Merrie Garden in Isle of Wight

Inedible food, rude manager who refused to refund the cost of a meal that I couldn't eat. I'd ordered sausage and mash and the sausages weren't just over cooked, they were burnt black. I think they were left over from breakfast. I showed the waitress who agreed they were badly burnt but the manager refused to refund saying its company policy to not offer refunds. They offered me a coffee or a pudding, we hadn't enjoyed any of the other meals enough to want a pudding. They would not refund. In the end we got the price of a soft drink refunded. Manager is rude. We definitely don't recommend and wouldn't return..no wonder it was virtually empty on a half term Sunday lunch time. Only 3 other tables and they had not had their meals when we left

If you are in the area drop in great place to eat

The food is overpriced for what it is. I wouldn't choose to eat there again. The sticky toffee pudding is incredibly sickly. A fairly large square of quite dry sponge, drowned in sauce. It needs to be served with custard or vanilla ice-cream, not salted caramel.

We arrived on time, seated quickly and given menus. Ordered at the bar. A very good beer, 2 beautiful pies with fries, lots of veg and good gravy. Steak and ale and chicken and leek. Really tasty. The sad part was the expensive drinks. A glass for the price of a bottle. Wrong

We wanted to have a Sunday roast dinner and had visited a few weeks previously. The food was delicious with vegetables that were cooked properly rather than ‘crunchy’ which we do not like. The meat was a generous portion and, again, cooked to our liking and NOT sliced wafer thin.

Didn't like food menu but a nice pint

Good food 👍🍝🍨☕🍽🧀🍗☕ and service 🍔🥯🍲 just no internet 📱 could need improvement on wifi availability especially in 2024 , but overall ok 👍

such a lovely service but all those that were in on Monday evening, thank you so much. my husband can be fussy with his meals but this was spot on! thank you x

Had fantastic meal here and there service was very friendly and pleasant

This was a great pub, very dog friendly and lovely staff. We dined here 5 nights in a row on our holiday to the island. The first 4 nights were great. The 5th night was bloody awful. We waited an hour for food and when it arrived, with no apology, my side salad consisted of wilted lettuce only. Disappointing end to a good week.

Called in with my partner & friends for a few drinks & food, Staff were very friendly and the service & food were excellent. Also, the Manager called to our table to ask how we found our meals etc, stayed for a chat ( very pleasant Guy ) Would recommend anyone passing , calls in to sample this top place. Thank you all for looking after us.

Not as good as it used to be , camembert was microwaved. The chorizo and Truffle mac and cheese wasn't great... the chorizo was just chucked in top of the pasta. Won't be coming back.

Couldn't get a table without a booking.

A lovely visit staff and food were amazing. Nice and hot and not a long wait at all! Looking forward to visiting again soon

We visited for a family Sunday lunch. We all had the roasts and all were delicious. They were well cooked and nice and hot. Very good portion size including the childs portion. Two of us had desert. The sticky toffee pudding was excellent.

Asked for 2 meals to be bought out first as members needed to catch a ferry. Took an hour. My main came out was stone cold and rock solid sweet potato. Wasn't busy and food took forever to come out. Won't be back. Given to many chances.

I booked the table for Sunday and as soon as we arrived we were shown to our table I went back to the bar to order some drinks and our food,we sat down and had a drink and a chat when our food was served it was very well presented and tasted excellent so all I can say is well done and really appreciated from all on table 8

Seven if us had food there not bad

Food was nice, parking was easy access, staff were friendly, nice experience thanks

Eaten here once and won't repeat the experience. Food and pricing OK but surly staff spoilt it for us

Warm welcome initially, bar man that took our order was a bit abrupt, older guy. Food was correct and good came out quickly and was nice same guy that greated us initially wished us a good evening young ish guy with beard

Great halloumi kebab, and perfect fish n chips. Well done. Really enjoyed it. Thank you. ☺️

Very lacklustre appearance to the food. Barely warm. Soggy vegetables. Potato looked like it was made from powdered. Sticky table and dirty cutlery.

Turned up at 8.45pm on a Thursday, having checked website and seen food served till 10pm. Place ma's almost empty, asked for a table for food to be told food has now finished. Whilst still there witnessed 2 tables places orders.

When we arrived it was busy and was advised there was a 30 to 35 minutes wait for our food and no mixed grill (and at 1830 thought this not good as main eating time)food finally arrived after an hour wait, food looked like it had been thrown on the plate and my scampi was over cooked , overpriced and not very tasty,Hunters chicken was supposed to be a chicken breast and looked more like the mini fillet under the breast.

If you want to wait for an order to come out and it be wrong then have to wait again then be my guest but not worth the agro , would have rather gone to KFC

Lovely venue, surprised it wasn't busier than it was. If we lived on the island, we would be regular visitors. The food was great, and the service was great.

The food isn't good. Cannot recommend. The salad was just old lettuce and the garlic bread was more bread with a smear of garlic on top, but the lasagne was OK. Mash was good but the sausage was cheap and gristly, could barely cut the green beans they were so hard, and the mange tout was very, very stringy.

Ridiculously slow service, food average, not worth the price to be honest. Only positive was staff were polite but won't bother coming again - there's no shortage of better options around...

Long wait , food expensive. Trying to be gourmet food, but essentially Pub Grub with strange ingredients. Arrived 50 minutes after ordering, chips/ fries not even fresh , hard , seem to be reheated . Had mash also that was hard on outside, cold in middle. Very disappointed.

It was the worst experience I have ever had. when we turned up we were moaned at (we later found out by the manager) because when we booked online we didn't say we had a dog. even though it states dog friendly and there was nowhere to put we would be bring the dog. He didn't show us to the table just said in a rude manner you can only sit in this area. My fiancée wanted to leave due to his rudeness, but we stayed due to the fact we had my elderly parents with us who struggle to get in and out of a car. I grabbed some menus and noticed you did a lunch time special menu. which we didn't get or know where these were. my elderly mother got up as she knew I was getting frustrated and asked the same gentleman where the lunch time menus were. he shouted at her over there and when she couldn't find them he shouted at her again. we were the other side of the restaurant and I heard this. I asked a waitress to speak to the manager and she went red with embarrassment and said he was the manager. I told him he should not be working in this line of work let alone being a manger. We then walked out with no apology. Your Response is only to be expected, it wasn't busy at all. but you didn't show us to any table, no menus and shouted at my elderly mother. No option on online booking to tick that we are bringing a dog only how many guests. does say special requirements but as you advertise as dog friendly why would anyone put that. You were not busy. only a few people in the building. Even if you had been busy there's no excuse for rudeness. Don't say sorry we felt like this, as it was exactly what happened very rude. and from the looks at previous reviews you have dismissed others that have witnessed your rudeness. disgusting, no apology just excuses.

Empty pub zero staff and no food a joke

The service from the staff was great and food was amazing definitely recommend the buttermilk burger lovely place to go will be coming back very soon.

A lovely Sunday evening meal with great service. Made to feel very welcome on a weeks holiday visit to the Isle of Wight. Worth a visit. Filling Steak and Ale pie, delicious.Will return.

Amazing team, especially the manager who extended her help with moving an air bed after working hours and at the end of her shift to help us after we had a camping disaster! Offered to help us transport it to our campsite too and was an amazing woman! Thank you for your help

We booked in for dinner, no warnings of delays when we ordered but after 40 mins and no food we enquired what was happening, no response. After 55 mins we asked Aiden, the duty manager who said “it’s going to be a while yet”, then 2 starters out of 4 arrived but no kids food. “Well, we are busy” Aiden responded in a good impression of Basil Fawlty. That was the last straw, we asked for our money back and to his credit he gave a full refund including drinks. If it was that busy why did they accept our booking in the first place (made 90 mins prior). If it was that busy why didn’t they warn us of any delays when we placed our order. If it was that busy would it not have been possible to call in agency staff. Other diners around us were similarly affected. Final note, the menu advertised online was quite different than the one offered in house. Marstons need to up their game at this establishment.

great food and service never had a bad meal here

Great lunch had at Sandown pub yesterday, we stopped off for a bite to eat and both the food and the staff were amazing we could not fault the service we will visit again soon.

Great food, reasonably priced. Friendly staff. Would definitely come again. We've been before and have always enjoyed the experience.

Excellent service, staff all friendly and helpful and food was of a far higher standard than we had expected. Thought this would be a chain pub type affair but menu was well thought through, more interesting and cooked to a far higher standard than we had expected. Will definitely be back.

Well that was disappointing. Food was late, Hunter's chicken was dry and tough. The salad consisted of iceberg lettuce and that was it. My £4 cheesy garlic bread has got to be the worst I have ever eaten. It was a ciabatta roll smeared with a little garlic and a very small amount of cheese. Service very poor, which is a shame as it is a nice venue. Would not recommend.

The food was excellent and the staff were great.

Stopped here after not long coming of the ferry so was our first experience of Isle of Wight hospitality & was amazed that this place was not a 5* review place, very welcoming, great service & food was faultless. Great work team 👍

Awesome place...Great food and service. No problem with parking. Enjoy

No roasts left no steak waste of time

Despite being very very quiet for the time of year the staff seem to be particularly complacent the level of service was poor. Food missing from the order even when asked the side order never arrived yet was on the bill at the end. Bar staff lacking charisma and social skills A key thing required for that role. In addition, didn’t know the difference between a soda and a tonic. We live local and have eaten here many times in the past yet it seems to have drastically fallen down hill. The food was mediocre definitely not worth the price charged. The whole place really lacks atmosphere.

Food really hit the spot, portion size was perfect, the atmosphere and design of the place was really homely. Service with a smile 😁 Would recommend to anyone, more than worth the cost!

The place looked nice with an alright selection of beers, but the food was disappointing. Despite the wide menu selection, our steaks were overcooked (we asked for medium rare). The manager could have been nicer; he only seemed happy when we paid and left.

The place looked nice with an alright selection of beers, but the food was disappointing. Despite the wide menu selection, our steaks were overcooked (we asked for medium rare). The manager could have been nicer; he only seemed happy when we paid and left.

Everything was lovely. Thank you

Nice place had the beef 🥧 beautiful 😍

I asked for a little more gravy to have with the steak & ale pie & was charged £1. Hardly breaks the bank but I have NEVER been charged for a little extra gravy before 😕

Delicious food and fab service x

Ordered on there site they have everywhere and 2 out the 5 meals they don't do at all and 1 wasn't available

No longer do rotisserie, No mushrooms with steak and only told when we asked then the steak overcooked. Seemed to be a lack of care from staff didn't enjoy the experience at all.

Amazing food, lovely atmosphere. Staff were great. The older man was a little more abrupt and rude. But apart from that would return again.

Everything was superb. Thank you

Very slow service being the place was empty

Visited while on holiday in Shanklin and we were so glad that we did. The staff were very friendly and efficient, nothing was too much trouble and the choice of food was very good. We both had the prawn cocktail starter and for the main course I had sausage and mash and my husband had meat pie, everything was delicious and well worth the money. We will definitely return next time we’re on the island.

We went there tonight for a good friends birthday, from entering to leaving it was amazing the food was superb and so was the service the girl on the bar I think her name was Jasmine was brilliant and the service from Owen and Aiden was second to none, sorry if i got your names wrong, i would like to say a massive thank you to the kitchen staff for the fabulous food as well. All in all a perfect birthday meal for a brilliantly amazing friend thank you merry gardens team for making it so special.

The staff were friendly and it's a nice venue but though my hunters chicken was tasty, the meat was a very small portion, with a lot of chips and a tiny green salad.

Great place for the family and a great place to bring the dogs in very friendly and welcoming service was great and everyone was helpful.

Really good Sunday dinner. The staff was very helpful.

Been twice recently, once for lunch and once for dinner, lovely food and great service. Would definitely recommend!

Large place but hardly anyone there. Bar shut at 10:30pm on Sat night!

Lovely food, lots of choice and a discount when you join online or use blue light card. The service was great, and staff were attentive and helpful. It was a Saturday around 5.30, so I didn't book, but they did have a few tables for walk ins. The rest of the restaurant was fully booked.

I ordered steak and asked for it to be cooked medium-well. When it arrived, the outside looked good but the inside was definitely medium-rare. That I can overlook, it's not a huge issue. However, the amount of gristle that I had to leave accounted for half of the steak. It was a very expensive mistake, and one I won't be repeating. Plus, there wasnt anyone checking on tables so it wasn't as if I could have raised the issue - I'm disabled so it's not easy to get up and find someone mid-meal

Been to this pub 2 times whilst on holiday,seen the same workers both times couple of chaps very helpful and polite

Really disappointing, we came here last night and had a really lovely meal, and decided to come again tonight for the last night of our holiday, we entered before 9, reading online that the kitchen closed at 10, and we were told the kitchen was closed, at 8.45 on a Friday night. What sort of business model is that? And for it to go against what is online is utterly ridiculous. Really disappointing as we wanted a lovely meal again and now have to get some fast food or something. Not happy

Great food and a good atmosphere

Nice surroundings. Good service. Good food choices

On holiday staying near to this pub. We found the food very good and a reasonable price. Particularly as they had a 30% off main meals offer this week if you booked a table online. No problem with the drinks selection, typical Marston’s range. We found the staff attentive , particularly Kim who served us on most days we went there. It was table service most days. However when short of staff you have to order and pay at the bar.

Absolute wonderful dinner, beef special was amazing, best beef dinner I’ve had for a long time. We thanked Jaydon the chef as we enjoyed the meal so much. Great food, great service, great restaurant. Highly recommended. A+++

Great pub with great food and they catered for me with a restricted diet being gluten and lactose intolerant. Staff were helpful and friendly, we met Abby, Jazz and Dom.

Great selection of food and drink

Lovely food. The employee from Grantham in Lincs, was very helpful and cheerful. A credit to her employer 👍

Atmosphere brilliant, staff very welcoming and friendly, food 10/10 so much so that we booked again for the next day - don't go on a Sunday as the service totally changes, so many items left of the plate, such a shame, this is why I gave only 4 stars

The best meal that I had all week. I was staying at the Parkdean site, Landguard, This pub restaurant is just a short walk from the site and I wish I'd have thought about eating here earlier in the week. I did look at the other reviews prior to booking a table and can't say anything was bad about my experience. Lovely food, great service. A thumbs up from me

A place to avoid. Really do hate being referred to as "Guys" by waiting staff. Politeness rather than familiarity preferred. Would have found this less jarring if the food had been good and the order had been correct. An altogether disappointing experience.

Such a lovely pub. Very friendly and welcoming staff. The food we ordered was so delicious. My Salt and Pepper Calamari starter and Main was chorizo mac and cheese 😋 so yummy and wonderful comfort food. The accompanying garlic bread was also very fresh and delicious. Very cosy atmosphere too. Highly recommended by me and other half on our trips to the Isle of Wight.

Right to start the beef roast dinner 2 pieces of carrots no Parsnips ,peas ,sugar snap peas , 1 Yorkshire pudding 2 small pieces of beef 4 burnt and shriveled roast potatoes and a very waters juices I would t call it a sauce or a gravy thwn another meal steak steak had be sent back was supose be well done but came rare 8oz sirloin with about 10 chips half a beef tomato and 1 small mushroom then beef burger well fries where over cooked the beef burgers was abit under cooked for me slightly pink coleslaw was full of large chunks of cabbage that had to be litrally chewed for a while so as we was all still hungry we checked the reviews yes and seen the dessert looked ok and as we was very hungry as the meal was tiny and rubbish we got chocolate brownie sundae well no Vanilla ice cream in it one small crumbled on the top piece of brownie then cream then one scoop of chocolate ice cream and then squirty cream in the bottom and a flake in the top was a let down looks like the place is run by kids no one even came to ask how are meal was or anything not homely at all wouldn’t recommen we ain’t from this area we are from Manchester area prices are Extortionate for the quality and quantity of the food

I enterd the restraint and got sat at a table we went up to the bar to order the starters took a little longer than they should have done as it was only humus with vegetables the service wasn't great but they did have some fun games for kids to play while they wait the menu was alright for kids it was good but for adults meh honestly it was overall good

Ate here over 4 evenings, food was of good quality and good sized portions. Staff were extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful. Looking forward to to our next trip when we shall certainly return to Merrie Gardens.

I worked in Hospitality for 30 years, & would have been PROUD to have had any one of your staff members work with me. They are ALL a credit to the establishment. Well Done, team

Great food in a lovely clean welcoming premises. Good atmosphere and very attentive staff. Kevin was a pleasure to meet. We will definitely return 😊

Lovely pub with garden dogs allowed brilliant staff nice atmosphere

Last year we walked out after waiting 4 hrs for our food. We thought we'd give you another chance but the best I can say is 'disappointing'. We don't eat out often so like to know what menu choices will be available to us if we book. Having studied your menu on your website we decided to book. Upon arrival we were give a menu that failed to include any of the meals we had seen online and were looking forward to! the 'Specials board' was laughable - only one viable choice. My efforts to register our dissapointment with the staff behind the bar met with 'The menu has nothing to do with us, it's all done by Marstons '. We won't be eating there again next time we visit IoW.

Clean and tidy venue, pleasant staff and good food.

Excellent meal good prices, well recommended, thanks to Abi Jazz and Dom, the staff working today

Had an Anniversary meal. We were given complimentary prosecco with strawberries on arrival to mark the occasion which was a nice touch. Food was delicious with excellent service.

Nice pint, only popped in for one so not tried the food.

The service was good and staff friendly but the food portions are terrible for the price of them. Luckily we had a 30% off voucher which made it slightly better.

Pretty disappointing even more so as it was my birthday, I had always thought Merrie Gardens was a nice place however the menu is not satisfactory at all, staff did not know if they had all items on the menu and were very blunt, I paid nearly £22 for a steak dinner which looked like a toddler had plated up, for £22 I expected a lovely steak that was actually the size/weight that was written in the menu I also expected a salad to be on the plate, instead my plate consisted of 1 small piece of steak, a handful of chips, 1 mushroom and 1 tomato, utterly disgusting and shocking. I do NOT recommend going to Merrie gardens at all and myself or any of my family members wont be returning either.

The staff was very welcoming and polite. The server went out of her way to make the meal pleasent it was our anniversary meal and she wanted to make sure it was special really helpful as well.

Food was OK, came out quick enough was hot , not too expensive but there was not enough vegetables with the main , nice restaurant

We had a lovely meal here tonight, and the steak was cooked perfectly. Our Waitress Kim was very pleasant and looked after us both very well. Lovely clean restaurant. A genuinely nice experience eating here, thank you.

Recently I had a roast dinner here. And was not happy with the food. Unfortunately the food was served cold. There was no seasoning for the roast (not as described) also they didn't have a lot of drink choices as they didn't have a lot in stock. There was a lack of staff here with no table service offered here. I have to say for a Sunday roast definitely avoid much better places in the local area.

Food was ok. Steaks were overcooked. No mixed grill on the menu. No gammon steak. Just a bit disappointing really.

Staff where pleasant food was served Luke warm will give it a miss in future

The food was fantastic. The service was excellent. We didn't have to wait too long for the food to arrive.