The Forge in Basildon - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Have not tried the food yet had a pint of Fosters attentive friendly staff?

it's not a very welcoming pub if you are not a regular. You have a "locals" corner which you get dirty looks if you approach. It needs redecorating as I've seen more.modern day decor watching shows about the blitz. There is also a pound shop Paul Daniels in there who tried to impress with toddler level card tricks. This could be a good pub but there seems to be no motivation by the management to improve it

Joe the bartender was very Friendly and knowledgeable about the area

Went to Forge for lunch today,ordered two Roast Beevf lunches,we waited nearly an hour for what turned out to be a substandard meal .We received no apology or warning our meal would take.so long,will certainly not be returning again if at all!

More atmosphere in a chapel of rest 😴

Went to the forge pub billericay 8/3/24, 2 Elvis Presley tributes playing, a fantastic night really fantastic bar staff and manager very friendly and welcoming, will definitely be going again, enjoyed myself with customers that never knew me made me very welcome and I felt part of the local community. I live an hour away and was sad to leave at the end of the night 😞

My husband and I dropped in for an early evening drink and enjoyed a couple of hours in a friendly atmosphere. Bar staff are great. And a very welcome atmosphere here, great!. 👍 Thanks

The Landlord is a rude idiot! So is the chap who works there during the day. Shame! Because apart from them, nice pub.

Worst pub I’ve ever drunk in. Rude Manager, no one behind the bar and when they are they are on the mobile or laptop. I can’t see this place lasting! Sound on the sport is shocking may as well have subtitles but when they put their diabolical music on it’s loud as anything!! And the Barman cannot sing

Staff were lovely, unfortunately waiting 45 minutes for a pizza is a bit of a joke. Not the best food, typical pub grub but very very disappointed. Eaten here before and loved it but today let them down. Better of going to the co op next door if you want food, quicker and cheaper to do it that way and cook at home.

Brilliant welcoming atmosphere.

Lovely service and very friendly

Been coming here mainly for the pool for about a week now. I pay for each game and order drinks. Sometimes I pop in to see if there's anyone to play a game with before getting drinks. I had noticed some awkward glances from the bar but, yeah, I get it, I'm the only black person in the room. On this occasion, the owner came to me where I was seated by the pool table to tell me I was looking "suspicious" because i walked in without saying hello to anyone and I sat alone without getting any drink. I asked him what the suspicion was about. I tried to explain to him that I was there hoping to play a game of pool, then I would buy a drink. He said "this is not a pool club, its a business". I reminded him tgat the pool wasn't free either, besides, I buy drinks everytime too. Throughout the whole exchange, not one of the customers, some of whom I have played with and shaken hands with over a game of pool said a word, despite the interrogation being to everyone's hearing.... Says a lot. Now I know NEVER TO COME HERE AGAIN.

The manager and bar staff, especially Joe are amazing

Went to function hall, good standard.

Very friendly comfortable night out.great place to make new friends.

nice atmosphere friendly people good food kids ate all their dinners which dont happen very often

Thank you for an amazing service

Very friendly pub with great food 😋

Great service and food! Staff are always really helpful, and the food is surprisingly great. Really good venues for sport with family or friends

Went to a party upstairs in the hall, i found the stairs to be dangerous not much light on the stairwell, as it was curved

Excellent venue for a 60th party,our barmaid was fast,efficient and friendly. First class! Buffet more than adequate.

Best food live footy friendly staff cheap beer

Been coming here for years and always feel so welcome with the family. Live acts put on are really worth attending. Staff are super cool and it's great to support a community business with local friendly people.

Food was great as always .. recommend the fish n chips .. better than any chip shop .. fri special buy fish n chips and get 1 free 😋

Having read other reviews, we were concerned about taking our 92 year old Mum here for a birthday lunch, but we were warmly welcomed and helped with her wheel chair. We couldn't have asked for better service and the food was good too.

Best pub in the world .strongbow is exceptional

Just had a really lovely lunch here. Joe is so entertaining as well as attentive when serving. Food is very well presented. As someone who was shielding I felt very safe here.

Met some old work friends here that hadn't seen for 40 years. Good pub to meet and chat, quiet and good service. Food OK but beer a bit limited. Covid/Brexit/HGV drivers, take your pick.

Why bother doing food? There’s a distinct lack of interest in food in this pub, when you do get it, it’s extremely poor quality and the service is rude- non existent. White van mans paradise, appalling language at the bar, but the man (I assume the manager) didn’t seem to care about this and like all tired spit and sawdust pubs, everyone turns to look at you when you enter. Seriously unfriendly place. More set up for sport rather than somewhere to have a bite to eat. However unless you know the regulars the service (or lack of is extremely poor and nonchalant). This is a local pub. ONLY for local people!

Traditional little pub very much an aging clientele in the main part and tucked away in a shopping centre but the staff were fab and made a big fuss of my daughter which she enjoyed and the food was nice, well presented and good value for money.

Generally fantastic, Joe always brilliant

Went here with a friend and the service was extremely slow. When the good came it was hard like it had been reheated rather freshly cooked. Staff, manager I think was offhand.

Poor grub and lacking atmosphere.

I have been in this pub recently and I can understand how difficult it is for the staff with all these covid restrictions. Jurge and the bar staff are doing their best. The beer and the food are still great, prices have slightly gone up but you expect that, it's still very reasonable . Always friendly and welcoming towards me and the banter they have with their locals is fantastic. Never had an issue with food, I've seen a bad review on here recently but I have never had a problem. I think some people don't like following the restrictions and they lash out. We just need to deal with the cards we have been dealt get through this and by back to old times. I miss the old Sunday's when they had the bald guy Nicky I think his name is with his card tricks, football on the telly and the boys cheering the Liverpoo!. Businesses are struggling but give this place a chance get down and support your local for a few pints.

DO NOT GO IN THIS PUB! I have been in here several times now and every time a bad experience with food and rudeness and still persisted with them due to the coronavirus. I live above the pub that’s the only reason I’ve carried on going in here. So I went out for lunch with my little nephew and got told off several times for going out the wrong entrance and for being on a different table this was after we had complained about the chicken being raw.. which the staff member refused to refund or swap in which one of the people in the pub said something and then he changed. He then shouted at me and my little 4 year old nephew and made him cry he’s eyes out, then he didn’t say sorry and then I tried to leave and he pushed me because I was going out the wrong way, out of habit. Absolutely disgusting, this has not been one occasion they have been rude like this and they wonder why it’s never busy! Absolutely diabolical

Many bad experiences in this pub with food being undercooked and refusal to take it back or refund. Very aggressive towards my 4 year old for being on an empty table which wasn’t reserved and my 4 year old cried hes eyes out when the manager kept having ago at him and then said he didn’t care

I have been in quite frequently since reopening after lockdown. I’ve only seen two member of staff. A man in his twenties with a beard and the manager. It’s seems in spite of the difficulties they have been working tirelessly to keep the pub open and don’t seem to have a day off as it’s always them. They are always extremely friendly and welcoming. They do a good job at adhering to the guidelines and the service is brilliant. Even better, i think. the barman recently shaved his head for the little princess trust and it just adds for me the feeling of caring for the community that these two have. Can’t praise them enough, well done guys!!!

Had to wait long time food very basic did not join the government scheme 😠

Decent food, decent price, decent service

Always have lazy Sunday meals here, nice atmosphere

. Decided to visit with friends to relive our youth (as this was our second home back then lol). Hasn't changed much in decor. Staff were nice. We ordered food which was a good price and were impressed with the size of portions and quality of food.

Lovely food , friendly and hard working staff!

Good food and good selection of drinks

Popped in for a drink, quiet on a Monday when there's no football, but a good place to go for a drink and a chat with friends.

Had a lunch-stop at the Forge whilst waiting for my daughter. Ordered a jacket potatoe. After 30 minutes my food had not arrived. When I queried this I was told that there would be a further wait as there was one person in the kitchen, they had to deal with a delivery, and there were 2 tables in front of me. I had been expecting an apology and offer of a refund but what I got was an argumentative staff member wh seemed to think the issue was about blaming somebody. They obviously had no idea of how to respond to customers appropriately in such a situation. I picked up my refund and left feeling very disgruntled and very hungry.

We had the misfortune to visit this ghetto on Friday early evening and- horror of horrors- we had our small dog with us! Quick as a flash, the pre-pubescent barman was all over us like a cheap suit. “Sorry but we don’t allow dogs” on asking why we were told it was because food was served in the establishment. I explained to this pub ambassador that we visit many pubs in the area that serve food and we were welcome in all of them. He decided to claim the 5th amendment and said it was the manager’s rule, but that he wasn’t around. Obviously not at Crufts! I find it bizarre that a slum like this can’t accommodate a small, well behaved dog, particularly as it looks and smell s like a kennel. We shall not return.

Fantastic. You can drink more than ten brands of draft beer and several long neck beers. There is a pool table and several snacks. Excellent decoration

Excellent value pub grub in a modern local pub environment. The sport on TV was not overpowering and service was friendly and good.

Love this place! Tom and his team work tirelessly in making every visit as enjoyable as they can. Food is sooooo good! Its a lovely family pub with good ambience, lovely service, helpful and committed to the customer.

It’s a bear pit. Lots of agression from the boys that didn’t do well at school and now happy to drive a white van. Food awful, beers rank, decor worse. Shame this place is in the nice friendly town of Billericay.

Often go on an afternoon for lunch, great value, not too noisy, can have a good catch up with friends while eating nice food, outside seating area, where you can smoke, free parking

Friendly staff, very slow service and food very disappointing, it was very greasy.

We’ve been in a number of times having found this place at the start of the month and it has a really great atmosphere. A real local feel to it which is perfect if you ask me. The drinks are extremely cheap, as is the food which for “pub grub” I think has a vast selection to choose from. The service has always been fantastic and I’m always greeted by either the barman (Joe) or the manager (Jorge) with a smile and feel welcomed. They are usually fast off the bat too. My only issue is that they are always on. I mean it’s not a big issue for me because they are brilliant and I’d be happy to always be served by them but I’ve been 5 times this month and only once has there been another member of staff on. Whether this is due to illnesses or just lazy staff I don’t know but perhaps it’s just per chance that I come in on their hours. I hope it stays that way if it is that. I just question, as capable as they are, why is it just the two of you on a busy night? Anyway, overall the service here is brilliant. Great selections of food and drinks which are really cheap and service with a smile.

Toilets smell while eating and quite run down now, food good but won't eat there again.

I visited with my wife and child one evening. There was no one behind the bar considering the pub was very busy. The barmaid was taking food orders out and didn’t have a chance to serve any drinks.

Ordered food for my son chicken nuggets got delivered chicken pieces not in breadcrumbs so not as ordered also heard customers saying racist comments whilst football being played

Good value and service plays the football and has seating food suitable for families

Very reasonably priced food and drinks. Good for sport too.

Nice local pub with good food which is excellent value for money...kids menu also good.. Have an early drink in there a few nights a week and staff are friendly and helpful.

Wife presently visits Wednesday for keep fit. Will review food as booked in for Xmas dinner

I eat the most amazing 10 once rib eye steak, tender and cooked to perfection . The staff very friendly and the pub very clean. I certainly will go again .

Yurg serves a great sausage with katofasalat!

Decent pub food, fast and delightful service, very reasonably priced! 2 Thumbs up!!

Fantastic venue and function room.

I live very close to the Forge so it is my "go to" place if I just want a quick drink. However, I regularly eat here with friends and the food is always excellent and reasonably priced. The bar staff are very friendly and attentive. I was here on Friday with friends one of whom had never been before despite living on Billericay for most of her life. She thought it was lovely. It is family although not dog friendly. The only minus is it can get very "lively" at night at weekends maybe more so than people my age may like. Overall it is well worth a visit if you don't fancy the overpriced and even noisier alternatives in the High Street. Their steak and ale pie is one of the best I have tasted and my friends wife loves the curry. So g8ve it a go.

Decent place good cheap food good size portions

Good pub grub, friendly helpful staff

Excellent local pub with great service!!

Good pub food, pool table, darts and digital juke box. Very busy when football is on. Descent atmosphere.

Don't bother! Two cokes, couldn't pay by card, had to find a cash machine, staff with face's like smacked arses!

Nothing particularly wrong and the staff were really nice, but not my kind of place and the beer was limited.

Great friendly atmosphere, good food, helpful friendly staff

Staff friendly and welcoming, manager not so much. Felt as if I was unwanted when entering as being scowled at on multiple occasions. I am not a regular and only visited to watch a recent game. Would be a great local pub to watch the football on if that was not the case. Drinks average price and so is food. Chef does not know how to cook a steak, came extremely well done and chewy and I like/ asked for it rare to blue. Not only this but have visited previously for a friend's birthday that was in the function room above the pub. Music was shocking, the DJ was terrible and rude could not entertain the guests, most ended up leaving or standing outside. The room was far too hot and the bar staff was rude. Terrible atmosphere and a birthday very much ruined, the host was mortified.

Friendly family pub good food and good staff.

Good atmosphere, good food, good staff

Good atmosphere and attentive staff. Quirky decor and good pool table.

Visited in the day - lovely atmosphere. Friendly staff

Visited with friends, I do eat regularly in this pub, price are reasonable, quality of food is reasonable for the price, waiting time for food is terrible in this place, this pub definitely need to improve customer service and to employ couple of more people to serve food etc..., if you are in a rush for your food don’t bother

Went with my partner and son. Large open area inside with lots of light. Friendly helpful staff. We all enjoyed our meals and will definately be back.

Conocí a algunos amigos para una comida informal de pub. Este pub es muy amable y hace buena comida de pub. Puedes pedir tu comida en el bar. Buen servicio. Muy cómoda experiencia culinaria y el lunes por la noche bastante tranquila, muy bueno para ponerse al día con los amigos una taza!

Great value food and friendly staff

Nice food great value for money

It's not a bad old watering hole

Reservé la habitación en función de mis hijas de bautizo, el director fue muy amable y el precio muy razonable! Un montón de comida en el buffet abundante mis invitados se quedaron muy impresionados!Me gusto para mí, ya que reservamos la habitación la noche antes de hacer un gran trabajo de la habitación!Recomiendo esta sala para eventos que tenía sus propias instalaciones de bar y aseos.El único problema es acceso mediante escaleras sólo ligeramente restrictiva y no cambiar, pero funcionaba de bebé alrededor de eso y por el precio y el servicio que recibimos que no había razón para quejarse!

As pubs go this has a nice atmosphere. Worth a visit if you live in the area or are visiting friends and/family in the area.

Aparecimos para nuestra primera visita, en una soleada tarde de jueves, recibidos por el personal del bar.Teníamos entrantes, un plato principal y postre.La comida era deliciosa, bien de precio y se sirve caliente.El joven que tomó en el bar de la señorita fue muy amable, nos preguntó si teníamos una buena comida, y postres sugirió.También recibimos una despedida inolvidable. Sin duda lo recomiendo y volveré.

Cuando nos recibió el encargado a nuestra llegada, nos ignoraron y en realidad fueron como si nos miraban mal cuando pasabas a no debería haber estado allí. Esto podría explicar por qué Mis 3 amigos y yo éramos los únicos en el lugar. La camarera era luminoso y agradable, pero la cerveza - mediocre. Teníamos una bebida y a la izquierda. No volveré. Mi consejo? Apuesta de ella.

A small Greene King pub which serves reasonable food.

Visited this pub for the first time in years, and were 'greeted' by a group of aggressive unfriendly guys near the bar, after literally 4/5 mins, one of which said he worked for or owned the pub, that told us, and I quote " The TV isn't for free, buy drinks or P** off home", with a rallying cry from his chums to kick us out, and a load more expletives. The reason we hadn't bought drinks yet, was because we literally just missed the opening goal and waited for the replay. To which we were then going to get some drinks, if given a second to breathe.

Horrible food menu change waitress stuff change potato undercook rude waitress charge us for undercooked hard potatoes extremely rude stuff with an attitude reply extremely unqualified , zero hospitality unfriendly no smile not eat here again that's a worming!!!

Great menu with great deals for everyone.

Loud football on the TV, 90% of customers are male. Very cheap, but quite tasty food. Not so great for families.

Included this pub in our pub crawl of Billericay. Top staff behind the bar great vibe and tasty food. We all had burgers and chicken strips and all good. They do a Sunday roast and will be trying that out soon.

Enjoyed the meal, although I didn't get the dessert because I couldn't wait any longer. Really good value, but don't be in a hurry.

Went on a sunday evening and unfortunately the roasts were finished but the fish and chips was very good, Very varied menu and the food was served very quickly.

En primer lugar, me gustaría felicitar al Forge diciendo lo estupenda y amable que hacia sus clientes. A menudo he fuimos a la Forge para algunos grub y tengo que decir que la comida siempre ha sido fantástica, junto con servicios de IT. La última...

Otra noche en la Forge. Me alegra ver que tienen deporte BT así como sky, así que pudimos ver las poderosas formaciones en acción de Euro. Buen ambiente agradable personal del bar y sabrosa hamburguesa. Perfick.

We waited 50 minutes for our meal when it arrived it was cold,all was sent back but the chips came back cold and they put the burgers including the buns in the microwave to heat, which ment the fat from the burger and the cheese went to the bottom bun which was soggy, and un enjoyable and some in the party said un eatable.felt for the young lady serving at the bar because she was the only one serving and taking the meals to the table,hence possibly why meals were cold. Standard not good.when you pay nearly £50 you expect something better.

Really nice pub great meal , great price .The only set back was the access for wheelchairs had to have help getting in and out because of step .