The Horse and Jockey, Lichfield

Nice friendly Pub...nice atmosphere...land lord knows what we want before we ask. Wee travel from Tamworth to enjoy this Pub...wholely reccomend. Staff very friendly....

25 Nov 2012 17:23

The Blake Barn, Four Oaks

I used to go the Blake Barn neally 30 years ago when it was a popular pub then, but I hadn't been for years as I had been living abroad.
I first went a a couple of months ago with my friend and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. It is still a lovely building but like most pubs these days has gone over to food and we tryed the 2 for 1 meals and I was pleasantly surprised how much there was and the quality of food was good too. The overall experience was made better by the extremely pleasant staff..which always makes a differnce.
Anyway, I recently visited again with my husband and it was curry night so we had 2 for 1 with the curry too and it included a drink each so it only cost us �11.00 in total..(although the portions could have done with being larger for my husband, they were just right for me).and again the staff were really nice and helpful, which has obviously changed from some of your reviews posted from a few years ago. I hope they keep this up as it makes it more affordable to go out ...cheapest and nicest night we have had for a while... Well done Blake Barn.

11 Jun 2011 11:27

Swan Inn, Fradley Junction

We have recently visited The Swan at Fradley Junction, nr Alrewas and have been there many times before, however, even though on other occasions I have not found the Staff overly friendly I did not think it was worth complaining about. My husband, my son and I went along on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May 2011 and the one barmaid was extremely abrupt when we asked if we could close the door because of the draught and informed us that it would have to be opened again if it got busy, in a tone that was not "customer comes first"...When a seat became available outside we went out to sit inside and quite frankly to get away from the miserable atmosphere in there.
We decided to have one more drink as this is the only pub on this stretch of the canal, so they have the monopoly on the market there. So I went into the Pub and asked for a large glass of wine thinking I had had a small one before because it was only 175ml whereas most places class large as 250ml. I was informed that "not here it isn't" by the lady who was supposedly the owners wife....she was no more friendly than her frosty barmaid even though I asked her to provide me with a smile with the over priced drinks...I didn't say that to her though just the smile request...
When I went outside I mentioned my experience to my husband and a local man over heard and said " you aren't the first to say that.." when I commented on how unfriendly they were....he said that one lady who asked the barmaid to smile was informed she didn't have to...
I have read your other reviews and it sounds like they had a better experience than we did. Perhaps the Swan staff need to realise that people can't afford to eat/drink out that much anymore and it would be nice if when we do (on those rare occasions) we had a friendly reception.
PS have just noticed someone saying they had similar experience as me...so not just me...the Management of this pub needs informing.
The 1 rating for the pub is for the location only!!!!

4 May 2011 19:04