please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This place maximizes its location well, situated as it is beside a dramatic sweep of locks on a pretty section of the Grand Union canal. It's fun to chill out while watching bargemen professional and amateur negotiate the waterway and the pub has a sweep of ales to enjoy - a special from Young's was on tap on the occasion of our visit, although it was perhaps served a mite cold. Food was good - a cracking chicken and chorizo sandwich hit the spot. Impossible not to hole up here on any canalside walk.
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A good sized pub in a prime spot next to the canal and the three locks, it does unfortunately lack a little in the way of authentic charm and instead, I suspect, relies largely on it�s location to pull the punters in. It appears as though it has recently been refurbished and has a slightly mass-produced corporate feel to it, as though it�s been designed by someone sat in an office with a suitable qualification in pub design. In particular the old beams and the ceiling have all be painted over in a pale shade of coffee brown, which to my mind is a great shame especially looking at the earlier photograph taken by John McGraw.
The main bar area has old wooden boards on the floor, a slightly curious shade of dark blue paint on the upper part of the walls with cream wood panelling down below. Various gilt framed pictures with country scenes on are dotted around and there was a plasma mounted up in one corner above an old fireplace, although neither were in use. A small area off to the left housed some leather button sofa�s and this led on to a restaurant area (complete with �Please wait here to be seated sign�) with black slate tiles on the floor and an open kitchen beyond this.
The pub naturally makes the most of it�s setting, and there were several tables along the lock edge as well as a patio beer garden at one end which even had music piped out to it from the pub. Slightly unnecessary I felt, but maybe some people appreciate it. Food wise there was a decent enough looking selection of �pub grub� dishes such as burgers and fish & chips as well as a few slightly more adventurous dishes, and a number of boards on the bar counter detailed the Pie of the Day, Risotto of the Day and even Scallops of the Day. Most of the mains were somewhere around the �10 mark and whilst my Spicy Crab Linguine was ok, I felt it was a little heavy on the chilli and a little light on the crab and certainly wasn�t worth the �13.95 I paid for it.
Despite six pumps on the bar, only three were in use dispensing Doom Bar, Tribute and this month�s guest Waggle Dance. The solitary cider was Bulmer�s Original. In summary, this is a great location and I�m sure it gets packed on sunny afternoons, but I can see little reason to make a special detour to visit.
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The staff here are an absolute credit to the pub. Having not visited for a few months, we visited on a sunny Saturday afternoon- it would appear that half of the local towns had the same idea!
Even though the staff were absolutely run ragged, they gave good service to us throughout. I also witnessed an incident where there had been an error on a food order and something had been missed off by the customer. The staff bent over backwards to get the problem resolved, including re-opening the kitchen to get the food out to the customer in question
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Beer is well kept, and even though they don�t have the biggest selection, they often have interesting and unusual beers on.
As a previous reviewer commented �excitable teenage staff� yes, the staff are young, but are ALL pleasant and give the place a nice energy. If only all pub staff were like this!!!
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A pub with no beer!
A visit last week found that they had just about run out of real ale across a range of brews. Apparently they were awaiting a delivery! What kind of establishment leaves their stocks to dwindle to the point where thirsty customers' needs are unfulfilled? Fortunately, Guinness was still available.
Food was ok - a good bowl of soup - but not exceptional.
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I have been reading the above comments and all were fair but I ate there the other day and found out they had a new menu, new chef's and a new general manager. I would say 99% of the issues above have been resolved and the food was fab and so was service.
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Beautifully refurbed and great location on the canal, but I think the food could be better. Having eaten here a few times in the last 6 months, I have decided not to bother again! Great for a drink though.
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Went back recently and have to say the food wasn't as good as when the new lot took over, However very freindly staff and good beer
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London prices and excitable teenage staff.
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Lovely location, shame about everything else... Went there on a sunny Sunday but they obviously hadn't seen the weather forecast or they may have brought in extra staff. Waited 1hr 20mins for food, after intially being told it would take 40mins (which is still a long time, but at least they told us). They actually stopped taking orders at one point but they should have done that about half an hour earlier...
When the food came it wasn't worth the wait or the money; I've certainly had worse, but �10 was very overpriced for a burger and chips - I paid half that in another nearby pub last week and it was of far superior quality, bigger portion, and came with unlimited salad from the salad bar. The chips here were quite greasy, no better than fast food chains, and chicken (had a chicken breast burger) was tough. For some inexplicable reason they had also put cranberry sauce and tomato relish on the same burger... not a good combination!
To their credit all the serving staff were unfailingly polite, and they gave us a free drink because of the waiting time and some money off the bill when I (very politely) complained about the food, but although I wouldn't rule it out for a drink in a nice location I'd make sure I'd eaten first!
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Been a couple of times recently, actually not badly done for a refit pub. Decent staff (main barman refused to serve alcohol to an under-age girl which I think is probably a good sign), food has good light lunch options (soup and a sandwich), beers decent, though not necessarily for the specialist.
Not cheap, but then has a decent canal-side location and a pretty nice atmosphere so take your pick.
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This is a good pub and restaurant. I went there today with my elderly parents and they look after them well leaving me free to take a swim in the canal.
If you don't like red meat though, then this isn't the place for you. Most of the main menu consists of steaks and burgers.
I like that because I hate veggies and people who like naff food - bring on the revolution!
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Went to this pub today, was totally disapointed, definitely not a family friendly pub! Asked if they did food to which I was told yes, then gave them my sons baby food jar to heat up, then waited 10 mins and went back up and was told they no longer warmed up baby jars!! And could not even give me a jug of boiling water, to warm it up, Then asked if i could order some chips as knew we would have to be quick as son was starving!, and after 15 mins waiting were told they were not serving food anymore !! So we ended up leaving and going to a much more family friendly pub down the road. Only good thing was location!
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Uninteresting beers grossly overpriced. Better kept beers available locally for �1 less per pint. Quite outrageous.
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is this yet another chef that doesn't like vegetarians? Beautiful setting, good staff but woeful vegetarian choices. We opted for the Hobson's choice of veggie burgers that turned out to be just sandwiches with vegetables and cheese in a bun. Misleading descirptions, difficult to eat and over priced. Will stick to drinking there without eating. But agree more effort to source local brews would also be welcome. But is a vast improvement on what it had become.
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Much improved by the refurbishment but why the pretentious new name ? Very dull selection of real ales straight off a pubcos main list ,not a local micro brewery ale in sight which would be more appropriate at this foodie pub which prides itself on sourcing locally.Black mark for the price of ale,�3.20 for a pint of Theakston Best ABV 3.8% is taking the mick.And that was the most exciting real ale available!!
Didnt try the food but heard good reports from other diners.
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It's just been refurbished and what an improvement. Clean and new, friendly staff and great food, however I agree with the other re-viewer it's over priced for what you get.
Great outdoor space as well, made for those summer days.
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Lovely pub now it's been done up. Restaurant food is extremely good, if a bit pricey - well worth it though. As a local it's such a relief that the 3 locks is back to its best.
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Update to below, board outside says it re-opens 08/04 midday
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Now renamed The Grand Union, entry from stoke road is blocked, entry only from ivy lane(?) near canal bridge.
Not sure if open yet.
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The pub is currently a building site, and looks like it might be for another few months yet. It has been bought by Scottish and Newcastle pub enterprises, so hopefully when it returns it will be clean and tidy with a good range of drink and food. I will most certainly be down there when it reopens.
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Thank God it is being done up. But unless they change all the staff and learn how to cook and keep the place tidy and clean, it will be a waste of money.
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Often saw this pub from the train and said to myself that when we got our own narrowboat we'd stop here for a meal and a pint. Now we've got our boat and we stopped. What a disappointment. OK ale, but scruffy, run down, poor food, disinterested landlord. One of the worst pubs we've visited around the waterways. A scandalous waste of a great site.
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I like this pub. OK, so it's no gastropub and a bit grubby, but i find it friendly and relaxing. Its in an excellent location too.
The good news is that it is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment. I can't wait to see what its like when it reopens.
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Do not take your sheep into this pub. The landlord will shag it....Then kill you.
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DO NOT VISIT THIS HOLE ! Dirty,uncared for and unwelcoming...is the BEST way of describing this pub.
The only infrequent trade is from the passing Narrowboat owners etc consequently they have quite a poor footfall...and it shows. Lousy beers and totally disinterested staff !
Be warned.
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What a dump. Completely run-down, weeds all outside and "flower beds" full of nettles. Don't go near the place.
Noisy music and unhelpful bar staff inside, shambles outside. Food lousy.
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Unwelcoming place, looks generally run down, food ghastly.
anonymous - 4 Oct 2007 12:28 |
Lease up for sale currently no food!
anonymous - 22 Mar 2007 20:42 |
Had a great lunch there. Went back for the live Jazz evening. Not so good, food average, regulars get all the attention. Unlikely to go back
anonymous - 28 Nov 2006 07:00 |
New Landlord, great food, fantastic staff and good company with live entertainment most weekends. the new restuarant is a must. Very good varied menu, fresh food, freshly prepared at reasonable prices. everyone is made to feel special and very welcome and if you book the table with the chanderlier can make for very special night out.
anonymous - 22 Mar 2006 15:29 |
On the bank of the Grand Union Canal, convenient for boaters. Nice in the summer, but gloomy in the winter.
Dennis - 25 Jul 2005 11:47 |
