please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Now reverted to it's old name of "The Jolly Farmer", reopened as a gastro pub, but has a large bar area with 4 real ales,, which is separate to the restaurant with plenty of room to sit. Food in the restaurant is good but a bit on the pricey side.
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Due to open as a gastro pub part of Raymond Blanc's White Brasserie chain.
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A bit run down and tatty but the Rebellion beers have always been spot on. Still better than most pubs in C St Peter
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It's a shame but this place is slowly going down hill, it is tired and drab, and in some places down right dirty, one of the urinals has been broken for weeks, there has been no effort to replace it, The management, who used to take a pride in it, seem to have lost interest. The beer and food are O.K. but the premises are not attractive or welcoming. It's a shame because it is a good location and could be brilliant, there are better pubs locally.
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I had a family reunion lunch last weekend at The Village Hall and have to commend the manager for her fabulous service.
She was friendly and accommodating. She was good fun without imposing on the group. She treated us with great courtesy - each member of the group. She was fab with the children and great with the adults. I wish I had taken her name so I could praise her publicly here.
She was training two new bar staff and you could see it was active coaching and direction. But that didn't take away from her attention on our group.
The lunch was to celebrate my birthday - a big one - and I needed somewhere that would cater for children as well as adults. We were 14 adults and 4 children, all coming from different areas throughout the south of England. I took the website at its word on the pub's ability to look after all.
Other reviewers mention inconsistencies - I can't comment other than to say a touch of maintenance might have the outside more closely matching the pictures on the web. The food was OK. But this all paled into insignificance by such great customer service we felt comfortable, we enjoyed all getting together again (for the first time in four years for some of us). The manageress even rearranged the furniture to allow us to take a group photo to commemorate the occasion.
In a most heartfelt way, I recommend this pub.
We didn't all arrive at the same time despite our reservation.
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The Village Hall (nee Jolly Farmer) has been my local for the past decade, so I feel well placed to comment.
Ignoring the ridiculous name for a moment, the biggest issue with this place is the sheer unpredictability of it all:
The beer, food, atmosphere, and staff can all vary between pretty good and rather mediocre - unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it.
Although not necessarily a problem for beer (although many evenings have involved us relocating elsewhere after a swift first round - lack of atmosphere, surly staff, or the start of a poorly-advertised "Battle of the 3rd-rate Death/Skate/Thrash Metal Bands"), for food the randomness of the quality is a complete disaster.
Having said all that, the location is reasonable with pretty views over Gold Hill Common - although even this is often marred by trademen's vans parked haphazardly obscuring the view.
The car park is barely adequate (although not a problem for me), and the adjacent roads can get quite busy - which again detracts from the outside space.
All in all, the Village Hall is something of a confused establishment - most of the ingredients are there, but successive managements have largely failed to get everything to gel together.
If it wasn't my local, apart from a swift pint or two - I'd probably give it a miss...
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I think most comments are a bit harsh. Overall i think this is a fab pub. Lots on, friendly staff, well catered for well behaved children, good enough menu, nice location. All in all a pub that has something for everyone. Like it alot, just wish i lived within walking distance.
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Could be brilliant but somehow just misses the mark,there is a lack of atmosphere about the place, it looks like a beach hut! They keep the beer well and generally there are 3 real ales on, but often you have to wait to be served whilst they deal with the restaurant side, the whole place lacks good manqagement.
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wot a crap name for a pub wot was wrong with the jolly farmers ive been out of the area for a while and i thought it was built as a bible class or something from the babtist church opposite.........change the name please
anonymous - 25 Sep 2007 15:02 |
I sat in the non-smoking section. A few people came in, lit cigarettes and were forced out by their partners.
Come 9.00pm, a huge table of youngsters came in and lit-up. I asked the bar staff if they could enforce their No Smoking policy only to be told that they, "don't really enforce it when it's busy". I asked to speak to the Management who were not available, then voted with my feet.
Customer care is non-existant. I will not go back.
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Wasnt to keen really!!!staff were very friendy but I asked for my fish to be cooked in a different way that was on the menu and they wouldnt do it
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The new management have made a real effort but unfortunately the open plan bar means you do not know whether you are in a pub or a restaurant. Good range of beer and you feel welcome.
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Was excellent when first taken over by the two Marks, but their lack of direct day-to-day involvment is showing, with the food failing to live up to the pricing and the service being non existent; avoid if you want to be served inside an hour for your first course after eating.
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This is what modern pubs are all about. Good beer, food and wine. Excellent service, happy, helpful staff. Appeals to young and old. Combines cosy pub with bar style. Toys for young children during the day. Every disillusioned landlord should visit this place..you will leave enlighted and with some great ideas about where industry is going.
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The Village hall is one of the better pubs in the Chalfont area. It is incredably popular with young and old alike.
The only pub to serve Hogarten, they have a wide selection of drinks.
The only down side is that it is often smokey and rather noisy. - They love to play their music LOUD!
Greg - 20 Sep 2004 17:41 |
The pub used to be the Jolly Farmer and has been done up really nicely - a bit like a London gastro pub. The food is great (especially the steaks) and there is a big wine and beer list. On Sunday evenings they have a Soul and Motown DJ session which is unusual for the area. There is a big beer garden overlooking the common. Worth a visit to the country!
Mark Douglas - 12 Feb 2004 09:40 |
