please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited the Mint yesterday to make the most of the rare good weather. Sat in the beer garden and the sun went in almost immediately. I took a swig of Adnam's Krystal White ale and then it started to rain, so I went back inside. Pub is very clean and tidy. Nice old wooden beams, although it's a bit too gastro-pubby for my liking. A nice pub to take great Aunt Audrey or your mother-in-law, the missus or the girlfriend, but not the kind of place you'd hang out with the boys. Had Doom Bar and London Pride on tap too. Lovely barmaids although had a lengthy wait to get served.
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Had lunch there yesterday with a couple of friends - very pleasant. We had to wait a little while for the food, but this was probably no longer than the average restaurant and none of us was in any hurry. When it did arrive it was good quality; we each had a 3-course meal. I had melon sorbet, followed by grilled place, and then a delicious apple and gooseberry crumble for dessert, all of which was well cooked and presented. The service was responsive and polite at all times. We arrived fairly early, so there weren't many other customers to begin with, but by the end of our stay it was more or less full - not bad for a Monday lunchtime. The atmosphere and setting were both very pleasant and I would be happy to go there again.
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Perhaps things have changed , but we had lunch there yesterday and it was all perfectly pleasant. The food took a while to arrive , but was pretty good quality , especially bearing in mind it was from the 3 courses for a tenner lunch menu. Others obviously agree as there was hardly a spare seat to be had. The staff were attentive and courteous throughout the two hours we spent there. It also makes a pleasant change to have waitress service in a pub setting. All in all not bad , we shall be returning.
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Started going to this pub 30 years ago when I lived in Surrey. It was good beer/food/ service etc. Returned recently after 20 years. What a letdown! Food late, either under or over cooked - when I went to complain I asked the guy behind the bar if he was the manager - he replied "I'm afraid so" - says it all really. OK pub for a drink - but that's all.
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Very rude staff and very rude chef. Extremely poor service and will never go there again
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HHGTTG. The pubs mentioned have not been taken over, still run by Mitchells and Butlers, (but will not tell you this) These pubs have been cherry picked by a consortium of threemen backed by m and b to take these pubs up market. the Wotton Hatch Westcott and the Arkell Manor Betchworth. Definatley a no go area for common pepole. AKA joe Bloggs with working background. Anyway the Mint. Very up and down. Need some stability in staff which is hard in this job.
Just keep sending back substandard food and they will get the message.
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I notice that one or two Vintage Inns have been taken over by another group and have gone more up market, namely The Derby Arms on Epsom Downs and just recently one near me i.e. The White Hart at Brasted, Kent.
The Derby Arms is now really a 'no go' for the casual evening drinker and so I suppose the White Hart will be the same.
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The food is terrible. I used to go there regularly but don't bother anymore as I've had so many sub-standard, luke-warm meals there. This is a real shame as it's a lovely building in a great location, and could be really good if it was run & managed properly.
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Beautiful location, but the food and service is awful. Waited for nearly an hour our meal and when it arrived, the chips were cremated and the fish pie was probably from a frozen ready meal from Iceland. Such a shame as has great potential to be a fantatic country pub.
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I'd like to endorse the last review. I went there on Christmas Eve and the prawns were of similar poor quality which may account for my gastric problems the next day. Also I know it's Christmas etc etc etc but was it really necessary for one large group to virtually take over the bar area with their screaming snotty very young children, one of whom was sitting on the bar a lot of the time?
No proper beer, apart from a flat Revd James, well it's been snowing init!
Never again thanks!
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Hi Nickdavies,
I'm afraid I don't know what a Vintage Inn M&B Ember Toby chain pub is.
All I know is that the food served in The Mint was not only disgusting, tasted vile and was not cooked properly, but it was a health hazard too I'd imagine! (Warmed up frozen prawns which were raw inside and tepid on the outside - and a hair (possibly from a cat) in the middle of the prawn cocktail.
Even the spicy filling inside the red pepper seemed to be a teaspoon of uncooked CURRY paste taken out of a jar and plonked inside the pepper!!
Surely there is no excuse for such appalling food? And just bcause it's a chain pub do they have to employ rude staff? Why is that?
Aand why doesn't the chain get someone to remove the wasp nest in there? And clean the sticky tables?
It's probably the worst pub we've ever been in, and it totally lacked atmosphere. Heaven knows why people go there!! It's quite a shame because it has a lot of potential given its setting and structure.
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Strawberry - you never noticed that it's a Vintage Inn M&B Ember Toby chain pub and then expected real food then ?
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Oh dear - what a disappointment!
We have been meaning to visit this pub for dinner for some time now (have recently moved to the area) and its always looked so welcoming and cosy from outside.
So today we decided to have a late lunch there (they serve food all day) and got there about 3 o'clock. After telling the barmaid we wanted to eat we found a table and sat down. First mistake! We must have been sitting next to a nearby wasps nest (this was INSIDE the pub) and I can only imagine that the sticky tables were attracting the wasps. Every time I rested my arm on the table it was sticky and unpleasant.
My husband managed to squash 4 of the wasps which were buzzing around our table, but then we gave up and decided to move to the other side of the pub. Whilst my husband tried to kill these pests the barmaid took no notice at all, and seemed as though she was used to them being there. Whilst walking over to the other side of the pub we overheard a customer saying to someone that we must be changing tables 'because of the wasp nest'!
We'd already ordered our food: 2 starters and 2 mains plus a bottle of red wine.
When our food arrived I was at first surprised at how small the portion was, but the presentation looked rather good. Shame about the taste and cooking! I ordered hot skewered prawns on a red pepper with spicy sauce - and it was absolutely VILE! The prawns (obviously frozen) were tepid, rubbery, hard and raw inside! They were still opaque, and I had to spit them out.
My husband's prawn cocktail looked OK - except for the 2" long black hair which sat in the middle of it. When we called the barmaid over and showed her the hair (and my raw prawns) she said in a very loud voice that she couldn't understand how the hair got there as the chef was bald!!!
If the hair didn't fall off the chef's head I can only assume they have a pet cat strolling around the kitchen.
When we showed her my prawns she seemed mildly irritated and said (again in a loud voice): "What do you want to do then???" Her attitude was such that she seemed accustomed to complaints and wasn't bothered about the shockingly poor and unhygienic food.
We told her to cancel the rest of our order and she stomped off with our plates of uneaten food. We then went to the bar to pay for our wine and went and had a meal in a restaurant in Banstead Village.
I would advise anyone thinking of going to this pub to avoid it like the plague.
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Visited The Mint last night. Should have taken the 'chef's wanted' board outside as a clear sign that the evening would't go well. Every surface in the pub is 'sticky', splashes of a previous dinner, drink or heaven only knows adorning the wall next to our poorly illuminated table for two. Dinner ordered from a very standard 'brake bros' type menu, took long enough to arrive for me to miss two birthdays and when it did it was unedible. Amazing how some parts of the same meal can be at once raw and heated to death, but they manage it at The Mint. I shall not be returning. The only saving grace is the guest ale, but we can get that elsewhere. Dont use this pub.
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Kaktus. You say "Open a tab and they will not take your card but operate on trust. Says a lot for the management but the type of regular is not liable to run away without paying. Definitely worth a visit."
Well, for starters I would NEVER, ever leave a card of mine with a stranger! All the pubs I visit, operate on trust and lallow you to open a tab without confiscating a credit/debit card.
From a security aspect I would not dream of giving over my card to anyone.
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Last visit two weeks ago but have been here many times. Not a "stand-at-the-bar" place so to all purposes it is a restaurant. Staff are always friendly although you do tend to see new faces on almost every occasion. Food is average but prices are not too high. Chavs and likewise low life would not be welcome here. Place is almost empty by 9.30 with the old locals home to their beds!! One thing I do really appreciate. Open a tab and they will not take your card but operate on trust. Says a lot for the management but the type of regular is not liable to run away without paying. Definitely worth a visit.
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I was a bit worried that this pub might have gone downhill after reading the two comments below but based on my recent visit, the allegations are unfounded. Food is still excellent and arrives very quickly. It is not boil in the bag, this is proper fresh food that is well received.
Nice summer drinks menu with an innovative range of soft drinks.
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ANOTHER M&B TEMPLATE PUB LIKE THE TUDOR ROSE IN COULSDON LIKE THE FOX NR CATERHAM NEED I GO ON..
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A fairly standard vintage inn, food is either boil in a bag or slapped onto a grill (isnt brake bros wonderful). Never the less the grub is generally edible as long as you know what to order.
They have a good range of ales and lagers, again all ok (when there is enough staff there to serve it). The interior is pleasant and authentic, though there is a distinct lack of atmosphere if you are looking to drink there.
In all the mint is a restaurant, the food and drink is ok but nothing special. Worth a look as the prices are very competitive.
dm221 - 30 Apr 2008 11:17 |
What a lovely place! Hidden away outside Banstead town centre in a woody area.
A bit cramped with them trying to put as many tables in a confined area. Can't blame them though, it's VERY popular.
Waitresses should ask you how things are going AFTER you've actually managed a mouthful. LOL!!
Food is delicious and a wide variety to choose from although they seem to focus more on steaks. There was only one pasta dish to choose from.
On the expensive side but worth the visit. Great atmosphere.
I'll definitely recommend this place to my friends!
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Discovered this pub when recommended by a friend. He wasn't wrong. The Mint serves good pub food but also has a wider range than most pubs in well-cooked food. The beers are good and I saw at least real ales when I visited the bar. They do wine by the 25cl, 50cl, 750cl and I litre.
I shall be going again, After three visits in the past two weeks, it's fast becoming my local.
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This pub is faultless. They do cracking food that is freshly cooked, very reasonably priced and arrives within minutes of ordering. They've also got fresh apple & orange juice behind the bar. The staff are friendly and helpful. Our group of 21 were afforded very good service.
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done out in an old fashioned way, but few seats and tables. had to wait for quite a long time for a drink, since there was only one person on the bar. it's good in it's own way, but too far out of the village to get to by walking or bus and quite dear.
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Nothing to write hme about. Better pubs in the area.
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Went there the other week they have started early with the no smoking rule so walked out, shame cos its an ok quiet little pub. Suppose I will have to give up smoking now!
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Not really a pub, more like a poor mans mini Harvester
Used to be a great pub in the 60's !!
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Q - 'what sort of person takes a 3 year old into a pub?????'
A - someone who uses Vintage Inns. Another good reason to steer clear of them.
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I work for a pub in the same company as the Mint and I would like to point out that we are NOT A CHILDREN'S PUB. There are plenty of pubs around which do childrens menus, so we don't feel the need to do a separate menu for them. Anyway, what sort of person takes a 3 year old into a pub?????
anonymous - 26 Feb 2006 16:05 |
Having frequented The Mint for many years now I have to say that I am surprised at the comments preceding mine. Subjectively, I would say that the pub provides a warm welcome and the staff are accommodating and attentive
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Visted the pub recently with my wife and 3 year old child. When we looked at the menu it was fine for adults but when we asked if there would be something suitable for our 3 year old the elderley male behind the bar was unable to suggest anything other than a smaller portion of the main menu. He suggested rump steak and chips and a cracked pepper chicken for a 3 year old.
Very dissapointed at this and left the pub for the Kingswood arms where they were much more helpful.
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The pub has gone downhill since most of the staff have left. Mark was a top bloke, would always take the time to have a chat. The new manager seems to dislike employing young staff, which is a bit rubbish for my friends and I, as there's not many people to talk to while you're ordering.
Food is standard for a chain pub, the chicken pie is the tastiest thing on the menu. It's still the best pub in the banstead area. Not full of chavs like The Woolpack or The Wheatsheaf, which is always a bonus.
Beer garden is just a paved area out the back, but it's nice in the summer.
Standard selection of beers. Some real duff ones on tap (Carling, Carlsberg). London Pride is good, if a little warm. Guinness isn't too bad either.
And it's a non-smoking pub which is always a bonus.
Ian_D - 19 Oct 2005 11:28 |
No standing at the bar... but it's a Vintage Inn - the last thing anyone would want to do would be to stand at the bar and have a drink. Mind you there is little else you would want to do in a Vintage Inn. Use the loo I suppose, but even that is cleary a worry.
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This is a pretty pub in a nice lane. However, I have never been made to feel more unwelcome! We were enjoying a delicious pint of London Pride standing at the bar when we were asked to move "because we were blocking the view". What view? It was dark outside. Apparently, all visitors have to be seated even if you do not wish to eat. This policy is not making people welcome. We drank up and left, as did other people.
anonymous - 7 Oct 2005 20:42 |
Where, oh where is the manager of this place? I want a word in his ear! I complained to your staff about the state of the gents toilet and I'm annoyed that nothing has been done to improve conditions there.
Put some bleach blocks in the urinals... They stink!
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A nice little pub situated down a quiet country lane. Off the beaten track, so attracts a mix of drinking ramblers and 'weekend driver'groups hoping for a bite to eat. The quality of the food is good for the price (I can recommend the lasagne) and as someone has already mentioned, the desserts aren't bad either (go for the apple and cinnamon pie). They also do a good pint of Bass, which is always a bonus.
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It may be a chain pub but it has a sort of rustic charm that makes quite a pleasant ambience, it feels warm and friendly. I liked it.
The food looked nice enough, traditional fayre, although I didn't order any as I wasn't hungry...
Not a binge-drinker in sight, which is always a plus. One for the "pint of bitter and glass of white wine for the wife" crowd.
All in all, OK. Worth a return visit.
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You could drink here all day and the selection of sweets is second to none
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A Vintage Inn. Say no more.
Nick - 9 Jul 2004 15:50 |
They do nice food.
Briony - 14 Apr 2004 13:54 |
