The Abbot's Elm Restaurant in Huntingdonshire

Went to the Elm on a Saturday evening for a meal with family. There were a couple of large parties in so we sat at the back where it was quieter. I like this place. However you end up getting served by all of the staff, which can cause confusion (being asked if you want deserts after already ordering) and some are not as cheerful as others! Perhaps the ones that are less cheerful should ponder on how they come across. It's not like we are going for school dinner! The others were lovely! The food was very good as per normal. The sea bass was good and the pork dish my daughter and her boyfriend had was good. I had soup to start and carrot cake for desert. Both very excellent. Value wise, good. The wine is expensive, but we all have a choice not to drink it! Lovely place, but I do worry that the inconsistent service will lose them customers. I will visit again in the near future.

Visited the Elm for a Sunday roast. Stacy and her team were superb. Great service and the food delivered promptly and piping hot. The beef roast was one of the best I have eaten. Followed this up with an amazing steamed lemon sponge and custard. Bliss. Highly recommended.

Really disappointed! Started of lovely at this pub unfortunately feel like my last visits have gone downhill a little more each time - service, ambience, food. This has spurred this review. Feel like it needs reviewing as it has the potential to be amazing. Such a shame.

We’d booked as a large group, others of which I can see have also reviewed based on our visit, for Christmas Day. The cost was eye watering at £125 a head for an adult so I was expecting good things. Alas, disappointment awaited. We turned up 10 minutes before our 12:00 booking to be greeted by a crowded and rowdy bar, having to fight our way through to find our table ourselves… no front of house cover it seems. Our table was located in the crowded bar area with patrons bumping into the backs of our seated party. Our menu choices had been preordered, but only after we chased the Elm to check dietary requirements (I can therefore vouch for the other group commenting that menu choices were not requested in advance). The food was generally good (but by no means exceptional) but the whole experience was massively let down by the absence of the most basic level of service. We waited over an hour between starters and the main course. Dishes would be served to some in the party when others were sat waiting for up to five minutes for theirs to arrive (please… if you can’t organise your kitchen to get everything ready at the same time, feed the kids first) and in the case of our desserts, one in the party was simply forgotten…. At no point in the day did anyone ask how everything was, whether we needed anything or if perhaps we might like something to drink. When water was requested (typically by going to the bar or catching the attention of a member of staff), we’d be provided a single jug for a party of nine so we’d have to ration it out like we were adrift in a life raft in the South Pacific. To top it off, the men’s toilets had no toilet roll by 13:00 and when we raised our complaint to the staff at the end of the meal, we got an seemingly insincere apology… no complimentary bubbles for our party but, to be fair, we just wanted to leave by that point! Would I go back? No, at the price charged, the whole experience should have been polished but instead it felt not dissimilar to a Friday night at Wetherspoons, but without the convenience of ordering drinks via the app and marvelling at the venue specific carpet. More importantly, when the issues were raised, the manager couldn’t have been any less dismissive of our concerns… they had our money and that’s all they cared about!

Poor service on Christmas Day, we had a table for 9 which we pre-ordered our menu before our arrival (we contacted the restaurant to inform them, we were not asked for this). This made no difference as each course was missing items, and the length of time between each course was ridiculous especially with children at our table. It was clear they couldn’t cope with the number of people they had booked in. At one point we cleared our own table and had to chase our main after an hour of waiting. £125 ahead was not worth it…..very poor service, ok food & cramped setting. We complained when we got our bill but the staff really didn’t seem bothered. Charging these prices and not delivering on the day is just greedy. We were all incredibly disappointed, this was not the Christmas celebration we were expecting.

We had booked a table for 5 people for Christmas Dinner at 3pm at a cost of £125 per person. We had all really been looking forward to eating out - this was the first time for Christmas for most of us. On arrival we asked if they had a gluten free menu - we were advised that all the dishes were gluten free with the exception of the three bird roast. The server was advised that this particular guest wanted the beef so it wasn’t relevant. The server said she would check with the kitchen as she thought there might be one beef left. This set alarm bells ringing as 4 out of the 5 of us had intended on having the beef (including two fussy eaters). She came back and advised us there was no beef left. Why they would think it acceptable to charge £125 per head and not expect you to have your first choice beggars belief! So unfortunately, we did not have Christmas dinner this year, thanks to the incompetence of this establishment. The manager advised us that they had sent out an email asking for pre-orders. We proved to her that no such email was received by us. She did give us a complimentary bottle of champagne however, this could not be eaten. We won’t be returning.

We booked for Christmas Lunch as a family party of 6 adults and three children. The cost was £125 per adult and £45 for children. The food was good but the service was awful. We waited over an hour between our starters and mains, we’re not asked once if everything was OK and no one approached the table to take drinks orders. We had to continuously ask for water for the table and each time were given the smallest carafe which filled three glasses. The table was never properly clear between courses and it was entirely chaotic. Pre-ordered sides did not appear but it was impossible to tell staff as they were disinterested and difficult to catch their attention. They forgot one dessert and again it was challenging to let staff know and they did not once apologise or check in with us. Furthermore they over stretched themselves, filling the bar and placing tables in inconvenient places which negatively impacted the dining experience. Apologies were not forthcoming and at no point have they offered any means of resolving the extremely poor service we received. They attempted to charge for the side which did not arrive and again were unapologetic for this. When the issues were raised in writing we were told they had over-stretched themselves but again it felt insincere. They stated they removed the sides from the bill which they did not, just the one we never received. Overall it was a shame as the food was good. The total cost of this meal was £900 and was just not worth it. Would not go back.

Came here for a family members 70th birthday. There were ten of us and we had pre ordered our food. It didn’t start well. We weren’t served drinks even after asking to have them taken so had to make our way to the bar. Whilst the waiting staff were friendly, they weren’t attentive and we felt forgotten. We waited for any food for over an hour and that was with a pre order (we had kids in the party which made things harder). The food was bland and over salty, really not good for the price we were charged. Really disappointed overall for what was a special occasion.

Service was really slow, we think they’d forgotten our table as we did receive an apology eventually and some complimentary bread. All meals were huge, to the point of looking unappetising but my meal, pan fried skate on parmentier potatoes was particularly unappetising, tasteless and dry. However, we did receive an apology and a generous discount

Absolutely lovely food, me and a friend went for a catch up and Choose to meet half way. Is definitely our favourite place now, friendly staff and excellent food

Absolutely amazing. Went with a friend for lunch and was not disappointed. I had the Elm burger and it was one of the best burgers I have had in a long time. My friend had the lamb and mint burger and she loved it too. Only wish we had room for desert. The service was great and all the staff were friendly. I would definitely recommend and will be back.

Very welcoming. All the staff were attentive, food was AMAZING. Came for a anniversary meal and we was not disappointed. We have told all our friends what a beautiful place it is. We Will absolutely be coming back

We had a three course meal at the Elms using a buy a gift voucher. We live about 15 minutes away and hadn’t heard of the elms before. The staff were immediately friendly and welcoming, especially Lauren who I had spoken with earlier in the day. We sat at our table and our drinks were with us immediately. For starters we had the smoked mackerel pate and goats cheese cheesecake. Both were really tasty and huge portions! I struggled to get my head around the cheesecake though, as it was savoury but because it looks like a normal cheesecake my brain was expecting it to be sweet! But it was lovely! For mains my partner went for the burger and I had the steak. The steak was cooked exactly how I asked for it and the burger was huge, infact both portions were so large we couldn’t finish it all! However, there was obviously room for desert! I had the orange crème brûlée and my partner had the banana upside down cake. Both lovely deserts! The other guests in the pub were also super friendly too and it had a real villagey feel. We can wait to go back and take our dog with us! Thank you everyone at the Elm for providing us with a lovely evening :) xx

First visit to The Elm in the village of Abbots Ripton five minutes outside of Huntingdon. The Elm lies in a lovely location and beautiful surroundings with a great sized outside area and a large car park the building itself looks welcoming and well maintained. Inside is deceptively spacious with loads of space between each table. We chose to sit inside and after checking in were instructed too pick a table. I personally found the menu limited so played safe with fish and chips (£18) and my partner and a ploughman (£16) we both had white chocolate mousse (£8) and would say the quality of food was first class and portion size reasonable although we thought a little pricey. Overall the staff were attentive and polite but we felt the place lacked atmosphere and for a Saturday evening was very quiet so wouldn’t rush back anytime soon.

We had just one night at The Elms for Bed and Breakfast - The Room was Clean with plenty of space for two of us and two Dogs. Fabulous Shower Really good tea and coffee facilities with a coffee machine in the room with Mini Fridge for Fresh Milk and Water. Best of all Yorkshire Tea and Harrogate Spa Water - No Point in having Yorkshire Tea if its not with Yorkshire Water! The only fault was that it was a Very Warm day and the Room was very hot which made it difficult for Sleeping. Breakfast was Excellent - Full English Less the Black Pudding.

Lovely pub with beautiful surroundings, but the food was bad and it’s really expensive! The food wasn’t cooked properly, really lacking in presentation and was bland. I would come back for a drink.

Massive disappointment!! We booked a dinner date for two, but unfortunately we were running 15 minutes late!! Called the Elm to apologise and let them know that we’re going to be late and they said, we’re sorry but can’t wait!! Very Bad hospitality!! Then called...

This is a very lovely pub to come to for lunch. The food is really nice and the staff are professional and friendly. The place is well maintained and is situated in a very quaint village. I wouldn’t mind coming back here again

We visited The Elm after a lovely New Year’s Day walk with along with our very muddy dog! The staff were most welcoming and friendly and service was exemplary, we had a couple of coffees to warm us up. The atmosphere was very inviting, we...

I had high hopes when visiting with Mrs P for her birthday lunch. I'd had several recommendations for The Elm and was excited to visit for lunch. Mrs P ordered the belly pork and I ordered the burger. The burger was delicious, the belly pork...

Poor food and indifferent service. The food lacked taste and was very bland and unimaginative. The nibbles were all very beige and similar and the main courses were lacking in taste. Not what we expected.

We had a lovely family meal at the Elm today. Such a beautiful building, friendly staff and great food. The outside area was big and covered so we could sit and have a drink there too. Would highly recommend!!

Had a very good meal here last night with family. A nice location and very friendly staff. Between us we had the pie of the day, gammon steak and ribeye steak. Everyone pleased with the quality and quantity of the food and will come again...

Visited The Elm today with a good friend. We both ordered fish and chips, the quality and taste of the food was absolutely delicious.

Dropped in for bar snack. On ordering advised of life threatening allergy to mustard, which would cause anaphylaxic shock. Advised all okay and then brought food with dressing containing mustard. Luckily questioned this before eating and waitress came back and took away. Frightening experience and...

Such a relief to find a decent pub near Huntingdon! Really great small but well thought out wine list, warm service and well executed pub classics. A lovely garden for those with kids and the best whisky collection I’ve seen outside of Edinburgh for those...

We hadn't been to the Abbots Elm for a number of years and when we went yesterday it had been refurbished. It once was a cosy country pub and now it is more like a Wetherspoons interior. OK maybe the food and service will be...

The Elm was always one of my favourite restaurants to visit prior to lockdown. I don't think I will be returning to the Elm anytime soon. The refurbishment is fabulous; very elegant and spacious, but it now lacks warmth. The menu is very limited; one...

Mixed reactions. Wood pigeon starter, great starter, except for the “shot” left in the meat. Appreciate there is always a risk, but it’s not pleasurable when you bite into the shot. Luckily no tooth damage. Next, mains portion of mussels in cider and tarragon cream....

We have visited this place a few times over the years, including before the fire which burnt the place down. Unfortunately, it has not been the same since our first visit which was excellent. The food was fine but, in my opinion, overpriced and some...

We had not been to the Abbots Elm since its refurbishment. Handsome exterior and interior with stylish ambience. All staff were friendly including the bar staff who smiled and struck up conversation as soon as we walked in. We ate nibbles, starters and mains, all...

I ordered calves liver and bacon. it was really well cooked and delicious. HOWEVER, I substituted chips instead of the mashed potato and my plate arrived with a pile of uninspiring chips and 3 small strips of liver and 2 pieces of bacon- and NOTHING...

Peas, carrots, broccoli and chunks for something white sitting on a piece of puff pastry with a small amount sauce. An insult to any vegetarian who enjoys good food

Service in particular was a let down and was incongruous to the high price tag on the food and what the venue is trying to be. It was all just functional, with no personal connection or genuine guest communication. Food was good, and would have...

Things had changed since our previous visit and while this was after many Covid restrictions were lifted the place seemed to lack character. It is a fine country pub that seems to want to be something else. Clearly used by clientele for whom a good...

Pub has been refurbished and decor is lovely but the food is less than average and very overpriced. £16 for a burger we complained about chips as they were just warm and soggy, tasted like oven chips. The response was that this is how their...

We have had lovely meals at The Elm in the past and had high expectations for our visit last Friday. The refurbished restaurant looks great…but that is where my positive comments end! The staff were inexperienced and not engaged in actively listening and serving customers,...

We went for a bit of a last minute booking for Sunday lunch. Found the service to be very rushed and staff unsure really what they were doing at times. Very expensive food and the quality didn’t match the prices . I expect to pay...

I recently went here for lunch with the family and it looks like the entire pub had been refurbished, I must admit it is really lovely inside. There is a really good selection of drinks and the food was good too. Friendly staff and great...

Very disappointing - a very overpriced meal and poor service despite pre ordering for a party we waited 50 minutes for our food. Whilst the individual serving staff were pleasant the manager was conspicuous by her absence in dealing with the delay and no apology...

My wife and I had lunch at The Elm yesterday as part of a group of 12 people. We had all pre-ordered our meal choices as the restaurant was expecting another large group. All at our table thought the food was excellent, and the service...

Food was delicious and very well presented. Let down a little bit the service which seemed impersonal and detached. I asked the waitress what one of the dishes consisted of and she said she didn't know. Service wasn't particularly friendly and attentive. Nobody checked if...

We have given the restaurant quite a few tries now and food doesn’t improve. Just don’t present it nicely enough and then not a good standard. Lovely pub, lovely location, nice staff but will only stop for a drink in future. Unfortunately don’t do sandwiches...

My wife and I visited for lunch, the first time for 5 years. Now under new management, the layout has changed for the better and the intimidating presence behind the bar has been replaced by pleasant people. The atmosphere is now a welcoming one. The...

Delicious food in a beautiful setting. Very attentive servers. My favourite dish was the mushrooms and truffle on toast, which was rich and satisfying - something special.

Very mediocre food at a premium price. Mains around £20 but not worth it in my opinion. Service was very slow and we felt like an inconvenience. Will not be returning

Having been a regular at the Abbots Elm before lockdown & a change of hands, I was happy to hear it had opened up again & I deliberately went to dinner very hungry. The menu was written in staccato one word descriptions, which is both...

This pub with rooms is located away from the noise of Huntingdon and located in the picture postcard village of Abbots Ripton. They have clearly invested a huge amount in this venue with everything from the driveway, garden and everything inside looking fresh and sharp....

Where do I start? Nice pint of vinegar was the highlight of the evening. Food average, service non existent in an empty room . When we asked to speak to the manager we were told they didn’t have one. I would advise you to get...

We had the most unbelievable experience and service last night, resulting in being told that one of us assaulted the young waitress working there, by pushing/shoving her, which was an appalling statement to make and so far from the truth. What was supposed to be...

Went for lunch on Boxing Day! The food was amazing and the service was excellent too! Great wines to choose from also and there was a lovely atmosphere!

Staff very friendly, nice setting, food has always been excellent. They cater well for vegetarians and their menu is a bit different and everything tastes great.

We had a lunchtime celebration meal on a Sunday in January for a group of nine. All the meals were served together and well presented. Food quality was excellent from the scotch egg starter, home made fish pie and calves liver, through to white chocolate...

A great place we only discovered yesterday while looking for a dog friendly pub. Food was superb, better than your average pub grub. Service was impeccable, friendly and polite, and our dog really was welcome, fresh bowl of water brought for her and lots of...

Celebrating my birthday with family. Excellent service. As usual very exciting starter. I had the Christmas lunch to follow. Turkey cooked properly is just turkey but the spuds, veg, bread sauce and gravy were sensational. My one year old grandson was accepted and looked after...

Recently paid a visit to this pub/restaurant and had an excellent experience. Situated close to the A1(M) this place is well worth a visit, if a little of the beaten track. Booking in advance is a good idea. A large car park also. The food...

Good varied menu, nice atmosphere and good service. Excellently cooked food.The Scotch Egg was lovely. Nice to see Skate on the menu as well.

Excellent place for a lunchtime meal. It was quite busy so you may want to book a place. Very good service and great food.

I camne to this wonderful Restaurant/Hotel for a birthday party for my best friend. I cannot find words to express my pleasure of viusiting John and Julia again. The room was really comfy and reasonably priced. The meal, well I just cannot fault the kitchen....

Welcoming lounge to have pre lunch drinks (even nicer in the winter when the fire is lit?) attentive staff, and a decent Sunday lunch. No complaints other than the view the men had of a backyard - ladies sat facing the restaurant, sadly the men...

Useless. The lazy staff would not feed my family even though they arrived during lunch time. Take them out of the 'Good Food Guide.'

We had a great evening out. The food was lovely. All in a great setting - a thatched inn in the countryside.

Attractive thatched village gastropub which is reliable for food and drink. Atmosphere calm, relaxed and warm. The bar is dog-friendly, the restaurant is separate. We mixed set lunch and a la carte menus and were charged the lower price in each case. Starters = gazpacho of roasted beetroot soup & black, flat mushrooms on toast; mains = calves liver with onion marmalade & mustard seed mashed potato & a home-made fish pie with salmon, haddock & prawn. Usual price per head for a 3-course meal is around £23-6 including a drinks & tip. Puddings are beautiful to look at, some unusual (licorice ice cream), some familiar (chocolate parfait & coconut ice cream). The vegetarian in our group recommends the tasty roasted vegetable tart. We drank Maddam light beer & a margherita. For a business meeting, tables are far enough apart or book the snug (a separate room with a 9-seater oblong table for total privacy).

Had a fantastic meal last night - the hardest part was choosing what to have as I could have enjoyed nearly everything on the menu. Not overly expensive and well worth every penny.

Been here many years ago and had a bad experience. Didn’t know if it was the same owners (turned out to be the same) but we wanted to give them a second chance. The place used to be very busy (it was very quite when we visited - wonder why...). A friend of ours booked the table for the group. The food was below average (to a level I would call tasteless) but the service was efficient. Will not be visiting ever again until the establishment is sold to a new owner (don’t think it will be that long before that happens as the owner have no imagination or cooking skills).

Stopped by for some lunch on a saturday lunch time. Lovely setting, cosy atmosphere. Lovely food and not too pricey! Only downside is we waited nearly an hour for our food. Would visit again if in the area.

Food was revolting not to mention the toilets were disgusting and the service horrendous. Dogs were allowed to enter and they were not guide dogs even though i have allergies. Terrible restaurant. Rude staff. AVOID THIS RESTAURANT AT ALL COSTS . Terrible restaurant. Manager was unpleasant and began to do strange things. We found a durex packet in the toilet and the toilets were clogged. This restaurant was offencive to my race as it had pictures of a dogs head

Service was decent and the food was average however the hygiene was inadequate and rather disgusting the toilets needed cleaning . Not to mention the manager was aggressive in conclusion the location was an average place go eat.

Lady kept dropping stuff, and their was a hair in my meal!! Appalled. The atmosphere was ok. The manager shouted at us because we played on the piano that wasn’t covered up.

This was our second visit to the Abbots Elm. The host made an excellent suggestion for the wine for our meals. The food and service was perfect, we felt relaxed and welcome throughout our visit. We will come again!

I do like kidneys so called in here on the basis of the menu available on the internet. Whilst the exact same dish wasn’t available, kidneys were still there and very good they were too. The staff were efficient and attentive, the food was served promptly and presented nicely. Well worth a visit.

Excellent meal, difficult to choose from an imaginative menu and good service at the bar and table with good beers and a good choice of gins and their mixers. A quiet location in a lovely setting for this pub

Had another great evening at the Abbots Elm with friends food was great staff always helpful looking forward to going back soon Many thanks All

We went back to the Abbot's Elm as we had such a great meal the first time. Sadly it was poor the second time around.

Quiet location, cosy comfortable restaurant with choice of seating areas and atmospheres. Most importantly the food is excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed my meal and wish I'd ordered everything else I saw being served. The two young ladies on duty were excellent. Service with a smile and interacted with my 8 month old grandson. Not cheap but nor should it be.

Good food with a different menu from most pubs but that's all it is. Not a country pub though its getting a bit up market, however the kidneys followed by lamb curry pie was excellent.

Fantastic quality both on the menu and the bar. John the host is brilliant and his team following his lead where service is second to none.

We visited on Monday evening as a family of six adults we had a variety of starters and main courses.

My self and family went to the Abbot’s Elm for a special birthday meal,

You will not be disappointed when you visit this restaurant. The service, food and wine is superb! It’s rare my husband and I leave a restaurant and find it faultless. Well done to the Abbots Elm, we will return.

My husband and I went for an evening meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Overall we had a lovely time, the staff were quite young but efficient and very attentive. The food was exceptional! As a couple who eat out quite a bit, we have come to recognise good food.... the chef here knows what he/she is doing!! Compliments go entirely to the chef!! Will definitely recommend to friends and will certainly be back. Thank you for a lovely time!

We had a lovely relaxing lunch with our disabled son was met with warmth and friendliness when trying to seat him in his wheelchair. We shared the platter as a starter and it was superb. Great pate and fresh bread with many accoutrements...really wonderful and a great selection of wines. It is an occasional treat because of the pricing but well worth the money. Thank you for making us so very welcome.

Lovely venue with cottage but modern decor . Vaulted ceilings etc . Staff attentive and excellent . Menu good selection and food very tasty .

Visited to celebrate our sons 18th, menu was varied and something on there for all tastes. The children’s menu was fantastic if you have children, not a chicken nugget in sight and they even supplied small cutlery and crockery which was a lovely touch.

Have visited The Abbots Elm several times over the last 6 months both as a couple and with friends. No one expects a gushing welcome but a nice hello would be grateful this along with a warm friendly greating sets the evening of well, we got none!

I only live 5 miles away: can't believe I've never been here before! Will definitely be back. Scotch egg was amazing and the braised beef was so tender, it could have been eaten with a spoon. Friendly and helpful staff, too. My new 'go-to' place which I shall be reccomending to friends and family.

Food choice quality and presentation excellent as was service but portions small as I was still hungry after both main course and sweet so overall pricey for small portions

Lovely Friday evening at our local. Fabulous locally sourced food, friendly and non pretentious which is great and they really care about your culinary experience. I have written a review a long time ago but The Abbots Elm does continues to deliver.

Made very welcome hadn't booked but not busy. Food was very good lots of choice of you like fish but expensive. Not for a family unless money not a problem. Small portions.

Very friendly, also doggy friendly. Food was very good, service also very good. Easy for wheelchair users with ramps, and plenty of room in car park. Abbots Ripton is a pretty little village.

Nothing very good about this pub and prices are quite big and small portions. Drinks expensive average food .

Fantastic Sunday lunch. Lovely welcoming staff. Great bar and wonderful food extremely well cooked. Scallop starter to die for, pork belly divine and fish pie very tasty. Sticky toffee pudding wow, nut pie with malt ice cream amazing and best of all the seven cheese platter with fruit celery and crackers was fantastic.

We had a lovely long weekend stay here in March. The place is lovely, the owners and staff are so friendly and helpful, it’s dog friendly and the food was amazing! Nothing like a cooked breakfast to set your day up! I would highly recommend staying here and we will def be back.

This was our friends choice of place to eat and having been disappointed on so many occasions, this place was a pleasant surprise.

We were passing through this area and stumbled on The Abbot's Elm in this picturesque village. We had to eat early and get back on the road asap.

We visited this lovely pub restaurant with friends after hearing some good reports from others. The building is an awesome thatched pub with loads of exposed beams inside and a lovely bar area.

We went here for dinner. I had the scotch egg to start and it was lovely. For mains, I had a cheese burger. It was ok, but quite soggy to the extent I left about a third of it. The others in the party enjoyed their meals. The service was fine. Personally, I am not convinced about the concept of serving food on bits of wood - I may be wrong, but I just don’t feel that wood can be properly sanitised between uses. Perhaps I should research it...

I have to admit that I have been meaning to visit this country inn for sometime. Today we made it

This is a gorgeous restaurant in a beautiful little village.

Have been here countless times now & it still delivers on quality in terms of both fare & service. Recommend you book in advance.