please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
What a shame that the heart and soul has gone from this pub.
The couple who run this place are rude arrogant and very very ignorant. The so called refurb leaves a lot to be desired. The food was poor the service was poor and the atmosphere POOR !, for a couple who claim they have years of experience in the restaurant industry they are not bringing that experience to the table.
I used to frequent this pub regular before moving away but after a recent visit back to the area I most certainly will not use this once great pub again!!
Frank and Carol hang your heads in shame you have ruined a once really nice pub !!
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My sister lives round the corner and we all had a meal in there on Saturday night. Nice refit and an emphasis on good home-cooked fayre. Service was attentive and food really good. The Woodforde's Wherrys tasted a bit thin, but the Greene King IPA was in fine fettle. A better selection of ales would be a good move. Overall this is a vast improvement on its previous shabby incarnation, and if the surly former clientele are carping about having to move on then thats no loss
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The Leather Bottle is now under new management and has undergone major refurbishment. It is now run by a husband and wife team with many years of experience in the restaurant business. This historic gem is now serving traditional British gastropub fare, all cooked fresh to order. Come in and see the difference for yourselves!
Carol and Frank.
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if this pub is so great then why do most of its customers now drink in either the huntsman or the prettygate ????????????????????????????????????
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I have visited the Leather bottle on quite a few occasions since the new chef has taken over and what a difference the guy has made, he truly knows what the customer wants. I also hear that the last chef was lazy, slow and also very untidy and did not care to much about the kitchen. Trim we were in Last wednesday and again Sunday and there were no problems at all. The kitchen stayed open until 9 and the Chef was there. I think by your comments you are bearing a a grudge against this pub and the people who own it as they saw fit to dispense with your services as you obviously were not up to the task. This pub is clean and has excellent food and the staff were very friendly indeed. The new chef should be commended for his efforts. The last chef had given the pub a bad name for food which is why me and my friends stopped going but now its getting back to where it should be. Good luck to all the staff there and we shall see you again soon Kez and the girls.
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i dont agree with the last comment about this place, if you think its a nice place then try spending a few evenings a week in there and believe me your attitude towards the place will change big style, from what i have heard the new chef closes the kitchen more than it is open. How do you expect to make any money like that. Go in there on a wednesday night for a real eye opener as to what the place is like
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I visited the Leather bottle 3 years ago with my Family for a Sunday lunch and I was disgusted at the mentality of the so called regular lot who stood in the bar swearing and being abusive to not only other customers but the children in there as well. However that was 3 years ago!!! I heard that the pub was under new management and a new chef was in place etc so I decided to take my wife and kids there (last sunday) and try again. I could not believe the change in the place. The new owners were very friendly and polite. Made a change from the old lot who had it who were really rude and ignorant. The food I might add was absoloutly excellent the new chef has totally got the right idea. None of this cheap and cheerfull microwave crap you can get anywhere in any pub in the area it was traditional and homecooked which makes all the difference. And to add to that the chef came out and personally made sure every table was happy and satisfied. The kids had a great time and we felt thouroughly satisfied after we had finished. The beer was excellent the pub was clean and tidy and the atmosphere in there was warm and friendly. It is nice to see that they want to go back to being a good old fashioned pub where you can take your family etc have a good meal and be made to feel welcome. We spoke with a few of the regulars after our meal who drink in there most days and they commented on how the new couple have slowly got rid of all the idiots and foul mouthed people who used to drag the pub down. I notice from a couple of recent posts about this pub that certain people are not happy with the couple running the bar. I have ran bars myself and it is no easy task its a 24 hour job. The couple in there now are doing a great job the pub has the right sort of atmosphere and I shall be visiting again this week at some point with my good lady for a drink. I can only hope my visit is half as good as my last one. To run a pub you need to be a strong person. Not be bullied by people who call themselves regulars and that they have more right to be in there than anyone else. Its nice to see that the new couple want to change the image and make it a more friendly place. If you want to be a lout sear and be abusive go and do it down the road somewhere else. I would definately recomend this pub again !!!!
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i used to go down the leather bottle every weekend but it has become a real lifeless and boring pub, the landlord is on the biggest power trip i have ever seen, his missus thinks she is so much better than everyone else when really she aint. if you ask me they both need knocking down a peg or 2
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I WORKED AT THE LEATHER BOTTLE FOR A WHILE AS A CHEF, MY EXPERIANCE THERE WAS A TOTAL NIGHTMARE, THE COUPLE MANAGING IT HAVENT GOT A CLUE.
THE LANDLORD BARS SO MANY PEOPLE IM SURPRISED THE PUB HAS ANY CUSTOMERS AT ALL, HE HAS RECENTLY CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE LADIES DARTS TEAM SO THEY HAVE NOW LEFT, EVERYONE THAT USED TO DRINK IN THERE HAS TURNED THERE BACK ON THE PLACE NOW, GRS OR PUNCH SHOULD PULL THERE FINGERS OUT AND GET A DECENT COUPLE IN THERE TO RUN IT AS THE PUB ITSELF HAS LOADS OF POTENTIAL.
I PERSONALY WOULD DRINK IN THERE IF THE BREWERY DONE SOMETHING WITH IT, IF ANY LIVES IN THE COLCHESTER AREA JUST POP IN AND SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THE PLACE.
IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD TAKE THE PUB ON BUT UNFORTUNATELY I DONT, GET THE RIGHT COUPLE IN THERE AND IT WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
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I agreed it looks great from outside, but inside it warn.
I one a free meal for 2 people once at the local booky - never went - wouldn;t drink there let alone eat their.
anonymous - 28 Oct 2007 01:21 |
Abysmal beer quality, probably due to the location of their cellar as much as lack of care by the people running the place. I recommend you drink bottled beer only. The food is good though. Uninspiring decor inside and out.
Yevad - 14 Jul 2007 15:00 |
from the outside it looks like a historic little gem but the interior is bogstandard 1990s chain pub with boring beers to match.
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