I had high expectations for this popular, award-winning pub. Known for its excellent food and service, the advertised menu looked impressive, and their website boasted numerous awards and achievements.
Upon arrival, the pub was attractive with spacious open gardens. It seemed popular, as expected, but parking was a challenge. We managed to find a space on the lane outside the pub, but there was pressure to find parking at peak eating times, as another pub is opposite.
We visited the pub around 6:30 p.m. on a Friday evening. It was incredibly popular, so we didn’t get a chance to see inside for long. The entrance was small and packed, making it difficult to move around. We decided to sit outside and order food from the bar instead. While we could have waited for a table inside, we wanted to avoid a 30-minute wait. Had we been able to explore the interior more, it did appear lovely and had an old-fashioned style.
The main menu had lots of choice and a special pie menu was also available when we visited. Since we ordered from the bar, it took a bit longer to get served initially, but that was to be expected given it was early evening.
Despite being busy, the food arrived really quickly, possibly within 20 minutes. That’s quite impressive. I opted for the crispy chicken burger, while the rest of the party chose fish pie and fish and chips. Everyone was pleased with their orders. My chicken burger was presented well, with a generous amount of crispy chicken, a brioche bun, and chip shop-style chips. I also had a side of chilli mayo which was decent. The fish was also excellent, and I’ve heard that the fish pie was the best!
This pub is popular for a reason, with good food and service. I enjoyed my visit, but when venues become so popular and extremely busy, it’s worth visiting off-peak if possible for a more relaxed experience . Due to its popularity, we couldn’t book a table in advance, so our party of eight had to split over two benches outside which was the main downside. However, this was partly due because we didn’t want to wait for a table inside. But the service was decent and welcoming, with all the staff being friendly. The lady I spoke to when phoning appeared very friendly as well.
Overall a good experience and I would go back if ever in the area again.
https://thebullsheadpub.co.uk/
