The Goose and Cuckoo Inn in Monmouthshire

Great welcome and great atmosphere. A lovely old fashioned pub which now serves hearty food I tried faggots with peas which came with chips. Good real ale and the bar staff are happy for you to try before you buy

My partner and I love old country pubs, after a day out walking we decided to visit the Goose and Cuckoo after a recommendation given by a local. We ordered drinks and food and sat down near a group of friends who I believe were two couples. One of the couples had a very cute, young baby and we got chatting to the sweet young mother and her friends. The baby, bless her, started to have a little whine and the mother attended to her immediately and was bouncing and hushing the baby. It wasn't a bother to us at all and we continued chatting away with them. But after a very short while, I saw the blonde bar lady go over to the mother and said quietly in her ear to her that if her baby starts crying that they have to leave. I could only imagine the pressure of trying to keep a 3 month old quiet in public, never mind being made to feel completely unwelcome in society because she has a child. Children and babies cry! If you don't want children in your bar then please make sure that it's written on a website or door before going in rather than making a new young mother potentially feel anxious, upset, unwelcomed and embarrassed. If it was an issue (which I doubt for all 5 or 6 other customers it was) then perhaps offer a back room so that she can settle the baby away from customers or ask how you could help calm the baby - maybe offer to heat up a bottle or anything? I hope, if the mother reads this doesn't mind me saying that she was clearly very upset, and upon telling her partner what the bar lady said he exchanged looks with me and we both said to each other how unbelievably rude. The mother seemed to be fighting back tears as she and her friends left, and honestly my heart hurt for her. How dare someone make a new mother feel unwelcomed in public like that. We should be supporting and lifting each other up instead of potentially making someone feel isolated and that they don't belong there. If I was in the mother's shoes I would be feeling so worried about my child crying in public again after that incident. You don't know what someone is going through, so always be kind at least. If it was such an issue having children in your pub, make it clear that it's an adult only pub before people deciding to make the journey rather tell a paying customer that they have to leave IF a baby cries. The mother was so polite and sweetly said to this rude bar lady that they will be finishing their drinks and leaving shortly. I felt so angry and shaken up for this girl as she left wiping tears and explained what had happened to my partner who felt equally as angry. There were no staff in the bar for a while after we quickly ate our food, otherwise my partner was ready to complain directly but we felt so enraged by what had happened we just wanted to get the hell out of there and not hang around/cause a scene in a deathly quiet pub. Shortly after the young family left, one of the other customers dogs started barking very loudly which, again, to me wasn't a problem. But the friendlier bar lady apologised to the dog owners because it was feeding time for their dogs and the noise of dogs barking set the customers dogs off. I appreciate that but I there clearly isn't any consistency with whatever rules they have on noise or how people are being treated. If noise was the issue then why wasn't the dog owners scowled at and asked to leave too if it carried on? (which I wouldn't want for those people of course but just to raise a point - what is the difference?) Just to note we brought our own dog to the pub so this isn't a child vs dog point to make. I just thought noise was noise? The pub is literally in the middle of nowhere, up long winding single lanes, the pub owners should feel lucky that people make the trip for a drinks and food at their place, rather than trying to kick people out at the most minor inconvenience to them. Bottom line - don't take children or babies to this pub because it's clearly an issue for them. Or just don't go at all. The other poor customer service reviews that I have now read are most definitely a reflection on the treatment that you get here. I can't comment on anything else because that incident ruined the experience.

A load of history with this pub and set in a beautiful location . We walked from Abergavenny so a fair hike and was looking forward to some food . The place felt a bit run down and unfortunately only a limited menu on a Tuesday although can’t see that mentioned on the website . The lady behind the bar was all in a fluster and service took a while . Food was ok but not a place I will rush back too

Booked ahead by phone for lunch on a Tuesday and met friends visiting the area. Were dismayed by the overflowing skip outside and the peeling paint. The welcome matched the exterior- the landlady couldn’t be bothered to look up from her crossword and it was left to the barman to attempt to be polite to us-the only customers. We sat in a sort of extension with a fabulous view seen through a filthy window. The walls are mouldy and decor drab. We were not offered menus so I went to the bar (still no other customers). The barman told me they don’t serve a full menu on Tuesdays. No mention of this was made when we booked. He showed us a menu of soups, sandwiches, baked potatoes and ploughman’s. But….only one portion of soup and some sandwiches were actually on offer and it felt as if that was too much trouble. Not sure why they were open. It was memorable but for all the wrong reasons and I suspect the good reviews (which puzzlingly seem to be on a separate listing on here)might be for another pub with the same name in the area.