Pheasant Inn, Brillback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Brill is a real find, perched as it is atop a hill and in possession of a Windmill from the year the Glorious Revolution broke. This pub, while modernised in an unappealing way, still manages to be good because the ales from the very local Vale brewery are so well looked after. There is a locals' feel too which is a plus point in a region that could have seen Tories from far and wide flock for £22 venison. Take your muddy boots off before entering.
|
An ok place for a pint and a look out at the view over to and past the windmill. The XT 4 was very good, with another from the Aylesbury brewery and Weston's First Quality cider. The young lads behind the bar need to be taught how to pull a pint and about measure, but were happy to top up as per my request.
Agree with the other reviews below about the whole wine bar type of thing going on despite this being a rural pub. Given its position, I was hoping for something better. It needs a couple more veggie things on the menu too.
|
Can't seem to decide on whether it's a resturant or a pub. On entry it feels very much like the former, very out of character with it's rustic appearance. It has a very new, artificial feel. On reaching the bar you'll find the pub part, with a not particularly welcoming crew of middle aged 'blokes' desperately clinging to it. This doesn't exactly make it easy to be served, having to talk and reach over these stubborn locals. They probably think they keep the place running but I wonder how many people they deter from returning - myself included. Anyway, the beer was fine (from the White Horse brewery) and the food looked OK, tho a bit fussy and not exactly cheap. I suspect that if the resturant side of the business does well the locals may find their bar stools consigned to history. Could be so much better.
|
Pub is bit 'up market' but still space for the drinkers. I ate there on one evening 3 days ago: Starter was �5; I had Sweet Potato & ginger soup - It was extremely nice. Main course costing �14 was Pork Belly & Black Pudding Mash - that was also nice & very filling. There were 2 beers on: Vale Grumpling which was not bad but not a classic either and St Austells Tribute. I thought the staff were fine and the food was bought out quickly. Worth a visit.
|
Well, it has reopened. It has turned into exactly what I had hoped it should not have done. A poncey wine bar. Could someone please explain why a village needs a poncey wine bar?
It is cold in there as they have opened up the ceiling to show the exposed beams. They opted for slate tiles on the floor and those coupled with the opened ceiling means the entire room is VERY echoey and the place is VERY noisy when there are only a few people in. When anyone moves a chair across the floor the noise is so intrusive as to be able to deafen a conversation out completely.
Had a pint in there and the girl behind the bar couldn't pour a pint if she tried. She said there was a problem with the gas. Having worked in pubs and bars many times it was obvious it was more of a training issue as her ability to pour a good pint is on a similar level as to what I would expect from a goat.
Haven't tried the food. Prices were too high for me to bother. The seats are not comfortable. The bar is slightly bigger than it used to be but still suffers from the fact that the locals congregate around it blocking it off to most people who wish to buy a beer. The girl behind the bar, albeit a different girl to the one before the refurb, still preferred to talk to the locals rather than engage the paying customer.
So to sum things up, the staff are still very poor. I can't comment on the food. The new look *looks* nice until you realise they have ruined a village pub in favour of making it a poncey wine bar. Seating is uncomfortable. It is cold in there. There are no seats in the garden although I imagine this is because it is winter rather than them forgetting there is a beer garden with an amazing view. The smokers still don't go far enough away from the door so when they come back in off the balcony the smoke from their last puff comes straight in with them.
On the plus side, the beer prices don't appear to have gone up and they have replaced the wooden balustrade on the balcony with glass so when you sit on the balcony you can see the great view easily.
In short, the only reason I will go back is during the summer when I can sit outside in the beer garden. It will now never be a pub that I will choose to go to in the evening any longer. A very sad change to what was a reasonable village pub.
|
I really hope they make a good job of the refurbishment. For the record, I've always been well served here, and didn't think that the staff were unattentive at all. On the contrary, I found them friendly and helpful. Plus the beer (real ales from Vale Brewery just down the road) has always been on good form.
My one critism was the limited choice of food for vegetarians, but what I had was always good quality.
|
The pub is currently closed for a much needed refurbishment. I hope this doesn't mean it'll turn into a poncey wine bar. Hopefully the young lady behind the bar is being refurbished for a faster model. Her problem was she was too busy talking to her friends and the locals to notice there were usually people behind the locals trying to get to the bar and also nobody in the pub was very quick at clearing tables. Having been in there for a couple of beers one evening we noted that 3 tables hadn't been cleared of the leftovers, plates and glasses and an hour later they still hadn't. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that you need to keep the place tidy, but then I don't think many of the staff were genuises. Still a nice pub in a nice location. The food is reasonable but a bit pricey for what it is. Still need to ask the staff to give you the other half of your pint when the head has died off it.
Looking forward to it reopening again to see if it has improved. Hopefully they'll have a decent premium lager instead of the dreadfully flavourless rubbish called Carlsberg.
|
old rougue and anonymous hit on one huge problem, lack of attentiveness by staff. I have been to this pub tonight and the lack of care from the young lady behind the bar to look after the business was frankly not great. two or three regulars in the bar while the outside area had at least 5 tables with previous customers detritous left is appaling. maybe Im being hard on her but the management team need a kick up the tush for allowing it to happen
|
A very nice pub although the staff are a bit hit and miss with their attentiveness. Food appears to be good by all accounts but I have not eaten there. Beer is good although you more often than not have to ask them to top it up with the other half of the pint as they do get a bit carried away with the head on it. Not cheap but not a reason to avoid at all. Lovely view of the windmill across the road. Has some b&b rooms as well but not stayed there. Needs a lick of paint and the staff need to learn how to clear the tables quicker after people have left after eating.
anonymous - 26 Sep 2006 16:18 |
Fantastic, everything a country pub should be. Good ale, excellent food (with some interesting and more unusual dishes such as mutton stew and roast pheasant), good deserts board too. Friendly, efficient service, make sure you book a table though on weekends.
Brill makes a great place for walk to burn off lunch, and you can park by the old windmill. The pub itself has excellent views over the surrounding country, and no doubt the terrace will be popular in summer.
|
|
