The Farmers Arms, Lower Apperley in Tewkesbury

Great food, great pub, great atmosphere.

Pre-booked a table for 10 x people for my Mother's 70th birthday. We arrived and saw the sign saying 'Wait here to be seated'. So we did - and no one came. The barmaid leaned over the bar and when we told her we'd booked a table we were told, "Yeah, your table is up there"' and pointed. So no one showed us to our table - not a good start. Then we waited, and nobody brought us any menus, so we had to go and collect our own. This should've been a red flag, but we persisted. We waited about 20 minutes for the waitress to come and take our drinks order. The drinks came fairly quickly to be honest, but in all fairness there were about 3 other customers in the entire place so no great achievement. After the drinks arrived, there was another 15-20 minute for a waitress to come and take our food order. Again, the food arrived fairly quickly (I can only assume the kitchen staff work quicker than the waiting staff). The food..... We had 9 x starters and 10 x mains, none of our party was happy with any of their meals. Portion size was fine but totally lacking in flavour. Just bland bland bland. I ordered the Dirty Burger which was completely tasteless. Not even Jalapenos could elevate it. Asian "curry" was very watery and more like a broth. We then waited for about 20-25 minutes on a table of dirty plates waiting to be collected. Just to reiterate, there were about 3 other customers in the pub so they weren't just busy and/or under-staffed. Every time we went to the toilet, the waiting staff were just milling around chatting. We were still quite hungry after a mediocre meal so fancied dessert. Another 10-15 minutes waiting for the dessert menu, then 15 minutes to knock up 2 x ice cream sundaes (these were the best meals all night). When we asked for the bill (which was the quickest thing to arrive all night, surprise surprise) we saw that we'd been charged a 10% service charge. None of us were happy to pay this, so we told the staff as much who took it off but didn't apologise or care to ask what the problem was. A real shame as this was a meal we were all looking forward to for a special occasion. The building interior and decoration is really nice and warming, but food and service ruined the night for us. *****UPDATE**** Please read below the quite frankly astonishing reply from the establishment. Apparently the fact that we didn't refuse to pay for £300 of food & drinks makes us the bad people and that we are "hiding behind our computer". If whoever replied to my review actually took the time to read and digest it, they will see that we did raise it as an issue hence why we refused to pay the service charge. Nobody actually acknowledged my comments, apologised or offered any additional compensation. Please get your own house in order before laying the blame elsewhere. We're not in the habit of eating food then refusing to pay for it, despite how bad the service is. If you'd prefer that to an honest review then I'd encourage future patrons to fill their boots and save themselves a few quid.

We used to be regulars to the farmers Arms and return from time to time since moving out of the area and we always enjoy the superb Sunday roast.... occasionally il have dirty fries and a pint if I'm passing on the way through. Staff are always friendly and give us a good table and the owners are always chatty and pleasant to greet. Very pleased with food portions and quality and the menu is easy to navigate..(there's nothing more off putting than a huge menu) Advised to save room for desert!

Stopped for a drink, very cosy, armchairs around a lovely fire

We have tried a lot places for a Sunday roast in Gloucestershire but the farmers is our absolute go to. Everything is always the highest standard and the staff are all so lovely! Saving room for the incredible home made puddings is absolutely essential!

Pre-booked a table for 10 x people for my Mother's 70th birthday. We arrived and saw the sign saying 'Wait here to be seated'. So we did - and no one came. The barmaid leaned over the bar and when we told her we'd booked a table we were told, "Yeah, your table is up there"' and pointed. So no one showed us to our table - not a good start. Then we waited, and nobody brought us any menus, so we had to go and collect our own. This should've been a red flag, but we persisted. We waited about 20 minutes for the waitress to come and take our drinks order. The drinks came fairly quickly to be honest, but in all fairness there were about 3 other customers in the entire place so no great achievement. After the drinks arrived, there was another 15-20 minute for a waitress to come and take our food order. Again, the food arrived fairly quickly (I can only assume the kitchen staff work quicker than the waiting staff). The food..... We had 9 x starters and 10 x mains, none of our party was happy with any of their meals. Portion size was fine but totally lacking in flavour. Just bland bland bland. I ordered the Dirty Burger which was completely tasteless. Not even Jalapenos could elevate it. Asian "curry" was very watery and more like a broth. We then waited for about 20-25 minutes on a table of dirty plates waiting to be collected. Just to reiterate, there were about 3 other customers in the pub so they weren't just busy and/or under-staffed. Every time we went to the toilet, the waiting staff were just milling around chatting. We were still quite hungry after a mediocre meal so fancied dessert. Another 10-15 minutes waiting for the dessert menu, then 15 minutes to knock up 2 x ice cream sundaes (these were the best meals all night). When we asked for the bill (which was the quickest thing to arrive all night, surprise surprise) we saw that we'd been charged a 10% service charge. None of us were happy to pay this, so we told the staff as much who took it off but didn't apologise or care to ask what the problem was. A real shame as this was a meal we were all looking forward to for a special occasion. The building interior and decoration is really nice and warming, but food and service ruined the night for us.

Could not fault our experience going for Sunday lunch this afternoon! 8 adults and 3 children under 3. Food was brilliant. Atmosphere was homely. The staff were so child friendly and could not do enough for them, supplying toys, and children's cutlery. Honestly rare we find somewhere so 5/5 all round. Thank you all!! We will be back

We gathered at The Farmer’s Arms on a Wednesday night, drawn in by their highly praised midweek menu offer. With family, friends, and a great deal on food, it seemed like the perfect recipe for a fun evening. Little did we know, the real test would be our patience as we navigated service slower than a sloth on a Sunday stroll. Let me start with the good news: the food, when it finally arrived, was excellent. The steak? Phenomenal. Perfectly cooked, tender, and bursting with flavor. It’s the kind of steak you dream about, the kind that makes you momentarily forget just how long you waited for it. I would’ve happily ordered another, but given the speed of service, we’d have probably had to camp out overnight. As for the service itself, “glacial” might be a generous description. Despite there being plenty of staff on duty, it felt like we had accidentally stumbled into a slow-motion movie. Drinks took so long to arrive, we debated whether they were being imported from a vineyard overseas. Ordering was an exercise in perseverance, and by the time our mains showed up, we were practically making small talk with the tablecloth to pass the time. It wasn’t all bad—the staff were friendly enough, just seemingly operating in a time zone entirely different from ours. Trying to get their attention required Olympic-level skills in waving and subtle hand signals, though eventually, we just accepted our fate and settled in for the long haul. But back to the steak. It was that good—rich, juicy, and cooked to perfection. If you can endure the wait, it’s a meal worth coming back for. Just make sure to clear your schedule for the evening. Would we return? Yes, for the steak alone! But next time, we’ll pack board games, or maybe plan a leisurely day trip around it, because at The Farmer’s Arms, patience really is a virtue!

Small portion for a Sunday roast, Meat was bit too chewy and the cauliflower cheese was that hard that broke my husband tooth. The staff members very attentive.

Dreadful - one of the waitresses knew what she was doing - the other one was useless. Young lad who was suppose to work in kitchen came in and out and the chef could just be heard coughing and spluttering from the kitchen

We had a very lovely meal tonight in this very cosy pub. The beer was good too. The staff were also lovely.

Great place stop off here monthly

Excellent meal and service , thank you very much. We will be back

Arranged to meet a friend here for a light lunch and a drink. We had never been before but chose it as a halfway point. Upon arriving the place was virtually empty, so I was somewhat surprised to be asked if we had a reservation. As we didn't, we were asked to wait while they checked. We were prepared to go elsewhere but a table was found for us. As it happened, we ended up sitting outside as the weather was glorious. Having ordered drinks we moved outside to look at what was a fairly basic, standard menu. I was beginning to wish we went elsewhere. I ordered a Ceasar Salad, my husband had Hunter's Chicken and my friend, the Homemade Burger. Well, what a surprise! Never judge a book by its cover. My Ceasar Salad was the best I had ever had. It was quite clearly made from top quality, fresh, home made ingredients. Both other dishes were equally as good. We were lucky to be accommodated as the whole place quickly filled up and was very busy. A clear sign of its popularity. We will be back aga8n soon and can't wait to try all the dishes on the menu although I suspect I will be having the Caesar Salad again.

We visited this lovely welcoming country pub for Sunday Lunch, with a group of friends. The food was perfectly cooked and presented. The staff were very welcoming, friendly and attentive throughout our visit. There was a good choice of options available including a trio of meats with all of the usual trimmings. The Rasberry Pavlova was fabulous too. We have visited this pub many times as a couple or with friends and have always experienced the same level of service and quality of food.

This is our 3rd trip to the restaurant & always find the food excellent. We had the 2 course lunch which was great value. The staff are always friendly & efficient. Would definitely recommend

Have visited The Farmers Arms several times now, and each time have had an excellent experience. We have found the bar and waiting staff to be very friendly and helpful. We have had both Sunday lunches and evening meals, and the food has always been beautifully cooked and presented. It’s a lovely country pub with excellent food and drink, what’s not to like?

Compelled to post following surprising recent negative reviews. My husband and I eat here regularly and have received excellent service from all staff without exception. Food is always served quickly and consistently perfect quality - otherwise we simply wouldn’t come back! We have eaten just the two of us but also brought larger groups of friends. The Sunday lunch is a favourite, but book ahead as it gets busy. I highly recommend.

Good food with gluten free available

Thoroughly enjoyable time, good company and welcoming staff. The binGammon steak is the one of the best gammon I’ve had hands down, and I am partial to a gammon. Definitely recommend.

Had a wonderful meal at this lovely pub...Highly recommend the halloumi vegetarian burger and steaks and the chips were to die for... Also the pavlova, with meringues baked fresh this morning, was superb. The price tag was very reasonable too...

Had a wonderful evening. Delicious food and great atmosphere. Looking forward to coming again soon! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Large accessible car park. Fair sized outdoor seating/eating area with large play area, goal posts, hamper of assorted toys etc for kids. Staff very friendly and efficient with reasonably priced tasty food. Good value for money and a great place for families to stop off at Recommended

Delicious food and great service. Beautiful view over the hills. Surprising menu.

Lovely old pub the staff are very attentive even though it was busy

A very warm welcome over the phone consultation and in person. Manageress is very friendly and helpful. Food was freshly served. Beers and wine were excellent. Will definitely visit again.

Had delicious Sunday roast with friends. Nice atmosphere, lovely food, attentive waitresses. Well done.!!

What a fantastic pub. Food was fantastic, the sharing camembert starter was super tasty! 🤤 My favourite of the meal. Prices were super reasonable especially for the quality of the food. Also loved the homemade brown sauce with the gammon.

Very friendly service and excellent food & very comfortable seating in or outside with good views

Perfect...definitely going back

Called in for lunch. Food was good but the landlady needs lessons in customer care.

Lovely olde wolde pub and food good. The only minus for me is that the twice I've been it's been very cold in there. Although woodburners insitue not lit, doesnt cost much for a couple of logs. Won't be going again Unless warmer weather.

We enjoyed our visit to the Farmers Arms. With the sun shining, we sat outside and took in the wonderful view. The staff were friendly and the food delicious and reasonably priced.

We just enjoyed the cottage but it was so comfortable and like a cozy little nest that we will surely come back!

Visited this lovely country pub many years ago when it was very popular, it had good management, the food was excellent... then that management left and new managers arrived, was very disappointed, cheerless staff and food average... now roll on to 2024... after some friends had visited and commented positively, visited lunchtime today and was not disappointed, the pub has been refreshed, with new decor and furniture.... the menu was traditional to suit most tastes, the food was reasonably priced and well presented... the bar... its Wadworths....recommended!

Lovely way to spend a Sunday Lunchtime!

Visited for Sunday Lunch with friends, warm friendly atmosphere,excellent food ,service, and value for money , would highly recommend

Lovely pub. So glad landlady put up a sign at the traffic lights a mile away. Never knew pub was there till then. Great atmosphere, warm, friendly and comfy. Will be returning

Eaten here twice recently with family and friends. Both occasions great food and friendly professional service. Totally recommended.

Stopped on spec on way back from Cheltenham races. Nice traditional family run pub with comfy chairs around log fire in the pub side and roomy dining area too. Busy enough for a Tuesday night. Enjoyed well cooked steak meal. Warm welcome. Look forward to stopping off again.

We often drive by the Farmers Arms saying we ought to go in and we are so glad we did tonight. Beautiful country pub/restaurant, lovely atmosphere, food was amazing and the service exceptionally good. Thank you all, we will be back!

Went to the farmers arms and started over in our campervan overnight. Very welcoming and friendly owners and staff. Had a great meal on the Saturday night, it was that nice we booked for the Sunday lunch. Which was truly delightful, would thoroughly recommend, we will be back soon. Thanks again to the Farmers Arms Lower Appleley.

Just had a meal at The Farmers Arms pub, very good quality food and the service couldn't do enough for us most meals tonight are £9.99. And dog friendly.

Great food, very friendly staff, lovely atmosphere

Called into today the first tome we have been back in about 20 years. It has certainly changed and for the better. Had a fantastic 2 course lunch and drinks with the wife. The food was first class. The owners made us really welcome. Will definitely be calling back

Whilst my wife's ham egg and chips was adequate my steak and ale pie had neither. I left it. 75 quid for average food. Incidentally, definitely this farmers arms!

Lovely food, efficiently served and helpful, friendly staff. The linguine and winter berry pavlova would be our top recommendations!

Excellent meal for a work Christmas Party of 12 people. All the food food was delicious and served hot and in a timely manner. Great service and a great atmosphere. Thank you for a great night.

Food and service was very very good especially from Jill who made us laugh / feel very comfortable. Only downside was the owner walking round with a glass of wine which I found quite unprofessional. Overall good though

Loved it had Sunday lunch with 8 friends service good and food good and staff really helpful

An outstanding restaurant with brilliant food and a lovely atmosphere! The perfect country pub! Highly recommend!

Warm welome, fantastic food and a cozy open fire to warm yourself by. What more could anyone want? Well, the possibility of parking overnight in your camper :-)

Amazing place, fabulous atmosphere and absolutely incredible food!

We ate here for the first time having had a bad experience under the last management. We were glad we did as the menu was exciting for a country pub lots of imaginative dishes and reasonable prices . We had the starters rather than a pudding and they were all very tasty, and all freshly prepared. The mains quickly followed and again you could see they were all freshly prepared. The linguini was plentiful and loaded with chicken and chorizo a generous helping and very tasty. Two of us went for the special loin of pork which came with veg, the cabbage was delightful lightly fried and totally delicious. The new potatoes were in a very nice creamy sauce but did taste a bit reheated rather than freshly cooked but overall the dish was nicely presented and enjoyable. It only lost one star because of the potatoes but that could just be an off day or me being over fussy about the taste of potatoes.

This place was really good today. Food service and comfort couldn't complain excellent

Really nice pub. Nice seating area outside. Food was nice and reasonably priced. Staff were friendly

Lovely place will definitely be back.

This is a Beautiful little pub, old and cozy we went for Sunday Roast my wife had the beef and I went for their steak and blue cheese pie but with all the Sunday Roast trimmings it was lovely hence the 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 rating will be going back again.

Fantastic food! And waitresses were lovely aswell.

Lovely country pub with great food

Great location, dog friendly lovely pub.

Friendly staff. Catered for special dietary needs and made adjustments without any hassle. It was great having lunch, taking in the beautiful views of the countryside and enjoying the fresh air. I would certainly recommend this place and won't hesitate to eat here again on my next visit to the UK.

Fantastic burger, delicious home baked ham. A comfortable traditional country pub. Not pretentious, just good quality food and lovely atmosphere.

Had a lovely meal and warm welcome, whilst staying nearby. The staff were fantastic and the food very nice and great value. Thanks

What a fantastic country pub, can't fault it. A good menu, selection of real ale, the usual fizzy stuff, friendly owners, happy bar staff, what more do you need. Level car park with one EHU for campervan stop-overs

Superb 'country pub' has a really good menu, two real ales, comfortable seating, warm welcome, friendly staff, family owned, can't fault it. Stop-over for Campervans, there's room in the carpark for 3 with 1 EHU

Me and boyfriend are locals and always have delicious food at a very reasonable price! What a great pub, well done Giles and Kristy and the team!

This is a lovely place to go to. Gorgeous and delicious Sunday lunch. Staff are excellent and nothing is too much trouble.

I am going to keep going back until they get something wrong😂 Excellent food✔️ Excellent surface✔️ Excellent atmosphere ✔️ Thank you again for my perfect Sunday lunch.

Limited menu and food was basic,waitresses were polite,no acknowledgment from owner,”locals “ sitting at bar were rude and obnoxious,I won’t return

Super friendly staff and great value

This place is in a nice location and is well laid out. We went in and ordered the burger bun and chips and at £14.50 had high expectations. What turned up looked more like a children’s meal. The burger bun was about the smallest I have seen and the chips came in a very small bowl you would expect mushy peas to be in. Not what we were expecting for the price. Unless you are on a diet I would give it a miss. On the way out I noticed a sign that said on Mondays and Tuesdays any burger £5 that put the cap on it.

First time going to The Farmers Arms but definitely won't be the last. The food was really tasty, service was excellent but the Baileys Cheesecake was the best damn Cheesecake I've ever tasted in my 48 yrs and the surprise in the crump made it more special. Definitely worth a visit.

We stayed at the little air BnB cottage on the pub grounds. What a delightful place, the original old brew house, apparently. Plenty of room, nice interesting accommodation. Comfy furniture, which is so hard to come by in any accommodation these days, lots of hot water, brilliant! Spent the evening in the pub, including a very good meal, and not only that, it's dog friendly all round. Lovely, lovely people. Nothing was too much trouble and very reasonably priced. Can't recommend this place enough. We will be returning again for a few nights this year.

A recommendation...sadly didn't live up to our expectations. No Lime cordial A small dog allowed to walk on tables & peed on the floor, a cat walking around the restaurant between the tables. It seemed to be run by teenagers who didn't keep their conversations to themselves, I prefer not to listen to staff conversations whilst eating. Food however was excellent, good value for money & plentiful.

Fabulous food, lovely friendly staff. Few beers on tap and dog friendly too. Great pub.

If you want all the above this is the best

Came in for Sunday Lunch and even though they were mega busy, we were seated and they went out of their way for us. Will be back. 10/10 and thank you.

Great place great food welcoming atmosphere too nice little toy box for the kids outside 😀

Super Yummy. Nice Vibes. Good for Family Dining. The food is really good. It is also in a very beautiful location. I recommend eating here and then maybe going for a walk to enjoy the scenery!

Lovely place, so accommodating, and fabulous food

Stopped here while on holiday in the area. We were late for lunch time service, but asked if they had any sandwiches. The landlord asked if would we like hot food instead, if he asked the kitchen. We said yes, and he arranged a table for the two of us. Then he made sure the seat backs were the padded type, as I'd told him my back was bad. Then the food came and that was delicious. The Waitress was attentive throughout. Well done, Farmers Arms and its staff.

Worst meal I've had in a long time and I just spent the last six weeks in Australia😆 Not quite sure how you can mess up ham egg and chips, truly abysmal.🤢

Burger Night, A Fiver……! What’s not to like. Every Mon & Weds They have burger night from 6pm til 9pm and I’ve had the single, the double and the Triple stacker - Mega! Chips and a burger for £5, Amazing They are dog friendly too which is great if you don’t finish it all 🤣🤣

Came across this pub through our 10 mile walk, stopping along the way at each pub we came too. We arrived a little after 3pm when the kitchen was closing but the landlord, or I believe is, kindly allowed us to eat. Buttered chicken and chips - Ham, egg and chips. Honestly, the gentleman was awesomely kind to us and we are very grateful for the service. The food was fantastic. Thank you Farmers Arms.

Great little country pub, not tried the food yet though

Opened the bar early to serve us drinks as we had been traveling and provided a bowl of water for the dogs. Drinks prices very reasonable and the garden has a great view over the fields and horizon

Good beer, lovely food and helpful staff, what more do you want.

Lovely friendly traditional pub with a great atmosphere. Well kept beer, although a tad on the pricey side. Standard pub fare

It was ok, not too friendly and prices were on the high side

Lovely pub! Sunday lunch was superb, we absolutely will be back. Pub is also dog friendly but there is a pub cat so we left our dogs in the car after our walk. Staff are always really polite and accommodating too. 5*

We booked for Sunday lunch and what a delightful one it was! The food was presented so well and the portion size was absolutely perfect (none of that oversized, fall off your plate). The pork was beautifully tender and the roasties, swede, carrots and cabbage were outstanding complimented by the delicious gravy (with extra on the side). The berry pavlova was a real treat to end the meal with a really good espresso. Well done to the staff for being attentive and really friendly. Thank you for a really great experience from walk in to walk out.

Wonderful place first visit dropped in y chance service and treatment by staff was superb. The food was excellent both quality fresh and tasty and value, keepup the good work.

Out of 7 of us eating in the evening, 3 meals were not cooked enough, chips gammon and fish were barely cooked. The choice of food was limited supply and we felt rushed out. As soon as an empty glass on table it was removed. We left by 10 pm and as a family group we usually stay til 10.30/11 pm

Only came here for drinks as an arranged evening with a local dog running club but a lot of us had to try the loaded fries! Absolutely delicious! The staff were incredibly friendly. Couldn't have done more for us. Felt very welcome from the second I walked in. Pub has been done out to a high standard and the seat covers are gorgeous. Warm open fires make for a very inviting feeling. Would highly recommend and already looking to book our next event here! Lovely coffee too ☕️ very dog friendly! (Even the cat 😅)

Food arrived quickly and was lovely. We had xmas three course meal in January. Helpful waitress and bar staff. Will return

Very nice staff Food tasty but could have been hotter

Great food and served by nice people. Think it’s a family run place as it has that vibe. We booked in advance and asked if we could stay overnight in the car park in our van. They said yes and we were pleasantly surprised by a level and large parking space with a pretty decent view!

Very friendly staff. A nice rustic restaurant with regional dishes but also a selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Great for me!!!!

My first time for a lovely Sunday roast and it won't be my last a good meal and friendly service