The Hollybush in Stafford - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Driven past this place a few times and it looks lovely! Went in at 2.30pm on a Saturday and it was empty! There was a table of 4 who were just leaving after a meal and that made us the only people in there… no music, no people so sadly no atmosphere. I was so surprised because it was such a sunny day and this pub has a great size beer garden in a really pretty place! Went to ask for a food menu, but they’d stopped serving food at 2.00pm. This annoyed me a little as I’d checked out the menu on the website the day before and it didn’t say they stopped serving at a certain time - didn’t see it advertised outside the pub either. We stopped for one very quiet drink and then left. Such a shame, was really looking forward to it! I thought it would be busy because of the sunshine and it’s such a sweet looking country pub!

Popped in for lunch for 3 of us so two lots of sandwiches and a burger so after a wait if nearly an hour we got our food overall ok edible but nothing to write home about. Service was particularly bad Limited offering on drinks Out of stock items on the menu Obviously lacking anybody with experience in the kitchen most reasonable cooks could have got the meals out in half the time Poor training of waiting staff for example not knowing what drinks they stocked, not asking people if they wanted another drink etc etc Overall a perfect example of a business owned by people who don’t care and aren’t interested Staffed by people with little or no training This doesn’t deserve to be in business and the sooner the owners and management are replaced the better Key point being just employe a decent chef not someone straight out of catering college Food 3 out of 5 Service 2 out of 5

A great local pub where we we made to feel very welcome. They have a comprehensive traditional style menu. The food came quickly and we were delighted with our choices. My partner and son both had the cod and chips and said they were some of the best they had on a very long time. We will definitely be back and are pleased to give it a 5 star review.

Had a cheeky dinner tonight with my husband after a tough day fantastic food , pipping hot, plentiful food friendly and attentive staff Pete and George the manager, working with customers who did nothing but moan and complain for no apparent reason and even complaining there was too much ch food got to love customers 🤦‍♀️

Amazing meal served by lovely people. Went for our wedding anniversary and we’re treated fantastically. Food, drinks and service first class. A cold evening outside yet the inside of this country pub was lovely and warm. A lovely touch the pub knocked off our first round of drinks as it was out wedding anniversary, really nice gesture thank you.

Visited the pub for a meal with friends outside earlier in the year and also for Sunday dinner with the family. Excellent food, friendly staff and an all round nice relaxed atmosphere - a real good country pub.The addition of the Milkstop is great for a milkshake treat to take home for the kids (or big kids.....) and the brownies were lovely.

We’ve eaten at the Hollybush a few times over the past few weeks and been impressed wilt the quality of the food. We’ve had the Sunday carvery Few times and I’ve got to say it’s the nicest pub carvery we’ve ever eaten. A proper home cooked meal great portion sizes and very tasty. We’ve also tried handmade burgers which were fantastic and the steak pie which was packed with steak and very good indeed. All of the portions were plentiful, served in good time and excellent value for money. . A real refreshing change to the chain pubs type meals we’re all so used to these days. It has a real local pub feel with friendly staff and great service. We will definitely be visiting regularly in the future.

We have drank here many times. Went to go today for a meal and drink and there were 9 teenagers on bikes riding up and down the car park. They were noisy and messing about while using the milk stop. It’s turned the car park into a youth club so we went to a pub in Gnosall instead. Will avoid now as we can never park.

It might not have been what I wanted to see at the begging, but seeing Pepsi in the menu, made me stay. The place itself looks like a homish places to eat, but therefore it is a county pub. Afterwards we decided to risk the food as well and we chose steak pie. I wanna claim, when I tasted the food, it was like home made pies. It was one of the best pies I had in my life. Service very friendly, it didn’t seem busy, and the food came on time, prices very affordable. Definitely come back.

Four of us to lunch last Friday. Four different meals, all very substantial. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Excellent beer too. Not our first visit and by no means our last.

A warm welcome by Mike, Tom and the team. Excellent food as always felt very safe and distanced. Booking recommended so you're guaranteed a table. Well worth a visit

Happened across this little pub while in the area, excellent food and very friendly staff. We had the burger, Ham and Eggs and Chicken stuffed with Haggis and each meal was superb. The portions are a good size, freshly cooked and a reasonable price. Highly recommended.

Superb Sunday lunch Fresh home cooked Sunday roast at its best .A choice of four meats or you can have a slice of each joint. Home cooked fresh vegetables including cauliflower cheese and carrot with swede . Huge Yorkshire pudding and delicious gravy The portions are very generous .There is a nice choice of starters and puddings . I thoroughly enjoyed the Blackberry and Apple crumble with custard and ice cream

Fabulous lunch. Excellent service, even for the fussy daughter. Our first meal out after lockdown, this was top of our list, and certainly did not disappoint. We felt safe and confident that Covid guidelines were being adhered to.Thank you for a great visit, was worth the wait. Will be back soon.

Met friends here for lunch while out for a days walking. Friendly staff, good beer and sandwiches. Excellent chips!

Best Sunday Lunch in Ages.Choice of 4 Succulent Meats .. very generous portions with Huge Yorkshire & good choice of Veg. Excellent choice of desserts to follow if you can find room. This place is a hidden gem with great service from Meg.. please support your local village pub... you won’t be disappointed

The best lunch ever so tasty and filling staff attentive. Busy little pub will go again for sure. Got to be the best around

Food is very good and portions are generous and of good value. Requested a smaller portion which was provided. Service is usually good, but variable.

I visit this pub weekly with my in-laws for lunch. We have been visiting for over 10 years. They have a wide variety of home cooked dishes. Always a specials board and a good range of vegetarian options. Food is always of a very high standard.

This is a Community Pub in its 6th year of operation with its second wonderful Tennant Mike. You always need to book in advance to ensure you have great freshly prepared and cooked wholesome food. We nearly always have to ask for a doggy bag to take something home. Great food. Can't wait for the Christmas menu again!

Family meal out, menu beyond a typical pub menu. We all found it hard to choose because the all the choices. I had the liver & onions which was incredible. Everyone enjoyed their food & what a great pub it is. Awesome service and will definitely be coming back.

Good food and beer Sunday carvery is excellent but need to book about 2 weeks in advance. Plenty of parking spaces. Outside seating,child safe.

We ate here as a group of four. Felt it would be nice to support a community run pub. Didn’t feel particularly welcome but no matter.All chose different main courses. Food arrived in a reasonable time. Presentation was indifferent, three of the meals had been generously doused in the same thick, dark, generic gravy. My steak and kidney pudding was tasty enough but more vegetables would have been welcome. Liver and bacon had just been heaped on a large pile of mash. Scampi looked ok and was the only one not smothered in gravy. Never came to see if we were happy with our meals, never came to ask if we wanted sweet or coffee. Had to go to the bar to get the bill. There are many better places to eat within the area. Won’t be going back

Having eaten here once before to meet up with friends we had no hesitation booking again. What a change. The lady in charge just waved us to a table, her whole attitude was that she didn’t want to be there.My friend ordered salmon and asked for the hollandaise on the side, I ordered the same and was told I would have mine on the side to make it easier! Good move as it turned out as the sauce was strongly lemon in flavour.None of us was particularly keen on the food, one of us asked my husband how his steak and kidney pudding was, he said ‘ok’ although he’s still looking for the kidneys. When she eventually came over to clear the plates she wanted to know ‘what’s wrong with the pudding’, ever the diplomat my husband replied there was just too much!She couldn’t be bothered to come out from the bar for desert orders and shouted across for them, most of us declined and asked for coffee, another mistake, it tasted like instant made with warm water.

We called in at the holly bush Seighford Near Stafford for dinner we did not book and were pleasantly suprised that we go a table for 4 on speck

We held our school reunion at the Hollybush on Saturday. We had an amazing time we were so well looked after. The food was fantastic. We couldn’t of wished for better service .

I visited the Hollybush today 14th March with my elderly father, who looks forward to his lunch outings . I suggested we try the pub as it is local and run by the community.

Most of us had different meals , ranging from ham ,egg and chips, salmon , liver and onions to moules marinere. We all had our meals brought out together and my eggs were perfectly cooked. I think everyone enjoyed their meal and will return soon.

The food here is amazing, our Christmas meal was wonderful and the service from the staff was excellent. Roast potatoes - loved them.

Used to use this pub literally every day when I lived up the road around 4/5 years ago. Spent £1000’s in there over the years. Met up with some friends today as it’s half way between them and myself- a 26 mile drive for myself. Was looking forward to enjoying a few beers with my friends after a walk in the countryside to then be turned away because we weren’t allowed our dog in. Absolutely gutted would be an understatement. Dogs were always allowed in before hand... what country pub doesn’t allow dogs???

Myself, and my family came to The Hollybush for Christmas Day.

Moored up outside and were definitely in the mood for dinner. Great atmosphere inside with a very busy bar trade for a Sunday night ( so they must be doing something right )

I have used this hostelry a number of times with a group of people with a shared interest, as our ''End of term'' meal. Good pub grub served well iriespctive of the number in your party. A good selection of wines and beers, and run by the local community. Well worth a visit.

Excellent food. Excellent service from very friendly, knowledgeable staff. Good outside seating area. Have been here twice now. Can't wait to go again.

To be fair, it's more hits than misses. When the chef is in the kitchen, the food is really very good.

Liver and bacon is the best if you are very hungry. All meals are fantastic with excellent service. Well worth a visit.

The Hollybush is a lovely, quaint, cosy thatched pub in a small hamlet. The quality of the food and service is good, with meals available from the menu or ‘specials’ board. Unfortunately, the menu hasn’t changed for goodness knows how long, and after several visits, is now getting boring! The beers are generally kept well, prices are reasonable and portion sizes are good. Well worth a visit!

Been here loads of times!! never fails to impress. By far the best carvery in Staffordshire. But don’t forget to book to avoid disappointment.

Thankfully we did not have starters, my partner had liver and bacon, I don't like lambs liver but I had some of his and it was delicious! I had sea bass which was perfect. Tia maris creme brulee was absolutely delicious. Ni CE bar area, nice seating area outside. Would highly recommend, not too expensive either.

Friday 15/06/2018 Visited the Hollybush last night with Wife . A really nice Country Pub with friendly Staff & Locals. Chef cooked food - Staff are very obliging if you want to slightly change / vary menu. Will definitely re- visit. Good sized Car Park.

I ordered salmon, salad and new potatoes. The salmon was a very small piece and the salad was a HEAP of green leaves, it definitely wasn't worth the money. My husband had chicken which was watery and therefore not fully cooked.

Just as good as my last visit .Choice of meat was fab .Lamb on the menu again you don't see it very often it was lovely and melt in the mouth ,Vegetables were all lovely and cooked well.Big bowl of cheese sauce so you can have that instead of gravy and HOME made Yorkshire puds as big as your hand .Keep up the good work I cannot see why there is bad reviews from others on here.If you slate this but give massive rating to a carvery that uses shop bought yorkshire puddings and aunt bessie roast you should not be able to leave a review . (Just my thoughts)

We booked late afternoon and as we arrived we were surprised how busy the car park was. Not visited before so not sure what to expect. As it happens we had come at the end of a wake and people were dispersing.

Have been here several times recently for the Sunday lunch Carvery and what a treat it is. Choice of 4 meats which you can mix - portions big enough to satisfy the hungriest and lovely choice of home cooked vegetables. Unbelievable quantity for the price. Its exactly what a Sunday lunch should be.The desserts are lovely as well. would not hesitate to return.

My partner and I previously proactively avoided this place for a long time after we’d had experiences of poor food, poor drink and poor customer service.

Have not been here for years so decided to try it out again.Wow we were not disappointed the food was amazing.We had sunday lunch ad its the best lunch we have had it years.The meat was a choice of 4 Lamb,beef,Turkey and Pork.There was 2...

Visited for food. Tried the venue a few years back was not impressed.... But as it was recommended recently again we decided to give it a go again. Oh dear...... Website says one thing on the food hours. The Bar staff whom we interrupted sitting...

Haven’t been here for a while, we popped into the sarcens head first... what a mistake that was...decided to go to the Hollybush.. so glad we did good variety on the menu lunch and main menu, and nothing is too much to ask, we asked...

Have visited this restaurant several times in the last few months and have always had fantastic meals. The food is good quality, ample portions and always piping hot. I love the haggis cottage pie !!

Table of 20 mix of children and adults.

Cant book a table...which suits us. Just turn up and take a chance or wait a while. Great selection, good service. Try their Pizza's in the summer sitting outside.

Haven't been here for ages but after friends raving about the Hollybush thought we would try it. And indeed the food was fantastic. It's just the customer service that needs working on...no hello or goodbye or even a smile. These small things cost nothing but...

Love, love, love this place and the Sunday lunch alone, is worth the trip out.

We’ve dined here many times and have never been able to fault the food or service. Bookings aren’t taken, however we managed to walk in today and got a table for two straight away, a group of 12 only had to wait 30 minutes, so don’t give up if a table isn’t immediately available.

Had a great meal here on a Friday night after travelling up the M6. Ideal motorhome stopover. A few minutes off the M6. Quiet location. Large car park. Meal was excellent and great value. Real ales were great. Locals were friendly and talkative. Staff and service was excellent. Definitely be back.

Visited with family members and had a really fine meal in traditional surroundings. Extensive freshly cooked menu and a good choice of accompanying wine. Good Beer too.

We have visited this place twice in two weeks and were not disappointed on either occasion . A warm

I visited this village pub/restaurant on Thursday lunchtime with a friend. My friend had been before with friends but in...

Come here occasionally for the carvery on a Sunday. The food is always cooked to perfection and you get a good sized amount and plenty of meat. Staff are very friendly and obliging; my nan can't walk easily but staff are always offering to help, lending her an arm to lean on and fetching her carvery for her. We are made to feel welcome as soon as we walk throught the door. Cannot fault this gem of a restaurant.

We decided to eat at the Hollybush in Seighford, it was lovely traditional pub with a nice foods, worth a visit.

I hope that it is just me that has struggled with this restaurant. On our first visit in 2016, the welcome was non existent, the waiter was unsure and not very informative (Bad or no training). The menu was good, but both the quality and the presentation was very poor, and no thank you or goodbye on leaving. All 3 of us were very disappointed. The second visit was in December when a group of us went for lunch. There was still no welcome, the food was better, presentation so so and the service was dire . I found out that they had a problem in the kitchens, but know one thought to come out to apologise or explain. So it may just be me, because some people I know rave about it. Its your money and your choice.

Very good meal at realistic prices. Fish & Chips excellent as was the steak. All members of staff were attentive and very polite. Well worth a ride out.

One of the best meals out in a long time. Very pleasant young ladies taking the orders and all very good sized portions. My other half had the Beef and Ale pie. We go to a small award winning café and have there pies, but this beat it hands down. There was a Steak and Kidney pudding, the Lasagne and a chicken and Haggis that we also had, and each of us really enjoyed the meals. Its definitely a place I would recommend and we will be going back.

Live locally but not been for years due to troubled past. However recommendations from others gave me reason to try it. And was not disappointed...Reasonable selection of real ales was pleasing and i enjoyed a few well kept pints of Tiger Ale.Staff were prompt, attentive and courteous throughout. We had four mains and deserts. All was served simultaneously and very hot. Portions HUGE. All meals tasted freshly prepared and were nicely presented. We had 4 clean plates and groaning tummies...Excellent value too...Delighted from a local perspective that the consortium that took it over have turned into a better venue than it had been for years. Only criticism is the use of old oak tables and chairs. They look lovely and very fitting in such a building, however they need gluing on the joints as all at the table felt they were going to collapse and exchanged then with others on empty tables nearby, but were little better. Very happy I decided to go back and feel I have found a new decent place for quality food and service at a reasonable price. Well done...

I was out on an evening walk and decided to pop in for a pint and a bit of food.Past experiences at the Hollybush have been poor so I didn't hold out much hope of being impressed but was open to being surprised.The bar staff were a bit scatty - two different members of staff needing to check with the kitchen that I could order food, despite me telling the second that someone had already checked for me.One bar staff member asking the other 'where is he going to sit' (he being me) and the reply being 'dunno, wherever he wants' (he being me).I chose a table after ordering a steak.Waited about 40 mins for food to arrive and others who had ordered after me got their food first. Still, I wasn't in a hurry so no matter.It arrived and before I'd had chance to take my first mouthful someone arrived to ask if everything was ok with my meal. I said it looked nice.In fact it turned out to be delicious - well worth the wait and hence the 4 star rating.Surprisingly good grub!What this place really needs is for the bar staff to be properly trained in good slick customer service - currently it's all a bit clumsy.Anyway - far better than previous visits. I will try the place again for sure.

This is such a lovely day out, and free. The garden centre is beautiful... reasonably private and has lots of lovely quirky things. It's is amazing at Christmas. We often go for a look around and a visit to the cafe, the children love looking at the fish and animals. Plus there is a little park with a train. Well worth a visit.

This is a gem of a place , good food and ales .Always a good selection of food and service with a smile .

Dined here after a day out in Stafford and so glad we did .... the food was lovely and the surroundings of the establishment very inkeeping. We can't wait to go back .... thank you

I visited the pub twice recently, once for an evening meal, once for a light lunch. The staff were friendly and helpful. I chose the crab and salmon omelette which was very tasty but huge, I couldn't really do it justice! It came with excellent chips and a side salad of leaves, peppers, raw onion, cucumber and a tomato. The main dish was so big that ice cream was the only thing I could manage after that!For the light lunch I chose pâté from the "Starters" which was delicious. Eton Mess is a favourite desert but the variations on this recipe are not always acceptable. Although this one tasted nice, for me, there was not enough meringue or fruit and far too much cream. The inclusion of ice cream was different.I thought it all good value for money.

Always had a fabulous meal at The Hollybush, 7 of us meet regularly here for a meal & drinks, We sometimes come on a Sunday for the Carvery. Great choice of menu for meat lovers & good option's for vegetarians to. Staff friendly, good service, lovely atmosphere, Great all round value for money. My favourite place to eat. You must book as gets very busy due to popularity especially on a Sunday. Carvery is amazing.

We took our parents for the first time and had a great meal. The shepherds pie was lovely so was the mackerel and fish and chips

The staff were first class, very polite and friendly, big shout out for Brenda on the carvery she's lovely. The food was fabulous the beef and pork were best I've had for years, truly gorgeous. All the veg and there were plenty to choose from were fresh and very tasty. All in all very well organised, huge portions and great quality, can't fault it at all.Very good value for money will definitely be returning thanks very much.

Carvery 10/10, beautiful! Very generous with the meat. Staff were very friendly and extremely helpful with my grandad collecting his carvery for him. Unfortunately the service was very slow. We found that as they were very busy, we got put into a overspill room where we felt maybe we were forgotten about. Will definitely be eating there again but will be requesting to be eating in the restaurant.

Sunday lunch for 3 of us and a sirloin steak . Absolutely lovely. Cant fault anything. Meat Lovely all veg cooked just right. Staff very attentiveA lovely Sunday relaxing afternoonWill definitely come again

I understand this is a community owned free house pub/restaurant with a superb tennant and chef with very helpful and obliging staff. You always need to book your table well in advance to secure an excellent meal. Large portions are the order of the day. If you can't eat it all you can have a doggy bag!Their Sunday Carvery is particularly extremely popular. You must try it. You will not be disappointed.

Where to entertain two dozen guests knowing they would be well fed at a fair price ,,,,,,, Why, the Hollybush of course! It was yet another of my birthdays on 25th February so my wife and I pre-arranged a hot buffet lunch at the Hollybush and we were more than pleased. Even more important - so were our guests. The food seemed never ending as it came, freshly prepared, from the kitchen - chicken drumsticks, roast beef slices, jacket potatoes, various sandwiches, etc., etc. there was a mountain! Then came the scrumptious cream cakes to add even more calories. We are regulars for Sunday lunch at the Hollybush so we knew of their high standard and, yes, they kept up to it on a Saturday. The staff were obliging without being 'bossy' and presented themselves in front of our guests so we could see who had been responsible for the delicious lunch and let us say, here and now, yet another 'thank you',

I love this place!!! The carvery is very very good. Probably one of the best locally if not THE best. Meat so tender. And they have lamb too as a choice which not many places do. Big portions. It gets very busy on a sunday. Booking is a must. Staff very welcoming especially Brenda. Decor very nice. We also came on Christmas Day, Thoroughly enjoyed it. Didnt rush us. It was perfect although there was just too much food!!!!

Went with friends after being recommended really glad we did large portions of really good food good selection of beer and very good service I think it's probably a good idea to ring and book will return it's good to find a pub in stafford serving tasty food. I had Steak and kidney pudding it was very tasty I believe the carvery is also very good value keep up the good work we will return

Just been for a meal with my Dad and Step Mum.First time I'd been in here, the service and food was excellent. I highly recommend you pay a visit, you won't be disappointed

We were advised to try the Hollybush for Sunday lunch. We were pleased that we did. The only time we could get a table was 2.30pm. It was well worth the wait. The car park was full and we had to wait for a space this alone was a good omen. Our table was ready for us and the staff made us welcome. There were 4 in our party and we all opted for the carvery. We had a choice of beef lamb pork and turkey or any combination and the portions were large and tasty There was a good selection of vegetables and sauces. Our choices differed and we were all well pleased. We did also have deserts which were of the same quality and delicious.Drinks were brought to us at the table and we were impressed with the service and efficiency in such a busy restaurant.A further visit is a definite yes and as long as this standard is maintained it will be the first of many.Thank you

No trouble getting a table. Very polite, friendly staff. The food was wonderful and so reasonably priced. Very large portions.Will definitely return

What a little gem tucked away done a country lane, well worth a visit.Highly recommended, Home cooked great food exceptional good value & huge portions.Staff very friendly couldn't fault anything at all. Wine & beer excellent prices, I would recommend to anyone.we will be returning soon:)

This well-used village pub has good food and a good selection of real ales and beers. Sunday night is quiz night and the pub is full. Highly recommended for pub grub and good atmosphere.

All the meals we have had at the hollybush recently are fantastic. Highly recommend a visit and there is always lots of gorgeous food. The portions are very generous and the standard of the food is excellent

A cracking find, amazing home cooked food,incredible portions and prices. Wine and beer at good standards with excellent prices. An Oasis of value and taste within a local desert of over priced rubbish food and drink. I recommend you visit the Holly Bush; you will love quality of food, the ambiance and the standards of service - You will be leaving feeling happy and believing your bill was too low!! I doubt you will ever find an establishment offering this level of quality and value for money.

Lovely village pub with an excellent dinning area and very nice food. Staff are friendly and the place offers a very relaxing experiance .

We have known this restaurant for many years and were aware it has changed hands several times. We were looking for a place to m feet family that was central so after reading some of the previous reviews we decided to try the Holybush, but we slightly concerned that we may issues with the level of service.We had NO need to be worried, the food was good, the portions large so I couldn't manage a sweet, which was a shame as they looked good. The staff were attentive. A large shooting party turned up just as we were finishing and were taking over the place, the staff appologised if we felt rushed, which we didn't feel it until they said.Well worth another visit, though next time I may go for a starter bad a sweet instead!

As our friends had signed up on the mailing list we took the offer of a free bottle of wine to visit this little gem hidden in the small village of Salt just outside the county town of Stafford. It was only 7.30 but nearly every table was taken on a Thursday night and the standard of food showed why it is so popular. With no starters we felt there might be need for desserts but after 4 filling main courses there was no chance. Home-cooked food at it's best we will certainly try again when visiting Stafford.

The food in here is lovely, and good valve, but I agree with other comments on here about the odd attitude of the manager. Even if the pub is nearly empty, he insists on checking with the chef before he will let you have a table. You feel a bit like he is doing you a favour. If he does allow you to have a table, he will sometimes only allow it if he takes your order at a precise time. I would prefer him to take our order, get us some drinks, and explain that there will be a wait on the food as the kitchen is busy. I can only conclude that the chef is used to running a much smaller kitchen, or its drastically understaffed. There was never a problem with the previous management, if you could find a table, you could order food. My advice is if you want go, book in advance to avoid this pantomime. If you do get a table, the food is fabulous.

We went here last Sunday. The carverywas amazing with huge portions of meat. The only thing that stopped me giving 5 stars was that the only choice of potatoes was roast. Jacket or mash would be good.The service was amazing and we were treated very well.

A friend and I arrived at the pub and we asked for a table for two; we were told that if we wanted food we had to order within the 2 minutes that we were standing at the bar because they were waiting for a table of 6. I started by ordering a soup however was informed that the chef "doesn't have time" to make soup. At this point I was incredibly frustrated at the way the girl was speaking to me and had to stop myself from being as rude back to her as she was being to me. Once we had been seated and our food arrived, I was disappointed with the meal; mainly from the quality aspect.I have previously visited when my children were younger and found the food that we received for Sunday lunch to be a joke. This time my friend had persuaded me that it had changed, however I found the whole experience so bad that I won't be returning.

This is a real strange pub the meal today was really good,chicken stuffed with haggis was lovely,but when we arrived (2 people)the pub was empty and we were told that due to a party coming in we could eat as long as we didn't have a starter!,surely if you have a party booked you allow for walk in customers as well and plan resources accordingly,I would like to say this is a one off but this is the second time it's happened,how much business is lost through this

Went there for lunch. Walked in the door and got told that they might not be able serve us any food as they were expecting a table of 7, our party was 4 and it was patically empty part from two people. We placed our order and we waited for 30 minutes when the waitress came out and said that one dish wasn't available. Then we waited 30 minutes more for the food to arrived after chasing. The food was good very big portions. However when paying we mentioned that it took too long for the food to come and the lady argued with us saying that our wait was reasonable of an hour waiting for lunch as the food was made from scratch and that you would wait longer for your food if you booked as the other table got there food first within waiting 25 minutes due to priority. The customer service was appalling and so was the speed. Only go here if you have an afternoon free and you are in the mood for an argument.

Went for Sunday lunch with family and then back a couple of times in the evening for drinks. Food is delicious. The pub is great on the inside - cozy and welcoming.

A delightful carvery family lunch was enjoyed here on Sunday; a choice of well cooked meats - the pork was excellent - was presented, accompanied by a range of freshly cooked vegetables ... and succulent gravy - most important! This feast was accompanied by a fine, session beer from the highly regarded Titanic Brewery, based in Stoke-on-Trent. A memorable meal, served by friendly staff, in warm, comfortable surroundings.

I had avoided this place for a couple of years since a previous poor experience when I went for a meal. However, being out for a walk today (and tragically with so few pubs to choose from with so many having closed), I decided to give them another try ... just for a beer.I love the idea of a community pub which is why it was so disappointing last time. Ok ... so today ... Honestly, the beer selection was pretty poor. Titanic has its name for a reason - promises loads but ends up a huge disaster. But taste in beer is personal, so I could accept that.What hit me straight away was the missing basics of providing a warm welcome.I can tell that bar staff have had minimal training (if any) in creating a good impression, welcoming people, going the extra mile, creating loyal customer relationships etc.Not even a smile or a 'hi' or 'how are you' or 'how can I help you' - instead just vacant stares at next customers as if to say 'so what the hell do you want?'This pub is not alone in providing nothing more than a functional pouring of your pint and taking your money ... but this is supposed to be a community pub. Run by the people for the people.Disappointing!Today has reinforced my negative view of the place and as it is busy despite such poor interaction and welcome, there's not likely to be a motivation for them to change anything.The only reason I'd come back would be due to lack of other options, hunger or thirst, rather than having been impressed by the place.What a shame!My suggestion to the venue would be to decide what you want a customer experience to be and then get training for the whole team to 'live' those values.To members of the public ... go to The Hollybush expecting it to be a 'functional' experience rather than a delight you'll want to rave to your friends about!

Good food - well cooked - polite service - much improved since my last visit when managed by Titanic will go again

A first visit that certainly wont be the last. The bar is well stocked with real ales which is a winner. We were promptly seated at our table and ordered starters. Excellent value for money and large portions. We then progressed to the carvery. Beef, lamb, Turkey and pork and you can have all of them if you wish. A real must for a meat eater. Four veg plus roasties. An excellent choice of desserts but some of us just couldn't manage it. The hollybush is a place where you will get good quality honest, wholesome food at excellent value. Be advised you should book, otherwise you will be disappointed.

Two of us visited on a red hot evening for Dinner in August. It was the first time we had visited since the new manager has been appointed. Firstly, there was no way of looking online first to see what was on offer, this is something we both like to do before visiting somewhere so we have an idea of what sort of food to expect based on what we fancy before going out. The website states food is served from 5.30pm, to be told upon arrival at 5pm that the kitchen doesn't open until 6. The warm, welcoming, friendly atmosphere that we once previously enjoyed that makes a local feel homely unfortunatley appeared to be lacking on this particular visit and we did not get a service with a smile. We didnt see the manager on this visit either where the previous manager was very much a strong welcoming presence.The choices on the menu were dissapointing. It was a red hot day and we fancied something light, whilst the food was of a good standard it was mostly stodge and general traditional dishes such as pie and lasagne which lacked imagination. It would have been nice to see some hearty salads and some baguettes and maybe skewers or something maybe given the weather. I decided to order the lasagne although didn't particularly fancy anything on the menu on that day. My partner felt the same. The portion sizes were huge, as someone who loves food this was a delight, however on this day I couldnt eat a huge meal and am currently trying to watch what I eat so it would be nice if there was a light section of the menu with smaller portions and less heavy meals. This was a feature previously.I ordered dessert also, a chocolate tart. This was lovely, really tasty, however I had to tell the waitress I wanted dessert, we were not asked after completing our main. I was brought a dessert menu and then forgotton about so had to go to the bar to ask to make my order.One brilliant thing was that the drinks are now substantially cheaper, that said I ordered two gin and lemonades and they were both flat and tasted like water had been added. I thought that tonic water might have been accidently added in error on my first one but it was the same for the second. My partner had bottled cider this was good as expected.When the bill was presented to us at the end we were delighted with the price. £30 for 2 rounds of drinks and 2 huge main meals.I really wanted to be positive on my first review under new management and have tried to be constructive in what I have said. As it is our local we will visit again at least once more for food and hope that it was just a bad day. Will certainly visit again for drinks but will send any flat Gins back next time!

We stayed overnight with our motorhome as a Britstop. Friendly and very welcoming. Filled up with water for our tank. Lovely beer garden and views over the countryside.Good real ales and excellent evening meal. Said that they have a policy of never letting anyone go away feeling hungry...certainly true for us!