Roundstone, East Prestonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This has been a regular pub for a few of us Worthing Rugby fans for a few seasons now so this is an overall observational post, not just a one off visit.
1) NEVER anything short of happy and very polite young waitresses or waiters, if they don't get everything right it's only down to a lack of experience.
2) The food is good value, it's most certainly not over priced and there often special offers from the Table Table chain. Although I must admit there are times when this or that is "off at the moment."
3) Usually a couple of real ales on, yes they are kept a little cool but this is an all round pub trying to cater for everyone, not a "Good Beer Guide" proper boozer with 10 hand pumps and bearded locals!
4) Noted the comment from one poster about the red wine not being allowed to breathe, well hang on, it will have been a bottle of Ernst & Gallo or similar (forgive any spelling errors) for between £8 to £10 pounds, not an aged Claret in a dusty bottle from an outstanding cellar!
5) It's not often that our group is accompanied by small children, however when it has been, the staff can't do enough to help, providing a high chair, childrens size meals etc.
So, unless you are a pretencious red wine officianado, I'd recommend The Roundstone for a good value lunch or evening meal in very pleasant surroundings!
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This pub was mentioned on 'Fake Britain' on BBC1 this evening - not for the beer but because 3 of the staff were involved in the production and sale of fake paintings!
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Thought I'd write another review since my last visit in april 2012. It's still the nicest pub restaurant in the whole area by a mile!! Service is always friendly, food is always great and I and hubby have tried most of the menu, they have a very loyal local and not so local, due to the hotel, following.
Quiz nights mon and tues night which are fun, all in all just really good. If you are thinking of going here ....do, then write a review so all can see for themselves. As for the people who will never go there again.... Great they really don't need you or want you.
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Went there on Saturday 18th February 2012 about 18.30 hrs.
Only beer offered was Spitfire though this did not include Larger.
There was 3 people in our party, one order the duck, one order the lamb stew of some kind (waitress had to go & check as she thought they may have sold out (I thought how old was this and how many times has it been reheated) waitress returned & we were informed there was some lamb left) I ordered the Fish & Chips, we also ended up ordering a bottle of wine, though I was already prepared to leave and go elsewhere due to the lack of beer.
Waitress was cheerful and pleasant, The red wine was opened and poured before it had time to breath. The food finally arrived!
The batter on the fish was over fried & the fish inside was mushy as though it had been fired twice the peas were hard as bullets & the chips were raw inside. My wife seemed to like the Duck (though she seldom complains about anything and accepts that things are not always as good as they can be). My friend who was paying had the lamb, he regretted his choice very quickly as there was hardly any lamb in the pot the carrots where so over cooked, the broccoli was under cooked the potatoes tasted like smash.
When I first complained to the waitress about my meal I was offered a free coffee or a dessert which I did not want and asked to see the manager, this did not happen. Once my good friend had all that he could bear & I noticed how much he left. I got up and went to see the manager myself, he came over to our table and though pleasant & apologetic saying that this was unlike their normal service, eventually said that he was only going to charge for the duck and the soft drink that the wife had. We did accept though personally I think that the whole lot should have been free and that they should have paid us for our time and compensation for trying to endure such substandard food that had we actually eaten it all I am sure we would have ended up ill. I am not sure if there was any Chefs on duty or even any proper cooks around that that day.
I could never ever recommend this place since it changed hands and would never ever set foot in the place again. If anybody out there reading this is thinking of going there all I can say is BE PREPARED FOR THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF YOUR LIFE THEN YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I joined this site specifically to warn people off ever going in the Roundstone. The worst service I have ever received. The young man who "served" us was rude, arrogant and unhelpful. I thought he was joking at one point as I've never encountered anyone so rude. We ended up cancelling our order and walking out, and my children were extremely upset.
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Since writing my review, ive decided to write to the chairman of Whitbreads to claim a full refund of my bill for a ruined evening.
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Had the misfortune to visit this place on Sunday evening. After a long wait I was served with my order of Lasagna! It was so dry and shrivelled up I sent it right back. The so called manager said there had been 3 or 4 people complaining about the Lasagna that day. I asked him in that case why he was still dishing it up! He looked blanckly as if to say so what. No i'm sorry! The food was overpriced and poor value. I will not be going back again!
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Don't believe the rubbish written in some of the below reviews!!
We have been coming here for the last 2 years and have never had anything other than great experiences. The staff remember you, go out of their way to be friendly and polite and the food is just superb.
We also know people who used to eat at other places ie the spotted cow and the swallows who after our recommendation tried the Roundstone and now will not eat anywhere else. If you like the coughed and sneezed upon salad and roast chicken served at Harvesters then this will not be the place for you. If you want a classier place with great staff and food then go here. Don't just take my word for it check out trip advisor !!
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Since my last posting we have given this place 3 - yes 3 more chances. Mainly becasue it is close to home and when finishing work at 3 we come to have a lunch. 3 out of 3 disasters and the last one was the biggest and final one. Slow is an understatement. Staff have no motivation:
Tables left uncleared
Only one smile from the 5 on duty
Dirty tables
First course 50 minutes in an all but empty building
Second course a further 26 minutes and we would have walked out but we had already paid for it.
After working since 6am to 3pm I like a relaxed meal but this was just stressfull.
We will not be going back, it is quicker to go further away (usually to The Harvester in Littlehampton) than eat at The Roundstone which is less than 5 mins from home.
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The Roundstone run by Whitbread is one of our local pubs and restaurants, which my family and I have been patronising for the past four years.
We have often experienced problems, mainly related to kitchen service but in the past this has always been dealt with in a professional and courteous way by the Manager at the time. Unfortunately, after our experience last week, this happy situation has come to an end.
As someone who runs their own business, I don�t get many opportunities to enjoy a meal out with my family, especially during the week. However, as it was my birthday, we thought we would walk to the Roundstone with our 3 year old son for a quick meal.
We ordered our meal and drinks and were delighted when our starters arrived promptly, we actually laughed that everything we ordered was available and maybe the Roundstone had got their act together. We relaxed and enjoyed these, then sat waiting in the garden for our main courses to arrive, our son particularly hungry and keen to get his dinner. Coming up for an hour after we finished our starters, our main courses had still not arrived and our son was in tears. I enquired at the counter, where the member of staff apologised, explained there had been a mix-up in the kitchen and that our food would be with us in 5-10 minutes. Over twenty minutes later, it was now too cold to sit outside so we moved inside and I returned to the counter to inform the staff of our move and tell them that they needed to get some food on our table within 2 minutes or we would be leaving. When I returned to our table, our son had climbed under the table trying to snuggle down to sleep.
In a few minutes �Jamie�, the alleged �Manager� came (empty handed) to our table and here is our conversation:
Jamie: Are you waiting for food?
Me: Yes, that is an understatement.
Jamie: It will be another 10 to 15 minutes.
Me: That is unacceptable; our son has been crying for his dinner and is now trying to sleep under the table. We will be leaving.
Jamie: It will only be 10-15 minutes.
Me: I don�t believe you, we are leaving.
Jamie: OK, that�s fine.
As you can see, there was not even the hint of a forthcoming apology or concern for either ours or our sons discomfort or inconvenience caused. There was no attempt to make good the situation or to bring us something even small to eat. There was also no explanation of why we had been subjected to this failure of service. He just said �OK, that�s fine�, and turned his back on us.
Leaving my partner to get our now clearly distressed son into his buggy, I followed Jamie and his irritating attitude to the kitchen and explained clearly and calmly that �OK, that�s fine�, is not the correct response to a customer who has simply sat in a restaurant waiting for food that his kitchen had failed to deliver. His reply was, �That�s OK�! I told him to stop being ridiculous, of course it is not �OK�. Just to confirm that he really couldn�t care less his reply was �yes, OK�.
This is just part of the letter of complaint I have sent to Whitbread and await their reply, which I will update here. In the meantime, I wouldn't recommend anyone to use this establishment, unless they like going hungry, being insulted and told to get out if they complain of course!
The only reason they get a 2 is that it could be so much better and the bar staff are trying so hard to do a good job under incompetent management.
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we have just returned from the roundstone, 17,12,08 . we had pre ordered a festive menu, 3 coarses for �14.99. i must say it was excellent. we was greeted with a huge smile from a friendly young lady named jenna who served us promptly and guided us to our table. all three coarses was served quickly, beautifully cooked and presented. the gentleman that served us was polite and helpful. i fully recommend this very friendly pub. my only complaint is that my husband has man flue and we had to leave early
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This venue used to have such a good name for value food up until its recent rennovation, even though you had to wait for a while.
We went Sunday lunch 05/10/08. Very few people there at 1300.
Sadly, this makeover has not worked. Lighting very poor, service worse. Grim!!
However, if you like "warmed up" fish, rubbery chips and/or "flying things" walking all over your beef - go there. You'll be catered for.! This order arrived 50 mins after sitting down
Should you not prefer that level of service, you will be told that nothing can be done about the "flying things" and you will not be charged for your cooled meal.
If you did want to write/email the brewey - do so BUT you will not receive a reply.
Shame really, this could be such a nice earner.
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since re-opening, the food is served a little faster than before (not difficult) The decor is now greatly improved and provides secluded corners for intimate eating. Not top class cuisine but good enough.
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I always go to the Roundstone Pub, East Preston, at least once for lunch when I am in the area visiting family and friends every couple of months (I live in Madrid). Always pretty busy and very much so at weekends lunch-time especially. Wide and varied choice of food which in my experience is always served nice and hot. Big portions. Can also have Kids' portions, ideal for children and for adults who don't want a big amount. Especially full and busy at lunch-time on Sundays. Service can take a while especially at very busy moments. Not convenient if you are in a hurry. If you are not in a hurry and happily chatting over a first drink it is quite a pleasant place to have lunch. Drinks, of course, are ordered at the bar and you are served right away. Waiting-time mentioned only applies to when you go there to eat. Lively and pleasant atmosphere. Overall OK. I understand from friends who live nearby that it was closed recently to undergo some works (refurbishment and some changes or other). I think it has since been re-opened.
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You can die waiting to be served in this place!!No matter how full/empty it is - we have tried them all, they take AGES and often have to be reminded we are still waiting. no number of Free Meal or discount meals are enogh to pay for that!
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plastic food...over priced.
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