Watership Down, Freefolk Priors

So disappointed! Unfortunately I don't get to out anywhere near as often as I'd like to try to go somewhere special when we do. The Watership Down has always been one of my favourites - great beers, good service, excellent home cooked food and reasonable value. So wow what a shock when I visited tonight - so much so that I felt compelled to review - something I don't normally do. On arrival the bar was deserted (on both sides), after a few minutes we were served drinks by the 'chef', while apparently his partner was on the phone in the kitchens. The greeting was friendly and welcoming after the false start and we were shown to our table with candles burning - nice touch - and which we'd reserved as it always used to be so popular, but tonight the place was nearly empty.
We were left with menu's and after waiting ages realised that perhaps we were supposed to order at the bar. We were and we did. Waited an age for it to arrive and when it did the main dishes (Steak Pie and Toad in the Hole ) were hot and wholesome, but both were served on a bed of frozen peas and limp carrots frozen. I'd expect to get better from a Harvester at a fraction of the price. Decided to brave the desert thinking not much could go wrong with a cheese board - again how disappointing dry crumbly cheeses (stilton and brie) served with a slightly stale french bread.
The foods not awful and we ate much of it - it's just about on a par with other large pub chains and the quantities were generous, but the quality was just so far below the standard for which this pub had become famous. I'd like to wish the new owners well, but they'll need to improve the quality fast if they don't want to lose more 'regular' customers - I won't be making the effort to return any time soon, and if this evening was anything to go by many others have had a similar experience. Such a shame and loss to see a once previously thriving business almost completely empty of customers at 9:30pm on a Summer's evening, and I only hope it won't be yet one more casualty to add to the statistics of pub closures.

21 Jul 2009 22:56