Bull, Hockleyback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Terrible Pub. Better off at a cafe or chippy.
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Chef & Brewer pub next to Hockley Woods. It seemed to be doing a good trade late on Wednesday evening and most customers appeared to be there for the drinks rather than the food, unless they'd already eaten. Ales were Greene King IPA, Robinsons Wizard & Castle Rock Harvest Pale. Not the cheapest pub around. The car park is pay and display (£2!). But at least this is not enforced in the evening.
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As others have said, the Bull is probably 90% restaurant now, and, as you have to go past a "have you booked?" entrance to the restauranty bit, it certainly looks like using the main part of the pub as a "pub" is discouraged, at the very least. So, in rough weather, the Bull isn't much fun as a drinking den.
BUT, when the sun's out and you venture into the extensive gardens and patio area, suddenly it all makes sense. Good beer, lots of room for kids to play and safely explore (the grounds back on to Hockley Woods) and suddenly it's a great pub again.
Don't get me wrong, the Chef & Brewer food is decent enough (above average pub grub these days), but, purely as a pub, I'd recommend visiting the Bull on a sweltering, lazy summer day, as I did last weekend.
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Very resturanty - packed with diners on a warm March Saturday. The beer (Marstons seasonal) was actually pretty good, but not a place to linger with a drink with groups eyeing your table...
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Unfortunately this place needs a Management injection, the real ales are a bit hit and miss (bar staff on the whole polite and helpful) unfortunately I would have to agree with other reviewers, the Manager here, is not open to any critisism, (food cold, under/overcooked was always ok when it left the kitchen - standard reply given over the last two years) his second in command, a rather surly young lady, is in dire need of a management/people skill course, dismissive of her colleagues and referring to them at times as 'monkies' to her 'organ grinder' (not even tongue in cheek)
Tables are old and unfortunately not cleaned as well as they could be, check out the routed tops, full of old food and candle wax.
In my opinion the food is not up to the price expected to pay - who wants powdery 'smash' when mash is advertised!
On the whole this place could be an absolute gold mine for the right management & chef, unfortunately being part of a chain is not always for the good - a definate aura of 'do enough to get by' - doesn't encourage regulars!
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Trouble is there's never enough staff. People queue up at the bar to order food and drink together. What they need is a separate till for the food and that would improve the customer experience greatly. The beer prices are average although the food is expensive. Should be my local for area but much prefer to get on a bus and go to a real pub.
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when growing up, one of the things i really looked forward to was drinking in the Bull on a summer's Saturday evening. Alas, when i finally reached the age of boozing, chef & brewer had taken over and taken with it.........the atmosphere. Good for food but not for a lively pint.
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This really is a retaurant !! Nice selection of beers ...... but
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This isn't really a pub it's a glorified restaurant! Yeah its situated right next to the woods which is nice but thats about all its got going for it! Was much better before it got taken over. It's now hugely over-rated & hugely over-priced.
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Lovely pub, bordering Hockley Woods. Now a 'Chef & Brewer', so the grub is pretty good too. Fires and candles, warming and welcoming with a lot going for it. Good selection of beers. I'm sure they used to have a real Bull's head above the door in the 70's...
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An excellent pub, my favourite actually. Nice and relaxing with candles at each table and a log fire which is nice in the winter.
martin - 2 Feb 2004 11:32 |
A great traditional English pub, great grub with wide choice, personal favourite a pint of prawns. Everything you want from a local country pub
elizabeth - 28 Sep 2003 17:51 |
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