Swan, Sherborne St Johnback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Called in today for a quick visit - had a Lord Nelson ale and it was excellent. in the main bar, the pub was full of Sunday diners with families, food looked good and I believe it must be so with the pub practically full at 2.30pm
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Not really a pub, typical Greene King restaurant pub, poorly kept beers, poor food. Would be a nice pub if not under Greene King ownership I would imagine as it's nice inside and out.
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Well, this pub has changed hands (new managers, not ownership) since the last post, so time for an update!
I've said "pub", but is this a pub? Green King seem to think it's a restaurant, but is a restaurant? Judging by the comments on Trip Advisor it seems they're not doing that very well either!
These days there seems to be a small selection of real ales - usually the same three (Green King IPA, Speckled Hen and Abbots), and not much in the way of cider. The majority of tables are set up for diners, and they have lifted the "over 18's" rule in the small bar.
It's sad to see the demise of my local.
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This pub has recently reopened after a refurb so the other posts are a bit outdated and redundant.
Partner and I visited last week (28 Aug 2013) I have lived 4 miles from this pub for 15 years and it was our first visit.
Its a bit too much of a restaurant for my taste. However the service was good, all of the staff were friendly and helpful. I usually struggle with 'pub grub' but here I had a good and interesting choice of meals.
The meals were excellent, good value and reasonably priced.
One gripe. I like real cider and only found that they had a choice of three on my way out!
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We checked out the menu, and I was despatched to the bar to get the drinks and find out what the vegetarian roast of the day was. There wasn�t a long queue, and there were three people serving, but it took ages to get served anyway. The veggie roast was mushrooms and pasta, which seemed a bit odd, but at least it was nut free. I reported back, and my partner went to order.
When she came back it turned out we weren�t eating there after all. They�d stopped doing food for a while so the kitchen staff could have a rest - not only that, but the person in front of her in the queue had asked to see the manager as he wished to make a complaint. The manager - standing right alongside - told the barmaid �You deal with it. I don�t want to listen to complaints, even if I am the manager�.
So - slow service, they chuck in random food stops because the kitchen staff can�t keep up, the manager is rude to her staff in front of customers, and isn�t interested in complaints.
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Typical large Greene King pub. Sky sports, freezer food and average beer. Staff were friendly and prices not bad so overall it is an ok pub
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Been there a few times with my wife, normally on Weekday lunchtimes or Saturday evenings. Food is normally first class, served quickly and of the highest quality.
Today took my son and his girlfriend with us for a late Sunday lunch. They forgot one of the Tempura Prawn starters, which when it arrived, still had uncooked batter around them, rendering them inedible. Roasts were made with what appeared to be undercooked from-frozen roast potatoes. Finally, ice cream, usually three scoops in a glass disk with chocolate sauce was served as a single scoop in a small china dish.
A great shame as the food here and service is normally of a very high standard. I hope it was just one off day with the regular kitchen staff missing. That said, we have no plans to return there on any Sunday now.
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Been there a few times..... and the food can vary...
At best it's good,.. but have had a steak baguette that was just fat and gristle,...
nice enough place, probably more a place to eat than a place to drink,..
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In the umpteen years I've visited this pub, I've seen more managers come and go than I've had hot dinners. However the current one seems to be the best of the bunch so far. Super beer and excellent food, and the service is by far the best its ever been.
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great food and beer
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Visited this pub on recommendation for sunday lunch. All going well until our meals turned up and put right in front of our 7 month old baby. I tried to move the plate, but to my astonishement the plate was burning hot and burnt my fingers. I was furious as we were not warned the plate was hot and could have burnt my babys hand. It was plainly obvious the plate had come out of the oven onto our table which should never happen.
It's a shame that happened as we were all pleased with our meals.
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Visited saturday 22nd novenber first time for a couple of years always been a good looking pub inside with a big open fireplace though a lot of the space has now been given over to food tables but there is still enough room around the bar to enjoy a drink without sitting on top of the diners.For some reason they had Witchfinder on special it was actually buy one get one free!!.
i did"nt ask why in case they stopped it tasted fine though & most of the tables were reserved for later on in the evening so the food must be good
well worth a visit just out of Basingstoke
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