Bull, Downtonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I've been in here twice in the last few weeks. The first visit was fine, I had the lunchtime carvery which seemed nicely cooked and was very tasty. We were served by a very pleasant young man, so no quibbles about our visit on that occasion.
A quick visit tonight (1st Oct) was sadly different. One family were having a meal in the restaurant area, and there were just two people in the bar. One guy in the bar was a bit worse for wear, belching loudly and swearing. Whilst he seemed friendly enough, it's still not something you want to be subjected to, and given the lack of anyone else in the pub, it was painfully loud. We took our drinks outside (mercifully it was a warm night!). The bar-girl became somewhat defensive when we tried to explain why we weren't too impressed and said she'd told him off and that he would be 'leaving soon'. The pub looks attractive and certainly doesn't look like a spit and sawdust place, but I don't imagine many people want to be subjected to that, especially given that two pubs further up the village, are well established contenders for local custom.
To sum up, its tried to tempt with cheap meals but is sadly still just a boozer.
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I went here one evening as my Mum had just moved into the village and we couldnt be bothered to cook.
It was a saturday evening, the waitress didnt even know where we were meant to order food. Myself and my Mum had a carvery which we queued up for to find out we had to go to the bar and pay first! My Son decided to have sausage & mash as he thought the carvery looked crap! They didnt even have any mashed potato so he had chips instead.
The carvery was over cooked meat, over cooked veg which was only carrots and cabbage. Brought in roast potato's, parsnips & yorkshire puddings. Not forgetting the paxo stuffing!!! Having trained as a chef and my husband is a head chef I can spot brought in food a mile off.
I will not be returning there!!!
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Do not go to this bar. The current landlord is rude, unprofessional and only interested in making a quick buck from cheap and bland carvery meals. The bar area is usually locked up and shut well before 11pm so that he can spend his quality time with a bottle of whisky. The rooms are small and the walls are so thin that all noises can be heard between rooms.
This pub used to be great but now it is an embarrasment to the village of Downton. Stay clear until new management take over.
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From my previous visit, perhaps 5 years ago, I remembered the Bull as a Hopback tied house, good range of ales, if a bland pub.
What a deterioration! One ale only, Ringwood Best; is now a carvery, missing only the Harvester sign. Sausage sandwich was execrable, full of hard, burnt bits of unidentifiable substances, served in processed bread; salad without dressing. On being asked for dressing, waitress brought a sachet of salad cream.
Do your palate a favour and go the extra 1/4 mile to the White Horse to see what a mixed country pub should be like!
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Yet another food-led roadside pub. A big plus is it's large, if a little inconveniently placed carpark.
Real ale choice limited, on my vist only one, although on my recent visit the quality was excellent. Generally however, drinkers seemed well catered for.
The food was good, the menu short but simple. Friendly staff and a spotlessly clean interior helped make an enforced stop something of a pleasure.
My rating 7. Expect more as time goes on, The 'Bull' feels like a work in progress.........
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Seriously folks, if you are staying in the area, give this one a miss.
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This pub has just been bought by Marstons, changes very likely.
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Currently closed for refurbishment. Due to re-open mid-November.
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Hmm. Think the previous posters lacked the energy to make it over the bridge to the Kings! More a "restaurant with bar" than a pub.
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In agreement with above comments, definatly the best pub in the village with a warm atmosphere and entertainment from the wierd and wonderful bar staff!
O - 28 Jun 2004 10:33 |
I was looking at the 'random quotes' on the website and realised that the first sentence of my previous comment may suggest that this place isn't particularly good. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a great pub. Apologies for any ambiguity.
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The best pub of the four in Downton although in truth it would have to get a lot worse before losing that accolade. Beer is from the Hopback brewery so it's worth going in there for that reason alone. Give the Summer Lightning a bash. Great stuff. Extensive menu. Staff are friendly. One fruit machine and a beer garden out the back away from the traffic noise.
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