BITE user comments - Big_K
Comments by Big_K
The Bowgie Inn, Crantock Newquay
I recently popped in here with my family for lunch and honestly could not have been more disappointed.
The feel that they seem to have gone for is "chavvy" - all Sky Sports and lager promotions, with a very limited children's menu consisting solely of assorted fried things with chips. We politely asked if a children's version of an adult meal could be provided and were told "absolutely not".
Of course the views here are great, but this only serves to make what has been done to the place all the more disappointing. Within a few miles in either direction there are at least half a dozen other pubs with the same views, all of which make the effort in terms of food, atmosphere and service (Lewinnick Lodge anyone ?).
I hope the current management team take note and improve The Bowgie - it could be a great pub and certainly deserves more care and attention than it is getting at the moment.
26 Aug 2011 14:57
Recently under new management, and the early signs are that this may not be a good thing.
When I was there the place was completely dead - just myself and my wife in the entire pub. The landlord seemed quite grumpy, which may explain the lack of other customers. Also, their refusal to have any kind of background music on gave the place all the atmosphere of a morgue. Its a shame, this used to be a good pub and easily could be again.
They are also refusing to open for the after-work crowd, waiting instead until 17:30 once the rush-hour has died down. Situated as they are on one of the busiest roads in and out of Wokingham, this is a horrendous business decision.
23 Apr 2011 09:55
The Warren House Inn, Binfield
Very nice selection of beers and wines (the Swedish pear cider over ice is a must on a hot day). Great atmostphere. Kid friendly, but in a civilised way. Can't comment on the food yet, but they seem to be getting everything else right so I guess its going to be good.
23 Apr 2011 09:45
Ye Olde Leathern Bottle, Wokingham
Its getting worse. They now close the nice family area on the lower level most days because (and I'm not making this up) "We just get too busy if we open that area.".
They're a business. Surely "getting busy" is the whole point ?
I've spoken to a couple of families that are helping with this problem by no longer using the pub and I fully intend to join them now. There's just too much silliness going on under the new management.
22 Apr 2011 16:45
Ye Olde Leathern Bottle, Wokingham
A quick update on my previous post.
I was in the pub again the other evening and found that the kitchen had been closed for a couple of hours because "the chef can't cope" (they are supposed to serve food all day). When the kitchen finally reopened there was a minimum 30 minute wait on all food orders, even though the pub was once again less than half full with very few people ordering food.
A nice enough place for a drink, but don't expect a good dining experience until they sort the chef out.
28 Feb 2011 11:20
Nice relaxed pub that always has a couple of real ales on and some very nice wines.
Also, the Thai food is some of the best I've had (certainly the best in Wokingham) and they do takeaways too.
Can't actually fault the place.
14 Feb 2011 10:39
Ye Olde Leathern Bottle, Wokingham
This has just reopened following yet another makeover. Gone are the bright lights, pale walls and frequent refusal to play music that gave the place a cold, clinical feel. They now have nice warm colours on the walls, mood lighting and the background jazz has been brought back. The place actually feels like a nice country pub again rather than a high street bar.
Unfortunately the service and food didn't get the same makeover. Neither the chef nor the waiter really cared enough to stop very burnt garlic bread being brought to the table. The duty manager was openly at war with the chef over his insistance that all orders had a minimum 30 minute wait even though the pub was less than half full (and many of those customers weren't eating).
They have also introduced a "Please wait to be seated" system, which was in absolute chaos. Even though the pub was less than half full, there was regularly a queue of people waiting for a table, possibly because there weren't enough staff to deal with them. Interestingly, the system only applies if you enter from the car park. If you use the main entrance or enter from the bar you can just walk straight to a table, which caused a lot of bad feeling with those queueing.
Given the improved ambience its worth popping in for a drink, but they still have a long way to go before I could recommend eating here.
14 Feb 2011 10:31
Closed again, possibly for the last time given the problems that its had recently. Very sad, I always liked the place.
14 Feb 2011 10:08
Lewinnick Lodge, Newquay
I make an effort to visit the Lewinnick whenever I'm in Newquay, and have yet to be disappointed.
The views across to Fistral beach are absolutely awesome, and the waves crashing against the cliffs below the outside terrace make alfresco dining incredibly atmospheric.
Miraculously the food and service are actually on a par with the location. The kids menu is very good, and some of the specials are pretty unique (the starter of bbq pork with squid was an amazing flavour combination).
I would love to finish with some criticism in order to balance this review a little bit, but I can't find anything bad to say about them. Maybe next time...
26 Aug 2011 15:09