Talbot Inn, Ripleyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Popped in for a pint after lunch - nice pint and a nice place. I like Ripley !!
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Old coaching inn with a very rambling layout. Seating in bits and pieces through the bars. Could be an ideal old pub but it feels that the hotel side takes priority and the bars are just an adjunct. Beers: Greene King IPA & Hogsback TEA.
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Good pint of TEA but otherwise rather drab experience. Didn't eat to be fair
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Difficult to find anything negative (or really positive) to say about The Talbot.
It should be the best pub in Ripley. The restaurant and garden attract the better end of the punter spectrum, particularly at lunchtime. "New British" style food is pricey, Sunday roast dinner is worth a punt, the restaurant is packed out most Sundays with a good atmosphere. People like it. Generally it has a younger livelier vibe about it. Unlike The Ship and the Half Moon, both of which unfortunately have more than their quota of village idiots at times particularly in the evenings
The upstairs hotel rooms are top notch. My parents won't stay anywhere else when they visit us. The other rooms in the new building are good, but lack character. The pub has a quality feel but the bar staff lack an effective manager and the onus is usually on food and weddings in the summer, which means the average punter can have a little wait to get served often by baffled looking gap year stoner-student type bar staff.
They do sell Peroni at nearly �5 a pint, and it seems to sell well! Don't ask me why. Especially as One Stop sell it for less than two quid up the road. The other beers (t.e.a, Pride, Abbot etc are all kept well and if the weather is good, sitting in the vast outside grassy garden is as good as it gets in Ripley. Children and dogs are welcome and don't seem to get underfoot as the parents/owners seem to keep them under control generally.
Despite the crap sniping from clearly fake reviewers loyal to The Ship and others, at least it tries. They promote live music and comedy nights which could be better supported by the locals and it does its bit for local fund raising, which is worth noting. In summary, this is a Saturday/Sunday afternoon pub. Its a bit more upmarket; a class apart from the other pubs in Ripley, just needs effective bar management and a bit more investment. Best in class.
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I smell a rat or is it that the staff have just found this site ( see last 3 one post wonders).
We found the place average all but the prices there are far better places to go near by.
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Just delightful!
I use this pub all the time, it is a hotel and pub so has great bedrooms and restaurant as well, I went to a recent comedy night and it was great! Lots of funny one liners about mince pies and the staff, that they all seemed to take in good spirit, I have eaten there many times in the past and it has always been great, I ate at a competitor of theirs recently and was quite ill, I play chess at the Talbot lots but am not dong well at the moment I think my pawns are poisoned! Oh well hopefully I will improve my standards {they could not get worse}.
The Talbot has the best food in the area, however many of the pubs in the village are great and all are worth a visit.
The village had lots of snow and then rain recently, i love the Talbot so much, if I had to sledge their in the snow or up periscope and submarine their in the rain id definitely still make it to the Talbot at least once a week
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Have just returned from a glorious weekend at this quaint inn!!! Not only have I concequently fell in love with this idilyic, pituresce town but also with this charming, charasmatic inn! On arrival the staff could not have been more helpful, first thing first we headed into the pub for a cosy drink and a spot of lunch. We were so comfortable the food was glorious whilst I enjoyed a Large glass of wine my partner sampled the great selection of local ale's. By the time we made it up to our room we were delighted by the enchanting charm of this historical gem! Later when we headed to the restraunt for our dinner reservation we sampled the most sumptious of dishes and I can most sertinaly highly reccomend the lamb cutlets! Then we headed to the bar for a heart warming nightcap and then off to bed!!! What a sensational find The Talbot is....I cannot wait to return!!!
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My partner and i have just stayed at The Talbot Inn and i have to say that this is one of the nicest places i have been to! we have stayed for 3 nigths and every night we found the staff welcoming and the whole place really charming!
We ate in the beautiful restaurant on our first night and the food was amazing and the service second to none. Both my partner and i felt there was so much that looked tasty to choose from that we found it difficult to decide!!
Our second night we decided to spend the evening in this delightful pub and ordered bar food which was still at the same fabulous standard of the restaurant the night before! The pub was cosy and full of character and it was a lovely evening.
I must say i am shocked at some of the negative comments that i have read on here as we really could not find any fault with this lovely Inn - the only fault was on our part for not booking a longer stay!!!
If anyone is looking for a lovely pub, restaurant or somewhere to go for a weekend break i would have no hesitatation whatsoever in recommending The Talbot Inn - my partner and i have friends in the area and will most certianly be coming back!!
RichG - 14 Feb 2010 23:40 |
I shoud make it clear I have been asked to write a review of this property,
I called in for a drink a few times this week and stayed over on one night, I also visited several pubs in Ripley, as im moving to the area, when chatting to the staff, they commented that they think a competitor is deliberatley telling lies about them on this site, so even though id never used this site before i thought id have a look at it, I thought id sign up and see what the fuss was about, I suppose you could say I was encouraged by the staff to write a review, as when I said how great it was one of the staff said unfortunatley everyone does not think so , someone is being awful about us, so staff did tell me about this site, but the review is my own
Im AMAZED by some of the other reviews iv just read,having used this property 4 times in the past 7 days I have seen it busy quiet and overflowing so feel able to write about it as iv seen it in varying states
a comment has been made about a pint of peroni costing �5, yes it does BUT! there is a great big sign next to it saying we are soon to remove this product as suppliers have increased the cost, we do have to sell this at �5 at present but it is about to be discontinued, if you would like something less expensive why not try fosters at only just over �3, the talbot could not make it any clearer, they are also asking locals and are running a vote system at present, so locals can vote what they would like to have on the bar instead of peroni, this seems to me to be very proactive, asking customers what they would like is a great idea! sorry to go on, but im trying to balance views posted on this site,
I had lunch in the pub and dinner in the restaurant on different days both were great, to be honest the pub is small, so your best to eat in the restaurant, I did here some locals complain that residents took over the place, this is sort of true, when the hotel is full the bar is not big enough to cope.
Im not sure why anyone would write bad reports about the talbot, but I tend to agree with the staff,
It could be bacause ts the best pub in the village and another pub is not happy about it, it could be becaues its a hotel that has just had millions spent on it, it could be because, the pub is secondary to the hotel, and at times locals may not feel valued, but as someone who is about to move into the next village I can confirm the talbot will be my new local, its great, if it slips or if I find other reviews are true i will let you know but for now I agree with the bar staff at the talbot, some of the reviews posted on here could be someone with a ulteria motive, the other pubs were not as good, and one was awful, I will add their reviews soon
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Well, the �5 price for a pint of Peroni says all I need to know about this place...although the bar is the best bit of the Hotel. As for the rest of it, Well when the Head Chef left back in October last year, the talent (and reputation) went out of the door with him. What is left is a culture of all night staff house drinking and smoking which if you have seen the state of the Kitchen and the staff when they turn up for work has to be seen to be believed.....The state of the place is truly digusting.....you would not even trust one of their mince pies...My advice is to have a pre dinner swifty and go along to the Toby Cottage, or the Anchor Thai...for a real treat and to cost a bit more then it has to be Drakes....avoid the food here though.....!! The hotel has gone into administration and is operating as a submarine without a periscope.....need I say any more
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It could be because The Talbot and the other 4 in this chain are reportedly in administration.
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Stayed here on business. Disappointed with the selection of ale, first one we tried was off and was replaced by an average pint of Abbot Ale.Food was very good and staff polite and helpful. Felt a bit sorry for the lager drinkers who had to pay �5 for a pint of Peroni!
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Quaint traditional-style pub (with very low beams) attached to an old coaching inn on the original London to Portsmouth Road, still serving as an hotel. I went in during the 'graveyard' (mid-afternoon) slot and there were a few customers, a very friendly and helpful barman, and a limited menu. But some food is served all day; even at 'off-peak' times it's home-made to order, and extremely tasty. Pint of T.E.A. (Greene King IPA & Abbot also available) to round everything off, in a choice of straight glass or jug.
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Fantastic pub. Great beer and sensational food. Lovely.
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I live in the local area and I go to the talbot for drinks and food regularly. I beleive that the negitive comments that the person below has put are not correct at all! All of the staff I have met are so friendly and very professional. The restaurant is fantastic. The decor after the referbishment is beautiful. When the sun is shinning, the conservatory is a joy. I dont think that there is any other pub/restaurant in the area with such a big garden space. (that I know of)
The actual pub area is very quaint. I love the old country pub feel of the place and the bar staff are all very helpful and friendly. I like going to the talbot for drinks and food as i feel that there is no other place in the village that offers what the talbot does. In fact I am going there with my partner to watch the football as apparently they have the biggest screen in the village.
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I'm currently staying at The Talbot Inn on a business trip. I discovered this delightful place through a friend who highly recommended it. Wow, they were certainly right! The old coaching inn is charming with unique features and very quaint. This is where the pub and restaurant both are, I can't fault the food at all. The food is outstanding and certainly great value for money.
My room is one of the standard bedrooms located in the 'Ripley Wing'. This building is behind the inn, and apparently has only recently been built. The room is spacious, bright & has all the extras that you could ask for.
I will definately be returning when I'm next in the area, and perharps bring my partner along next time!
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I disagree with the comments about 'expensive' and 'disorganised'. I stayed with my partner in Feb 2009 and had an amazing time. Everything was fantastic from the staff to the food (great value for money) and the venue - they have got the most comfortable beds. I have only rated 9 out of 10 as we only stayed the one night and so cannot say what it would be like for a long weekend, but intend to find out mid June. I will keep you all informed!
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has changed for the worse,it is dull, expensive,lifeless, expensive,boring,expesive.................................................i could go on, will post again soon with the bad points!!!!!!!!!!!
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Very, very expensive. And very disorganised.
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still probarly the best pub in ripley,shame its closing down for a bit, but looking forward to its reopening in the late summer, also look out for the little grey headed guy down there on fri.evenings & sat/sun lunchtimes,he"s always there same table, same newspaper,bless!
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best pub in Ripley,steeped in history,very friendly welcome and great food.Antique centre next door worth a visit also.
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Under new management now - haven't been in to try it yet though!!
anonymous - 20 Jun 2007 11:22 |
Terrible terrible food - reconsituted mash (Smash) considered cordon-bleu, staff completely incompetent and owner exceptionally rude.If you ever have the misfortune to stay in rooms in Hotel & have a complaint - good luck - owner won't care & will just charge full price for damp room, fixtures falling off walls, cigarette burns all over bath ... and possible shocks from electric sockets and switches.Makes Fawlty Towers look like the Hilton.
anonymous - 6 Sep 2006 17:37 |
Absolutely fantastic traditional pub, steeped in history of the highest order! Wonderful barmaid who managed the whole operation single-handed on Bank Holiday Monday, and made our first visit a memorable occasion. Definately going back there soon, and thoroughly recommend it.
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Large old coaching inn on the former London to Portsmouth Road. Apparently often used by Nelson on his trips between the two. Cosy old fashioned bar, good simple bar food, large garden & pretty former stable yard with an unusual arch. Definitely worth a trip!
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