The Ivy Castle View in Guildford

A lovely girl named India served me on the bar today, seemed very switched on, and sorted me out with some cocktail recommendations, as I hadn’t a clue where to start🙈

Just came back from such a disappointing breakfast! Hubby & I never get out as we have a newborn so thought we’d treat ourselves on this very rare occasion. The breakfast arrived & the whole thing was watery, the beans looked like they had been sat out for hours & tasted like metal, the eggs were rubbery, the mushroom was dripping, the portions were small & the pastry tasted like it had come out of an Iceland freezer bag cooked & left on the side, so crunchy & dry, such a shame! We’re not ones to complain in public & hate to make a scene so we just admitted defeat paid the overpriced nearly £50 bill & left all to come home & have to cook ☹️ what has happened Ivy !? We used to be regulars & loved the food yet came away not only feeling robbed but rather upset with the whole experience.

Rosa was amazing, her cocktail knowledge is out of this world

Ellis was an amazing server, so friendly and chatty, would love to come again.

The table we ate given on the terrace was terrible so we asked to be moved - it was squashed in between plants and up against the servers area. Moved to another table in the terrace where pile were openly vaping, even though it’s apparently not allowed? Moved inside after our starters which was MUCH better. They need to be making it clear that vaping is not allowed, instead of just ignoring it.

Booked a birthday dinner for Friday evening. The customer service was extremely poor. The candle light went off on our table and we were left out. The food took forever to arrive and when asked for a birthday pudding to arrive it was never ordered and we decided to cancel and go else where as it was disgraceful service! Don’t bother coming to this venue for any celebrations. Not worth the money we spent here - also we found an ant crawling on the table ( we were inside not on the terrace area) and the waiter did not seem bothered about this!

Had a great experience at Ivy. Poppy was amazing and took great care of us. We got the balcony table for evening drinks and the views and vibes were amazing.

Great venue for a few drinks, Connor made the best espresso martinis 🍸

Absolutely stunning meal celebrating the build up to our wedding. Food, staff all brilliant

We always love coming to the Ivy the service is always very attentive and today we were served by Jack who was brilliant. He helped us with some drinks choices whilst we sat at the bar.

A beautiful lunch, Daniel was perfectly attentive, the food and drinks delicious. Highly recommended.

Beautiful Cocktails made by Emilia, lovely service 5 stars 🌟

I ordered the steak, but unfortunately, some of the salad leaves were yellow or starting to wilt. It would be great if fresher greens could be used in the future. The steak itself was quite nice, but the quality of the greens affected the overall experience.

India was professional and very friendly

India was great. Fantastic service

Amazing service and atmosphere! Thank you so much to Poppy for making our evening special

Me & my daughter had a bad experience at this restaurant this evening. I had the most tasteless seabass £26 I ever had, tomatoes sauce overpowered the delicate flavour of seabass, the mash potato £5.50 was sinking in the olive oil. My daughter's stake was to dry, which cost £30 plus separate chips £7.25 and small bowl of sauce was £4.95. You would expect for this price good quality and delicious dinner. Also we were charged twice for the water £5.50 we asked for only one bottle. Total of £113 including service charge. Feeling ripped off and definitely wouldn't come to this restaurant ever.

Another brilliant Jazz night at The Ivy, looked after by the lovely team there, special mention for our he outstanding barman, Connor - already booked to come back!

Went for drinks and stayed for dinner, was amazing. Outstanding service at the bar from Jack and Connor followed by great food service from Louis. What a tremendous experience

Fabulous evening celebrating a friend’s 50th birthday. Lovely atmosphere, fabulous food and service from Daniel. Bar and restaurant is beautifully.

Jazz night at the Ivy Castle View Guildford made for a fantastic evening, topped off by excellent cocktailing by Connor.

Food was good, The place is well located (parking is really close to the restaurant), but I find it a bit expensive for the food you get. If you're looking for a special place, yes it's the place, but if you are looking for a good meal I think you can find better and cheaper places.

Typical Ivy, nice and did not disappoint

Really poor experience. Everyone was corralled into a small corner of the room, I guess because they were short of waiting staff. Service was below standard, food was nowhere near the quality I’d expect for the price. Latte wasn’t even lukewarm. When spending over fifty pounds a head, I would expect infinitely better. Don’t know what has happened to the Ivy chain lately, but I won’t be returning.

Service was ok just gave the food that was it When booked stated it was a birthday did nothing Starter was nice the duck salad The roast beef however was inedible the roast potatoes where fried and tasted disgusting the beef was like rubber tough and dry didn’t even eat You Yorkshire puddings where meant to be homemade they weren’t they where frozen aunt Betsy’s After the meal it the waiter didn’t even ask if the meal was ok or anything very disappointing I think a roast beef dinner ready meal would be better quality! £200 for poor quality There was also children screaming and running around which I wouldn’t expect in a restaurant that classes themselves fine dining

Lovely time at the Ivy. Great atmosphere and brilliant choice of drinks. Thank you Connor for absolutely perfect service xxx

Love the atmosphere and the bar area in the Ivy, amazing service from Amelia tonight !

Emelia was a great waitress/server. She was prompt, polite and friendly. We sat at the bar and had a great time.

The food was lovely but, unfortunately, the service was abysmal. I've never received service that bad from any hospitality establishment. I went with my family for an afternoon tea after a registry office wedding and the staff here almost ruined the whole day with their bad attitude.

I was looking forward to having lunch here with a friend but, as a coeliac, we had to leave and go to another restaurant nearby. It was so disappointing that in May 2025, which is incidentally, Coeliac awareness month, the Ivy group have changed their serving policies and decided to reduce the items on their menu that are available to people with illness, intolerance, or allergies to particular foods. I asked for the duck salad but was told that the duck was fried in the same fryer as food containing gluten so this was not possible. I then asked for the crab and avocado salad, but without the bread, and was told that this too was not possible, and that the bread could not be taken off the dish, and that there was no guarantee of my food not being cross contaminated in the kitchen. It is absolutely shameful in this day and age. Cote, Pizza Express and many other restaurants have separate preparation areas in their kitchens so why can't The Ivy Group? Surely The Ivy Group are big enough to cope with situations like this? I will not be going back and would not recommend this restaurant. However, I would like to point out that the staff were very apologetic, and explained that is was new company policy and that there was nothing that they could do. The Ivy Group - you need to progress into the 21st century or maybe you don't care if you lose customers?

Have been to the Ivy Guildford many times but they no longer do a gluten free afternoon tea which is really surprising. It's also very difficult to actually speak to the restaurant with a very annoying chatbot on the website instead of anything human.

The food was good, dressed up to match restaurants with stars, but not as high a quality. The issue is overpricing, charging £30 for a steak, but separating the sauce, side and any veg, to a cost of £8 for chips, £5 for sauce, and £9 for 4 pieces of asparagus, quickly brings the cost up for a sirloin steak that from the best meat suppliers in Guildford is only £10. I understand the additional costs restaurants have, but separating the pricing reminded me of flying with easy jet… the food can be had cheaper, if you are conscious of only choosing a meal that is “all-inclusive” so be aware of that. The atmosphere is good, although many customers have a haughty, overly pretentious attitude for what is essentially an overpriced chain with an interior designer. The exterior seating area is lovely, with views of the castle that really do shine when the sun begins to set. The wine menu, don’t bother. I’d suggest having a glass, but The Ivy takes advantage of this as there ‘no effort money maker’. The menu is available to view online - and verify this - and you can see that they’re charging £52 for a bottle of Chateau d’Agel 2022 that can be bought for £15 online. Overpriced, with separated costs for a construct your own meal, drowned out by an overpriced wine menu. There are better restaurants in Guildford with a better atmosphere and better food for half the price.

Much of the food tasted like it was removed from the freezer and chucked into the oven. Orders were forgotten about, made wrong, or extremely late. Venue very nicely situated.

Fabplace for a lovely meal and to catch up with my friend. A very attentive Waitress.

30 mins we have been waiting now, still Have not got our first drink or ordered any food, despite my asking. The place is also empty. There are only 4 tables here and yet the service is just terrible !

Lunch for a celebration with my husband, food was very good, but the staffs attitude when I very politely pointed out a cocktail I had ordered, which was supposed to have sparkling wine in it, was completely flat, I didn't feel the need to point out that the piece of lemon peel in it was badly discoloured- to me it looked like it had been made yesterday. I was told by the mancame to take our food order, that he would check and get back to me - when he didn't, I asked another staff member, she came back and told me you can't have anything else or a discount! All I had wanted was a decent cocktail for my £14 - The meal was nice but I would never come back to this restaurant as I was left feeling if you were not satisfied with something you certainly would be chastised for pointing it out.The lady on the next table heard the reply and lifted an eyebrow in surprise at the way I was spoken to. It really spoilt for us what should have been a celebration. We would have ordered a bottle of Champagne, but after that we couldn't wait to leave.

Amazing service, Rosa! Amazing bar lady! So many laughs and jokes! And amazing drinks! Will be back again! Thanks Rosa!!!!!

Took our mother here recently for her birthday with her granddaughter and family. We had so many issues with the service. We had a waiter who bless her heart was very nervous and I could tell she must have been new. They were teaching her how to style the tables etc she got our drinks wrong. Then when we said they were, didn’t offer to change them to the ones we wanted. She did apologies but they didn’t obviously go through customer service yet with her. My partner had the steak and no steak knife was given. They had brought out our dessert whilst I was in the toilet with the little one, and it was an amazing ice feature that you needed to see to experience it. So I missed out on that. My mother in law asked for a new spoon as our little one had accidentally dropped it on the floor. Another waiter who was more experienced, wore the green outfit had Pale skin and red long hair, bluntly said you already had one. Didn’t ask us why we were wanting another or used common sense that perhaps the child could have dropped it. I was it utter shock. They make you feel like you are not welcomed, especially if you have children. At the end of the meal, we went to go and get our coats and was waiting for 5mins whilst the waiters were sat having a chat in the one side of the venue. Then only realised we were waiting. We wanted to make this meal special for our mother in law on her birthday and she wanted her granddaughter to be there with her and she left feeling upset and unwelcomed. We wouldn’t come here again and suggest you don’t waste your money on service this bad. Food overall was nice and displayed lovely. Timing for it to come out could have been thought through but they had great choices on the menu and great value for money. I couldn’t fault them here. I would suggest having chairs for toddlers to sit on, otherwise they are perched on cushions. Venue is beautiful and picturesque. If they trained staff on service, this would have been a great experience. We have been before and noticed an odd service experience also, but wanted to try again to see if it would be better. It seems not.

Absolutely delightful restaurant with staff exactly the way they should be; welcoming, and classy and with the ability to only come to the table when required. Service is absolutely first class. The menu is very good, with a good selection of dishes from appetisers to mains. If you have allerigies, you simply scan the QR code on the menu to deterimine what you can enjoy, simply by ticking the box of the product the food contains. There was a lack of choices for people with allergies though. The dessert menu was full of appealing choices, making it hard to determine what was chosen. Again, for allergens, you scan the menu, but i didn't find any desserts at all coming up, just the main menu. The atmosphere is that of a lively place, and the dress code with price brings in a particular type of client. It had been noted when booking that a party member was celebrating their birthday and that they had allergens, and provided a little something extra for the birthday girl. This was above and beyond service that I expected and was really very kind and generous. Overall everybody in the party had a great time that will be remembered for a long time.

The food in this place is very delicious and amazing.The view also perfects the restaurant.In particular, I want to thank our server Antony, who is very outstanding and exceeding our expectations by doing his best.

Excellent Ivy themed restaurant in the heart of Guildford. Would definitely recommend.

I loved this amazing experience.the service was great and such polite staff. The food was insanely good would definitely come back.

Amazing experience! Gorgeous atmosphere.

Excellent food in a great setting. the restaurant is laid out well to provide superb seating areas.

Wonderful food and fantastic service! Lilly did an amazing job, she was knowledgeable, attentive and her recommendations were excellent! She was training and absolutely killing it!

We had such a lovely evening at The Ivy Castle View in Guildford! The restaurant itself is gorgeous, with that perfect mix of elegance and a lively buzz. And the view? Absolutely stunning. But what truly stood out was the service from Spencer and Yasmin. They were just fantastic. From the moment we sat down, they made us feel incredibly welcome. They were attentive without being intrusive, and their recommendations were spot-on. They were so knowledgeable about the menu, and you could tell they genuinely cared about us having a great time. It's that personal touch that makes all the difference. Of course, the food was delicious – every dish was beautifully presented and tasted incredible. But it was Spencer and Yasmin who really elevated our experience. They're a credit to the restaurant. We can't wait to go back!

We visited by invitation to their Aperitif Affair Launch Party. The food and atmosphere were good enough to tempt us to stay for some of their delicious Zucchini Fries and a cocktail or two.

I visited the Ivy for the second time recently and was once again left rather underwhelmed. As a vegan I was pleased to see the separate vegetarian and vegan menu although the choice of options was incredibly underwhelming. The two vegan starters were both salads which are also main course options. I found this to be very lazy and disappointing and also both contained nuts which would be very restricting if you have any allergies. I opted for the plant based rendang which was fine but nothing special and certainly not worth the price. Menu variety was poor, dishes lacklustre and far off of the high praise I hear from others. I left dissatisfied and disappointed.

Lovely mothers day afternoon tea great value for the price you get loads lovely birthday dessert aswell as we had joint celebrations

We had a fantastic dining experience at The Ivy. I had the duck—perfectly cooked and full of flavor—while my wife enjoyed the linguini, which was rich, delicious, and satisfying. We finished with the apple tarte, which was incredibly delicious—flaky, warm, and the perfect sweet ending. A big shoutout to Spencer, our waiter, who gave us incredible service—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. We also had the pleasure of meeting Hector, the manager, who’s originally from Mexico—such a warm and welcoming presence. The whole experience, from food to service, was top-notch. We’ll definitely be back!

The Ivy Castle View in Guildford offers an exceptional dining experience, blending outstanding service, exquisite cuisine, and a prime location with stunning views of Guildford Castle. From the moment you step inside, the ambiance is warm and inviting, striking a perfect balance between sophistication and relaxation. The elegant décor and thoughtfully designed interiors create an atmosphere ideal for both special occasions and casual dining. One of the highlights of our visit was the impeccable service provided by Spencer. His professionalism, attentiveness, and friendly demeanor elevated the entire experience. His deep knowledge of the menu and commitment to ensuring a seamless dining experience truly set the standard for hospitality. The menu offers a delightful selection of dishes, each prepared with precision and presented beautifully. Every bite showcased fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavors were well-balanced and refined. Despite the premium quality, the pricing remains competitive, offering excellent value for the experience. The location itself is another standout feature. Overlooking the historic Guildford Castle, the restaurant offers breathtaking views that enhance the overall dining experience. Whether enjoying a meal during the day with natural light streaming in or an evening dinner with the castle beautifully illuminated, the setting adds a unique charm. Overall, The Ivy Castle View in Guildford delivers on all fronts—exceptional service, delectable food, and an unbeatable location. It is a must-visit for those seeking a refined yet welcoming dining experience, and with team members like Spencer, guests can expect nothing less than excellence.

Attended for a celebration lunch on Sat 8 Mar. Benjamin M looked after us exceptionally; all special requests were handled easily and correctly and nothing was too much trouble. Food was good, a little pricey but tasty. Kids' menu options great for fussy eaters. We had a lovely table by the window with a view of the castle. They do enforce the time limit (though at 2.5hrs, this was generous for our table of 5). Would definitely return for a special occasion.

The afternoon tea....is AMAZING!! Highly recommend! Cocktails were good although a few tasted very similar. Service was great it was just a little warm and noisy in there.

When the Ivy first opened I loved going but now still years later they never change the menu . It’s the same things on the menu visit after visit . I really struggle with what to eat . We went for my birthday meal last week and it was such a disappointment . I had a chicken dish and I asked for no sauce or chillies and it came covered in them , the piece of chicken was chewy and grey in some parts . I hardly ate any of it . Such a shame as this once was the place to go for special occasions , not anymore .

A lovely sunny afternoon with good food and friendly, efficient service from Ben!

A bit pricey and the music was too loud for comfortable discussions. But the food and cocktails tasted good, and service was excellent.

Took my mum to the Ivy for afternoon tea. Wow, what a fantastic experience. The food and drink was amazing and delicious. The service was brilliant. The location is perfect with the view over Guildford castle.

Food and drinks were nice/okay, nothing super special, but fantastic staff who are very helpful/accomodating despite the place being very busy and having to organise a lot at once. We were very late and they were very nice about it and managed to find us a table after a short wait at the bar. Like all Ivy's the decor/atmosphere is very good.

Our first time, there were seven of us. We had a lovely table, and service was seamless. Only gripe was not one desert had custard!

Veeery overpriced… we received a piece of dry breaded chicken with an egg and some leaves (which was on the menu as a ‘salad’) for £20! Doesn’t come with anything so had to order some chips and veg. The sauce also tasted like bitter soil and was too thick to pour. The drink you can see was also £7 (no alcohol)!!!! Atmosphere is pretty good but you sit about 30cm away from the table next to you so conversations are shared with everyone. Wouldn’t recommend or go back unfortunately.

Fadish. Don't be fooled by the looks of this restaurant, the food is awful. Worse than standard pub food, dolled up by its average presentation. Don't waste your time or money. Albeit, very polite staff.

Lovely place, relaxing lunch ❤️

Very expensive and small portions of fairly average food. Will not be returning. 13.5% service charge unjustified and just a stealth way of increasing the bill

Visited here for Valentine's Day. Staff were friendly and we got seated quick. The food was tasty, but felt unoriginal and uninspired, just basic and not worth going out for. The "Valentine's Special" menu was just the normal menu with fewer options, with one additional dessert that felt very thrown together and supposed to be on theme because of rose petals. Again, uninspired However the worst part for me was the music. The restaurant was constantly blaring loud pop hits that drowned out conversation, and to make matters worse the songs kept randomly changing back and forth, like a bad DJ. Felt like more of a nightclub than a restaurant. Totally killed the mood. The lighting had this beautiful ambience that the music totally ruined. There was a talented saxophone player, but he was just made to follow along to the music playing on the speakers, instead of playing actual live music. What a waste of potential. If you have a saxophone player, PLAY SOME LIVE JAZZ! Especially on the most romantic night of the year.

Great all round! Service couldn't have been better, food was delicious and very patient with the children and friendly! Thank you!

Lovely anniversary dinner thank you !

lovely meal. lovely service from Louis. perfect atmosphere

Lovely lunch with good friends excellent food and service just a tad too loud for us veterans.

I recently visited The Ivy Castle View, and it was such a great experience. The interior is warm and inviting, with a laid-back vibe that makes you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in. The staff was incredible—there were so many people taking care of the patrons, and it never felt like anyone was left waiting for anything. The bartenders were spot on, super friendly, and knew their stuff. They had a great selection of local beers and drinks, which was a nice touch. The food options were impressive, with something for everyone. I went with the chicken skewers, and they were absolutely delicious—perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. My only tiny complaint is that I wish there had been four skewers instead of three because they were so good! I also tried one of their local lagers, and it was a great pairing with the meal. One of the highlights of the place is the third-level patio overlooking the castle. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain when I visited, so we couldn’t sit out there, but it still looked absolutely beautiful. I can only imagine how amazing it would be on a sunny day! The service was fast and friendly, which tied everything together. Whether you’re looking for a casual meal, drinks with friends, or just somewhere to relax with a view, The Ivy Castle View is definitely worth checking out. I’ll definitely be back—hopefully when the weather lets me enjoy that patio!

What is the point of sending me an e-mail at the end of January telling me that wines are half price. Surely this was due end December and I would have booked at ,least once

Absolutely amazing service. Best full English breakfast to get. Super nice staff. Very helpful. We had an amazing view of the castle. Oh it's a true English experience. So happy we tried it out. Will be back for more.

We were really looking forward to our afternoon tea but were left very disappointed. We waited 40 minutes to be seated even though we'd booked. We felt very awkward standing in the way. We were then moved to the bar area to further wait but, again, felt very awkward and felt like we should order a drink just to feel less in the way and awkward! Once seated, I asked for oat milk but was given cow's milk. We got a small dish of jam and cream for 4 scones. The cream was hard and rubbery and the waitress said it must have been left out. We asked twice if we could have some more jam. Scones were really tasty. The other cakes were a mix - some lovely and others quite mushy and tasteless. Overall we're just really disappointed. £93 for two people is quite a luxury and certainly not something we do often It was supposed to be a real treat.

I was taken here for brunch. It didn't start well being seated next to a screaming child. The poached eggs were nice enough, although the avocado may have been a bit past its best. Sadly we made the mistake of ordering a pot of tea. OMG. My tea cup was dirty, never great when you get one covered in lipstick. As for the tea itself, first time in 40+years I have never drunk a cup due to it tasting so terrible, and I have been to the USA! So, based upon my experience, I'm mystified as to why people were queuing to get in, maybe it's for the nice toilets?? For me, I won't be going back.

Food was ok, service and atmosphere good. However, it is very expensive. Our lunch for 3 without deserts, but with 2 bottles of wine at £50 each was £115 per person, with service charge of £35. The price ruined the luncheon experience.

The service and attention to detail was great. The wine was very good. You can not fault the professionalism of the staff. The food? It's was "nice", the food is not terribly imaginative, and it's "fine" definitely get the "chain restaurant" vibe from the food so do feel the prices (although not astronomical) are a bit higher than necessary. For the same sort of price we could go to some AMAZING restaurants. Would probably visit again, but wouldn't make a bee-line for it.

Really nice atmosphere great food and service

Nice lunch with the best service in Guildford. Main, drink and coffee = £46 pp.

The food was really delicious. The rendang duck and black cod fillet were super tasty. Service was good and efficient. Nice castle view. Price was reasonable too.

Had great experience when we visited The Ivy Castle View. Staff very attentive. Spectacular views of the Castle.

Great atmosphere for a special occasion but food average for the price. Ivy Asia is better.

Went to the ivy on New Year’s Eve food was very good and the atmosphere was great. Had a few drinks after at the bar also where the bartender who served us did an excellent job. I didn’t get his name but he had a buzz cut would definitely recommend.

James and amelia behind the bar are the ones we return for.

Emilia and James behind the bar were absolutely fantastic. Got surprisingly seated at the bar on NYE without a reservation. The bar and restaurant were absolutely heaving. Both Emillia and James had time to talk with us, make us feel welcome and help us choose what we would like. Nothing too much trouble, and acted like we were the only punters here. Will come back exclusively to see them. 5*, thank you to both.

Finally, at my fifth Ivy visit, they got it right and thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast.

I go to The Ivy for special occasions or a treat. This time was for our wedding anniversary and was not disappointed; so close to Christmas it was very jolly and busy with only minimal seasonal decor (great). We had lovely cocktails (margarita and espresso martini) to start. My starter, the cheese and walnut soufflé was gorgeous- I haven’t tried it before but will be again. Then fish and chips - crisp and flaky fish. I had flambé Christmas pudding for dessert, again delicious. With an additional beer, glass of port and glass of wine + sparkling water, the total was £156.00 for two which was reasonable. The staff are fantastic- a combination of efficiency and friendliness that they always get right.

Love The Ivy castle best fish & chips on earth ! Fab service . Even got a delicious pudding bought out for my Birthday 🎂

Amazing special drink for Christmas 🍸 and lovely New Year's decorations.

We had a wonderful afternoon tea at the Ivy. The service was excellent and Mia looked after us throughout. Very attentive, pleasant and always there when we needed something keeping an eye at the table in case. The afternoon tea selection is more balanced towards the sweet treats and I would suggest a bit more savoury options added. The vibe was really nice, with Christmas decor throughout.

Starting with a friendly welcome and efficient service, The Ivy, Castle View followed through with splendid food and drinks. The restaurant was filling up as we left with an associated increase in ambient noise but whilst we were there, it was fine.

Festive menu is much more expensive than standard menu. Food is average...you must work on getting the basics right.

I visited the Ivy Castle View with a couple of work friends for a social lunch. The decor in this place is quite striking and nicely executed, with the bonus of having a view of the old castle from some of the tables. I have read various reviews complaining about the service, but I have to say from my experience that this was pretty good, being neither slow or rushed, despite the restaurant being fairly full. The food is quite expensive overall for gastro-style cooking, and adding a few side dishes to the main courses soon cranks up the meal cost considerably. That said, there are plenty of choices on the wine list at reasonable prices, and everything we ate was nicely prepared and presented. The roasted scallops starter with the truffle and parmesan emulsion is worthy of mention as a stand-out dish. Likewise, the soy-glazed blackened cod is well worth trying. Overall, this was a pleasant, if not somewhat pricey, dining experience.

Totally dumbfounded by what all the fuss for this place is?? Yes the food was lovely but so are a lot of gastro pubs and they are half the price! Service was also good but no better than other decent places. Not been before and thought it was a high end place with dress code etc… thought we were going “posh for the night”!! Sadly not to be, men in jeans, no fancy attire on half the tables, a large group of raucous young women behind us, volume so high we struggled to hold a conversation at times. Wouldn’t rush back as didn’t get the upmarket over inflated prices at all, so really rather disappointed. Woman’s toilets also very grubby, need a good scrub in the corners with a small brush. Watch yr bill as well, we paid a £10 per head deposit in advance which they accidentally forgot to take off our bill until luckily we spotted it!

Food at The Ivy was good but a poor service. Didn’t realise there was a time restraint on the booking. We waited quite a time before getting our meal, table was cleared before we had even finished our mouthful and then told we had to vacant the table. Several tables were empty. A very rushed experienced, not one I imagined at a higher class restaurant with prices that reflected its status.

The Ivy chain boasts lovely restaurants, but the heavy standard menu needs rethinking. Not a salad in sight unless you just want a starter. Service was slow and ungracious - we were made to feel it was a nuisance our being there. But, the restaurant itself is lovely, the atmosphere great and if you want cottage pie etc, you’re in the right place!

The whole experience was exactly what I've come to expect and love from The Ivy - creative and tasty food served with a smile in a beautiful setting. We went for the festive set menu and no complaints from any of us. Our server (unfortunately didn't catch their name - hooped earing, we sat on the banquet in the far left corner near the windows 1800-2000) was an absolute dream. Highly recommend. Actually out of all The Ivy's I've eaten at, I think the service here has been the best.

Beautiful location and view. Food was excellent quality, well presented and in generous portions. Service was friendly and speed of food delivery very good. A good quality restaurant, all round which must be borne out as it was really busy! One minor thing though, I thought the, albeit discretionary, service charge was a bit high at 12.5% considering the overall cost of the meal (which was about right in price in itself). Maybe this could reviewed down to a more reasonable 10% or left at the customer discretion?

Really poor experience all round I’m afraid. Turkey ballotine from the festive menu reminded me of university Christmas dinners where a kitchen has the impossible challenge of turning out 200 portions of turkey to serve a hoard rather than the quality you would expect from the Ivy. Utterly bland and just as tasteless. Our son’s pasta with tomato sauce came with small bones and clearly a piece of anchovy in it so had to be sent back. The waitress made a point then of coming back to tell us it wasn’t anchovy but was “something from the tomato”. All I will say is that it must have been a very strange breed of tomato as (a) smelt like fish, (b) tasted like fish, and (c) clearly had bones. Service in general really poor. When I politely asked for a different salt dispenser because none was coming out the waitress shook it hard over her hand, said “well, there is a little bit coming out but I’ll get you another one anyway”. Thanks for making us feel so welcome and listened to. £275 for 4 adults and a child. Really very poor.

When we first arrived ,I wasn't impressed at the reception desk staff ,they weren't at all welcoming ,no smiles etc ,and then we were left sitting ignored for a while,but I said to my daughter let's give it a chance to improve and it did,one particular server was lovely and really helped make a difference and nonething was to much trouble ,so weldone to that person ,maybe they could teach some of the others a few things in customer service .The food was nice but not as good as I thought it was going to be ,but we did mostly enjoy it and glad we tried here .

Lovely dining room, but the Ivy menu is heavy, predictable and unexciting, and the sauce on my flat iron chicken was uninspiring. Not a main course salad in sight, which was a problem for me at lunchtime. The service was very slow, with a gap before our order was taken, before coffees could be ordered and before the bill was brought. Needs to do better in our view.

Very bad experience, would never be back ! booked a table for 2 for steak supper ( 2 hours before arrival) ..when arrived haven’t been offer the steak supper menu , just a’la carte ,we asked for 2 steaks from the steak supper menu waiter asked us which wine would we like … what side dish do we want ( all included in the deal )… never asked how would we like our steaks cooked ( which I thought that’s the first question should be asked) … 10 min later he brought our wine and said there is no more stakes for the deal we booked … the only steaks they have is filet or ribeye which are around £40 each so they can give us free wine and we can choose £40 steaks …. +side dishes at the full price….While we were having our meal there was a men ordering sirloin steak …. !?…Please tell is the steak supper a scam just to get people in or did we look too good so you had to get some more money off us ! … what is going on ( I used to work at the restaurant if there is no steak you should inform customers at their arrival!…it wasn’t busy at all! I am confused! What was all of it about It wasn’t Saturday night, it wasn’t a date , we just simply wanted to get a steak and chips with glass of wine ( quick dinner) ! Very disappointed