please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I think the last reviewer was a bit harsh. Although I didn't eat here, there were three McMullen ales (Cask, AK and Country) available, and the Cask was very drinkable. The pub was quiet for a Saturday night. The barman was friendly and welcoming. With its attractive and out of the way location, I'd certainly visit again for a a pint or two of real ale.
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A dreadfully overpriced pub , ridiculous really (r they in central London), God paid less for a beer in the Savoy bar! Awful ripoff of a place. A very lazy pub with idle staff. Shame really as nice location. Have to agree with others i'd stretch myself to beat 0/10, a real ripoff and staff r so poor. Company summer party seeks location??? This place is a big NONO!!
Food was really really dreadful n I'll eat anything.
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Very attractive looking pub from the outside in a pleasant setting, the staff were most welcoming considering it was a Sunny Saturday lunchtime and extremely busy.
The beer is well kept, and the meal we had was superb!
Perfect pit stop for cyclists or walkers.
The John Bunyan will now be on our cycle route a lot more.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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I went there with the family (including the dog). We sat in the garden on a nice sunny evening. A staff member came out and asked us to keep our dog on a lead in case it aggravated other dogs. We have a retriever ... it wouldn't aggravate a fly. The staff member chose to ignore the other (regular?) couple whose dog was the size of a pony and was standing and then lying on the table they were sitting at. Unbelievable! Unfortunately it was after we'd ordered food and eaten it.
We ate there. Now that was a real mistake. Frozen fish in batter and chips (- cod apparently, although it looked and tasted more like the packet it would have come in; I�ve never seen grey cod before). The food was nothing short of a rip off. It was embarrassingly bad.
The beer was ok and the barman was really friendly but that was limited compensation given the overall experience.
In summary, there are better pubs in the area, especially if you enjoy dogs and food, but not both on the same table!
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Went here for a large group buffet after walking the dogs.
Found the staff to be helpful and accommodating. It is a small place, with the tables a little too close together, but it's warm, cosy and clean. As I say, we were there for a specially prepared buffet for about forty, which was well presented and of good quality. I can't comment on the normal food as I didn't have any, but if it is to the standard of what I did have, it should be fairly good.
As to the beer - It's a McMullens house, without a guest, not that I could see. The AK was in great shape, well kept and about the right temperature. Quite likely to go back after, or during, another walk.
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a nice location indeed.
but a poor pub with exceptionally unwelcoming staff.
told me to move my car from disabled bay despite my being a disabled badge holder.
wont go there again
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Excellent local, albeit slightly off the beaten track. As per comment tregarding favouring locals over visitors, pub tends to have a local clientele of necessity, due to difficulty of getting here by foot, but staff mostly very welcoming. Squarely targetting the over 40s, seems to have stood up well both to the recession and the previous government's war on the pub.
Mcmullens tied house so usual selection of AK and Country (both of which well kept) Food unpretentious, good portions and well cooked. all in all, an excellent pub, the likes of which are sadly a growing rarity amidst the theme pubs, faux wine bars and chain houses which seem to proliferate in town centres. Thoroughly recommended.
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Potentially one of the best pubs in the area. The beer is always well kept and the food excellent. All I would like to see is a guest ale or ales but I suspect McMullens do not allow this. It is also worth ringing up before visiting on a winter's afternoon as you may find "all day opening" does not last "all day"!
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I came back here about 10 days ago. This time as the visit was more planned we had time to eat. The choice is quite wide and it is difficult to make a final decision. However it is all of excellent quality (the chips are fantastic) and not that expensive. Beer and wine up to their usual high standard.
Previously I got the impression it was quiet but now I realise that although it does not get that busy the trade is steady. It would be my local if I lived down the road - there are some pleasant properties nearby.I would give it 11 if I could.
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Can't understand why the JB is not a lot more popular. The food is good, not the usual freezer-to-microwave and there are always several home cooked veggie options as well as those for omniivores. Prices are very reasonable for the area.
The McMullens beer is always well kept and doesn't seem to run out although I have never seen a guest beer.
The pub has an interesting history, is clean throughout, quiet (no tele or musak) and the staff are fairly welcoming, even if they do seem to favour locals over visitors a little. It really does deserve some more customers. Would probably suit over 40s most.
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I was visiting friends in the area over the holiday weekend and we decided to pay the John Bunyan a visit. It is a very pleasant pub indeed with a friendly landlord and staff. I had an excellent pint of McMullen�s AK, and that is often not the case in some McMullen�s pubs. For those that prefer wine there was a good choice at reasonable prices. Hopefully next time I will have the time to try the food.
Although it appears very quiet there was, in fact, a steady stream of trade passing through. I could make this my local if I lived nearby. Highly recommended!
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HOW MUCH FOR A PINT????
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Since I last reviewed, I've since revisited the Bunyan on many occasions without the brats thankfully. The beer is marvellously kept - McMullen Country is an excellent pint and the food is much better. The landlord is a friendly host with an expert knowledge of Indian and Thai food. I'd recommend a visit.
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Nice looking pub in an excellent location and a very nice pint of McMullen Cask Ale. However they seem to be doing somethign wrong as it was pretty much dead on a scorching Saturday afternoon. We had come by this pub on a walk and the previous pub we had encountered (poor location and in urgent need of a refirb) was packed out!
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lovely location great food and ale.supper service from nice freindly staff,would recomend to anyone.
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Nothing changes then, went about 5 or so years ago and it was the same, bit of a waste of potential really.
anonymous - 30 May 2006 17:34 |
Kind of relieved to see someone else say food was ghastly! This place seems to have built up a reputation for ... errr ... something that wasn't there when we were taken there by friends for Sunday Lunch (about 2 years ago). Nice Hounds & Country location, but very under scratch. Sugggest Crooked Chimney or Elephant and Castle if in same area.
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Food is ghastly - "steak" sandwich was like kebab meat. Greasy chips, all frozen food - nothing home cooked by the looks of it. Children unfriendly. Surly service and average beer. Such a pity - as the pub is in a beautiful and idyllic location.
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Great country pub, serves locally (well, Hertfordshire) produced McMullen ale. The AK Bitter was particularly good.
Lunchtime food looked appetising, although I didn't indulge.
Plenty of outside seating at the front of the pub and in the back garden.
Don't be put off by the winding single track road you have to drive down to get there, it's only about 1/2 a mile long, and there's plenty of passing places.
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