please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A large well furnished Vintage Inns pub with extensive gardens on the edge of The Kennet and Avon Canal � what an opportunity for a very successful business. All I can say is that it is an opportunity missed by a mile. Although the food is bog standard chain pub fare, it is just about passable, which is more than I can say for the staff and service. The staff are just about out of school, have no idea what good beer is about and are surly to boot. Welcoming smile � what? Service � you must be joking! I suppose the old adage applies:- �If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.� It�s time Vintage Inns got their act together in this department with some proper staff training. My pint was cloudy and at the bottom of the barrel, so the little girl got the barrel changed and drew the new brew into a glass half filled with the old brew, so I called for the manageress, who clearly stated that if the glass was held up to the light and three fingers could be seen through the glass, it was up to Cask Marque standard. What a load of bollox! I won�t be drinking there again! Go to The Rowbarge at Woolhampton to see just how it should be done in a pub that is also part of a chain.
Oakie - 27 Jul 2012 12:22 |
Been in a few times over the last few months.
The beer is usually returned as undrinkable and changed for the next on the list it often takes 3 goes to get a just about drinkable / passable pint. The manageress may well be be sadly lacking in all respects with regard to how to serve a drinkable pint. Also if she could to smile and employ staff that had some semblance of an idea about how to keep customers happy this may well be a step in the right direction.
Food is ok but nothing to write home about.
I used this pub with the previous manageress and not only was the beer well kept she did know how to treat customers in a way to encourage them to return.
lot14 - 25 Jul 2012 01:23 |
This is the nearest pub to where I now live, but I don't go there. It's one of those identikit "family" pubs with an emphasis on food. Complete absense of character or atmosphere. I went in on my own once and felt very out of place among the tables of diners. It's not unfriendly, and the beer is reasonably well kept; it seems to be very popular judging by the number of cars parked outside. But I can't see the point of going to a place like this when I can drink bottled beer at home for a lot less money.
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Probably more of a restaurant than a pub, the beers on tap are nice, the food is usually good but the service is terrible at times, especially when it gets busy.
Either they aren't willing to hire enough staff or the ones they have are a bit slow.
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On my last two visits there was no real ale available even though it was on the local CAMRA Ale Trail! So no points there. Other reporters comments speak for themselves.
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I like this place because of its location and its atmosphere, but the food has disappointed twice in a row now. Once because it was just average and the second time because of the tiny portions and the long waiting times.
And we weren't the only ones complaining. Only about a third of the tables was occupied, yet it took the staff over an hour to bring our food, and when it arrived (and we were very hungry) the portions were tiny. A spoonful of mash and a chicken breast fillet on top for �10.95. I'm sorry but that's ridiculous.
The beer (Bateman's) was perfect, though.
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I've been here a few times and the food is excellent although the staff sometimes don't seem "with it". Lovely setting, not bad prices. Family pub with loads of seating outside by the river.
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Attractive looking building, although not original as mentioned elsewhere. Rambling series of rooms/spaces totally geared up for eating, always seems very busy, sometimes unmanagably. Decent enough beer, very good pint of Reverend Jmaes on our visit.
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Mulled Wine available for Christmas and was very good so I was told. Meanwhile I sampled a Doombar or two which was excellent - certainly no complaints there. Our group enjoyed some good food and a good evening; we'll be returning.
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Average foody pub with a nice garden. The inside is quite tidy but not anything to get excited about.
Smoky on my pre-Christmas visit (don't overheat the cooking oil, chaps).
Three ales on which looked good but there's an issue with the knowledge of the product - the London Pride was dispensed through a tight sparkler whilst the Tim Taylor wasn't. My beers tasted OK but the Pride had the life knocked out of it, which was a shame.
As far as the beer goes - good start but could better. I'll pass by again and see if things are looking upwards.
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One of the best pub/restaurants I have been to only be spoilt by a couple of items which were off the menu including the cheesecake which would have finished the meal off nicely. Seems to be a good range of beers.Staff, especially the Aussie who served us, was pleasant and cheerful but had to keep apologising for the items off the menu. Otherwise the pub would have got a higher rating.
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Great garden, and my pint of Hancocks was spot on!
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Good stop on a walk along the canal from Theale to Reading by virtue of being the, er, only stop. But the beer was alright if nothing special. Disappointing lack of crisps/snacks as already mentioned and it is definitely aimed at the family dining market.
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I enjoyed the pub, i went on a sunday & ate quite cheapley and the food was very good really. The waitrsses wernt to bad either. Oh sorry and for all you ale geeks out there, the beer was good as well it wasnt the usual john smiths rubbish.
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Seems to be a wide choice of beer but generally this pub seemed uninspiring. Lots of staff behind the bar, five at one moment but none serving me! Don't serve snacks (crisps, etc.) presumably this is to encourage you to have a meal but we didn't.
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Agree wth all the comments here, very good pub with good food and very good service.
jonah - 13 Mar 2004 15:02 |
Highly recommended.
Nice family environment, pleasant atmosphere, good food, good service. I have to agree with the ealier commentator's statement that the pub is aiming at the family dining market which currently is ideally suited to my requirements.
Many a cosy evening inside or summer evening in the garden will be enjoyed here.
Ashley - 10 Mar 2004 17:41 |
You have to go here for the food. It's fab and very well priced. Excellent service too - you are well looked after. Looking forward to sunday roasts in the garden when it gets a bit warmer!
Emily - 27 Jan 2004 11:27 |
Until early 2003 this was a rather grim Harvester, with little to commend it. However, after repeated flooding someone had the brilliant idea of demolishing the rather dire original buildings, and replacing it with something much better. The Cunning Man reopened in late 2003, as part of the 'Country Inn' chain.
The new buildings are in a 'traditional' thatched style, and the pub can seat more than average and cope with reasonably large groups. It boasts a large garden outside, close to the stream that runs past it and away from the Burghfield Road traffic - this should be very pleasant in Summer, and has ample seating.
The beers are all well kept, although a little uninspired. There is also a good choice of wine. The pub is really aiming itself at the 'family dining' market and is child friendly. For those that do not enjoy the combination of children adn pubs, there are quiet corners that can be colonised outside the busy weekend meal-times.
The menu is a mixture of solid pub favourites (Beef and Ale Pie, Steaks, Scampi and Chips) and something a little more exotic (Chicken Arrabiata and roast hock of pork for example). Those familar with the Star near Newbury (another one of the chain) will recognise the menu. The food is well cooked, well presented and the portions always generous. Meal costs are �3-�5 for a starter, �6-�12 for a main course and �3-�5 for a dessert.
Unsurprisingly it has become a popular Sunday lunch venue.
R Charles - 21 Jan 2004 20:16 |
