please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A traditional pub that was in the village of Simpson before it was swallowed up by Milton Keynes, this has a beer garden adjacent to the canal and is thus a popular spot for walkers in the warmer weather. It’s a good sized pub divided in to separate eating and drinking areas. Service at the bar was somewhat slow with just one barman serving who was friendly enough but seemed somewhat ineffectual at actually achieving anything.
The main bar area as an L-shape room at the front of the pub and this has a strip wood floor, a few insubstantial black beams on the ceiling and wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. The colour scheme was predominantly cream with some maroon detailing. A couple of fruit machines were opposite the bar, as well as a community notice and photo board and there was a small TV up in the corner although this was not in use. Many of the locals were sat up on high stools at the bar.
There is also a snug off of here which had a salmon and mustard colour scheme and a mixture of black and red leather armchairs along with a wood burning stove in the fire-place. This didn’t seem particular cosy though, perhaps just because it was reasonably big or the lack of carpet on the floor. At the back of the pub was a much more contemporary room used as a restaurant. I didn’t inspect this closely, but it looked to have vibrant lime green paintwork and some colourful murals of the countryside on the walls.
Menu wise, the theme seemed to have something of an Italian influence and there were several pasta and pizza dishes available as well as a few more regular pub dishes. The pizzas were mostly in the £8 - £10 price range, with the pasta dishes being a pound or two less and the other dishes a pound or two more. My Sundried Tomato and Haddock Fishcake was a decent enough dish and appeared to be homemade. Puddings offered a very temping selection and I would like to have tried nearly all of them. Fortunately you could opt for a trio of miniatures consisting of the Chocolate Nemesis, Limoncello Cheesecake and homemade Tiramisu and these were all very good.
According to a chalk board next to the bar, the beer choice consisted the regular Bombardier and Eagle IPA along with a couple of guests which were the seasonal Bateman’s Autumn Fall and Golden Cauldron. Unfortunately all but one of these had run out which doesn’t say much for their stock-keeping, unless they had a particular busy weekend perhaps. Ciders were a somewhat uninspiring Strongbow and Aspall’s Suffolk.
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This is a restaurant that server beer and not a pub that does food.
Food is quite nice, but real ale in undrinkable. Been in there several times as the wife likes the restaurant. Unfortunately the real ale is far too cold and lifeless and it's the standard Charlie Wells bilge.
Nice garden.
p.s. I think the beer used to be ok, but since the new management they have lost interest in it.
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A more than reasonable option on an urban stretch of the Grand Union canal in Milton Keynes, the building is old and was presumably part of a village. Food options looked decent and the garden rambles pleasingly down from the canal itself although the interior is perhaps a tad more modern that an old fogey like me would like. Ale options were fine, this being a Charles Wells concern.
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Reopened recently with Italians running the place (first time I''ve heard Italians running a pub).
Pub is a good mixture of locals pub and restaurant. The menu now has an Italian slant but too many pasta dishes. Traditional pub grub is still on the menu. I would say the place is a little expensive but that seems to be the going rate with a lack of good competition in MK.
Two or 3 ales usually on but nothing too exciting, just from the Wells and Youngs list. Pub has 3 rooms, bar, restaurant and pool room. Also a back garden (with car park) which backs on to the canal.
Number 18 bus stops outside
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Currently closed for refurbishment. A sign on the door stated that it would re-open on Friday, October 28th. I'll try it again in several years time.
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Nice pub with a huge beer garden that backs on to the grand union canal. Main bar is at the front. There are 2 other rooms - one a restaurant room to the rear and a 2nd room at the front which has a pool table in it (and not much else). I used to eat in here every Friday lunchtime and can't remember having a bad meal or a bad pint for that matter. Visited a couple of weeks ago and thankfully not much had changed. Usually a couple of guest ales on. My only gripe about this place is the small car park which tends to get full at peak times...
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Nice pub. Beer lovely. The food is fairly expensive for what you get, but then again this is MK.
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This place is far better than the dive it used to be in the 1990s.
It is no gem but of a reasonable standard now. Well done.
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Posh Grub
Good Ale
Bit pricey
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Not only has the name changed - but a great new look too. The Plough had friendly service and a fab menu on our visit. Definately a place we will be going back to!
Andi - 8 Nov 2004 18:35 |
Just to let you (and Harry) know - the pub is not closing down, it is just changing hands and will be open for business on Sat Nov 6th. The previous incumbents at the Carrington Arms, Moulsoe have taken it on with a view to providing a similar dining and drinking experience. The 'Trekkers' theme and all the Sci-Fi stuff has gone - so it is now 'The Plough' at Simpson again.
Jez - 5 Nov 2004 11:43 |
A really good pub with nice people. The interior is worth going for itself. With thanks to Laura who served us last time we were there, shame its closing down.
Harry - 14 Oct 2004 14:10 |
Whenever I've been in this pub, I've always enjoyed the beer and service.
Probably irrelevant but there was a local stores ( for local people) close by, where a girl with an amazing cleavage used to serve. Worth leaving your pint to get some Polos (but not for long!)
Allan - 25 Aug 2004 11:59 |
Cosmic service , food & above all int, acclaimed live musin - every Thurs, Sat, Sun & Mon ( jam) Hosted by Gwyn Ashton. By far a superior bar & restaurant alongside the canal, kids bouncy etc etc
Amanda & Derek - 8 Jul 2004 18:29 |
Pinball fans will love the Revenge from Mars game. A 3d pinball with holographic images. Great fun. ALso a really friendly pub with lots of interesting sci-fi goodies to see. Dont put off by the theme its somewhere for the family not just for sci-fi nerds. Very Lively atmosphere with something allways going on.
Dave - 30 Jun 2004 11:08 |
Fantastic night out, Live music venue as well as superb homecooked fresh menus - We saw International Blues player Gwyn Ashton on a Friday night & it was completely free of charge , would recommend to anybody for regular music or just a great feed! Well done Trekkers!
Sam - 18 May 2004 13:35 |
i love it and the food is really nice and they are all really friendly!
Amy - 7 Apr 2004 12:34 |
A pub/restaurant with a science fiction theme COME BACK HERE, IT'S GOOD, HONESTLY! It's tastefully done, not 'in your face', and no, it's not full of nerdy anorak-types. In fact, once you've had a look at all of the sci-fi memorabilia on the walls it's just a good ordinary pub with excellent (and varied) food and beer and really friendly service (maybe they're aliens and don't realise that pub staff are supposed to be miserable and surly nowadays?).
Tim Dickson - 19 Mar 2004 14:25 |
