please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Unfortunately it looks like 'Inn Britain' have pulled the plug on the Beehive. It has been fenced off since Fathers Day, and despite information from Charles Wells that the current tenant will reopen on September 12th, there is no indication of any work being done there. The place has been cleared out and the weeds are 6 foot high.
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Sorry - edit - "where the sun can't get to it" /
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Blimey. For some reason they decided not to do anything with the lovely big garden this summer except leave it fenced off (probably so they can park caravans for their eastern european staff out there - or leave it to go to seed so that it can be sold as a building site?) but have spent a fortune (and very late in the year to do it too) on a massive wooden construction seating area out the front of the pub where the sun get to it, basically in the car park, with a whole load of plants in containers that are too shallow so they'll get root-bound and die off. Morons. I really can't see how it is a sustainable business model.
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Oh and if you were thinking of going in for a pint and watch the football - forget it, they've done away with the TVs!
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I meant anne72, sorry!
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Whoever this Anne92 is, she must be being paid by Orchid. Does she know that Orchid fell into administration. So much for good business acumen. The pub is shite and until they bring back someone like that cockney fella Toby, at least he tried to rid the place of drugs, the pub will not be a local. It will be a wannabe gastro, get a life Charles Wells and get a landlord who is in touch with the world to run this place!!!!
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Has reopened under new management and totally redecorated etc throughout. Seems to be much nicer inside but remember to take some cash for booze with you as they have London prices! Unfortunately they appear to have gone in completely the wrong direction with things - no fruitmachine or quiz machine, no jukebox, no pool table, and it has been done out inside in lets say 'an individual style' which is not going to be to everyones taste. I was disappointed on my visit by still having to wait ages to get served even though it wasnt busy, and (as already mentioned) the prices which are about 10%-15% more than it used to be. I can't really comment on the food as I haven't eaten there but I've heard that it's nothing special. I would say, all in all, not the right treatment for this pub. Oh and be careful where you put your coat as there are lots of candles alight all over the place.
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Well things are changing. They got rid of that awful woman who was running it a few months back and Orchid struggled to carry on before going into administration anyway and selling its pubs. The Beehive reverted to Charles Wells though and has recently been leased (i believe) to some guy who (as far as I'm told) "Doesn't want regulars hanging around at the bar drinking"! Some way to run a pub - it's your regular locals that keep these little out-of-the-way places alive! Anyways, it is shut for a couple of weeks now for a redecoration etc, and apparently the new chap wants to 'run it as a good place to get good food which also has a bar' (same old story, how many times in the past have we heard similar from new owners who have struggled on for a few months before going under?).
Well. we shall see when it reopens on November 28th. I will be checking it out but if they put up the prices of their already expensive beers I will refuse to pay it, walk out and go elsewhere (voting with my feet) and hopefully others will do the same.
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This pub has absolutely gone downhill. Someone should tell that Orchid mob to get that landlord they had from a few years ago back. You know the mad Man Utd fan Toby. I care very little for his choice in football teams, but as far as pub management goes, that fella knew what he was doing and supplied excellent customer service and superb beer. Now - well, quite simply - RUBBISH!!!
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Still terrible. (Popped in as I was meeting a friend, didn't spend any money!)
This was on a Saturday night. 1 bar person who was only occasionally visible, but then it hardly mattered as there were only 4 customers apart from myself, and this was at 8pm.
So I am still avoiding and hoping for new management that will inject a bit of life back into the place. Fingers crossed, eh?!
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It is now a month since I both complained to Orchid and posted this review (below). Still no change. I would've thought that it would be in their interests to sort things out but clearly they couldn't care less. I am boycotting The Beehive until new management is in place.
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I am a local regular of this pub since 2003 and The Beehive is a lovely building but unfortunately has been let down over the years by a succession of poor managers.
It is a shame as this pub could be an absolute goldmine with the right people running it, which it hasn't got currently! It seems that the practice of installing salaried managers who get their wage regardless is having a detrimental effect as obviously they are happier when they have less customers.
This is often blatantly demonstrated when (on a weekday evening) if there are less than 3 or 4 people in the bar area, and the restaurant is quiet, they lock the doors early (I've been locked in at 8.30 before!).
At time of writing (August 2013) the current 'landlord' Liz has been managing since around October last year and I think i've only seen her working in the bar probably 1 evening a month on average. On top of that she's had 1 or 2 week holidays several times this year already.
The bar is generally understaffed, with what bar staff that are there spending time dispensing drinks for customers seated in the restaurant whilst people are waiting to be served at the bar. Surely they should get the several teenage girls that work the restaurant to get their own drinks!?
I have sent a lengthy complaint to Orchid (the pub management company that runs it) about the many things that are wrong with the place but have only received a 'form letter' email reply acknowledging my complaint.
In summary;
No dartboard since the refit despite the promise of one being re-installed many months ago.
No jukebox just repetitive piped music that is so quiet you can barely hear it.
2 'fruit machines' both of which have faults/broken indicator lights and despite being informed about this still not repaired several weeks later. (One of these fruit machines replaced a popular 'quiz game machine' and despite requests to have it back it hasnt happened.)
Lack of decent customer service - i.e. dont complain to Liz the 'landlord' about anything as she wont apologise, she is more likely to say something like 'what do you want me to do about it?'
And on the food service? Well, I ate there regularly up until Orchid took over but repeatedly was disappointed by lengthy waits for food, and orders not being served correctly, on one occasion burnt burger buns which the previous manager didn't apologise about and just mumbled something about being busy, and since then I haven't bothered. It seems that the change of management didn't help as I frequently hear people complaining about similar issues. One woman with her family recently, who had ordered food for eating in the garden, came to the bar and asked where their food was as they had been waiting 45 minutes!!!
And then there's the 'entertainment' on a Friday evening.
Well, to say 'entertainment' is stretching it a bit. It alternates weekly between either;
a - A disco/karaoke in which the bloke who runs it bungs on a 'megamix' cd for the first hour which has a load of 80s/90s tracks segued together to the same fast beat, which doesn't fit any of the tracks, then once the assembled audience are warmed up you get the same old clowns shouting drunkenly into the microphone with no attempt at actual singing.
b - A singer. Usually one of 3 regular x-factor rejects that are little more than a 'one-person-karaoke' singing badly to backing tracks. Often forgetting the words.
And then most of the time there is a collection of regulars hanging around one end of the bar engaging in the same conversations and arguments usually with some loud drunken football-chant style singing thrown in for good measure, which I can see puts off the casual visitor as whne 'randoms' come in they often have one drink and leave.
The garden is nice however, probably one of the nicest pub gardens in the area, but unfortunately no vision has been used as to what could be done with it. No flowers or planted areas, just a collection of cheap typical pub bench-and-table style furniture, a few bent and broken bins and some signs telling customers to keep dogs on leads etc. Oh and a run-down play area for the kiddiewinks.
As I said to start with, it's a shame as it is a lovely pub but let down by poor management, and until Orchid sort it out I expect it will continue to be awful.
Still, if it improves I'll let you know.
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I have been using this pub for years and was full of hope when it got an uplift last August. Saddened to say that I feel the pub has got worse. Thay have sky Sports and ESPN but customers can only have volume on the screen to the left hand side of Pub, this is so diners are not disturbed, strange that, as a good percentage of diners ask what is being screened when passing through. There is no bar food available unless you sit in the restaurant, What! You are there with a group of friends and one or two feel peckish, so they have to leave their friends and dine alone. This was a rule set by Gary the manager so the staff could cope as they were all new, we are now six months down the line and they are still learning. I have not used the Carvery so cannot comment on that, but rest of menu is reasonable, but be patient you tend to wait a while for food. Come on Orchid sort it out.
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This pub/restaurant is dire. Service is bad, food is mediocre and the management do not care when things go wrong. Have been there 7 times since it opened-one time involved a 45 minute wait for ham egg and chips for my two small children. The last time we wait 30 minutes and no-one offered drinks or to take our food order. When I said "we won't be back" their response was "ok!". Good luck staying in business......
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Further to my previous post, since the beehive has finally been revamped I have visited 3 times. First 2 times were good - beer well kept and food was good. last night went there for my birthday and whilst the beer was ok, the night could have been ruined by the food service - drinks order forgotten (I think the girl who took it finished her shift and left it), long wait to be asked for food order (and there were only 2 other groups in the restaurant). Staff seem more concerned about chatting to each other and I really do not want to know about their private lives, especially with my 10 year old daughter with me. The food was ok (they forgot my vegetables but they eventually arrived), but once again the signs are already there that the place is not going to be run correctly and allowed to drift down back into the mire it has been in for years. I will give it one more try again (perhaps its only when manager Gary is not about that the system falls down..?), but its such a shame that a potentially great place seems unable to be run right....
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Avoid At All Cost
Found a DEAD Wasp in the swede spoke to a large build female mid 30s who said she was the team leader and offered to get the manager who was conveniently not available.
The team leader offered us free desserts which i refused on asking for the meal to be refund i was told the policy is not to refund only to offer desserts.
I then pointed out that i would of been happy to pay had there not been a dead wasp in my food.
I ended up paying for the meal for myself and 3 guests but will not be attending again
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Pat have you ever actually visited the beehive? Im sure if you took your free time to go for a meal there instead of commenting on something you clearly no nothing about you would have a lovely evening.
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Jeeze Anne, you could at least try to disguise it a little bit.
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Reading these comments is very interesting. Since visiting thr beehive and having a lovely evening i was very shocked to have read bad reviews about the beehive. Since then i have done some research into the pubs background and the new group 'orchid' who now run the beehive. orchid are a very succesful company whom have a few hundred pubs up and down the country. the beehive is ranked 6th with in the company and 1st in its division. i myself find this very impresive and therefore think the reviews are people who are purely jelous of the competition.
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Do you lot think we are daft?. Take your false postings and and stick them up your carvery.
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I recently visited The Beehive in WGC with my elderly father, I can honestly say I've never been treated so warmly & felt so welcome. The girls in the restaurant couldn't have been more friendly & welcoming nothing was too much trouble. The food was very very good too. My father enjoyed his carvery immensely & the attention he received from the manageress & her staff. Thank you to Sharon & the team can't wait for my next lunch date with Dad.
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Went to the quiz night with friends after a wonderful meal on Sunday, it was fun light humoured and raised money for charity, Clic Sargent , also noticed that this will be held every Monday, also noticed that they have a poker league starting and a rock and roll boho starting next Sunday, what more do you want from your local, events, charity, great food and excellent service, well done to Gary and his team
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I've just read the previous comments, this is the best carvery in Welwyn and the manager was speaking and chatting to all of the other tables asking for feedback and ensuring everyone was having a great time
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I visited the pub on Sunday and the pub was full. Myself and my family had an amazing time the staff were friendly and attentive , the manager was friendly and made a real fuss of the children. The choice of meats where excellent and I had some the pie of the day, homemade with a pastry bee. Thank you for making us feel special And Will be recommending this to everyone
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I and girlfriend visited this pub after reading the advertisement in the local newspaper.
� our customers can expect a warm welcome, great hospitality and delicious food whenever they visit the beehive.
� our focus is on dishes that will fill you up and put a smile on your face whether you�re 9 or 90.
�We�re certain that the beehives carvery is the best in town so put us to the test. We know you�ll agree.
�The pub also serves a 3rd meat option on a Sunday which is normally lamb or turkey�.
Unfortunately the your restaurant failed to meet any of these quotes, the lady that showed us to the table and sat us down and didn�t tell us what the meat options where on the carvery. The staff stood behind us at the till shout and laughing about the goings on while they had been out drinking the night before. When we were called up to the carvery it wasn�t until we got to the counter we found they where only offering 2 meats unfortunately as I don�t like turkey that only left gammon. I believe the vegetables and gravy let themyou down the Swede was runny, the roast potatoes hard and the gravy was like water. I am not sure if its because how early in the day it was but it certainly wasn�t the best carvery in Welwyn Garden City.
As the beehive had so many staff running around like headless chickens I honestly believed someone would of checked back on us and asked if everything was ok, This didn�t happen it wasn�t until I called the young girl over and asked if I could speak to the manager, The young female laughed and walked off. I was then told that the manager was unavailable and that we could have free desserts I was shocked that a manager or team leader could not come out to speak to me as we would have been able to sort the problem there and then. I turned down the desserts due to the poor quality of the carvery. A member of your staff then went and told the staff to stop talking about last night and as soon as she walked away 1 girl said to the other �do your boobs hurt when your on your period mine do� totally unacceptable and off putting.
Avoid the manager hides away and the staff would be better in the playground
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Visited the Beehive again tonight and once again had a lovely evening. They have a curry club offer for �6.50 which includes a drink and a curry. there was lots to cgoose from and the food was lovely. great value for money. staff friendly and happy to help. would be more than happy to take more friends and family back to visit.
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Awful service, poor quality food - rude staff who refused to get the manager for me to speak to at the time. Unfortunately had taken a group of friends with me who were equally dissatisfied. I will never visit again.
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after reading these reviews i cannot disagree anymore. New management have completely changed the Beehive public house into a lovely place for drinks and dining. The manager Gary was very polite & helpful as were all the staff. I visited the Beehive on a Sunday afternoon it was completly full with very satisfied custom dr , it was very pleasing to hear such positive comments while I was orderingfood. i would strongly reccomend the Beehive to families and large groups as the lay out of the resturant is spacious and offers secluded areas if you wish to dine more privately. There is also a childrens play area in the large garden. why not try it yourself?
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If you want to get drunk and fight - then this place may be for you.
If not, it's Awful... Rude staff, food appauling - rude manager. Visiting this place will ruin your day. Lots of other good eating pubs in the area. AVOID AVOID AVOID...
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This has been my local for more years than I care to remember. It's such a shame that its gone so far downhill. Every six months or so I give it another go in the hope of improvement but sadly still no luck. Staff disinterested, beer very poor, surroundings shabby (I remember each refit in the last 25 years and never has it needed one more desperately).
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The beer is rubbish, the Spanish manager is non-caring, the only saving grace is that they kept the chef (she's been there for years)!! Bring back the old management!!
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Since this pub was taken over in late April (ish) it has gone really downhill!! The new owner is both obnoxious and arrogant and has no idea what customer service is!! If you like your food being served up by a bunch of eastern europeans who only have their eyes on the pound sterling and nothing else (forget customer service), then this is the place for you. The two previous managers, Toby and Aidie were the two that had this place heading in the right direction and as I understand it, they were working on extremely limited budgets! Never mind, great pub brought to its knees by some arrogant bloke form Oxfordshire....I believe Tony is his name! Never mind!! Give it a swerve!!!
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Interesting report from Jodie below. You sure you don't have a grudge somehow as that is not a normal post!
New management as I understand it since Mayish 2010 time.
My family and I (7, 5, 2) ate there a month ago and it was brilliant. Staff were polite, helpful and were great with the kids (not easy as people will know to entertain kids for even a short period) - a real credit. Decor was good and clean. Food choice was enough and I understand when last in (not eating that time tho) has since been increased. The food we ate from the carvery was spot on and clear plates from all the brood said it all. Puddings were very good as well. Nan and gramps were there as well and the elder statesmen are not easy to please either and they were both very content.
In terms of value for money, well for a meal out in a nice environment and well looked after, you can't question it. Very good. Had a natter to the new manager and he and his team are very very keen to make a good impression and develop a friendly, community based eatery: nothing wrong with those aspirations in my humble opinion.
Garden area probably needs some work, but is massive as pub gardens go so for the summer it is a great place for those with kids to park themselves and let them let off steam. Didn't make it to see the cricket pitch right next door to the garden which will be the aim next time.
In a time when pubs are closing everywhere it is nice to see someone take a large, eating based, big pub garden site on and try and make it a real success. It is early days for them, but you cannot fault the effort.
I am not local, but our village has about 4 pubs and those customer service / satisfaction is key for repeat business which is then key for a successful pub. Unless you try it out you won't know, but I would not hesitate to go back for a drink or food or both!!
Have taken time to write a long post - as a fellow entrepreneur I appreciate what the new owners are doing and all support I am sure is welcome. 7 out of 10 as I am sure they will and can improve even more on what is already a good pub.
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Since hearing that the pub was under new management went to have a look and was very impressed. The menu had over 15 main courses plus a carvery with 3 roasts on. The food was truly lovely and I found out that is it all homemade and freshly made to order ( which was probably why it tasted so good).
I had the most gorgeous dessert and then we went out to relax in the huge beer garden.
I would definately recommend to all - young or old.
Well done for turning a very shabby and badly run pub back into one that community can be proud of.
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I advise to all that read this do not waste your time or money going to this pub/resturant. The food is vile and very limited. There is only a small selection of sandwiches or the calvary of which you can only have one piece of meat. I ordered garlic mushrooms which used to be breaded and very nice however under the new menu i was served 4 slices of bread with a few mushrooms hidden under a plate of slad that looked as if it had gone off 2days ago! The food was so disgusting the whole family left their plate along with everyone else who had been eating in the beer garden! Drinks are very expensive too! Living a few minutes down the road from this pub i am fully aware of the people it attracks, very rough, last time i went there a full blown cat fight started in the middle of the pub, so i strongly advise anyone with small children this is not a nice place! Hopefully it fulls into liqudation of new management its a shame that what once was such a nice family pub is now a local gathering for the pits of scoiety!
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This pub used to be a fabulous local. The staff were (mostly) friendly and the atmosphere there was great - cosy, warm, fun. Now it feels like it's running down, as if it is heading for imminent closure. The music on the speakers is dire, just the owners' favourite songs I think. The food is awful, just like a greasy spoon cafe. The feeling inside is of darkness and gloom instead of warmth. It makes me feel sad to go there now, it's so cold and lacking in character. What a sad shame for a really ancient pub dating back to the 1400s.
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The food it really bad and the manager is obnoxious and rude.
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the restaurant is wicked i hav been eatin the for the past 15 years, havent got a bad word to say about it apart from they dont have the mini marshmallows on the ice cream anymore, the staff are the kindest people u culd meet who make sure the meal and service you hav is up to standards, the bar staff are also jus as nice, and the drinks are great, so cant see what anyones complainin for! gardens great in the summer, and even better when they hav events days, as for the walk home, u wont even notice it after u hav a had sucha great time at the pub!
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I find the previous comments odd and contrary to my experience. This is a pretty decent boozer - albeit short on having a broad range of decent ales as it only seems to sell 2 bitters and Guinness on draught.
Nice layout inside, food from the restaurant is decent enough, relaxing atmosphere, huge garden so great for summer beers and helpful bar staff. It's in a different league compared to some of the other pubs in WGC.
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What a disaster, i went there for a beer, cloudy, bar staff did not care, didnt bother eating as people were complaining to the staff how bad the food was.
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This pub was refurbed march 05 and was run by a lovely couple and it was well run with decent beer, they left and it has gone right downhill. We went there on a friday night and the chef appeared drunk so we left without eating! The beer was rubbish too.
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This is the place where you get thrown out for laughing. What a joke!
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Haven't been in years. Food and bitter used to be excellent, had a great local reputation too. Watch the walk home though. Thought they'd cleared the bombsites.
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Went there on a weeknight, seemed quite pleasant, good music, Leffe Blonde and Brune in bottles, nice decor.
walrus - 4 Aug 2004 12:09 |
