please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Beautiful location but be prepared to be pay for it !!!!!! Over £2 for a small coke, beer low abv 3.75 and then upwards. On our experience avoid the sandwiches.huge slabs of bRead with little or no filling. Rip off Britain at pAly here.
samuk - 29 Mar 2015 14:07 |
I hadn't been to the butt for nearly 10 years and noted that it had undergone a refurbishment. The old restaurant is now split level and looks a bit like a theme pub with naff ornaments everywhere. Thank goodness the bar hasn't been altered. This pub didn't need alteration it was perfection already.
Food and beer still excellent, staff friendly. A nostalgic revisit indeed.
A lovely pub - the best in England (Probably)
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I visited the Butt and Oyster about three weeks ago for Sunday lunch. We sat in the bar and had a lovely time - very relaxed and informal, easy going and comfortable - and what a view! My roast lamb was excellent, with very tasty vegetables too. Adnams Broadside was marvellous.
I've been there a couple of times in the last 18 months or so, and have been very happy. The restaurant 'bit' is perhaps a little more stuffy, but still pleasant, and I've never encountered the staff or food problems others have. Yes, it does get busy, and it's worth bearing this in mind, but is it any wonder with a location like this? It's true there was something of a 'golden age' around the early 90s (owing as much to the locals as the management - God bless ya Pete!), and maybe it did suffer more recently, but I wasn't there, so...
Just one general point: I shouldn't need to consider how difficult it is to run a pub (or any other business) before I'm somehow 'qualified' to comment on its quality. If it's well run, any thought of how hard it must all be will become redundant. Yes it's tough, but as a landlord mate (of a *very* busy Bristol pub) once said to me, "no-one forced me to get a pub!".
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My first visit recently. Original choice was Freston Boot but evening meals were not available after 8.30 so moved on the Butt & Oyster. The waiter (Landlord, Manager?) who took our order came from the Basil Fawlty Charm School but I think that was a bit tongue in cheek. The meals were superb. Only snag is the access road-very narrow and parking space is hard to find.
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This is one of those pubs that if I'm in the area, I will always make sure I visit. Even out of season this place can get very busy. Grab a table early and you wont be disappointed by the food or the beer served here.
They usually have a wide selection of local ales available, Wherry etc. Just being snapped up by Adnams, so the range is likely to change. Still no bad thing in my opinion!
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This is definitely worth a trip to. The pub is at the very edge of the river - in fact at high tide the water is just below the windows - it has bags of atmosphere and was once the favourite of the late cartoonist Giles. A few years ago it boasted one of those "Rudest Landlord" types who ran a very tight ship and could always be relied on to liven up the quietest lunchtime with his zero-tolerance policies. Since then, it's fallen into the hands of a pub company and predictably has lost much of it's old edge (new toilets and a ramp for the disabled etc). Beer is generally good, food can be variable. As in most 'tourist' pubs, the service is at best indifferent. Nonetheless the location makes it worth seeing. Moody and atmospheric inside in winter. Lovely to sit outside in summer. As 'tommy' below says, take a walk along the path and enjoy the shanty town of old houseboats.
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This is a classic pub. I'm only an occasional visitor but the service and feel of the place has always been pretty good. The best thing about this pub though is its location. Go for a walk down by the broken barges then come back for a pint of Adnams and fish and chips. Give it a go. I prefer a bit more spit and sawdust and better choice of beer. 8/10.
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A shame this one is causing such dissension! I had the best garlic prawns EVER here (the second best were over the river at the Ship in Levington). Mind you, this was in 1985, after a frozen thrash down from Hull on a square rigger ... so, "any port in a storm" I suppose!
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I have run pubs for Bass and Scottish & Newcastle (as they were then known), from Colchester to Coventry. All had restaraunts. I think I can fairly say I am reasonably experienced enough to comment between a good pub and a bad pub.
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I may like to surgest to the people that write these reveiws a little something, TRY RUNNING A PUB. It aint easy. Stop making it personel and remember its only a meal not life or death. Rant over. I think the 'Butt' Is a great place, take the time to go down relax and enjoy your visit. Yes I agree sometimes the food can take a little to long to be served but hey YOU TRY IT!
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We visited the Butt this month and cannot fault it. Absolutely fantastic food, the best fish and chips i've ever had. The staff were all efficient and really friendly, especially Chris, who somebody on a previous posting has said was rude! We thought he was a fantastic chap with a great sense of humour, something you dont see often enough. We will definately be going again, can't wait.
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Unfortunately, I have to echo what has been said about the pub living off its old reputation.
My mum went there with friends a few weeks ago, and had to wait 45 minutes for food, while other people who came in and ordered after her and her friends were served before them.
When she asked how long the food was likely to be, she was told ten minutes. Fifteen minutes later, she asked again as it was at that point nearly an hour after they had ordered. She was told that the pub had dealt with 80 orders and the food was freshly prepared, and - unbelievably - was asked how long SHE thought it would take to cook the food in her own home! The man who spoke to her - CHRIS - was so rude that I am tempted to go down to the pub and have a word with him myself, and I may do so. Hois tone of voice and the way he speaks to customers is absolutely DREADFUL.
This echoes an experience that me and the missus had back in April, where we waited an hour for food, the waitress didn't know what was on the menu, and we weren't actually seated when we went into the restauraunt section.
I wouldn't go back there now if they paid me. That pub has gone SO far down from the days when Dick used to run it, it really doesn't deserve custom. Arra is a lovely woman and very good in the kitchen, and I know a lot of people still in Chelmo, but that pub is the pits. The only reason I can imagine that it still has trade is because of the reputation it HAD, and where it is.
A very VERY bad pub. Don't bother with it.
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As per other recent comments, the beer in this pub is great, but you take a risk eating there. The Butt and Oyster had been highly recommended to us and so we decided to try it on a celebratory evening. What a mistake. The first thing we saw when we arrived was the kitchen staff having a fag outside the front door, not always a good sign! Most of the menu was 'sold out' (but we were not advised of this until ordering). After the third attempt at ordering we went for a steak and a an Italian burger, both rare. The steak came out medium and whilst the burger was fantastic, the bun it was in was stale. When we politely informed the waitress of this we received an "Oh, I'm sorry" and she promptly disappeared and we didn't see her again!
Even a follow up complaint email to both the pub and the HO have been totally ignored.
I guess this pub is now living on it's reputation alone and unfortunately it's a reputation it no longer deserves. A real shame as it's sister pub 'The Maybush'is wonderful!
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This pub used to be AWESOME, especially from the late 80s to the mid 90s. Recently it seems to have gone a bit "chain", but it's still a good place for beer and (mostly) food. Great location, great atmosphere. Recommended!
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One of the great pubs of Suffolk, or indeed anywhere. It is not a restaurant, despite other comments posted here and its own claims - it is a pub that happens to serve (mostly) seafood. Perhaps I just don't have high expectations of pub food to start with. The esturine location can not be bettered, new extensions have been incorporated into the old building with reasonable care and it just about retains the character of a working locals pub, despite the vast number of weekend visitors it attracts from throughout the county and beyond. Still calling itself 'world famous' after appearing in an episode of Lovejoy, I note...
Adnams range with guests. Not cheap due to captive local village drinkers and the fact so many people have to drive to it for one or two. Go moor your boat nearby before setting sale for glamourous Felixstowe container port.
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This pub drew me in due to it's position. It just seemed so welcoming. The staff were efficient but had that little coldness that sometimes comes with efficiency. Friendly crowd who didn't mind our football group.
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This is a superb location,as described,truly.Good beer,well kept and a decent selection of Adnams beers.
No complaints about that...however, the food is very hit and miss and I have twice been with people who have been served still cold frozen food,inadequately cooked.
Moreover the place is blighted by too many metropolitan visitors with assorted boystrous children in tow,scrabbling for tables.Sadly a very diminished local legend.
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location fabulous, warm, cosy and atmospheric, whatever the weather but the food is terribly overpriced and not that good, fish and chips is o.k, so go with that but dont venture out to anything else. i had the mixed sea food and it was frozen stuff deep fried and burned. its too busy a pub to bother complaining though.
still, worth a visit for atmoshpere and location, stick with the fish and chips!
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This is definitely worth a trip to. The pub is at the very edge of the river - in fact at high tide the water is just below the windows - it has bags of atmosphere and was once the favourite of the late cartoonist Giles. A few years ago it boasted one of those "Rudest Landlord" types who could always be relied on to liven up the quietest lunchtime with his zero-tolerance policies. Since then, it's fallen into the hands of (I think) a company and has lost a little of it's old edge (new toilets and a ramp for the disabled etc). Beer is good, food variable. Nonetheless the location makes it worth seeing. Lovely to sit outside in summer. Moody and atmospheric inside in winter.
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Seem to have got themselves sorted since the previous reviews.
Service prompt and organised despite being full. Food good. Beer (Adnams Bitter & Adnams Explorer excellent.
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visited again August 2006-OH DEAR!! the beer is as good as ever,but the food was discusting it seemed that it had been in the warm(just!!)drawer for some time-it was only 12:30 for heavens sake!! the table was sticky and we asked for it to be cleaned which it was with very poor grace.There seemed to be loads of staff hanging around the bar area and doing nothing-service was VERY POOR
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The location and historic building are matchless, and the beer's not bad, so it's a pity it's spoilt by two things:
1. The staff are rubbish. Some disorganised 18 year olds (it's not their fault) lorder over by a 30-odd year old jerk with a tie who barks so many orders at them they don't know whether they're coming or going. The consequent chaos means when he does have to serve someone, he's snappy with them because the job is obviously stressing him out too much. Some management skills might be useful
2. They really should make more of the outside area. It could be lovely and really attractive if the tables were smartened up, maybe a few pot plants or flowers in containers. At the moment it's like drinking in a car park, could do loads better
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A really down to earth pub. Great food.
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First Class for beer,food,and location well worth a visit
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CLASSIC PUB IN WATERSIDE LOCATION IN THIS LOVELY SUFFOLK VILLAGE. A MUST FOR FANS OF ADNAMS AND ARTHUR RANSOME
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Very good pub, food excellent, good selection of Adnams beers, friendly staff and well worth a visit. Very popular with locals and visitors to the area, gets very busy so it is best to phone to book a table or risk disappointment.
cliff - 19 Apr 2005 23:25 |
Good food and beer, but why are the staff so miserable?
The lunch time specials are good value at �10 for two - you can have four for �20 but not three for �15, can anyone explain?
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