The Grove Lock, Leighton Buzzard in Aylesbury Vale

i am only rating this one star because i can’t rate it none. we have been coming to this pub for years now but never ordering a meal, only a drink or chips. we finally decided to order a meal. after we arrived it took 1 hour for only half of the groups orders to arrive. we ordered burger and chips, the burger was cold and the meat was mid. the chips were okay but not good enough for a hour wait. we understand that it was busy but we have seen other people getting there orders first and ordering more before getting ours. we don’t know if we will be returning. disappointed is the only way i can decide this visit

So went there today had a pint of Guinness and small box of chilli peanuts which were sweet chilli, with best before date runs out tomorrow. £9.00, peanuts were rotten and Guinness gave me heartburn and the shits. Never go there again. Use to be a nice place.

I always have a lovely time when I cycle to this pub. Highly recommended

Popped in with the family for lunch on my birthday. We had a very mixed experience. The staff are nice and friendly but the food is definitely hit and miss. Garlic prawns and burgers both good, fish and chips… fish was overcooked and dry but chips were hot and delicious… the sandwich menu was really limited and we ended up having the focaccia with rocket and slow roasted tomatoes thinking we could at least dunk it in the prawns. Sadly no focaccia but really dry bread with a few pieces of chewy sundried tomato, a bit of mayo and some rocket. A really odd sandwich which felt like it was missing something!

Poor service , sat at the table for over 30 mins and didn’t even bother asking for a drinks order - walked out

Been here in the past and had a better experience but the latest visit was poor. Took 30-45 minutes from when we were seated to someone taking a drinks order. Food order took ages and when it came we were met with half portions of cold and dry food. No gravy either, that we had to ask for. The environment is lovely and the pub decor is really nice, but the service and food let it down.

Went for lunch to use vouchers we were given for Christmas. They won't let you set up a tab and therefore had to pay for first round of drinks as vouchers can only be used in a single transaction and no change will be given. Consequently, the cost of main course was less than the value of the vouchers so had to add a dessert which did not really want (or lose some of the voucher value as no change will be given). Then for the second round of drinks had to pay as all the voucher value was by then used. Food expensive. One supposedly medium-rare steak was more like medium-well done and the coconut rice pudding had little torched mango and very little caramelised coconut or almond & peanut clusters. A beautiful spot and the pub decor and location are lovely but those are the only good points.

Amazing place to eat!! Worth a visit.

Amazing, if you travel past it’s definitely worth a visit. i’d recommend the korean chicken wings and chips

The haddock & chips were excellent! The lasagne was 'old' & rubbery. The child's pizza was too loose.

Massive improvement here, came years ag it was awful, but now very nice indeed. Book and go, you won't regret.

Great food at reasonable prices. Lovely pub atmosphere. Sadly there only appeared to be one person serving while we were there so things seemed a little slow at times. We were waiting a touch longer than we might expect to be brought the bill, and then to actually pay. We had to ask on both occasions after waiting too long

A very nice and cosy place, good for a night out.

Staff always very friendly , great food and menu and very efficient service

Had a lovely New Year’s Day meal with Nanna and the kids. Fish and chips were perfect, my son loved the bbq chicken and the pork belly looked great - am told it tasted great too. I liked that the kids menu offered a couple more creative / non standard options, the servers were attentive and kind, happily dealing with our requests to have some items adjusted or placed ‘on the side’ - the kids had a blast watching the locks activity and barges come and go. Nice atmosphere - everything I needed it to be today!

This pub is right on the canal, rustic inside has a large outdoor area to sit.. The food let it down for me.

Great pub, lovely location and friendly staff. Food is good and reasonably priced for the standard

Good service thanks to Elaine and a nice roast dinner. The desserts are hugely overpriced and microscopic.

Went with friend other day ,as it's Christmas, thought a "mulled wine" would be nice.....it was nice as expected but the price was ridiculous 9 quid a glass!! Xmas,a time for giving, my st certainly not in this pub...V upset , people have so many high bills to pay ,it was a rip off

Good friendly pub nice staff lovely food

Great place to eat. The Decor is lovely and the staff are really friendly 😊.

Our normal place to go seems to have gone down hill, service was so slow and would appear they forgot to put our food order through, sat for an hour waiting for food.

Car park a bit small if its busy

I can't recall the last time I gave a poor review, but I think I need to here . . . We booked for Monday lunchtime, and the staff were all amazing, very friendly, but completely rushed off their feet. Half an hour for drinks to arrive. An hour for food. We had the beetroot bourginion, and to be honest, we only ate it as we were hungry after the wait. Do NOT buy this meal. It was awful: a few bits of beetroot and thin slices of potato, swimming in what looked and tasted like bisto. A few, small cubes of vegan feta and a couple of pine nuts. Worst plant based meal I can remember being served. I told the waitress, when she asked for feedback, and was not even offered a discount! On the upside, the chips were fab, and our friend' s starter looked good. All in all, not a great experience for us but maybe we chose the wrong meal!!! My advice is to employ additional staffing, when you are busy and revise your plant-based menu. We won't be returning.

Good food at a fair price, lovely atmosphere but service could have been a bit quicker, would definitely go again

It has been a while since we last ate here. Great Sunday roast lunches. I had beef, and my wife had chicken. The Yorkshire puddings were like elephant feet! Fresh vegetables were cooked just right for me. We do not live nearby or we would come more often.

Called in for an early lunch Service was friendly, food delicious Chicken bugers were awsome

Great dog friendly pub /restaurant

First time at The Grove Lock and discovered by accident while driving along the A505, stopped for dinner and had a fabulous meal. Staff were excellent and attentive and the outdoor seating was perfect on a warm afternoon as the sun was setting. The lock was also a great distraction with a couple of boats passing while we were there

Lovely food, great staff, bit spendy for what it is

We had a lovely celebration here. A good choice of dishes and excellent service

Beautiful views and very friendly.

A nice pub near Leighton Buzzard

Great atmosphere. Staff very friendly and welcoming

We had a lovely meal, our waiter was very helpful and a very pleasant manner.

First visit of the year. The service was excellent and attentive. The food delicious and hit the spot. Well done all and keep it up. Thank you.

A very dissapointing meal for ridiculous prices. Served on what looked like Wimpy style greaseproof paper, swimming in oil, which tasted old. Indigestion for afters!!!! £18 for fish and chips and £15 for a burger that is half the size of a Mcchicken sandwich. Will not return.

We had an amazing weekend there & are planning to go again ,staff are friendly & helpfull & site is clean theres wildlife boats & yes trains but not to close to bother us 🙂 came again with my bro & sister in law & had a lovely sunday roast ....but had a pudding as well great weekend with lovely company xx

Food was pretty good, very standard pub grub that caters for all mixed with some more unique options, but the customer service was what really made the experience great. Cannon and his colleagues were so kind and attentive to us, very polite, smiley, chatty, and treated us like they really wanted to be there! The pub looked lovely and clean too. Thanks for such a great experience :)

Nice pub but a bit pricey for what you get

Good food. Would be better with more vegetarian options.

After a long walk around national trust we decided to stop here for some food with my wife 2 boys and mother in-law, I have to say the place it self is lovely and has a good setting as there is a canal outside and a lock so do see the narrow boats passing through. There is a nice out door seating area too and good decor inside, unfortunately the food left little to be desired. we ordered 3 buttermilk chicken burgers, a flat bread pizza and half roast chicken. The half roast chicken did look nice and cooked well and the mother in-law enjoyed it, my lads pizza looked standard and he seemed happy with it. However my and my wife’s and youngest chicken burger wasn’t that great, the butter milks chicken was way over cooked and could see burnt bits around the chicken which fell apart when you bite into it. It came with a small bowl/cup of chips which to be fair tasted good, but the portion size wouldn’t be enough to feed a baby. Even my youngest made comments about the chicken and chip portion size and trust me he loves his food, there was no onion in the burger which it stated it comes with crispy onion. The cost of the buttermilk burger was just over £15 which is a bit pricey considering the chip portion size and how the chicken was cooked, I did think maybe the chief was just having an off day then I read the reviews and seen some images. Wished I had read the reviews first as may have been the deciding factor whether to eat there or not, however the staff was friendly and the setting is lovely. Just be mindful of going to eat..

Food good, but expensive for the sweet potato and feta salad. Not a lot of feta either. Slow service.

Completely average pub by a canal. It was entertaining though as one of the boat people fell in trying to right his boat. So there’s that.

Had a fabulous lunchtime family meal, fortunately we'd booked a table, as the restaurant area was full, which says it all!

Been here a few times, and until we hadn't had food I had a different view of this pub. So the staff are good and try and provide a good service. The food is very expensive and some items are just overpriced. A salad for £16 blew our minds! The location of the pub is fantastic and we sat by the canal watching boats at the locks. The veg options are few and friends who had the thai curry were disappointed. They did agree to a switch over to something else, which was good. Would come again for a drink, but may have to miss the food.

Staying on the campsite next to the pub, we went in for dinner Lovey food, excellent service Would definitely recommend

For what should be a lovely setting the service is so poor and slow …. Food at best was reheated Sunday roast which was dry lacking in any flavour and for £23 shocking value for money…! Lack of any service or attention I give this place 1 star and won’t be back for a meal that’s for sure Place was empty aside drinkers it so run down with staff to match untidy.

Very slow service and not very attentive staff

Lovely canal scenery, lovely food 😋

I’m really upset and disappointed with the experience my family and I had at the Grove Lock today. What was supposed to be a nice meal turned into a total mess. After we placed our orders, I was told that my original choice was out of stock, so I switched to a burger. I specifically asked for no onions in the salad part of the burger because I have IBS and bigger pieces of onion can trigger it. Then I was told that the burger itself had onion chunks in the meat, so I had to pick something else again. I went with the beef roast this time. A few minutes later, the assistant manager came over to ask more about my onion issue. I explained that large pieces of onion are a problem for me, but onion seasoning and small bits are okay. Despite that, he came back and told me I couldn’t have the beef roast either because it had onion and garlic seasoning. He then suggested I order the BBQ ribs, which I reluctantly agreed to, but there was nothing else on the menu that I could have or wanted... While the assistant manager was nice and trying to help, it was really embarrassing and frustrating that I couldn’t order what I wanted, and it made things awkward as my family had to wait even longer for their food. When the food finally arrived, I was really disappointed. Firstly, the onion rings and coleslaw that I said could stay on the plate for a family member weren’t there, and the portion size of the ribs was ridiculously small (Please see images below). Also, after removing the fat and gristle from the two ribs, there was hardly any meat left (see centre pile in image) and the tiny portion of chips wasn’t enough to make up for it either. I was very grateful that a family member gave me their Yorkshire pudding, as you can see in the photos…To top it off, the staff avoided our table after dropping off the food. No one checked in to see if everything was okay, and even when they cleared the table, they didn’t ask how the meal was, especially after they made a huge deal out of my intolerance. Overall, the whole experience was really disappointing. I left the restaurant feeling frustrated and unsatisfied, and what should have been a nice family meal was ruined by poor service and a disappointing meal. I hope the management at Grove Lock takes this feedback seriously so other customers don’t have to go through the same thing.

Nice setting on the canal lock, plenty of seating, food not bad but found the drinks were a little expensive. Ok for a one off stop.

Had a lovely meal at the Grove Lock yesterday. The food was good and the staff were friendly, despite me airing my dismay regarding the QR code on the table that didn't work (well the code worked however we couldn't order using it and had to walk inside to order drinks and food) and that is the reason why I have put 4 stars for service. The staff that work there are very friendly and the place is always clean, this could be why I keep coming back. It is there perfect location in the summer time if you like to eat next to the canal. We like to follow the canal each year and eat at various pubs along the way and this is by far one of my favourites.

We asked to be moved as the area surrounding the table was dirty, food up the wall. The whole place needed a good clean. Our server was great. Roast dinner was lovely. Banoffee Sunday was small and melting when arrived. For 7.95 I expected a treat but was disappointed.

I ordered a vegan burger with normal cheese....what I got was absolutely horrible. Mostly containing kale that I could not chew and ans 10 chip...for £16.50 it was ridiculously overpriced. I was with my friends who I hadn't seen for a while, even they said I should complain. It was the most over priced tasteless cold burger I've ever had, very disappointed ams shall not be coming again. Don't know how Fullers gets away with this it's robbery.

Pleasant place to sit with a pint watching the boats come through the lock. Staff were cheerful.

Food is lovely, staff are great. It's nice sitting next to the canal on a warm summers evening having a nice cold drink! With a loved one!

Excellent meal very friendly staff lovely place to spend a few hours

Coffee only this time but good prompt service. Lovely venue.

Lovely lunch here recently and we've visited many times previously too, all good. The blackened Cajun salmon was spot on and burger was lovely too. Great service and perfect location to sit outside, beside the canal. One of our favourite pubs locally!

Fantastic outside seating next to the canal

Lovely evening good food with varied menu. Staff were friendly and helpful. 2 courses plus drinks for 4 people under £140.

An impromptu visit on a sunny afternoon. The lunchtime rush was over, not too busy. Took a while to get the order in, but once it was served was a nice sized portion and hot.

Lovely atmosphere and service. Beers and ciders kept well. Sadly not time for food but enjoyed sitting by the canal watching the locks and narrowboats. Worth a visit.

They closed the bar ½ an hour early on a Saturday night, so the staff could finish work early.

Just popped in for a quick coffee. Welcome and service are always good. Coffee was good too. Sat outside, under a parasol, next to the canal on a sunny day. Hard to beat.

Lovely pub situated next to the Grand Union canal . Excellent friendly service and food was great. Would highly recommend.

Really friendly welcome from the team, with a good selection of food and drink and a really nice pub (with a really nice outside part by the canal). All round great pub

A lovely evening meal sat outside both the fish pie and Plaice were great. Loved the Crème brûlée with passion flower. The coconut biscuit was something else. Great stopover if you are camping next door or on a barge. Loved it.

Stopped for some refreshments whilst out on the motorcycle, no complaints at all.

Lovely decor, friendly staff and a fabulous location Will definitely be returning

It's alright as pub food goes staff are brilliant food is good but pricey

Average I think. Maybe we caught them on an average day. It was busy, but my friend had had a better experience a few weeks before. Maybe should give them another try. Food was OK but nothing spectacular for the price. Location was lovely.

Visited Fathers Day so very busy. All OK especially service food ok with a decent menu.

Good food, veggie burger needs to be bigger as a main meal. My fish pie was lovely, as was the lemon posset. We were served quickly by friendly, happy staff. Lovely place next to a lock, as you may guess!! We helped a boat through the locks.

Beautiful place and food is great 👍

The pie was a bit thick and hardly had any filling. The filling itself was chewy AF. But apart from that it was lovely. Staff are super nice and the area is perfect to relax after a cycle

Definitely not happy with the price of £17 for that burger!

The prices are absolutely rambunctious, one Jaegerbomb was £8.25

A great place to eat. Excellent service and food and a warm and friendly pub atmosphere. Highly recommended.

I loved the chicken burger!! Nice atmosphere, lovely bartender and waitresses!! Everyone treated my dog amazing!!!

2 glasses of wine £19.60, absolutely scandalous, we should have just walked out

Food was fine,but small portions. Service a little slow.

Very good experience. Cannon was a great waiter. Good food and quick k service

Make sure you book in advance at the weekends, it gets busy. Food was nice and just the right amount on the plate. Atmosphere was good with plenty of people enjoying themselves. Location is lovely right on the canal and next to the caravan park we stayed at. We went for two night over the may bank holiday weekend, first night the drinks service was a little bit slow, but as mentioned it was busy. Second night was a lot better. Couldn't fault anyone's food both nights though. Will definitely visit again.

We went here on a Sunday afternoon - on a Bank Holiday weekend. The wait for food was very long so we just had a drink. But it looks very good and tasty so will go back to have food - I can't wait!😊 It's very nicely decorated especially the decking area.

Very good food friendly and welcoming staff would recommend

Went to the grove lock pub for my 18th birthday today and had an absolute blast. Adam, Cannon & Amelia made the night as amazing as the food there was. I was so pleased with the service, they made the night amazing!!!! Thank you so much!!

Quick service, good food, lovely peaceful atmosphere.

Expensive pub in the middle of nowhere? It better be bloody good... It was, it really was. It's a really nice spot right over the lock. We came at a weird time so it was mostly empty and the service was really nice. The food was very good and even though it was pricey there is a good chance we will visit again.

We had a horrible experience here. It took over an hour to get our food- when we did my daughters burger was so raw it had horrible blood coloured juice on the plate. She ended up having to just eat off my plate. I had to go get my mom a drink as it was forgotten. When I went to speak to what looked like the manager and pay the bill she was unapologetic and when I questioned my daughters 2.45 for a small water glass of lemonade she said that it wasn't their fault- fullers set the prices. Just horrible all the way around- I'm not one to write a review but it was so bad it's a "don't waste your money here" place.

Slow service, mediocre food, high prices.

Fantastic pub right beside the canal with loads of outdoor seating. Amazing food. Definately recommend visiting.

Such a nice atmosphere with nice servers and a perfect menu

Staff very friendly Great pit stop

Stayed on caravan pitch. Easy access, flat pitches & good facilities.

Very tasty fries and a good selection of beer and other drinks. Although we only sat down to drink one beer each, I liked the place, it's nice and the service is good. I recommend!!!!

Decent food, nice location and they allow dogs.

Nice arrival. Got welcome nicely by the manager. Ordered the food. Then waited 45 mins for meals that would have taken 20 mins tops! I got a burger and for the price. I expected a hell of a lot more! The burger was so over done, the patty didn't fill the bun ( which was a small bun) I got bacon added, that had been sat cooked for at least an hour before going into the bun. Which was such a shame as you could tell the bacon was high quality bacon with a lovely smokiness to it. I also got a starter with mushrooms in a cream sauce with tarragon on sourdough toast. Which was lovely. My son got a kids burger which was also overdone and got my daughter a kids pizza. The pizza had cheese that wasn't right for a kids pizza. To mature so didn't melt. (She didn't eat it) We also got pigs in blankets for the kids to share that were £5 for 4 but were not much bigger than cocktail sausages ( and also cooked hours before serving and were overdone) my partner got the lamb shanks that were well cooked. Overall, The food was average. I wouldn't have minded paying for food like that if I was at a cheap chain. But £130 for 2 adults and 2 children was really steep for the quality of the food. The staff were great but the chef was clearly cutting corners and it showed.

Righto, so we stopped at this pub on the Grand Union Canal after a cracking long walk. It was the perfect spot to rest our weary legs – heaps of seating both inside and out, and they were deadset brilliant with dogs. Inside, there's this massive fireplace that makes it really cosy, just the ticket after being out in the fresh air. Now, the menu itself wasn't quite what we were after, we were hoping for more pub grub like snacks or things to share. We ended up skipping the food, but have to say the meals that were coming out to other tables did look pretty good. So yeah, top spot for a drink and a rest, might be worth checking the menu beforehand if you're looking for a feed.