please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I stayed here on business. I know this isnt a hotel review but room 10 has an open plan toilet in a double room. Ask yourself how well you know your partner!
The pub is full of character, with two real ales on. Girl behind the bar knew her stuff and i tried both anyway.... Good beer.
Nice breakfast.
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Check your bill and count your change.
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West Berkshire Good Old Boy and Rebellion IPA. Smart sort of pub although there are stools at the bar to give it a locals type feel.
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We had intended to go to the Bull at Streatley for lunch last Friday 6th August but because of roadworks decided to venture into the village instead. Chose Miller of Mansfield but certainly wont be going there again. The service was incredibly slow, we were a party of 3 with very few other people in there at the time and it look over 45 minutes for our meals to arrive. Staff not over friendly and despite food being good when it arrived certainly nothing out of the ordinary. We were told that a 12.5% service charge had been added to our bill but we didn't necessarily have to pay it - needless to say we didn't and we won't be recommending the Miller to anyone else.
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The beer was very good, the staff friendly. The food too was good but rather expensive. What was really annoying was that the bill for a meal in the bar was presented with a service charge of 12.5%, even though the service consisted only of providing cutlery in a rolled up paper napkin and putting the food on the table. I was told, when I asked, that the service charge was for 'service' but that I didn't have to pay it. There seemed surprise when I said that I wouldn't. I left a tip which I thought was appropriate. I won't eat there again
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what a rip off!
For somewhere that seems to think a ploughman's lunch is a toasted cheese sandwich, pickle and a bit of salad and a steak sandwich is a huge expanse of overly buttered bread with the tiniest piece of poor quality meat, i'm shocked to see they advertise themselves as serving good food.
To make both lunches, it can't have cost more than three pounds but it cost closer to fourteen.
Don't eat here if you have any sense.
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The food that I had is possibly the worst value that I have had almost anywhere. Coconut spinach sauce and rice was just that a small portion of rice and sauce no substance to it, for �11.95. Beer and service and general ambience was very good indeed. However, if you want a pretty meal, ok, if you are hungry, be warned.
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Quirky bar serving good West Berks beer at a sensible temperature. Overpriced restaurant, where skill conceals scarcity. Check your bill.
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We have enjoyed many visits over the years, but never again. For Sunday lunch yesterday, the front bar area was pleasant as usual, but the dining room is now decorated in cold austere fashion with utilitarian and uncomfortable furniture. All the old ambiance had totally gone. Despite our booking, we had to wait at table for exactly 1 hour before our food arrived. When we enquired about the delay, we were told that they had had a rush on. That was strange because over half the tables were empty. The ladies toilets were dirty. To anyone who remembers the Miller of Mansfield as it was and is thinking of going again, we recommend you not to bother and to go to the Catherine Wheel instead.
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Mmmm. Definitely NOT a traditional pub. More a hotel/restaurant with a bar. Service certainly not quick, however, it has to be said that they were serving two cracking local beers - including a West Berkshire Brewery offering. Leather chairs were just too comfortable and there was a danger of missing the train home.
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Completely agree with fredandcherry. The only amendment I would make is that I would have liked to have seen any service at all on my last four visits. On each occasion I have had long waits at an unattended bar, ignored by staff who wafted by. At their prices there should be one member of staff for each customer - never again!
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Don't be fooled by the pretty exterior, once inside you are in for a truly awful experience: miserable, rude and badly trained staff, appalling, over-priced food, amateur service and a morgue-like atmosphere! AVOID
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Agree with the comments on the peculiarity of the decor - but a pleasant enough place and warm on a cold night. Good beers.
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Came here for lunch one glorious Saturday in October, a perfect day for sitting outside like some of the other customers and enjoying just some of the best food around. Beautifully presented sausage and mash with chorizo was a dream, washed down with a juicy red served in the most exquisite glasses. Service was attentive and friendly. The restaurant indoors looks interesting, as do the 14 rooms pictured on the website.
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Nice pub with strange furniture (round, yellow, plastic tables in a neo-Tudor bar), friendly service, and local beers in good nick. The bar food is standard (burgers, bangers etc) except that both raw materials and cooking are above average. All the prices are too.
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Mixed feelings. Prides itself on its restuarant which we paid about �23 for a Torneados Rossini - steak. It wasnt that great, but nothing too wrong - just lacked "wow".
Another lunch time the �7 cheese cake garnish contained a piece of mouldy fruit, and the beer had black bits floating in it.
Not over impressed, but not disappointed enough to stay away.
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A slightly quirky pub, which is probably why I liked it, sat in a room away from the bar with a massive TV screen that almost seem to dwarf the room, It wouldn't surprise me if they'd got the furniture from a bankrupt curry house! The beer was excellent and sourced from the local area.
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Nice place by the main Goring - Streatley road. Decor is somewhat different to all the local pubs - the room to left was very ornate, very regal furniture, although when I touched the obviously incredibly expensive 'coffee' table the top 'moved' & then I realised it was actually not that expensive. Oh well. The resturant was a bit of an eye-opener, wonder how expensive the food was - but by then I'd a few a few so everything was 'eye-opener'. I seem to remember 3 ales - one was White Horse brewery & another from West Berkshire brewery. I do recommend this pub - it's different. 7/10
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Great Food, Friendly Staff, Well Kept Beer....
Nice Beer Garden / with covered area.
Close to the river.
Can't go wrong.
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I had tried to visit the Miller with Trainman (see posting below) a few months ago. Found myself back in Goring this weekend, and after another excellent pint of Brakespeares Bitter in the Catherine Wheel, had another attempt on the Miller.
Firstly the beer. Pumps for 3 Ales, although only 2 available. I had the White Horse Brewery Oxfordshire Bitter - not bad but not perfect either. Staff were friendly but the decor not to my taste - they seem to be trying a bit too hard to be trendy.
Beware if you have a glass of wine. My partner had a large glass of Sauvingnon and this with my pint came to �11.15. I queried this to find the wine was over �8. She said it was a nice wine, but I had not specified a particular label so seems rather steep.
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Loved the old leather chairs and roaring fires after a long walk. Just sorry we don't live in Goring. Don't know if I'd really call the Miller a pub, though as we stayed in an amazing room and had one of the best meals of our lives....
Service is a little mixed but everyone tries hard and the owner is a smashing bloke who seems willing to move mountains for guests.
Oh yeah, while it's not only the restaurant that serves great food, my wife just reminded me that the bar lunch we had was equally good. Rare steak and chips (rib eye and hand cut crispy chips like they should be). And the real ales all being local were perfectly kept and went down a treat after our long walk.
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The food was reasonably priced, and fairly good - not great though. Atmosphere was lacking in the restaurant and the management were abrupt. Not a friendly place and we won't eat there again.
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Don't know if I'd call this a pub anymore, but we had a great meal in front of the open fire after a long walk and enjoyed the great selection of real ales and wines by the glass.
very clean, nice staff and seem to be trying hard to get things right.
Really couldn't fault a thing.
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A real shame that we couldn�t get a pint here to start yesterday�s crawl � pub was closed until 19:00, presumably for a private function. We did get as far as the bar, where glasses were being polished in preparation, but the barmaid had to go & check whether she could serve us and unfortunately the answer was no. No-one else there, other than the practising musical trio, so I�m sure it wouldn�t have harmed! Anyway, a beautiful old building and very attractive, if small, front bar area with three unusual beers on offer; I can�t leave a rating but it would have been very positive, given the chance.
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Having just stayed down in Goring for the weekend I was doing some surfing to check out what others thought and came across beer in the evening. Seems to me, you either love the Miller of hate it. As for my wife and I, we had the most amazing weekend and it was great to have such a gem of a local downstairs for a couple of days. If the Miller was in Primrose Hill, we'd be there a couple of nights a week for sure.
The restaurant is no Gastropub, but full blown gastronomique experience with amazing food at an exceptionally good price (�25 for 3 courses) and the bar offers great beer (by far the best in the village especially if you're looking for something out of the ordinary!) and all the traditional classics one would expect in a coaching inn of the Miller's ilk.
The hotel rooms are also out of this world and offer all the modern cons at a fraction of the price of its peers like the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton, the Manoir, the Hotel du Vin and the like.
I'll grant you that the Miller is not for everybody, but from our weekend in Goring, the Miller bar was rammed, the rooms were full, the restaurant was busy and people were all thoroughly enjoying it. It's strange to compare the Miller with the other pubs as they all seemed to have had their niche, but if forced I know where I'd rather spend my time.
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Shame! this pub is chalk trying to be cheese.
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Beautifully restored village pub, great patio area for evening beers and food is good. Shame about the bar manageress that had a real issue with "people skills", she refused to serve us 2 vodka chasers because "it is that not the type of establishment" she looked down her nose at us and made us feel relatively unwelcome. In my opinion, this is really not a great selling point, if a customer wants to buy a drink, why not sell it to them, after all, business is about profit ????. I would love to take business clients and my family there for meals, I would also love to recommend it to other people, but the manageress left such a bad taste in my mouth with her terrible "I am better than you" attitude, unfortunately I will never return, I am really disappointed by this as I feel the venue would be fantastic if it wasn�t for her..... Also the gents toilets smelt unclean.
Mrbig - 21 Oct 2007 20:12 |
Post July 1st in a thunderstorm I increase my rating by 1 point to 10.
Good a la carte menu, and proper tapas and San Miguel which is what I want. At UKP20 for a good tapas which was more than enough for 2 - this represents very good value for money in the thames valley. My friends tell me that the "real ale" is good.
Dr Peter
(The vintage port is also good value and they also offer traditional drinks like ginger wine. The tea range is not bad.)
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Staying at the Miller was an absolute delight. The room was fantastic and the bath...I need a bath like it!!!!
The staff were lovely and the food was not only wonderfully presented but tasted delicious too! Not a combination that restaurants seem to be able to achieve nowadays! I find that they try to make their foods look fancy and forget about the flavour.
Top marks to the Miller. Beautiful location and a wonderful stay.
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This is no ordinary pub! We booked in on a recommendation for a weekend break... Fantastic food in the bar and restaurant, great style and great service.... The Miller really makes this sleepy little village of Goring worth a visit
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Another Goring pub I dont recognise from the reviews.
I would drink in this pub more often if was not completely non smoking. In the summer it was a very pleasant place to drink. The staff were friendly, fun and cheerful.
The food - well its not bad at all. I ate in the Miller regularly during the summer when I could eat outside. I had one meal out of say 6 which was not first rate - it just wasnt as good as the other meals I had eaten in there.
Well worth a visit.
I would however like to correct the MD of the company. In the area there are many excellant and expensive resturants. The Miller serves very good wine and this is reflected in the price. It was not a crumbling historic building when they took it over - it was a pub needing refurbishment.
7/10 in the winter 9/10 in the summer
Peter Wardle
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Kudos Mr MD Paul for standing up for your business in an open and honest way, I can't stand the tossers with grudges who try to use this site to knock someones livelihood, I will take the time to visit as well, Google maps says that the Miller of Mansfield is 112 miles from my house and a 3 hour drive so I had better leave early for lunch next week :)
BTW the Millers website has a spelling mistake on the Christmas luncheon page, the turkey main course is presented as Balentine, it should be Ballotine.
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As the Managing Director of the company that owns the the Miller of Mansfield, I would like to respond to the misinformation being posted about our property on this site.
Firstly, I have not posted on this site anonymously or otherwise. I guess it wouldn't surprise me if some of our customers or staff have done so, but that is a matter for them. Our regular customers who have grown to appreciate our very different approach using local suppliers including real local ales from small independent breweries and small local suppliers for our produce (meat, fish and veg) all sharing our commitment to homemade food of the highest quality (we smoke our own fish and meat, make all our own preserves, bake our own bread fresh daily, etc.) and our absolute dedication to delivering the best product possible and our staff are very passionate about the Miller and I respect entirely this passion. Reading some of the rubbish comments on the site, I can fully understand how passions might have been raised.
As far as the comments from andrew_ellis, I have already emailed Mr Ellis directly about his comments and I have left it at this. I would be happy to speak to him about his issues, but I fully believe his posting to be malicious and untrue. We have no record of his meal here and no record of any complaints of this nature, ever. Amusingly, while the steak and chip dish he slates remains on our sample menu on our website, it has not been offered in the restaurant since the middle of the summer. It is simply not possible that anyone ate this dish in November (or October or September for this matter!) We have a brigade of chefs with more Michelin star experience between them than all of the other restaurants / pubs in Goring put together and, while mistakes happen, our management documents every complaint made we take appropriate action to remedy any situation where our customers are unhappy.
Also quite ironic is that, in the same breath (same date) as slating the Miller, Mr Ellis posts a stellar and supportive review of one of the local pubs. We are also fond of this pub and respect highly the landlord and staff. They do their thing well and we do our (different thing) well. And we leave it at that.
We are not a Thames-side ripoff, but I leave this for our customers to decide. Frankly, our profit margins are incredibly lean and it will take years and years to repay the investment we've made to rescue a failing business and restore a crumbling bit of the historical fabric that makes our village and the Thames Valley beautiful. Most of our customers appreciate this and are incredibly supportive. I thank them wholeheartedly for this support. To those that choose not to support us, I respect this as well, but I cannot tolerate malicious abuse and untruths.
Paul
anonymous - 13 Dec 2006 23:01 |
great pub, with fantastic bar food and a great looking restaurant (ate in the bar but definitely will try the restaurant next time we can get out of London).... ask to see the bedrooms, this place is stunning.
Went for a long walk on the Thames (from Pangbourne) stumbled onto the Miller and had a fantastic meal.
anonymous - 13 Dec 2006 15:48 |
Great addition to the local area. 18th Century coaching inn converted to an amazing restaurant and bar with some great ensuite rooms. Our parents stayed in the rooms over the summer and had a fantastic stay with the comfortable beds, marble bathrooms, plasma tvs on the walls, etc. Real highlight however is downstairs with the food and drink. Great (and I mean spectacular) restaurant which is a truly memorable experience and great value for the amazing food all made fresh on site (they even smoke their own salmon and meats!). The bar is a relaxed affair serving three local bitters (West Berks Good Old Boy, White Horse and Rebellion IPA), the staff and management are knowledgeable and welcoming and the wine list includes a huge number by the glass.
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My partner had the best steak and chips in his life there yesterday. I had a great fish pie which was amazing as well (better than mom used to make). The Miller is by our reckoning the best restaurant and bar for 50 miles. The beers are fantastic (so says my partner who loves the local real ales on offer) and they are committed to fresh local produce which we support wholeheartedly. We're so lucky to have such a great (and great value) establishment in Goring and can't wait to go back.
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What an awful experience we just had in the Miller. Both the myopic misery scowling at us from behind recption and the monosyllabic, monobrow barman made it perfectly clear that we were an inconvenience to them. Daring to order food within half an hour of the kitchen closing caused uproar and when it came it was simply awful. My steak (med/rare) was burnt beyond redemption and the chips (f.y.i. guys - its not a pont neuf of potato if you only give five chips) shattered at the touch of a fork. The missus had one bite of her fish and left it at that. Terrible from start to finish - won't be back.
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Radical update to a tired old village boozer.
Much improved beers and decor in the main rooms. Looks like some fancy food, although we didn't try it. I'd echo the comments re slow service - one barman (the "manager"?) was doing all the work - the other staff seemed to be rather clueless and lacking direction, which was a pity. It was a bit cold and could have done with the fires being lit the day we went.
Excellent Good Old Boy (West Berks)and Rebellion IPA though and though a bit dark, the new decor works well, looks good and is comfy.
I'd got back for Sunday lunch and a pint (or two)
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Went with the wife, either i had steped in something on the way or i was not there cup of tea, i should imagine it was the latter. Overpriced & Cold.
anonymous - 11 Oct 2006 11:02 |
Other reviewers are perfectly correct. Bar and restaurant now beautifully refurbished. Excellent beers in the bar, food and wine in the restaurant are superb. But the service! Painstakingly slow, while at the same time the woman serving us tonight didn't half look down her nose at us!
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hey, are we lucky are what....it seems the owners of the White Lion are now operating the Miller of Mansfield in Goring. My husband and I tried it last week for the first time and loved it. The staff might be a bit too cool, but are teddy bears underneath (try to make them laugh). The beer's perfect (says my hubby) and we had a great dinner on the terrace garden which apparently just opened? Big umbrella, teak furniture, heating.... all the comforts of home (I wish!)
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The last time I was in Goring was last summer. Wow what a change. The Miller has been transformed from a dingy, smelly unfriendly pub to a cool take on a traditional Coaching Inn. The beer is fantastic with a full selection of real local ales (Butts Jester, Rebellion IPA and West Berks Good Old Boy) to compliment an extensive selection of high quality wines by the glass. The food is amazing. Apparently, they've recruited a hotshot young chef from Cornwall. We got a chance to see the letting rooms as well - which are amazing - with marble bathrooms, great beds, plasma screens on the wall, etc. Definitely worth a visit.
anonymous - 9 May 2006 12:03 |
Have to say i was a bit dissapointed here after reading the rave reviews about how friendly it was. I was at the bar 3 or 4 minutes before anyone noticed I was there, then it seemed I was an inconvenient addition to the schedule, cant understand that as i was the only paying customer, a staff meeting was going on in one corner which maybe i disturbed (sorry about that)When i asked for a menu again it seemed inconvenient and was the only other reason i needed to get out, shame as the beer was quite nice but the other pubs in this village leave this one way adfrift in friendliness terms
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Had a brilliant lunch at the Miller - very well looked after, fantastic fresh food, great wine selection. They even made our two year old son feel very welcome, which is unusual in this sort of place. Will definitely go back soon.
anonymous - 31 Jan 2006 11:07 |
We went over to the Miller this Christmas and had an absolutely fantastic lunch! Coming from Amsterdam, we are not really used to over-friendly staff, but here literally everybody tried to make us feel welcome; up to the owners showing us the kitchen and the hotel rooms (in progress). Looking forward to eat and drink here again, when the rooms are done - so we can stay over!
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It's great to see some investment coming into this sleepy, little village. The Miller has been tranformed into a modern, boutique hotel that is a great addiiton to the area and actually very affordable.
The food is fresh, varied and genuinely delicious. And whilst the bar area does need brightening up, the dinning room is stunning.
Definitely worth a visit.
anonymous - 24 Jan 2006 10:35 |
Finally this hotel has been taken over and given a new lease of life. The food is very good and the bar has retained its great atmosphere and is very cosy with open fires. I llok forward to viewing the new rooms when they open. A great addition to the area.
anonymous - 24 Jan 2006 08:40 |
Quite aggressively refurbished, with a dark atmosphere in the drinking area. Restaurant is lovely and bright though. Food is genuinely fantastic. c.�22 for 2 course set menu but the food matches its price if not excels it's price (compared to equivalent Leathern Bottle). Basically someone�s thrown a lot of money at this venture and it's paying off. No doubt it will be sold on again in a couple of years. Suffers a little from employing teenagers as waiters and waitresses rather than professionals.
anonymous - 12 Jan 2006 13:14 |
It's being done up at the moment and is apparently going to be a boutique hotel. Hopefully opening before christmas. We'll have to see what it's like but it should be good.
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Poor food, Poor staff and dirty decor, with a laughing clown propping up the bar. STAY AWAY>>>>
anonymous - 17 Mar 2005 17:29 |
Nice place, good food, constant swearing and laughing from customers and bartender who drank more than he served.....
anonymous - 1 Mar 2005 23:44 |
beautiful country inn let down by the dirty interier and drunken young barman with an infuriating laugh and foul language.
anonymous - 1 Mar 2005 23:42 |
not THE John Burton Race?
pete - 7 Apr 2004 10:38 |
Delicious food, an excellant pint of Adnams Best Bitter and extremely friendly bar manager (STUART) who informed us well and kept us entertained.
John Burton Race - 7 Apr 2004 02:14 |
Nice, genteel house, friendly staff, good ales, warm and welcoming ambiance. Worth a visit.
PsychO - 16 Dec 2003 19:03 |
Attractice ivy covered pub in the lovely Thames side village. Good selection of beer (adnams, brakspears and old speckled hen), and a very good selection of food. Good jukebox, nice barstaff. 100 yards from the river - no real garden which is a shame but a massive fireplace. Nice pub really.
pete - 5 Sep 2003 10:44 |
