Fox and Hounds, Biggin Hillback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Have been to the new re-opened The Aperfield Vintage Inn and first impressions were great, considering the chain involved. All nice and clean and fresh and enthusiastic staff.
However on my second visit, about 3 weeks ago, we found the place crowded as usual (a victim of its own success), with many tables booked. This led to rather slow service as they now insist, it seems on waitress service. The new Summer menu was now in use and we noticed that the fishcakes on offer were now Haddock and wholegrain mustard rather than the ubiquitous Salmon ones (don't like Salmon).
We both ordered these and after some time they arrived looking rather squashed and somewhat greasy. Upon eating these it revealed that these were indeed Salmon based and contained Broccoli and therefore were not those as advertised on the menu. As the staff were so busy, we ate these but eventually drew this discrepancy to the pleasant waitress. She apologised and asked if we wanted something else, which we declined.
We had a dessert and then coffee and left.
I eventually contacted Vintage Inns via their website and filled in their online complaints form and eventually received a phone call from the duty manager of said pub apologising and told me that I would receive a letter from Vintage Inns allowing me �20 my next visit to any one of their establishments. I now have such a letter in my possession.
I ought to end here but on my recommendation and which I had made to a relative en passant, so to speak, they visited the same Inn a few days ago.
They visited on a busy Saturday and found the service sadly lacking and one of them also chose the Haddock Fishcakes only to find that these too were not as advertised on the menu but comprised that wretched Salmon again.
Sadly, it looks as those this recently opened pub is already on the decline which is a sad state of affairs.
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Now reopened (a month late). Beer range is not bad (Fullers London Pride & Lancers and Youngs Best). Quite cosy with 3 open fires and lots of squashy armchairs. Staff seem friendly and efficient. If "Enjoy a pint" goes back they may be pleasantly surprised by the clientele as well!
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Well, now I know its fate. I drove past today and they're advertising for staff. The pub has been renamed The Aperfield Inn and it's opening in December as another Vintage Inn - I hope that the plates and the food are hot. A b�te noir of mine.
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Only comment I can make is that on passing by the pub has closed down and the builers are in whether for refurbishment or converting to something else, I don't know. But it's shut for pub business.
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What a dump this place is, and it's full of chav's as well. Look at the wrong person and you might not have a nice evening! I would not go back, even if the beer was free.
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this pub as a whole is great yet again it is under new management but this time it has worked, the landlady is friendly and made us feel very welcome, food was great and well presented and the ale (bombardier) was refreshing.
will revisit often.
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I have been to this pub a least 4 times a year for 8 years now and everytime it gets new mangement the food becomes dire and seriously skimpy on portion and then eventually improves a bit. It must be under new management again as at the last visit the food was so disgusting and 'suspect' i took a sample to take to environmental health dept. Lets just say strong bleach isnt a good flavour.
The decor and booze are fine, but the food is a game of russian roulette, i wouldn't chance it again.
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Used to be a good pub to have food at. Now the manager is rude and has no customer service skills whatsoever. Will not be going there again. Such a shame
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Years ago this used to be a quiet country pub, selling reasonable beer - with a garden for families to sit in the summer, whilst enjoying the early evening sun. The sort of place to go for a quiet pint and a chat.
The rot set in about twelve years ago - the chav element began to appear, but only in small numbers at first. Gradually their frequency of visits and numbers increased. Now this establishment is entirely populated with sovereign ring, gold chain, tattoo, 'rude boy' squad. It's their gaff.
If you don't particularly like pubs full of drunk, yelling, swearing, yobs - best steer well clear of this place. The beer is very poor, the clientele even worse.
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The food is really good - very tasty, and perfectly cooked.
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