please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5.6 / 10 suggests a boring average pub in suburbia. I was surprised when I read that mark. This is a fantastic old pub in a beautiful part of rural South East Essex. I dont live far away and since I moved to that area, I have been back as often as I can, which isnt often enough.
There is always a good selection of ales and they have Addlestones Cider. I am not normally a Cider drinker in a pub, ever. But I will make an exception of Addlestones. The staff seem friendly enough. It does get busy on a Sunday but the food is great so this is a good thing and a positive. The garden is mostly shaded by mature trees and in the summer, you need that. You will never struggle to park if come by car. Unless youre on foot, you havent got much choice as the buses are too infrequent.
One thing I didnt realise until I got there was that it closes during the week for the afternoon. The other pub in Paglesham, the Punchbowl is the same so I had to get a cab back to the disappointing Royal Oak, Stambridge to continue.
I would say this pub is good for people of all ages and tastes. I dont really get whats not to like.
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hi, came 80 miles to see this pub. turned up at 1.15, ordered and got food at 2pm. over half hour wait. my food was ok but wifes chips were fried to crisp and swamped with peas. service seemed very amateur. when we asked for closing time member of staff snapped 3pm! we felt guilty that we were there.
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We come to this pub about once a month for a superb Sunday roast. It's such a lovely place, the staff are always friendly, it has open fires and the food is superb. The food is very tasty and they're not shy on the portions either. Don't listen to any of the negative reviews on here, because I cannot understand why you wouldn't love this pub. It's also in a great location for starting a walk around the sea wall. Give it a try, if you like cosy, English country pubs then the Plough and Sail will not disappoint.
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My husband and I used to frequent this pub at least once a week in the summer months, we have taken both friends and family there for special meals (Birthdays or Anniversarys). We hadn't been for a while and decided to take some friends with us, who were visiting from America. We were so very disappointed, the food was not a patch on what it was before. I ordered the lamb chop and asked for it to be well done, when it came up, you could see the blood on and around the chop. I very politely, asked if it could be cooked a bit more. It was taken away for ages and the blood had been drained off but the chop was still the same (just colder). I never touched any of my dinner. When the same waitress came to clear the plates, she never even asked me why my dinner had not been touched. Still at the end of the day, I might have lost out on my dinner but in the end they will be the losers if people read these reviews.
Its a pity because it used to be a really great place to eat but sadly not anymore!!
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Haven't eaten a full meal here but had a sandwich for lunch and although they used good quality ingredients we were extremely disappointed by the portion size for the price. In fact it was no different to a pre packed sandwich from Tesco or Sainsbury but cost twice as much.
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A friend and I visited this pub for lunch recently and the food was glorious! Service was friendly and we didn't have to wait overly long for our food. I see that the uncomplimentary posts about The Plough and Sail are fairly old but we were almost put off by them. I'm very, very glad we weren't - best fish pie I've ever had! We will definitely go again even though it is a long trip - it's worth it!
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My wife and I visited this pub 1-2 times a week for many years, as did my parents. The service was excellent and the staff were polite and extremely friendly. Mark and Lois always made us welcome and our daughter became friends with their children. We never had a bad meal in fact there was too much to eat . Mark always found a table for us because I never booked . Xmas lunch was something else and yes we did book.. I think Jamie Oliver trained at his dads pub who is Marks Brother. We have visited only a couple of times over the last 5 years when we return to UK and its still been as good.
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Blimey, have just read the reviews under mine...I can honestly say this does not reflect this pub at all!! I travell 50 miles to visit this lovely pub, perhaps Im the only one who sings its praise but as they say if your happy you tell 2 people but if your unhappy you tell 20....Take my word..AN AMAZING PLACE TO GO,,,TRY IT YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!!!!!!
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Amazing...wonderful...what more can be said!!! Justin the bar man welcoming and friendly to all..Proprietors are the most amazing hosts..a real good place to spend a winters night by the open fire, or a summers day in the garden,,locals are friendly a No 1 place to be..and as for the food..100% great...what more can you say!!!
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Avoide this pub if you are taking your family out for a meal. For a pub that allows children in, the assistant manager makes it very clear that they are not welcome!
Unfriendly and rude service from the assistant manager/waitress. Shame because all the other staff are friendly :-/
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I walked to this pub with a group of hikers 42 years ago and always wondered where the heck it was. Last week, while driving aimlessly around Essex, I found it again so we went in, full of anticipation. After waiting patiently, then making loud conversation for a total of 15 minutes, someone finally came out from the kitchen to tell us the pub shut 5 minutes ago and nothing would persuade them to pour us a couple of pints. Perhaps I should make a reservation now for my 100th birthday. Incidentally, the station info is garbage - Barnham & Althorne are both the other side of the River Crouch so, unless you are a strong swimmer, you should expect something like a 20 mile walk from them.
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Oh dear. It might have been an off day (Tuesday lunch). Glancing around at other diners' plates I decided to play safe and ordered cod and chips. Probably the worst battered fish and chips I've ever had. My friends' fillet steak looked dull, although top marks for the accompanying marrow. Beer (Green King IPA) was in OK condition, but the food was well below average. Where can you get great pub food in Essex?
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We waited for almost an hour for our meals, my Dad's salmon in a white wine sauce was actually not with a sauce, just cooked in white wine (poor wording on the menu).
Our meals were delivered one-buy-one with other tables being served in between.
There was absolutely no fish in my Mum's batter and she sent it back to the kitchen. We waited for a replacement and spoke to a waitress after another 25 minutes. She said the kitchen was shut and they'd taken the Cod off of the bill. We weren't even told my Mum would have to go hungry.
Terrible service and bad food.
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Got there at 10 to 3. After waiting around 15 minutes to get served, someone came out from the back room and told us they closed at 3. First time I'd been there for 40 years and I think I will wait another 40 before I go back.
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We drove here which was quite far for us. Waited 20mins for our table. Was sat in a rather nasty secluded part of the pub - next to the kitchen. my Steak was swimming in oil which made me ill later that night. Overall i was really disappointed, especially as i found the menu quite dull.
my partner also thought the service was appalling.
anonymous - 12 Sep 2005 13:44 |
Delightful country pub despite being famous (infamous?) for being the one where Jamie Oliver learnt his trade. Guest ale yesterday was Mighty Oak's High & Dry. Lots of parking available and plenty of seating outside plus an aviary. Watch out for the low roofs.
7/10
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