for a night out.
Could do with being brightened up and getting better staff.....the manager is as bad as the rest of them
anonymous - 16 Nov 2007 16:29 |
Called in there on Sunday 15th April. Table was dirty, sent back dirty table mat, sent back dirty wine glass. Ordered a chees board. Only two cheeses on plate which had been hacked not sliced. Missing on plate was apple and celery. My husband had a roast dinner, he had a bad stomache next morning. Food is over priced. Will never call in there again.
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Chef & Brewer pubs in my experience are not anti-family, they just don't like children knocking over the serving staff ! I thought beer above average, and the pub typical of the chain.
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I wouldn't take your family if you have kids. This place is in an area mostly populated by families with kids and the pub used to be full of them. Since the refurb a year or two ago they have discouraged families.
It's not a really bad place, but it could be so much better. Service at the bar is friendly but slow. Beer very average.
Never was brilliant in here, but has gone downhill in last two years.
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Great place to eat. Food and table service is excellent, reasonable prices, very comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Take your girlfriend or family during the week or weekend. Can be a bit slow at the bar though!
Arnie - 22 Feb 2005 16:15 |
