The Compasses Inn, Crundale - pub details
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Address: Sole Street, Crundale, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7ES [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 33320) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Chilham (3.2 miles), Wye (3.6 miles), Chartham (3.9 miles)
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> Current user rating: 6.0/10 (rated by 11 users)
user reviews of the Compasses Inn, Crundale
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 8 shown - see all reviews
| I'm a reasonably local drinker and thought I'd update on the Compasses. Phil & Angela moved on a while back and the pub has been run by Rob & Donna Taylor for the past year or so. I have to say the pub and restaurant are in fantastic shape. Not only are the house Shep's Ales beautifully kept but for the first time in ages you can enjoy a wide range of Guest Ales as well! These very quite a bit and are not always available so best to check if guest ales are your thing. Rob was previously Head Chef at the seriously good Samphire restaurant in Whitstable and it shows! He has added a really unique touch to the menus at the Compasses. I've eaten there about 20 times - mostly off the lighter lunch menu but it's been 10/10 all the way. It's not a 'cheap grub type of pub' but neither is it a pretentious gastro-establishment. In my opinion they get the balance right between a traditional Ale House and a Modern British restaurant - you can go for just the drinks or for a full dinner - you'll be equally welcome. And I have no complaints about value for money when the food is this good. Visually the pub has had a sympathetic makeover in the let few months - exactly the same but freshened up to a high standard. Child and dog friendly with a very large garden and kid's climbing frames. We all know rural pubs are not an easy proposition these days, but Rob and Donna have quickly settled in as part of the local community. They love running this pub and it shows - I wish them every success and recommend this pub with out reservation. You can contact them and view menus through a well maintained website: thecompassescrundale.co.uk manofdogs - 16 Jan 2014 11:38 |
| Delighted to find The Compasses has been restored to an excellent level under new hosts, Phil and Angela. Spitfire well kept. A comment on Sheppard Neame Pubs in general, and not specifically The Compasses, is that it would nice to have guest ale. We were not planning to eat lunch here, as our last visit with prior landlord was below average. However the food options were excellent and the light meals we chose were very enjoyable and the steak in the baguette was cooked to order (rare). Pub was busy for a midweek lunchtime and other diners meals looked very good (especially the deserts). A nice touch was the offer of smaller desert portion and a coffee for the standard desert price. Despite being busy hosts were very friendly and attentive to all in the pub (Including us Makems). Will certainly visit again if we are Ashford/ Canterbury area. Recommend you do not take into account the comments of poor service prior to September 2011 (Otherwise you will miss out on a good experience). Allan_Essex - 20 Apr 2012 18:46 |
| I have just returned from a meal at the Compasses at Crundale. Today being 14th September, and was pleasantly surprised. The pub itself is a grand old proper pub, as I would describe it with lots of parking and a huge garden with both a children's area with climbing frames and slides and a quiet area. I must admit I did notice a large BBQ as well, so it will be interesting next summer. The insides are exactly what i expected from a country pub, nice old brasses, big fire and lovely old pictures on the walls. Very clean both inside and outside, and even though I am a smoker, I always value whether cigarette butts have been swept up and here they had. The front of the pub has some nice planters with flowers with a number of tables and benches out front, but the garden is the place to be. There are also the signs of a bat and trap pitch, again something to investigate another time. The bar had a few people already inside, it was only 6.30 but there were already a few tables occupied. We went straight to the bar and were greeted by the new landlords Phil and Angela, ( The pub has recently changed hands, the week before I think) both of who greeted us as we arrived and asked for a table. There was a specials board showing it was curry night, and the smells passing us were delicious, however, we were brought the menu and the steak sounded lovely. One of my friends had the chicken, with whisky, and my wife had the haddock. My friend told them that she could not have cream, and as the food is cooked to order, the chef was able to prepare hers differently. What can I say about the meal, it was wonderful, two of us had steaks, both requesting different ways (i'm a medium well done, and he is a medium rare) and both steaks looked as they should, some places don't do it right. As we were eating, we were checked on that everything was alright and if we needed drinks, which was a nice touch. We were having trouble deciding on whether to have a dessert or not, but the landlady said the chef was making a banoffee pie, and we were welcome to have some, if we preferred. Well crazy question, we all said yes, and it was lovely. I had been tempted by the cheese slate, but Banoffee pie always wins. This was excellent, one of the best I've had. The service was terrific, we never felt rushed at all, and the pub was busy. We even had time to pop outside to smoke between the meal and dessert without feeling pushed. An extra nice touch was when we commented on how nice the food was (amazing) and that the chef must be good, we were introduced to him. Very nice touch as many people never bother passing on good comments. The place seems to have a lot of locals, and its nice to see some old and young faces all seeming to be having fun, and the landlords seem to be actively involved so it has a nice warm social feeling to it. While I was there I asked if they were doing a Christmas menu, to which we were shown some handouts for all the planned events over the next month or so, and a Christmas menu. One look, and the little word of rabbit made my mind up there and then (although there are a few other tasty choices). The prices were very good, the Christmas meal looks amazing and the pub is friendly. I can already imagine the place at Christmas. After all this, I have booked the Christmas meal. If its anything like tonight's meal, its going to be good. The pub is a fair distance from my home in Ashford and is, but I think you can call this a destination pub. It's somewhere I think I am going to be happy to call into when I want to go out. I'm taking my mother in law in the next few weeks and I wouldn't dare do that if I was unsure, lol Well done to the new landlords, although I feel sorry for some of the other country pubs who have now just met a new challenger for my devotion and there are some great ones that we travel to. All I can say is keep up the good work and thanks for making tonight great fatandy1972 - 14 Sep 2011 22:19 |
| Worst service and food ever received. Table booked for 19. Waited 30 minutes at the bar to place our order. Two of us placed our order at 1.54 and food eventually came at 3.20! We only ordered a baguette which was not worth the wait as extremely bland. Food for the 19 people on the table delivered between 2.00 and 3.20. The portions were tiny not worth the �10 for the roasts. The meat type was undetectable - the beef was white. One meal was returned and another asked for his money back after waiting over an hour for his meal only to be served stewed cabbage, three tiny potatoes and nasty looking meat. The size of the child�s roast meal was laughable and wouldn't have been enough for a two year old. When we pointed out that the kids roast was missing the Yorkshire pudding they bought out 1/2 a Yorkshire pudding! Unbelievable. We can only presume that someone has started to eat the other side of it. The service from the head bar lady/waitress was plain rude and insulting. None of us will be returning again and I would warn others. Fine as a pub but lousy as a restaurant. Minny - 28 May 2011 12:42 |
| Have been to this pub quite a few times over the years, but having become another Shepherd Neame money spinner it's become an over-priced, bland excuse for a watering hole. "Essex John" at least ran it like a traditional pub, even though the food wasn't A1, it had character and an ambience. And when you inform the bar staff that the beer is off, then they should take my word for it and not quibble the fact that I'm an alcoholic and know my Oranjeboom beer (and I'm Dutch!). Especially when the bill comes to over 100 pounds - the fact that I had to pay for another drink is a smack in the face, and I won't be returning in a hurry. At least the toilets were clean (but then there was only just another couple there at the time...). oranjeboom - 26 Oct 2010 23:23 |
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