Blackwood Arms, Littleworth Commonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Blackwood Arms is a delightful pub in a totally rural setting on the edge of Burnham Beeches, probably not easy to find in the dark if you are unfamiliar with the single track and windy roads. It is none the worse for that! We sat inside, but on a day when you could well be in the fine garden at the back- note you step right into the road as you leave the front door. The pub’s website speaks for itself on food (I recommend the fish and chips), and the choice of beers was adequate.
The service of food was friendly if leisurely, particularly the desserts, but I emphasize that the crumble and custard was well worth waiting for.
There is a public car park across from the pub, but even on Tuesday midday this was full with walkers’ cars, and thus parking maybe a problem at weekends on this narrow road.
Finally, for connoisseurs of aberrant apostrophes, the menu is a collector’s item, a treasure trove; terrific value, as nearly every plural has one. However, I did see that the door saying “Gents Room” lacked one, when being possessive, it should.
Recommended, and will happily go again.
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Indeed they did and alongside the usual Brakspears and Wychwood Ales on the pumps in the bar we were able to enjoy Crouch Vale Brewers gold extra, Blue Monkey Sanctuary and Elgoods Golden Newt from the barrels on silage out back. And surprise of surprise the weather was good as well..
It’s great to have the Blackwood Arms back and functioning as a solid real ale pub. It may not be back to its former glory in the dark days of the keg domination in the early 80’s when I used to have the misfortune of having to work near Slough, but I’d settle for this rather than having a closed pub and another private house. It’s unrealistic to dream of the days in the 80’s when it got in the Guinness Book of records for dispensing over 1000 different ales in a year, but along with the nearby Jolly Woodman and Royal Standard this still makes a wonderful beer stroll through the country lanes.
And as the Woodman is criminally not on this site I have loaded the crawl onto Pubs Galore for others to enjoy.
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There having a beer Festival 20 / 23rd April in Celebration of St Georges day.
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Lovely area, pub is small . Stopped by for a meal however resembled a playing field with kids everywhere. Went elsewhere. Shame.
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The Blackwood Arms has loads of character and has a great choice of Ales and Cider,the Ham and Burgers were excellent,the staff are also very hard working, the drive was well worth it and we cannot wait to return.
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Cosy little pub in secluded woodland location with good choice of real ales. Worth seeking out!
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Like many others here, delighted that the Blackwood Arms opened again earlier this year - best "proper" pub for miles around! Very enthusiastic Landlord/lady and bar staff, well kept beers and free biscuits for the hound. Looking forward to plenty of winter evenings by the fire!
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Very pleased to see the Blackwood open again. Friendly staff, great beer and food, and coped admirably with a large group of walkers descending on a Saturday lunchtime!
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I visited this pub last week as it was on my planned ramble route. I arrived at 1:50 just in time for a food order. Whilst waiting for food I was offered a sample of the guest beer by a very helpful and enthusiastic barmaid. The beer was excellent and my Sausage sandwich was the best ever. The landlady came by and engaged us in conversation, as did a couple of senior lady customers . I was very easily tempted into a second pint. Overall an excellent experience and I look forward to another visit
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Well, i was not going to respond to the Gents comment below, however if you are going to give a critique then at least place a few more facts in the comment thread.
As i recall on of your group originally booked a table for lunch for 20 people, only on Thursday pm did the booking change from 20 to 8, a bit short notice as i could have booked the tables 4 times over, however i am full every Sunday so was not to concerned. The organizer of your group did tell me that the other 12 or so may well come along but was not sure what or if they would eat, my response was "we will do what we can , but it rather depends on how busy things get, i also explained that i could not guarentee tables etc. The booking was for 1 0/clock ( peak time) hence in my little 30 cover village pub space is a premium.
Anyway at around 1 0/clock you chaps arrived on mass, the gang who had had good sense to book were offered drinks and showwn to their table,, leaving the vast majority of you at the bar trying to order food and drinks, my wife and manageress did try to explain that we had no room as we had as usuall booked to capacity .
This was unacepltable to the chap concerned as he said " there are empty Tables" yes he WAS correct , however they were for those who had the foresight and common sense to book on busy weekends.
Did he rally expect to be able to walk in with 12 people and demand service ????? at the busiest time of the day.
After the groups repeated insistence that we would fee them and some of thems rude and insistent attitude i approached and reiterated the position.
I suggested to them that there was a much larger pub within 5 mins walk that may be able to accommodate an impromptu visit.
Some left and some stayed, when the chap who wrote the review below left , some 25 mins later he again made comments to the team and expressed his thoughts.
By this time i had quite defiantly had enough of being insulated asked him "which part of full up was difficult for him to understand ?, and as to his head being full of c**p, well you guys who will read these two sides of a story will be left to decide.
I hope Beer in the evening post my response, too often do we in this business put up with shoddy customers and have no where to express our thought and feeling.
Thank heavens for democracy
Written by " The Landlord"
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Very nice looking pub. Shame about the landlord. Turned up recently on a Sunday for lunch, tried to order from the menu and was told in no uncertain terms � �don�t you understand what full means? Probably because your head�s so full of c**p.� This in a pub with a lot of empty tables and no sign to say that they were not taking any bookings.
So, can�t comment on the food but will definitely not go back.
The Jolly Woodman, just round the corner, may not look so pretty but does great food and offers a really friendly welcome.
Having tried many of the pubs in the area, I have to say this is the worst reception I and my friends have ever had. They don�t deserve any business.
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I can safely say this is the best pub i have ever had the pleasure of visiting! The Land Lord and Land Lady along with there small but dedicated team have transformed what was a run down closed pub into a real hidden gem of a pub.
The food is well above par for the money you pay, and you can tell the chef/land lord has been trained and has got plenty of experience, they offer a varied menu comprising of a whole host of different flavors,
The Land lady ( who i must say is beautiful!!) knows how to serve a good pint and the range of real ales is spot on! lucky for me i wasn't driving so i got the chance to sample all they had on offer. and having been raised on real ale i can tell you with confidence that there's is faultless!
Over all this pub is fantastic! i can't fault it! its setting, staff, service, food and general feel is the best i have experienced! i shall return and if you haven;t been yet you need to go! NOW!!!
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What's this I her about Brian the goose becoming a regular??
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We had lunch today at the Blackwood Arms and can confirm the previous two reviews from April below. Our party of 14 (including dog) were given a very warm welcome. The food was excellent, as was the Braekspears beer. The service was prompt, friendly and attentive - all the dishes arrived at the same time, not something was always experience as a large walking party! We enjoyed; great Sunday roasts and terrific desserts, very reasonably priced. The pub has great character (yes there were open fires - it was a cold rainy day) and the new owners have really done a great job of making it a must-visit place. Thoroughly recommended.
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This pub is under new management since mid-Jan 2011, having been empty on and off for a year or more I was told. The current tenants are very friendly and intent on ensuring their clientele receive a warm welcome with the landlady usually to be found behind the bar and the landlord splitting his time between the kitchen and chatting with customers.
We stopped for a lunchtime pint on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The pub is relatively small and fronts to Littleworth Common on a very quiet road, with facilities for horse riders to tie up their steeds (hay provided!) and an adjacent car park, and to the rear is open fields. There is a large garden with plenty of tables. Evidence of open fires can be seen, though we had gorgeous sunshine. Beers on tap are Brakspear, and the guest ale was a favourite of mine (Hobgoblin). Kept perfectly, I may add. The missus had a couple of different wines (white and a rose) and enjoyed each.
Sadly we couldn't stay for food but the comments coming back as we chatted with the chef/landlord were highly favourable, and the smells coming from the kitchen made resisting somewhat tricky! Sundays seems to be roast day, but otherwise expect sausages, fish pie, chunky sandwiches, ham and chips etc. The serving team are friendly and enthusiastic and don't be surprised to be given a playing card for a table reference - if you get the Joker don't take it too seriously!
To update a couple of the facts from the page, the pub seems to now be open daily except Mondays, and only til mid-tolate afternoon Sunday so I suggest you call to check if you intend a Sunday evening pint.
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Visited today after a dog-walk to Burnham Beeches. New owners took opened less than a couple of months ago (ie Feb 2011). Lovely garden with great view. Brakespears good, and about 4 other real beers. Varied lunch menu, both light and full-on. We had a delicious sausage & onion sandwich with chunky bread, a prawn + chorizo salad, and a bowl of great chips. Clearly someone with high-level chef experience here, as food was imaginative and delicious. Would suit people with fancy or straightforward tastes - they have a suasage menu - choice of 6!
Good parking for a walk to Burnham Beeches, probably more likely to find a parking space here on a busy weekend than one of the BB car parks - and less than 20 mins to BB proper along path by pub. Oh and the pub is dog friendly!
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Recently reopened, I understand.
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Understand this Pub is currently COSED. Is it pemanent I ask. Given that it is well off the beaten track I fear it is.
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A Brakspear pub selling their basic range, no guest beer,inside it is rather bland, but it has a great garden and is in a good location. The food is OK but over priced and the service is slow, it is understaffed at weekends when busy.
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I have to say the service & food that I experienced last weekend was second to none! Extremely friendly staff, efficient, and the quality of the food is now fantastic - can't wait to go again!
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A delightfully secluded little pub with a nice garden. Brakespear Oxford Gold went down a treat, but the food was dull and overpriced.
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At one time this place was renowned as a centre of excellence for real ale, and rightly so. But the suddent departure of Sandy a few years ago (taking his permanently parked Winnebago) and the place went through hard times before being bought out by Brakspears. Gone went the wide choice of beers, the old fixtures and fittings and, yes, the character was ruined.
Returning for the first time in years, the character hasn't really returned, the inside is little better than a second rate Beaconsfield wine bar. But the soul remains. The beauty of the incredible wooded setting, the attentiveness of excellent staff and, although the choice was limited to Brakspears and Old Hooky (pleanty of flaming lagers though), they were well kept and enjoyable. There were 3 of us, 2 had their food and the third (me) was kept waiting for 20 minutes. Despite this, the food was excellent, competitively priced overall, and the attentive Manageress (Margo) simply shone in her work.
A wonderful Sunday afternoon, a treat to be there and a great place to enjoy the country at its best. I wish them well
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The pub is a superb, has friendly staff very delicious food and they have a really beautiful garden especially during the summer. The price for food is worth it and worth waiting for. All the beers are in perfect condition and I certainly do not agree with the other negative comments. If you want to go to this pub then go, you won't regret it. Fresh selection of food, refreshing drinks friendly staff. The pub is set in a very clean country side area.
(RECOMMENDED)
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Good beers, but the food is over priced. Don't go when you're hungry, we had to wait for over an hour, even though there was less than 20 people waiting before us. What happens when they get busy I don't know.
Great location, great garden, great shame.
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Just have to say this used to be a jewel in the crown for country pubs. Although splendid in summer, to me it was always a welcome rest. Sadly it is now in decline, and only caters for those who can afford expensive ordinary fayre. This is all to common amongst secluded pubs, but i suppose its better than closing it. There is always hope that it might return to its former glory. Get the atmosphere and Good beer back and ditch the fancy food , if you want to eat go to a restaurant and do us alers a favour why dont ya.
lewes - 22 Mar 2007 15:34 |
Had lunch here recently, and although Pricey, it couldn't be faulted. The Old Hookey was also in perfect condition, and whilst the Pub was a bit quiet, the Owners were chatty enough and have some good ideas moving forward. This Pub deserves to be a success, and I sincerely hope that they can make it just that.
Alain - 30 Dec 2006 18:13 |
This used to be a great pub. Full of local characters , fantastic bar staff and packed out every weekend. Sadly somebody chased the locals away and turned it into a sort of Bistro thing. Not sure what it's trying to be but staff are very helpfull although food is average and expensive. Not such a good selection of real beers anymore but OK if you like Brakspears. Garden is a real plus and location is to die for which is much a threat as a bonus as the property must be worth an absolute fortune. A string of landlords have struggled to made a success of this pub which is a major worry as this could easily go the same way as the muched loved Beech Tree only just down the road. This pub and its staff deserve more success. I wish them well.
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Sadly the previous comments hold true today. This once delightful place is just another dingy and costly bistro. Avoid
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its all about food im afraid , pub has realy gone to pot. Nice garden but its not enough to make you want to go back. It was once a fantastic place in the early eighties. Oh well .
lewes - 10 Jun 2006 17:28 |
This used to be one of the most famous pubs in the country for real ale, but after Brakspear took over it's reputation (and customer base) diminished significantly. A string of managers, weeks of being closed for refurbishment and change to being mostly food orientated did nothing to remedy that. Without the ever changing real ale it doesn't offer much, as it's tiny and lacks character, a good plus point however is the beer garden which borders a field and is a nice place to sit and sip on a warm summer evening. Last time I visited the real ale was being served through a chiller and it was closed on Mondays and only open evenings.
Despite it's recent changes I still have a real affection for the pub and hope it's new owners can make a go of it. Visit it for it's nice country setting and proximity to Burnham Beeches. 7/10.
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Charming country pub. Excellent beer garden to the rear. Big emphasis on food, especially the generous Sunday lunches. It's advisable to book in advance. Nice friendly staff.
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