please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now refurbished and opened as a part of the "Porch House" Hotel.
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Still shut but refurb underway.
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The place i up for Let!
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Called in to the pub section of this place to see what it was like inside seeing it it the oldest pub in the country. We were very dissapointed. The place has had the guts pulled out of it and is just a cafe bar type of place inside! The prices -- pint of guest ale and a pint of lager �7-85 WOW didnt have another as did not have my bank manager with me for a loan!
A plce to avoid + the cook/chef was smoking in an ally not good. The hotel part does not welcolm drinkers, I wonder why. Supposed to have scratch marks on the fireplaces made by witches in the old days so the say. Or was it a spaceman.?
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Whilst claiming to be the oldest inn in England, these days it aims at little more than the restaurant trade. The previous posts don't give much joy on that front, though the time I ate here (early 2009) it was acceptable but there are many better places in Stow to eat.
There is a small bar area where one can get a drink but it's really for people to have a quick one before sitting down to their meal.
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22/09/09 ...... my advice would be to stay well clear of this (in my opinion) RIP OFF PUB. I bought a large glass of Pinot & a pint of Stella. �5.45 for the Pinot & �3.50 for the Stella. When I asked for my money back on the basis that I could buy a better bottle of Pinot from Tesco for �5'ish and I was being charged (pro rata) a 300% mark-up, my request was refused. I asked the barsteward (sic) if he was embarrassed about asking for this price and he addmitted that he was. My advice would be to frequent some of the other pubs in Stow ... just don't go to the Eagle & Child.
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We stopped here for a lunchtime meal after a nearby pub which had a sign outside saying "food all day" had stopped serving food at 2pm!
The dining area was smart and tidy, and they were able to find a table for our large party of eight.
From the menu, I chose a seafood platter, my partner chose the charcuterie platter, several of us plumped for the steak in ale pie, and one for a cheese ploughmans.
The platters arrived, attractively presented on slate 'plates' but the pie turned out to be a dollop of stew with a triangle of puff pastry balanced on top. The ploughmans was... a ploughmans.
The seafood platter featured crayfish tails, two langoustine and smoked salmon, served with bread. The bread was sliced, and stale. The crayfish tails were frozen, but tasted as if they had been defrosted in the dish in a microwave - utterly flavourless with the texture of blotting paper and sitting in a little puddle of water. The langoustine were no better with a peculiar earthy taste. The smoked salmon was straight out of a packet.
The charcuterie was no better, being simply sliced meats out of a packet. My partner sent her bread back and requested some fresh bread, and did get some fresh. But the "pie" was flavourless too. The ploughmans was... a ploughmans.
Beer? Old Hookey. Reasonable condition, but not the freshest pint I've tasted.
The routine question "did you enjoy your meal?" when answered with an honest "no" was received with indifference by the waiter.
Distinctly disappointing all round, and very expensive too, with the meals averaging out at �10 a head, excluding drinks.
Not recommended even in an emergency.
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Had a pint of Jouster which was pure vinegar... was readily changed (but no sign of them turning the clip round or stopping serving the stuff to unsuspecting customers) the replacement pint of Old Hooky was quite drinkable. A pleasant enough place to sit and have a pint the the poor first offering left a bitter taste both literally and metaphorically.
anonymous - 26 Jul 2009 12:07 |
Claims to be the oldest inn in the country, and whilst that may be the case the interior has obvioulsy had some makeovers and doesn't quite have the olde worlde charm that you would perhaps expect.
The conservatory area we dined in is definitely not that old! Food's pleasant enough, but they should perhaps concentrate a little more on substance over style.
Stowford Press cider on tap.
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Small bar with a larger area where the emphasis is on food. Only 1 real ale. Disappointed i went here as there were obviously better pubs in Stow
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Menu was too limited in my opinion - only about 7 options for main courses. Tiny portions and very overpriced, you will need all 3 courses. However, staff are polite and decor is nice (old pub with nice features with a sleek modern conservatory). I was not really impressed with this place, but I had already read some bad reviews and was made to go there by my father-in-law despite warning him about what I had read.
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This either a restaurant with a small bar or the worlds smallest pub with a restaurant, cant decide which! Real ale not good due to poor turnover = go there for dinner which will be excellent and drink the wine!
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Nice food but over priced, slower than average service and a few hiccups / forgotten items but generally a good night. The gourmet slates are to be recommended, as is the breaded haddock and chips!
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Like previous reports more like a pub than restaurant - even more evident with very very small bar counter, only enough space for 2 people..!!!
However, staff friendly and we actually sat outside at front away from diners.
Bar serves local 'cotswolds' lager, which was actually quite pleasent...
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A bit disappointing really. Felt like a hotel bar, which it is. Menu was not appealing to a vegetarian and the prices were high. Beer was nigh on 3 quid a pint, not unusual around here but Donningtons pubs are just over 2 quid. Did have local beer - Hook Norton and Festival (from Cheletnham).
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not really a pub more of a restaurant, but reasonable prices (compared to london)good beer.
A bit of a strange experience - at first we were seated in the consevatory - not great at 9pm in early march, when we asked if we coud sit in the restaurant where there was a clear table for two, we were told we couldn't because there was a woman with a pram in the table next to it and she needed to rock her baby to stop it crying! fortunately before we ordered another group left and at a second request we were moved into the warm!
however the waiter was friendly, the food was great and it came to �40 for the two of us - although i had a couple of pints of the lovely beer and GF had soft drink rather than wine.
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Their website claims that it was founded in 947 by a "Cornish Saxon Duke" - What utter rubbish. A total contradiction in terms!
anonymous - 26 Apr 2007 12:22 |
A bit pretentious if you ask me. not a nice local pub, caters for the tourists, its ok but we didnt feel comfy there.
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Very expensive
tom stagles - 3 Sep 2004 12:45 |
It is a lovley cosy little pub with a which also serves gorgeous food until 10pm! The staff are great the food is great and and the atmosphere is even better! Well worth a vist for a swift pint!
Harriet Knight - 22 Jan 2004 10:32 |
