Dundas Arms in West Berkshire

Stayed with friends for one night with dinner, bed and breakfast. Right from arrival Emma was so welcoming and accommodating! The rooms were clean, well appointed and comfortable. The food was delicious! The service was great! Situated right on the canal and by a train station this has great access for walking or trips further afield. Would come back. Great stuff!

We live locally and time and time again we are disappointed by the lack of consistency at this place. Just when you think they are making improvements and you bring guests down here, they remind us of why we stopped coming here previously. Our last visit was on a Saturday evening to enjoy the live music and pizza’s. When we walked into the bar there is one person serving with a queue of customers. There is no warm welcome, no buzz about the place, just an over worked bartender. Anyway, we ordered a £40 bottle of white wine which he had to get from downstairs as the fridges behind the bar weren’t stocked with it. We get outside with it (in an ice bucket) to find it’s not chilled in the slightest. I return to the bar to ask for some ice and make mention of my disappointment and I am met with a response of, it’s not £40 it’s £30 for a bottle and him checking the price on the till! Once I point out that’s not the point he replied well I had to get it from downstairs. This could have been avoided by stocking the fridges or communicating with us before we paid for it, it’s not rocket science to say this wine isn’t chilled, is that ok? I then asked for a pizza menu, he looked confused and said they weren’t sure if they were doing pizza tonight as they only had one chef in. He said he would come and let us know shortly. We waited about half an hour, no one came so my husband went and asked and was told no pizza’s due to lack of staff. Again, an avoidable issue solved by better communication. We went elsewhere for dinner as this was clearly not a good night for the dundas and we weren’t going to risk having another bad meal here and paying through the nose for it. It always comes down to the same issues at this place, lack of staff, poor customer service and no consistency. You have to question why there are always staffing issues here

Beautiful pub but the food was disappointing. I recently visited with friends and had to wait over an hour for food. When it arrived, the plates were cold and the food wasn't as good as we'd hoped. I had read a few negative reviews before going but had hoped my experience would be better. It's a pub with a lot of potential in a great location but sadly let down by the food.

Came across this motor home stop over and what a lovely location, had been driving a couple of hours and caught my eye as was on the canal. Went in for food and drinks where russel was very accommodating told us we could park overnight and the range of pizzas on that evening , 😋 garlic bread was also Devine. Lovely beer garden , warm vibe in pub and lots of canal walks

I stayed here back in July, had a nice time paid my bill and left, 5 weeks later they bill my credit card for the same stay again stating orginal payment didn't go through. Confirmed with them I paid in full and forwarded my bank statement proving I had paid on checking in and monies had been successfully removed from my account. However they refuse to refund my second payment stating they refund 4 weeks ago, again contacted bank who confirmed no refund received. Hotel refuses to refund my money leaving me no option other than to take them to the small claims court. Do not leave you card details with this company they will rob you blind.

Supper, on a Sunday evening, with friends Nothing inspiring, staff not very attentive or particularly welcoming Food was fine and a reasonable selection of beers and wine Prices ok, particularly for a venue sited adjacent to the canal

We had a 60 th Birthday party with 14 people . We pre ordered a large combination of food . Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals . It was ready and served at 7.30 . All of the staff were friendly and helpful . Russell was a great manager . Professional and friendly . We are local people and are delighted that the pub has now raised its standards . We will be back soon Thankyou

A very friendly welcome from all the staff. We had booked a table in advance for lunch but decided when we arrived that we only wanted a light meal. This wasn't an issue at all. The food was excellent, well presented and quickly served. We'll visit again if in the area.

Excellent service. Booked a barge trip with Kennet horse boat company. Forgot to pack breakfast for our 8.30 start. They came out to the boat with a breakfast menu and were so friendly and helpful

This is a great place to stay. Room very very comfortable and very quiet (even above the pub). We had two nights and dinner both nights was exceptionally good! And both breakfasts were outstanding, the best full English I can recall. There is a beautiful pub garden but inexplicably they closed it on the most beautiful Saturday “due to staff issues”?!? They need to sort that asap. Then at breakfast loud music very unsuitable to the people there and it was “unchangeable” as fixed by the company ?! Very kind they turned it off. So overall they are very nearly there and I do highly recommend it.

Exceptional choice of food on the new menu in very nice surroundings.All the staff were very friendly and quality of the food was excellent. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

The room was spacious and comfortable but there was alot of noise from the bar downstairs in the late evening and then very early in the morning so much noise.We had breakfast which was included. We found the manager to appear quite uninterested and lacking in customer people skills.

What a delightful spot, ideal if you are walking the Kennet and Avon canal. We popped in for lunch and had the light bite menu, absolutely delicious.

My husband and I popped in to the Dundas over the Bank holiday weekend after walking along the canal with our dog. On our arrival we were greeted by a waitress who introduced herself as Grace who took our order and brought over a dog bowl. Food and drink was good and service was very good. Will return next time we are out walking

Just returned home from a great weekend at the Dundas Arms. Matty and the team pulled out all the stops. The hospitality and service were exemplary, and the food was amazing. They organised a fully bespoke dinner part for us, and it did not disappoint. Many thanks for all their hard work and I cannot recommend this pub highly enough. Many thanks.

Arrived early for our table and had the pleasure of sitting outside with a lovely cocktail and enjoying fantastic live music, which we were not expecting. Had our meal in the restaurant and was superb - especially the ravioli! an interesting menu to choose from too. Big shout out to Liam and Grace who made us very welcome and helped make the evening special - will definitely go back x

Lovely few nights away spent at The Dundas Arms. Matty and Sam were extremely welcoming and helpful throughout our stay. Food was lovely, atmosphere in the dining room with the log fire fantastic, simply couldn't have asked for more. Food was delicious on every occasion we ate here. Service amazing, modest portion sizes of the meals, not over baring or a challenge. Breakfast was lovely also. Our room backed onto a portion of the canal, with sliding doors to a small private outdoor space, which is lovely touch when staying B&B. Tea and coffee making facilities in the room was also a welcomed treat, comfortable bed and also an added bonus of more than 1 comfortable chair to sit on in the room, which is not something that tends to be standard. One piece of constructive feedback, we had to run the shower for at least 8 minutes for it to warm up, however the hotel wasn't very busy so we put this down to having to draw the water through the boiler. Didn't spoil it for us, only mentioned as a notice. We won't hesitate to book again in the future, thank you very much for being such wonderful hosts!

I made an unplanned visit here at lunchtime on my birthday and the staff could not have been more welcoming or generous. I very much enjoyed the freshly prepared Chicken Shawarma Flatbread, which was recommended to me.

A really enjoyable evening spent here. Log fire, knowledgeable and very friendly staff and delicious food…what’s not to like?

I went with my family to celebrate my daughter's birthday for Sunday lunch. To put it simply the service was a set of disinterested errors whilst the food was good. Without the quality of food this would have been a one star review. This was simply a series of service errors from wrong drinks supplied to undercooked roast beef to surly short answers ("we've run out of Worcester Sauce") to dessert orders forgotten to no additional drinks offered and finally taking so long that we were at one point were going to leave without the desserts. We came in at 1:00 pm and left at about 3:45 pm and not through choice. At one point when they realised (after we had asked several times) after 40 minutes that the desserts hadn't been ordered we requested again several times for the bill to come with the dessert and that didn't happen. One of the desserts was missed with the order but we'd given up by that time. At the prices we paid I expected some attentive service but there was little interest from the waiting staff. This is very disappointing and doesn't do much to enhance the restaurants reputation. I asked them to get the General Manager so that he was made aware of how poor this had been. To give him his due he took the dessert cost off the menu but sadly his arithmetic was £5 short of dessert charges. I had a conversation with him and he realises that this really isn't working as it should (he's only been there 2 months) and has promised that it won't be like that in future. I'm not sure if that matters too much to me as I'm not sure I want to go back!

What a find, The Dundas Arms is a hidden gem. It is easy to find, situated just off the A4, in a lovely little village, which boasts a river, canal and train line. The train takes you straight to Paddington Station, ideal for a day out without the car. There are plenty of walks around the pub, either down the canal or through the village and over the public footpaths. Amenities in Kintbury is a small convenience store, bakery and hairdresser. There is also another pub, which appears to specialise in Thai food. The main A4 is convenient for both Hungerford and Newbury. Highclere Castle is only 25 minutes away and is well worth a visit. The pub itself is charming, full of character and has a lovely atmosphere. Plenty of seating outside, it the weathet allows. The pub is clean and looked after, with a good selection of ales, wine and cocktails. The rooms are spacious, quiet and well decorated, we had a lovely terrace outside, but unfortunately we were unable to use, due to the weather. The room had the usual extras plus cotton buds, cotton pads, sewing kit, feminine essentials and ear plugs. Even the drinks tray had a good selection of teas, filter coffees, ice bucket with tongs and cafetiere. Milk was fresh in a little jug, which you obtained from the bar, no UHT, which was a lovely touch. The staff were so friendly, helpful and couldn't do enough for you. There were short staffed the first day we were there and it was very busy. However, their new Manager was brilliant and could definitely multi task, until more staff arrived. The food was excellent and possibly the best I have tasted in a pub before. It was all freshly cooked, local ingredients and cooked to perfection. I would definitely recommend The Dundas Arms and we will be returning. Thank you to all for making our 2 day stay so memorable.

5 stars - without a doubt. Liam the new Gov’ner (with an Ivy & Michelin background) and Sam the brilliant new Head Chef are clearly making their mark & have great plans for the next six months. Yes - the rooms & bar need a paint touch up - but wow what a location and ambitious team. In summary - amazing food & location with super friendly staff. We will be back in the summer!

After walking 11 miles along the Kennet and Avon canal, the Dundas Arms was a welcome sight. We just had a pint on this occasion. The pub looks adfter it's beers well and is handy for the railway, as well as the canal.

Well I have previously said this pub is scruffy but now it is VERY scruffy. But on a brighter note the chef is better and the manager is better so 2 out three is not too bad . Seriously all it would take is a bit of paint on the front door and emulsion paint in the porch to make a much better entrance to the whole place. I understand their cellar was seriously flooded in the recent storms but it would take very little time or effort to make this place more appealing. I genuinely want you to succeed.

Fantastic environment with the canal just outside and the garden. Cosy typical British pub. Very good food, perfect breakfast with superb coffee. One of the best coffee ever on a hotel. Tried the Sunday roast for my first time. Can go back just for that. The rooms large and comfortable, very good bed. The staff extremely nice and professional. Superb service. The regulars friendly, specially Gary. Will definitely come back.

We had prebooked and chosen our menu beforehand as we were a large walking group. Having been asked to sit at our allotted tables by the staff we then had to wait for 90 minutes to be served. In the meantime there was no effective or even polite communication from the staff. The food, when it arrived was very good. The visit however was ruined by the terrible service. We won't be going back.

Came here with our friends for Sunday Roast ,One barman who wasn’t the quickest person serving absolute ridiculous, Queued for 20minutes to get a drink, asked the young girl who was taken the orders if someone else could help serve, she just looked at me not even replying, outside tables wasn’t cleared so we had to clear the table ourselves. We had ordered all Food together, our friends were still waiting for their dinner to be brought out, we actually had eaten ours before they got there’s, wasn’t enjoyable because of this, I was embarrassed because I had recommended this pub 🤦‍♀️I did query it with girl as mentioned above, she wasn’t interested, also ask her if she could bring us a couple of serviettes as we only got cutlery, the serviettes were never brought to us, ended up getting them ourselves, The gravy was too salty spoilt the over all taste of the chicken roast, rock hard veg. What should have been with friends a lovely afternoon dinning experience wasn’t to be due to not having our food brought brought out all together. I could go on re over charged etc No manager to voice this to, total no leadership this needs addressing from management Disappointing, We will not be recommending to family & friends.

As you will see, venue is lovely and is great if you just want a drink….our mistake was eating at the restaurant…..the steak was cremated, then came back rare (medium rare was requested), three types of cheese were stated (cheddar, blue and goat). My friend only got two…when he enquired where the goats cheese was, the waiter went to check the menu as he did not believe anything was missing….once he had checked my friend was not lying, he came back to say ‘yes, there should have been goats cheese, but we are out. The chef gave you a little bit extra cheddar’. No apology…wandered off. Another joke….when giving our order there was a specials board….we only found out about it after the meal! To finish things off, they happily added service charge to the bill….we paid, but only because we wanted to get as far away as possible, quickly….service was slow. The issue? Don’t have kids running the restaurant….it gets all ‘Lord of the Flies’. You need an adult in the room to get them to learn what’s on the menu, not be surly and smile occasionally and be professional.

A great hotel in a great setting with wonderful rooms and views. Had a great welcome at check in. However, everything spoilt by a really bad restaurant experience. Orders not managed correctly and food very poor. Such a o pity that this spoilt our stay.

Second excellent visit to the Dundas. The first time on a lovely day last September; this time on a very wet day in May. Great efforts have been made to protect diners in inclement weather on the terrace where we sat. Service was perfect with just as much help as we needed. All in all a lovely Sunday lunch for a family meeting up for the first time since September travelling from Cardiif and London. Well worth the trip. Thanks

An excellent lunch with very attentive service including the provision of blankets and hot water bottles which were much appreciated on a cold day. Eating outside to comply with Covid lockdown rules.

Food was really good and cooked to perfection. Check ahead if you have a dietary requirement as the menu was a little restrictive

The team were extremely attentive and professional, justified through the prompt and efficient service provided. The menu was varied with a wide choice of dishes that would tempt and even prompt indecision by the most fussy and judgemental critic!

We had a lovely Friday lunchtime meal here today. The staff were attentive and professional. The food came more promptly than the bill. A good menu and interesting selection of cocktails and beers. The garden dining experience worked well and all COVID-19 protocols were followed. Excellent Meal.

Good service from App on your phone, poor choice of food, ran out of Sunday Lunch at 3.45pm ! They need to prepare more food, very disappointing.

Great lunch in a lovely garden setting, helpful staff and good food. The team worked hard to make outside dining which is govt guidelines at the moment a pleasant experience

Right next to the canal on the edge of Kintbury. Lovely to sit in the garden for lunch.Very relaxing and very smart. Great quality tasty food. Great selection of beer and wine. A little pricey but it is a bit posh in there to be fair. No, it was great. We went twice. Once for lunch and popped in early evening to chill in their lovely garden again and this time had a couple of cocktails in the late afternoon sun. Absolutely superb. Would have given the place 5 stars but we had a delicious crab pasta dish for lunch which sadly was not as hot as it should have been. I didn't bother to complain as it was so nice, I was too busy shoveling it into my gob. Happy days.

we found this lovely place while walking along the Kennet and Avon canal from Hungerford . A lovely lunch menu and there was a dish for vegans and vegetarians, we really enjoyed it food was good location lovely we will definitely stop here again.

We met our family here for lunch just after pubs reopened for outdoors dining. The welcome was warm, the setting in the garden by the canal was idyllic and the food enjoyed immensely by adults and children alike. Well done the Dundas Arms!

Our table was readily made available upon arrival. Starters and mains came in quick and all was delicious. I had a wonderfully cooked Vegetable Thai Curry and could have not felt happier with my choice. Will definitely go back, if I happen to be in the area again.

My husband and I made a last minute decision to come for dinner last week. We love this pub but usually visit in the summer to make use of the wonderful garden. The interior is perfectly decorated for the winter months and felt lovely and cosy. The food was delicious and the waitress very friendly.

Enjoyable family lunch. A warm welcome, safe well-spaced surroundings, excellent quality food and friendly service - perfect for forgetting the daily bad news. Can't wait to return in better times.

The Dundas arms was recently recommended to us. We were looking for a peaceful location, country walks, good food & drinks and the Dundas Arms did not let us down.We stayed in a riverside room that was very comfortable and had the benefit of private outside space overlooking the river. Joanna who worked front of house was very tentative and cheerful.

We had a table for 4 people booked outside at 2.45pm for my Girlfriends Birthday, Normally when going out for a meal the amount a person decides to tip the team on the day is discretionary depending on how the customers experience was, however with the new app ordering system put in place for COVID a 10% tip is automatically applied to an already expensive menu, this does not appear to be able to be removed. This you pay before receiving any of your food or drinks, so it cannot possibly be to reflect a customers experience. Whilst I appreciate paying for the meal prior to receiving it has been implemented for COVID, the tip should not be or at least an option to remove it should be available. One of the drinks we ordered was a pint of Lemonade (draft), this arrived both flat and full of ice, this again was not an option on the app to remove the ice from the drink order, we asked for this to be swapped for a pint of lemonade that was not flat and without ice. Upon her return the waitress informed us that there was less in the glass as the ice made up the rest of the pint, this is a new one to me as a pint of beer or cider does not come with a portion of the drink missing because there is no ice in it. A pint of lemonade (draft) costs £3.00 at the Dundas Arms, whilst I do not mind paying that, to have a portion of this missing due to not having ice in it seems totally unreasonable.We ordered three roast pork and one roast beef, as these were ordered on three different phones but at the same time, they arrived understandably a few minutes apart, when the first two meals arrived, we asked if it was possible to have some cutlery to eat with, this request appeared too much for the waiter who said yes but did not reappear, the third meal arrived without the cutlery again, we asked for some again which the waitress said she would get, once the fourth meal arrived without the cutlery again, the first three already lukewarm warm meals were going cold. On the third request for cutlery the waitress returned with a metal box with four forks and three knives, giving up asking for cutlery we managed to find a knife on a laid up table. The cutlery provided in the metal tin was not accompanied by serviettes which is usually standard in a restaurant.We ordered two desserts which arrived pretty quickly, however these also did not have cutlery, this was asked for, which was met with a groan from the waiter as though we were asking for something totally unreasonable, the waiter reappeared with two spoons clutched in his hand and placed them on the unclean outdoor table. This was done so without taking any precautions for COVID. Our general impression of the waiting staff who waited on our table, was that they were inconsiderate towards the risks of COVID and most simple requests were met with sighs indicating that they were an inconvenience.This was emailed directly to the Dundas Arms for them to respond privately however it was ignored.

If only the service was more supportive, if only the food and drinks had arrived in the right order, if only the desserts had arrived at all, if only the Crab Mac & Cheese had actually had any crab in it at all ... if only ...

Stopped for lunch after walking - weather was beautiful so we were able to sit at the garden benches. Great implementation of Covid recommendation and very easy and efficient way to order drinks and food. Very fast service - I would have rated it as 'good' rather than 'average' f it was an option.

Lovely location. Unfortunately my husband's steak was really tough and sinewy - very disappointing really

Visited on Sunday for a late lunch - booked online and no issues upon arrival. We were directed towards the garden, and sat on a bench next to the canal. First off, the garden is absolutely idyllic, and tables well spaced... My only issue was being pestered by the ducks for food!Ordered food and drinks online, and like others have mentioned, paid the obligatory service fee. Felt this was a little cheeky, but by the end of our meal, it was well earned.Drinks turned up promptly, with a range of sauces and pre-packed cutlery in a little carry box. This was quickly followed by our starters, which were really nice. I’d recommend the squid rings for sure!Empty plates were cleared soon thereafter and the mains were with us c.5 minutes later - I had the burger, and I have to say, it was one of the best burgers I have had in a long while. Cooked to perfection, and the perfect size!All in all, we were really impressed by the Dundas Arms. Setting is pristine, our server was on the ball, and the food was simply excellent. These factors combined make it 5 stars, IMO. We’ll be back for sure!

Only stopped for drinks but what a great setting and every effort to meet the requirements of the current pandemic. Service was good, fast, efficient and most of all friendly I will certainly revisit

Only had drinks here on the terrace on a hot day. The staff were professional and the location is first class. Very pleasant.

Visited on Thursday evening for a few drinks. Sat in garden ordered on App VERY expensive plus automatic addition of 10% service charge. After 15 mins 2 pints arrived, chased up 10 mins later dozy waitress enquired did we order them separately! No we replied and 5 mins later 2 warm glasses of Cava turned up. Sent them back to a confused waitress who looked at us as If we were stupid for not liking warm bar drinks. 10 mins later and nearly 3/4 hour after initial order Cava arrived still warm. The service was terrible and at £5.90 per small glass I’d have expected it at least to be cold. When complaining as we left lots of apologies but no mention of anything to make up for what was truly a dreadful experience. Staff were useless and provided some of the worst service I have ever experienced and they adding 10% service charge because of COVID, new staff/management/ownership required to a place with a pretty location but little else going for it. Don’t visit go somewhere else this is an awful place.

We escaped the heat of our flat last week to visit the Dundas Arms and managed to get a table in their lovely garden. The pub is situated with a stream and canal flowing past each side and the setting is really beautiful with ducks waddling past and canal boats drifting along. They currently have a smaller menu than before but we found what we ordered really delicious. (We ordered the Burger and the Seared Bream.) We did visit during the Eat Out to Help Out scheme which made the value for money incredibly good. At full price it is a little more expensive but to sit in a shady spot of their garden on a warm day, it would still have been worth it.They have also set up QR codes so that you can view the menu and also order and pay online. It is very simple and reassuring if you are concerned about covid-19. The staff were lovely and very polite and helpful but because we ordered online, we didn't actually see them much.

We have been to Dundas Arms many times for drinks and was looking forward to dining there.It started with making a reservation, we had to sign up with a faceless 3rd party company (not the pub) to make a reservation, who are clearly going to take our details and use them for marketing.When we arrived we were just told there was no actual menu, to find a table and order online. The table had a QR code on it and a web address (we often dont even take our phone with us when we go out). You need a QR code reader on your phone and I was going to sit there installing software just for them. It was hot and we were outside and just wanted to order some drinks while we chose food.We then find their website and peer at a menu on a tony screen, and select some drinks, and to 'checkout' have to create an account with another different faceless 3rd party company (not the pub), and give our card details to them. Then to top it all off, there is a compulsory (you cant remove it) 10% 'service charge' on all orders. We just wanted to order a couple of cold drinks. And there is no service! The best part for us was walking out.We will pre-check in future and never dine anywhere that has lazily gone completely over the top with technology (Covid or not) and turned dining out into the same as ordering pizza delivery.Right now, other restaurants have menus, table service, and pay at the end, and are still Covid compliant, so we will go there instead.Read the other reviews below. Their is a common theme here.

Had a great Sunday lunch after an enjoyable walk along the canal. Nice setting overlooking the canal. Service was friendly and helpful, with the app the only way to order, but staff willing to help those less tech savvy. Had the Sunday roasts which were very good, if on the pricey side. Would definitely visit again if in the area.

As you will see From previous reviews I have visited before and was very complimentary. However this has all changed. Ordered two lots of fish and chips from the app and was charged, without option to remove, a service charge. Food arrived fairly quickly however we wish it hadn’t. Chips were greasy, undercooked and tasteless. Same as the fish. Truly awful. To top this off the service was atrocious. The “manager” was not bothered in anyway about our terrible meal. When we approached her about it she was flippant and rude. Seems totally uninterested. What a pity.

It was my birthday. They asked when my birthday was through website. What was the point? Vegetables & mash potato cold!

Encouraged by the Govt. scheme, we ended our lovely Kintbury walk at his pub and enjoyed the lovely garden. My partner's Fish and Chips were nicely presented and good and my smoked salmon with some fennel and rocket was tasty but really should have come with a roll, I feel as I was rather hungry a little later! Excellent beer in very attractive glasses. We will visit again when walking in the area .

Booked a dinner here after a long day in London, the location is perfect being a stones throw from the station. Great dinner, if limited menu, and excellent wine choice, good value wines too.The ordering is via internet at the table and that all worked well. We sat inside but a large amount of tables outside for those brave enough. Decent beers on tap, recommend Ramsbury Gold.

Like so many other reviewers we were on the receiving end of dreadful service. We arrived with aim of having a relaxed beer. We used the app which worked quite well. However the app told us the expected delivery of our drinks was about 45 minutes. We thought we would give it a few minutes. After about 10 minutes we enquired and found the drinks were about to arrive (which they did). We joked with the waitress about our worry about the apps estimate and this was received miserably with grumpy face and a shrug of the shoulders. Our beers turned out to be of a poor standard (cloudy and off). When we took this up with the waitress she tried to tell us they were not. After a debate she said we would have refund for them but would need to use the app to order a different one. This we decided to do. However, before we had the chance to order another (more senior?) waitress came and told us we were wrong, the beer was not cloudy and tasted fine and no-one had complained. We drink beer regularly and know our beers and this includes the particular beer involved and it was 100% off! She was adamant there was nothing wrong and we would not get a refund. She was quite rude with zero customer service skills. Sadly she also undermined the other waitress. DO NOT GO TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT. One of the worst customer experiences we have ever had!!!!

Great place to impress someone with the location, they won't complain about the food,it's fine but nothing special. Drinks are a tourist London price, insane for Newbury area.

enjoyable, relaxing experience in strange times. food good quality and served quickly by professional and friendly staff

We were very much looking forward to our Sunday lunch at the Dundas arms. How I wish we hadn’t gone and ruined our up to then lovely day!On arrival, we and the 2 other groups behind us queued outside in the rain for ages while waiting for someone to come and seat us. Everyone is very happy to adhere to Covid measures but this was a pretty poor way to treat customers.We had booked a table inside but were told we were outside. Not wanting to get rained on, we insisted upon our indoor table and were then shown to one. In fairness, the lady that sorted this out did so quickly and pleasantly.Once seated we were told to order all food and drink off a menu on the website. This was a ridiculous carry on. It took ages of scrolling through different tabs to add the drinks we wanted. Twice the page closed and we had to start all over again! I had been so looking forward to a Virgin Mary, which I couldn’t see on the website. There was a Bloody Mary but as the driver, I wanted a non-alcoholic one. I was told it was there but under ‘Big Tom.’ Alas, I was then told that though it was behind the bar I wasn’t allowed to have it, “as we are operating a reduced menu.” There looked to be nothing reduced about the menu which is enormous (worryingly so when it comes to the food) so it was completely baffling that I wasn’t allowed the non-alcoholic version.After this debacle I thought I would have a glass of Champagne to cheer myself up. This arrived as only half a glass. My husband questioned what happened to the rest, but was told that that was it. The food was very slow, thumped down onto the table by the grumpy manager and was woefully substandard. The aforementioned worryingly huge menu, as expected translated into meals which has probably previously been frozen. At no point did anyone do a courtesy check, asking if everything was ok with the food, or if there was anything else that we needed. It felt like an overpriced McDonalds. Though perhaps not fair on McDonalds to say this. It is effectively expensive frozen ready meals.Possibly the worst part of this miserable experience, was how completely filthy the pub is. The Dundas has been grubby for years and I had hoped that being closed for months would have been the perfect opportunity for them to give it a much needed deep clean. Or even just a normal clean. Sadly, even a global pandemic has failed to galvanise them into action. You would think that as there is a highly contagious virus on the loose, this would have resulted in clean loos... at the very least. We have visited many other local pubs recently and all of them were absolutely sparkling clean! Once upon a time this pub used to be so good and is just in the most gorgeous location. It seems such a shame that it is run so badly! There really is no excuse for such hopeless management and such a poor customer experience.

We were looking for an antidote to our months of lockdown. An afternoon and evening spent in the glorious garden, watching wildlife and narrowboats passing by was exactly the tonic we needed. Our room was comfortable with a private waterside terrace. The food was excellent and the local ales in good condition. The staff worked extraordinarily hard to keep up a high level of table service, enabled by a good order and pay app. There is a service charge added automatically but it would have been churlish to begrudge this. The only minor drawback was the noise from the nearby railway line. This break was exactly what we needed and the Dundas Arms more than lived up to expectations.

Physical barriers and seperations between tables with a QR code to website for ordering and paying to minimise interactions. Food was excellent and the service speedy and efficient.

The Dundas is a nice place to have a drink. The beer selection is ok, if fairly expensive, and the location is great. Ordering through the app is a bit of a faff but we worked it out quickly enough. However, upon paying we saw a £1 service charge had been added to the two pints we ordered so thought we may as well order two pints each to cut down on the service charge costs as we were planning to have a few. The service charge increased to £2... So seemingly it's a 50p per drink service charge? I heard another table questioning this and a member of staff said they had been getting 'loads of grief' over it and that the staff themselves 'don't see a penny of it.' It's not the added cost that's the issue, it's the principle of it and the sneaky way in which it is done which leaves a sour taste.

Sadly not a pleasant experience. Enquiry emails to the Dundas Arms booking form were ignored together with a query on the Dundas Arms FB page which was also ignored. Food was good'ish but nothing to write home about. Service was okay, however, service charge added regardless.Tables were not wiped down between diners leaving and next diners arriving, rather concerning.The best thing about the visit was that it was a sunny day.

Stopped off for lunch on a cycle ride from Bedwyn to Newbury. Large outdoor area good for social distancing, staff very helpful, food excellent though there could be more of a choice in regards to Lunch if you just want salads, sandwiches or a Ploughman’s. Lovely location and well worth a visit.

We were met by the sullen waitress, who would only serve us if we ordered online and paid using the bar codes on the tables. We had also inadvertently walked past the queue here sign - not a great start and it didn't get better. We were unable to use the app thing and she was adamant that we couldn't pay using contactless - although some of the locals said that was the way they were paying. We voted with our feet and went for a pint at a different pub - Unless your IT savvy - avoid. Too many hoops to jump through for a cool one !!!!!

The setting really is the best part of a visit to the Dundas, although the lovely staff make it special.

We went for a lovely saturday afternoon lunch and had a great time. Definitely covid safe, lovely atmosphere, food was good quality and reasonably priced, staff were great. The only thing we were disappointed with was the automatic service charge that was added to every order through the app. We always like to tip at our own discretion to the person serving us, rather than the pub chain that will get the extra 10% as its done through the app - with no facility to change it. We will definitely return if the automatic service charge idea is not obligatory.

Lovely pub garden by the canal, food is well made but not quite justifying the price. Menu limited with no simpler/cheaper lunch options.

Moored on the canal near the Dundas Arms for the night and went in for a pint. Strange experience as the UK were emerging from Covid lockdown and we were limited to the garden. But the pub is lovely, the location is idyllic and the beer was very well kept indeed.

Firstly you have to say that the location between canal and river is spectacular in summer. Known in area for good food in the restaurant. Bar area is not quite as up-market as the rest, but perfectly fine. Prices above average for area but below average for the class of restaurant. Worth a visit if in the area.

We like the Dundas Arms. We’ve often had a lovely roast lunch here but on this occasion we were let down by the spuds, a deal breaker in our view. Not happy. Pity because the pork belly was delicious and most of the staff really friendly and helpful.

The Dundas Arms is lovely pub, the food was delicious, the taff were welcoming and friendly and it is in a beautiful location!

The hotel/restaurant is in a very picturesque area between a river and a canal. It's a bit old-fashioned inside but I like the fact that it is not too glossy and modern.The food is very nice but the wine seems a bit pricey. The staff let the place down; I think they could do with some training. The waitress shouldn't look affronted when my meal didn't have what was clearly specified on the menu and I asked for it. Service with a smile!

Popped in for an anniversary drink, we had a bottle of Malbec. It was MALBEC KAIKEN 2018. I've nothing against a mark up and business making a profit, BUT £20+ on a bottle is very steep, when out costs under £9 to the public for a bottle.

I’ve discovered a little gem whilst out walking the Canal with my 2 dogs Mollie and Joey! Popped into the Dundas Arms on a whim to warm up a little and ended up staying for an extra beer and some great bar snacks. I will be adding the Dundas to my walking route again in the near future!

This pub is situated very close to the train station which is handy if you missed your train (like myself) or waiting to pick someone up. The Dundas arms has a great garden which is excellent in spring/summer time especially for families. However I feel this pub lacks good quality of staff as currently the level of service you get is below standard. This pub has great potential indeed if only its staff cared enough!

We often meet family and friends at the Dundas Arms as it is conveniently located as a central point between Bristol, London and Portsmouth. The food is always good. The service is not always the best. This was especially true of our visit on the 30th December 2019. We were seated in the garden room which is not in the main restaurant area and really felt ignored. I am particullary annoyed when a waiter/waitress enters the room, deposits food at a table and fails to look around to ascertain if any of the other tables in the room require service.

We visit this pub frequently, especially during the summer as the setting is wonderful. Great for a drink but don’t waste your money going for food unless it’s for snacks. Although the food is ok the service is terrible if more than a few tables eating. Every time we’ve eaten here (5 times since July) we’ve not been asked if we’d like more drinks, no offer of dessert menu, no one around to ask for a bill and no clearing of dishes from the table - this is both inside the bat and outside, worst of all there is a cheeky 10% service charge for this non-existent service. It’s such a shame, the staff are pleasant just not enough of them/need better training.

We stayed here, however, rooms are just slightly below standard, but food is really good, must have a super chef and the ladies serving are really pleasant. NZ rules!

Popped in with a group as a pit stop on a walking break. Made to feel welcomed and good range of beers, so stayed for a few more to let the rain pass. Liked the ‘pub with rooms’ tag and would consider staying if visiting with the wife.

The ale battered haddock came with tartare sauce which was very creamy and lacked enough capers and guerkin to give flavour. The accompanying peas were very dry. A wine list wasn't offered and there wasn't any information on the ales on offer. Very disappointed that a dog was allowed into the dining room!

Went in on my Birthday with a pal for a couple of beers and a bite to eat on a Saturday evening. Wasn't much on the menu that I fancied but had the fish and chips (or "Ramsbury ale-battered haddock, hand-cut chips, crushed peas & tartare sauce" as they prefer to call it, £13.50.

I guess its understandable that people flock to the Dundas Arms on a warm summer evening, but now and again its wise to look in before going elsewhere - for example on one August evening a private party had occupied large areas and the waterside was too cheek-by-jowl for comfort or enjoyment. That aside the Dundas is an attractive and friendly riverside pub, and reasonable value, with some really good coooking.

We have our narrowboat moored in Newbury and Kintbury is a handy day's cruise away so a good overnight stop.

I have visited the Dundas arms many times, but oh my how the standards have dropped, the service was very slow and once our order was taken when the food arrived what a disappointment, my husbands roasted pheasant was nearly raw, and my pork belly was so small a portion I had trouble finding it on the plate.

To start positively, the Dundas Arms is in a lovely location, great walks and therefore one would say an ideal place to stop for refreshments or an evening / overnight stay with friends, which is what we did.

And the food not bad either. In summer when you sit outside I find my focus is on the canal. There is always something happening and on this visit we were additionally entertained by the horse drawn canal trip (well worth a visiting). The food at lunch time is “pub grub”. My (battered) fish chips was one the best I have eaten recently. The chips in particular were cooked to perfection. Round it off with a pint of bitter. What better way to lunch?

Really good pub food, attractively served and the friendliest staff ever. The chips were especially good any a chicken salad was huge and nicely spiced.

Great food. We went on a Tuesday night, when the Duncan Arms wasn’t busy, and service was normal pace and the food very good. We had a chicken and leek pie which was homemade but really well done. We also had sea bass with roast veg and some type of couscous. The star however was a lemon sauce which was extremely well balanced, not too sharp, not too buttery and which complimented everything on the plate. Desert was equally competent and we left satisfied, eager to return.

It was lovely to sit on the new terrace overlooking the canal, watching the barges go by. We had a coffee before setting off on a walk and had planned to return for lunch, but unfortunately didn’t make it back in time!

What an amazing event! Location is stunning, BBQ was delicious and value for money. The band were brilliant and everyone had a really great night - even the weather was Caribbean!

Just wanted to thank the Dundas Arms for an excellent evening- great mojitos and rum punch- tasty food and excellent bbq and great entertainment- staff were friendly and happy -decorations were an extra touch - sooo much fun 😊🥂😈

Stopped here on a walk along the canal and tour by car of the area. Excellent lunch with pleasant seating outside beside the Kennet & Avon canal. Good service and well priced.

Had a nice lunch today (Wednesday) with my family having visited this pub for the first time, good friendly service at the bar. Food was very tasty, parmesan fries a must. Dogs welcome inside and out, great location. Will be back to sample the sunday lunch sometime.

The Dundas Arms offers an enviable position. So it's sad to report that its standards bear little comparison with those of its natural surroundings - and even less with its Owner's, Cirrus Inns mantra of "...incredible hospitality and amazing ingredients.."

This was my first of two visits to pubs in the past few days. Both were extremely disappointing and both for the same reason! (See my other review for The Three Cuppes in Stockbridge). At both I had an expensive burger, at both it was dreadful. At both the service was lousy.

We meet here with distant relatives for an annual lunch as this is central to all of us. Today, the very hottest of the year, we sat on the canal terrace for a drink under the brolleys, but it was still too hot. Our lovely waitress found us a table inside downstairs. We had warm flans, salads and fried haddock meals. All were large and very tasty, for a reasonable price. Room for some puds before we moved again out to the rear garden for coffees. The young waitresses were really good and we felt happy to tip them above the voluntary service charge already on our bill. Considering ghe super location, meals and staff we were surprised how quiet it was- perhaps it was the heat. Definitely will be back.