Star Inn, Alfristonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I read reviews before coming to Alfriston and decided to see if Star as bad as people make out. Not a bit of it, there was a wedding going on and all seemed to be enjoying themselves. They had two ales on, one from Long Man and the other from Beachy Head (both local) - I had the latter and it was in good condition.
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This is not a pub � it�s a hotel! I seldom leave bad reviews (please feel free to check), but this place was simply awful. We paid �7.90 for a pint of beer and Vodka and soda. My girlfriend wanted to smoke a cigarette in a garden rather than on the street frontage and when we enquired about the garden, we were told it was further through the building down five (!) corridors. Since the front bar was very nice, I thought the rest might prove so... the deeper we got, the more the place turned into a corporate hospitality unit. When we finally found the narrow, lifeless, walled garden, it turned out to be non-smoking! Thanks guys. Go to The Smugglers which is a really nice PUB.
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It looks like this place has had some bad reviews.I cannot comment on the food (but then this website is 'Beer' in the Evening) but I can say that I called in here after a windy walk on the Downs, and was very cheerfully served, and was even profffered a sample of the Long Man Brewery bitter before I bought it, which is always a good sign. The bar itself is small but very comfortable, with plenty of exposed beams and an old fireplace; the dining room looked more formal. I had my walking gear and (clean) boots on, but did not feel out of place or unwelcome despite the upmarket surroundings. What with The George opposite and the Smugglers down the road, one is spoilt for choice in Alfriston...but if you want food, yes be prepared to pay...
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If you want overpriced, pretentious food then this is for you.
I like my food, but don�t regard consuming a main course in 2 minutes as a dining experience.
I want to eat the food, not frame it or play hunt the morsel when it arrives on oversize plates.
The staff didn�t know what they were doing e.g. couldn�t describe what was on the menu (one didn�t even know what shortbread was), one order of drinks arrived twice�. 15 minutes apart, two different waiters gave us a bill.
The normal tariff for this meal is �26 plus 10% service charge, so at �28:60 - you decide if it is good value. I know what I think!!!
We have eaten here before, at lunch times and had good meal, but things appear to have changed drastically.
scnns - 28 Jan 2012 09:45 |
Recently visited the Star after a gap of many years and was pleasantly surprised as my previous visit was dire. The beer (Beachy Head) was in good condition although I prefer the Harveys that they used to serve. The bar was quiet. The service was O.K. but we had to wait in the queue for a longtime before being able to order the first drinks (at this point I felt like walking out but my companions were keen to try the food).
The food was reasonably priced and was cooked well. The problem with service appears to be the use of foreign bar staff who are expected to multi task. There was only one chap serving and he had to deliver the food, clear the tables and also take orders and deliver them to the kitchen. A tough job for someone familiar with the language and customs.
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Perfectly good pub which unfortunately was a little empty when we visited apart from a wedding party out the back. (it was damp February saturday night though and Alfriston seems like a quiet little town so I guess it was unlikely to be buzzing!) . Had a perfectly pleasant meal but was horrified to pay �11 for two small glasses of wine!! Even the barman had to look twice.! Unfortunately we were too late to swap it for a bottle which would have only be �15.95. We didn't try any of the other pubs in Alfriston so it may be that all the pubs are dear there! However, the bar staff were friendly and we enjoyed our evening!
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Disappointing! As we have a dog, we chose The Star Hotel as it was recommended on the 'Doggie Pubs website. We travelled down from London on Bank Holiday Monday to walk along the South Downs Way, which bisects Alfriston. The village itself is very pretty with some interesting shops, if you like that sort of thing, and was thronged by other walkers and folk out for the day.
The Star is reputed to be one of the oldest inns in the country and from the outside, certainly gave the impression of offering a convivial atmosphere on a cold December day. Given the extent of passing trade, the Star could be expected to be competing with the other two inns in the village.
Unfortunately, this establishment didn't embrace this opportunity. Once seated in the bar, we became aware that despite the (admittedly) 'real-effect' fire, the room was cool - even when holding my hand above the flames, there was little warmth emanating from it! We ordered non-alcoholic drinks (driving), and food from a menu that appeared to be above average pub grub in terms of choice.
Service was patchy - although not heaving, there were enough customers to flummox the staff. Our order was processed without problem, but we did notice other customers' departure from 'the script' left the staff bewildered. An Irish Coffee took ten minutes to make , a dessert order of two ice cream scoops was unnecessarily protracted.
Our food was served relatively swiftly, but was dire... reheated frozen chips, a generic steak (gristle) and mushroom pie, served so hot I burnt my mouth and a paltry serving of tired and tasteless 'braised red cabbage'. My partner's omelette was not cooked through - it takes a pretty awful chef not to be able to cook an omelette. Considering this is a hotel that offers banqueting and function facilities in addition to the restaurant and bar food,the management must reconsider the menu in terms of provenance, preparation and presentation. Our cutlery came wrapped in a paper napkin that was unpleasantly stuck together with an unknown substance and could not be unfolded. The bill was expensive for a very poor excuse of a meal.
Having since read reviews of this inn and its neighbours in Alfriston, it seems we escaped reasonably lightly. Furthermore, a mile or so up the road is the Cricketers at Berwick - just off the A27 - which has glowing reviews. We wish we'd gone there first!
pazza - 29 Dec 2010 12:00 |
TARDIS like pub with substantial restaurant and accommodation buildings behind the old fashioned frontage. Our double room was large and comfortable though maybe the decor needed a little tlc. The buffet breakfast provided the basics but perhaps lacked imagination. The evening three course meal seemed to concentrate more on pretentious presentation at the expense of providing decent portions and value for money, to be fair you could not fault the actual food. Two ales in the front bar Harveys Best and Beachy Head Original served in good condition.
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This used to be a lovely pub with great food. However, on a recent visit, the barman was staggeringly rude for no reason. I asked to put in a food order early on Saturday evening to be told "we are not serving food as we have a large group coming"...the place was almost deserted.
Customer service at this pub is appalling.
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Nice pub for a drink, but food overpriced and not so great. Friendly staff.
egdug - 29 Aug 2007 09:10 |
Recently visited in a group of 5 on a Sunday - a very busy time for the pub so food took almost an hour to arrive and when it did, some of it was dire. Chips tasted as if they had been reheated and a veggie wrap was filled with sickly sweet goo, and not cheap either! Staff were polite and the beer was fine.
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A decent enough sort of place. We stopped in for lunch on New Year's day. Food quite good and reasonably priced. Sadly the service from the kitchen was very slow. Staff very friendly and welcoming. Barman was happy to suggest the different ales and provided a small sample of each. All of the ales I tried were in good order. The way a pub should be.
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The beer was quite good. A rather odd sort of place, can't quite put my finger on the reason. Some of my group ordered food and they said it was fine. Service at the bar was abysmally slow.
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Stayed at this pub on a few occasions (It's also a hotel), Staff very friendly and so are the locals. Keep a good drop of Harvey's Best. Pub food however, needs livening up. Nice place though, worth a visit if you're in the area.
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A pub with a tremendous history, this was a bit of a disappointment. The beer was okay but the food - especially the sandwiches - was dismal.
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