Based on 129 opinions finded in 1 websites
Opinions
We had a delightful meal here last night. The food was simple, of excellent quality, and carefully and imaginatively cooked and served. The service was attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere in the restaurant relaxed and though busy - not too noisy. Thanks for a great evening! We'll definitely be returning soon.
Diana T . 2024-08-11
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Lovely, relaxed spot with a warm bar area and a great restaurant space at the back. Walked in on a busy Thursday evening, and they managed to find us a spot with 2 dogs in tow. Remembered by name, brilliant service and a relaxed environment. A very reasonably priced set menu, which had good variation. Delicious wine, which was recommended and tasted before going for it. Look forward to returning.
Elisabeth281985 . 2024-08-09
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We were a party of five for an evening meal. I found my starter a little on the small side, and the main course a bit expensive because the potatoes and veg are side orders! However, there was a very good wine list, the staff are exceptionally attentive and charming, and the whole place was impeccably clean, and welcoming with an excellent, casual ambiance. For a mid-week evening out it was fine.
Nick H . 2024-06-05
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We booked here because we were staying round the corner, I had read a few reviews as they are all so varied went with an open mind . We were greeted warmly by a friendly girl who re-set our table whilst we had a glass of wine at the bar. Once seated we chose from the limited (lalways a good sign) menu. We had delicious starters, mains and desserts accompanied by very well priced wine and a cocktail each. Our server was great, very informative about our food and wine, he also recommended other places to try whilst we were in the area . We would definitely return here if we come down to this area in future. We had a lovely evening.
Julie . 2024-05-25
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What a find. Luckily, our landlady recommended the restaurant at The Royal, because otherwise, we would never have known how great it is. The menu gives a nice variety but is not too long. The food is cooked to perfection. There is also an excellent wine list.
champagnesue2015 . 2024-05-25
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Came here for birthday dinner and had a really nice time. I had short rib beef rendang which was delicious. My partner had skate wing which I can't comment on as she put it away before I could try any. The service from a lovely bloke was faultless as well as warm. Great wine list too. Thanks for a happy birthday evening.
Tana E . 2024-04-20
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It was our fist time to visit the Royal and we were expecting good food and a good experience. We found the atmosphere enjoyable and the staff were very attentive, welcoming and polite, and a good wine selection was available. The food however was a complete let down, it was underwhelming, over priced and minuscule and some of the dishes were inconstant to what other dinners were having in terms of portion sizes. We are used to fine dining and enjoy eating out but what we experienced at the Royal was well below par for the prices charged and did not meet our expectations. We will not be returning to this venue to eat however we may consider returning to have drinks as the wine was decent.
Truide S . 2024-03-30
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It would have been a 68th birthday celebration but DFLs at their worst don't have an ap for customer service. Having booked a week in advance in person, stating what we were celebrating, we arrived to be shown to a couple of bar stools at one end of the bar. We were told that had it been on line, or on the phone we would have known. This translates to if you want real service, do as we did and go to a proper restaurant where space was made for us as soon as we explained climbing up a barstool was a tad beyond our idea of celebrating. The Royal did us s favour,however, as we found a restaurant we would go back to and recommend. Would not do either for the Royal. You can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.
Mrbadger1066 . 2021-10-09
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We visited here for a meal as we heard some great things and we heard right!! Really nice food, quick service and great staff.
RichardWiggett . 2021-10-05
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Well cooked interesting food.Visited during the week in party of 6.Welcoming friendly staff. Excellent venue, worth a visit.Not cheap, but worth it.
StewartG64 . 2021-09-27
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Came across this pub by chance great venue very friendly staff , the menu was very good great selection of both starters and mains we went for squid with fennel , koftas, salt beef on toast and a bowl of chips got to say everything tasted so good and more than enough for lunch would highly recommend
paulrT7683LQ . 2021-09-25
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The food was good. The prices were not cheap but ok for the quality (£60 per head including wine and service). The staff were nice but none wore a mask. If they had done I'd have given another star. They don't have to wear them all the time but when they're approaching customers, it's elementary to protect your clientele. I've just had a good lunch in London and there the staff did wear masks when approaching customers.
Simon P . 2021-08-27
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26.8.215 of us had a birthday dinner. The food and service was very good and we had a very enjoyable evening.My only comment to management and other diners is about the acoustics. With no curtains, chair coverings, rugs or really any fabric about the venue we really could not have a conversation without shouting, and the restaurant was not overly busy.Our group are all 60+ so not hearing as well as our teen years.I would probably not go back for that reason only.
Christopher W . 2021-08-26
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Great food and wonderful service. The hake was the best fish dish I’ve had in many a year. St Leonard’s has been blessed with a gem of a restaurant.
Dave G . 2021-08-22
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We popped in for Sunday lunch with our 10 month old baby, straight from the off the staff were fantastic and attentive, so I’m surprised at some of the other reviews.We all had Sunday roasts, which included 2 vegan nut roasts within the 4 adults which included some nice extras to cater for the vegans. Everyone had a great meal, can’t fault at all.All in a great experience and a fun time for a happy baby boy.
Brylovesbeef . 2021-07-27
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Visited with wife for Friday dinner having read reviews. Straightforward menu and service, nice spacious interior. We were really impressed with the food, perfectly coked monkfish with spiced broth and delicious aubergine with baked ricotta for mains, a chocolate ganache with ice cream and pear almond tart. Ganache had just a light sugar dusting but was not sweetened at all apart from that so set up well against the ice cream. Negroni immaculate and excellent good value short wine list. Only room for improvement was a marzipan layer introduced too much sweetness in pear and almond tart, could have made it simpler and just let the ingredients talk for themselves. But overall it is a gem, you are paying for great food and drink in a convivial atmosphere, for which it is spot on and excellent value. I hope it continues in that manner and does not over-reach.
dom48535 . 2021-07-25
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Amazed to hear the experiences of the ‘1 star’ reviews - we had waited a long while to go here (due to COVID) and we weren’t disappointed. The menu is not extensive but clearly focussed on seasonal food, and the quality was exceptional. No foams, aerosols or gimmicks here - it is very grown up food with outstanding flavour. Service wise, it was also great. Polite, efficient, not too quick, not too slow. Atmosphere spot on - not too formal, quite relaxed, big enough that you’re not sitting on top of another party. I sincerely hope that it was the bad reviews that were a ‘one off’ and not our experience, because we’ll be back for sure!!
Ourarka . 2021-07-11
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I was at the restaurant at 8 30pm on Saturday night and my experience is identical to the other one star review.How did someone else have a five star experience???Our orders took over an hour to arrive...without the requested bread. The bread arrived after the starters when they realised how long our mains were taking. Then they served poor quality and cold food and got the order wrong.The host was unbelievable rude.. an arrogant chauvinist man who failed to listen to local customers. I wonder how 5 stars came out of a kitchen that night when they accepted the food was too poor to charge for???
Alison T . 2021-07-04
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Four of us had a wonderful celebratory birthday meal here on Saturday evening. Brilliant atmosphere, friendly and very helpful front of house team and food with so much flavour - wow!! Looking forward to our next visit and fingers crossed for new years eve !!
fmh1902 . 2021-07-04
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Visited this pub/restaurant to celebrate delayed 60th Birthdays. The place was very busy and the menu looked really good. We ordered wine and which was reasonably priced and very good. Our table was booked for 20:30. When taking our order one of the starters was unavailable and two of the mains. (So early in the evening)? We waited approximately one hour for our starters to arrive and our mains arrived intermittently, cold and insipid. I will give the host his due when he came snd told us he would not charge us for the main courses. That was good as the side orders were also dire, a couple of bowls of Luke warm cabbage cabbage and cold chips!! We did expect to have the total bill for food deleted as a matter of courtesy and spoke to the manager who was rude and offensive. When we asked him to put his mask on when speaking to us he said ‘there is no reason to be aggressive’. I did feel sorry for the server who was really nice and polite. I would not recommend to go here at any time. They totally ruined good food!!!
Sunshine29511941783 . 2021-07-03
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Thoroughly enjoyed Friday lunch – delicious starters and impressive mains, with fabulous piping hot chips and spring greens as sides. Very good wine list and helpful staff. We'll be sure to be back!
BrandNewGuy . 2021-06-26
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Had a lovely meal with friends last night, food was amazing, and the team at The Royal were wonderful.The menu was varied, well designed, and nicely sized portions for us to have 3 courses.Despite me making a mix up with our booking they went out of their way to accommodate us.Would highly recommend.
Rikki999 . 2021-06-24
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We went to The Royal with friends for the first time last night and had the most superb dinner - on every level our evening was a rare treat from the atmosphere, service, wine list choices to the most sublime food cooked by Sam & his fabulous kitchen team and it was a pleasure to hear from James how this fantastic Duo started in partnership - if you haven’t been yet book ASAP you have a true food feast in store - thank you all at The Royal
535tined . 2021-06-18
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I think my headline states it all. I haven't actually been in a pub for over 1 year and went here for my re-initiation knowing it had been closed and refurbed, out of interest and support for a local business. I was met - no, accosted - my a male staff member who was youngsh but old enough to know better, who either had a bad day, or just had a bad attiitude. His treatment of me was inappropriate, shameful and a disgrace to the business. Im a over 60 y.o. and a retired professional, just the kind of customer you want to leave without buying anything or ever coming back again with family.
galynap2013 . 2021-06-16
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following Bib Gourmand listing but I think the menu available to them was a different one to our Sunday Lunch one.Lovely property and really nice staff, but boring lunch menu. Starters of Beetroot salad were claimed to be very good, but the roast pork dish was underwhelming (with the exception of the crackling which was some of the best!): roast potatoes were overcooked and kept warm-ish for too long, the duck was overcooked, and amazingly the hispy/sweetheart cabbage was tough?!! A lacklustre Jus was served instead of gravy which made the yorkshire pud soggy. We are not likely to be back in St Leonards any time soon so will never know if it was an off-day,
Jacqueline W . 2021-06-13
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I’ve eaten here with a friend twice in the last few months. Both times exceptional lunch. The menu is small but well constructed so that there’s always something tempting. Always a meat, fish or veggie option to cover all bases. This time around we dived straight in to the mains and both chose the plaice bisque, mussels and aioli. It was very tasty indeed, the fish and mussels beautifully cooked,the aioli plentiful but nicely balanced & not overpowering. We shared two desserts - the intriguing and exceptional chocolate fritters served with cherry ice cream and the fig & almond tart. Wine is by the glass or bottle with some served on tap. We had a glass each and dessert wine too, the dessert wine was so perfect we had two! With coffee to finish. Service is efficient and unobtrusive and our servers knew the menu and the wines and could chat through both knowledgeably. Tables are well spaced and every surface is clean. A jug of water is provided as you sit down as is a plate of bread for the table and the daily menus are left with you & only used once. It’s a very comfortable environment. Tier system allowing I’ll be back for lunch soon. I’m very lucky to have such a gem locally.
308LisaC . 2020-12-04
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I’d read Jay Rayners review and was really excited to visit. I know the Eagle in Farringdon well, a fantastic pub. I was expecting The Royal to be of this standard. The staff are really nice but the food was quite bland. We ordered the terrine and ricotta with figs to start. Both lacked flavour and punch. We both had a roast for our mains. The meat was cooked well but again, just a lack of flavour. the potatoes weren’t nice and crispy. The gravy was bland. I’m just quite surprised as the owners own fantastic joints so not sure what’s gone wrong here.
cydneyc2020 . 2020-11-01
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We had a table booked for 7:45 at the Royal, it was a Friday evening and there was a good atmosphere when we arrived. I came here for a drink last December and they have worked hard to create a much more inviting venue since then. Two of our group of 6 arrived slightly later so we ordered around 8pm. We had two portions of grilled squid to start, these were good but not particularly exciting. We waited over 70 minutes for our main courses to arrive, received a brief apology after around 50 minutes. The restaurant was a bit busy but not heaving. There appeared to be enough staff. By the time our main courses arrived - Onglet steak and rack of lamb very good indeed but the pork came with the smallest portion of mash potato you could imagine (why? potatoes are so cheap!) - we were brought our bill and told there wasn't enough time to eat dessert. We expressed our disappointment at this and we were met with rudeness, hostility and blame for ordering the lamb and ordering a little late. The chap returned to give a semi-apology for his rudeness but no discount or accepting of fault. So disappointing, good service is just not that difficult. The next evening we went to Galleria and had the most awesome meal and superb service!
SamPud . 2020-10-28
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We came here because a London Food reviewer had given it an excellent review. Problem was that some of the combinations were quite obscure and we struggled to find a Mains dish to entice us. So I went vegetarian. My coco beans, spinach and artichokes was rather boring, so pleased I shared it and got some red onion goats cheese tart in return. Portions were nouvelle cuisine size. The actual restaurant was beautiful - painted brickwork and highly polished dark wood floors and furniture. Shame the waiter was inattentive and we kept having to call him. He was grumpy when I saw him throwing away the menus after single use (that's Covid and OK) as he didn't seem to want to give ours to me to take away.
Ireneukey . 2020-10-27
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The pub environment is nice having been refurbished and whilst we had a pleasant evening, we thought the menu was very limited and I can imagine many people struggling to find a suitable dish, particularly the main dishes. The food quality was good but very small portions and we left hungry. Nice wine selection which was over-priced however the core wines are on-tap so the romance of a bottle of wine is missing, also the red wine is served chilled as its on-tap. The staff were efficient but not too friendly. Overall an experience that with some tweaks could be transformed. In summary not great value at £50 per person on average.
UCCUKBOSS . 2020-10-25
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my daughter and her husband had eaten here recently and really enjoyed it plus of course jay rayner wrote on of his robust reviews recently singing its praises.This pub indeed had a "reputation " in the past but the new owners have done a fine job of the refurb , keepings its character, the welcome is friendly- important!-we had a nice table a way from others , all tables were distanced so one felt quite safe here.a quick glass of limoux a sort of french prosecco - nice - then pork and duck terrine extremely tasty , griddled squid -good,-plaice , mussels in a bisque delish , hake with greens , choc fritters with cherry ice cream and a tart for me a bottle of picpoul- bill£104 , previous weekend we were in london and hardly had a dinner below double that so good pricing.a place you can recommend and one to return to , at night it is romantically lit .
alanEastSussexUk . 2020-10-23
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Booked on recommendation of a friend and we were not disappointed. Atmosphere warm and welcoming with tables appropriately socially distanced and all staff (including kitchen staff from what I could glimpse) 'masked up'.We had the beef Sunday lunch and whilst the portions are not huge they are ample and we both remarked how lovely it was to have some rare beef that actually tasted like beef! Waiting staff were bright cheerful efficient and helpful. We will definitely return and will recommend.
Glenda N . 2020-10-18
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Had the Sunday Roast beef - service was good, atmosphere nice but portion was quite small, mine came with one roast potato, there was no horseradish. Overall pretty good but at £16 per portion you can do better elsewhere.
pipsand . 2020-10-11
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Although housed inside a Victorian pub, this place definitely has a classy, restaurant atmosphere. The spacious interior with its moody lighting makes a meal here feel like a special occasion. The restaurant is updated daily with modern British dishes using local ingredients. I like it when restaurants don't have enormous menus because you know that thought has been put into the dishes and this was certainly the case here. Pork rillettes had a dark gamey base note and the squid with fennel was fresh and light. The old spot pork was terrifically well cooked so that you barely needed a knife to cut it. Dishes are rich, high end comfort food and we couldn't manage dessert but chose an extra glass of wine instead from a well priced wine list with several gems to choose from. Service was friendly and warm from the start and felt natural rather than corporate.Would definitely return.
seathcrook . 2020-10-07
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Fully deserves Jay Rayner’s accolade and so convenient just opposite the station. A well refurbished Victorian pub, now very spacious to be socially distanced. Staff were great in looking after us so well. Not hurried as although we were sitting down for 6.30 there was no expectation of a second sitting. Drinks selection is exceptionally varied and the prices are very reasonable. We were not as cheapskate as Jay Rayner who had the second cheapest wine on offer but were very happy with the quality and the price of what we drank. Food is excellent, no doubt from what we had. We were four so each had a different starter, again reasonably priced and each tasty. I loved the golden beetroot with za’atar. More consistent for the main course, we sampled the pork coupled with a creamy mash and our friends the duck breast. Just managed to find space for pudding, and would recommend the mirabelle tart and the blackberry and walnut pot.In all a very satisfying evening out. To be highly recommended.
francophilip . 2020-10-01
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The Royal certainly deserves its excellent reviews. We visited at 6pm and didn't feel rushed even though there was a second sitting at 8pm. The venue is COVID secure and the staff extremely helpful and attentive. The menu is extensive and all three courses were top of the range fare. Combined with a healthy wine list this is just what the neighbourhood needs. Straight opposite the Warrior Square station it is going to be a favourite of mine for visitors.
darrylt187 . 2020-09-26
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Food was really lovely and well cooked and presented. Long waiting time between courses (8:30 table) though very nice service. By this time quite a lot of the menu was sold out which was disappointing. Nice atmosphere. Around £40 a head for 3 courses with wine. Would definitely go back.
Kate W . 2020-09-19
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Six of us dined on Saturday night. The decor was great, Atmosphere relaxed, staff friendly and Covid 19 adhered too. The choice was limited for vegetarians and options for others limited as choices ran out. Portions small and sides needed to be ordered separately. Food tasted good just small portions on tiny plates. This could be great but the feeling of poor value for money and limited choice means it wouldn’t be the first choice in St Leonard’s which it so could be! Come on a few tweeks and it will be the place to go! Good luck we will try again in a few months.
826natashaw . 2020-09-13
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We were very keen to try the food in The Royal after seeing Jay Rayner's review in last week's Saturday Guardian but left feeling very disappointed.....We (6 of us) were booked in for 8 o'clock and were shown to our table at about 10 past 8. When the waitress came to take our orders 2 of the main courses could only be ordered by one person ie one steak left and one pork dish. This left a very tiny choice and at 8 o'clock seemed a bit unreasonable.The food that was served was nicely cooked but the starters were very small and the choice for vegetarians very limited. The Mirabelle plum tart was exceptionally good. The wine we ordered was excellent but when trying to order a few more glasses we were told that there was no more of that particular wine left. The bread served was delicious but came with no butter knives or side plates.The serving staff were friendly and warm but did lack a certain enthusiasm for the food and wine and didn't seem to have a huge knowledge about the food they were serving.It's difficult to assess the atmosphere in these times of pandemic but it seemed to lack any sort of buzz and the lighting was incredibly gloomy!I am sure we will give the place another go but feels it has not reached it's potential yet and actually despite the great review by Jay Rayner it really needs to up it's game as there is a lot of competition out there.......
Judesara . 2020-09-13
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We had the pork Sunday Roast. Beautifully flavoured jus but overall a very small portion. 2 slices if meat,3 roast potatoes,a sliver of carrot and a small portion of cabbage on a tiny plate. With a lot of competition in the area they need a usp to make it a go to place. We read Jay Rayners review which is why we wanted to try the Royal. We will return for dinner to give a fair try and to support local business though.
AngieB920 . 2020-09-06
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I left it quite last minute to book dinner for a group of 6 of us, luckily The Royal had availability. We had a lovely evening, there weren't too many options on the menu which was great as it made an easy choice. All of our food was perfectly cooked, the service from all of the staff was lovely and the decor of the pub was really nice too. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to dine around the St. Leonards/Hastings area!
127florencec . 2020-08-18
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The wine cooler was broken so after mentioning that our wine was warm, our £28 gavi was put in a freezer. Not great, but liveable with (probably mention that before letting us order it) - we had to get up and go to the bar every time we wanted a top up. The roast was not great, pre-sliced, dry and of the quality I’d expect from a £10 roast. Don’t put monkfish on the menu if you can’t cook it. I was horribly disappointed, my guest was mortified. We did not enjoy this and I am not sure the Canton or St John would be pleased that your PR connected you with them. The music was horribly loud and everything smelled of white beans.
Perfectlyvague . 2020-08-16
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The food here has always been exceptional but the meal I had last week was one of the best meals of my life and I've eaten in some incredible restaurants. Every dish was 10/10, perfectly cooked, mouth wateringly delicious.The chips are other worldly - every single one perfectly crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside. The duck was heavenly and the buttered greens are a lovely addition. The Mackerel with pesto to start was lovely and so was the squid. The chocolate terrine to finish was sublime.The service as always was 10/10 and the wine was delicious. I also had a fantastic Aperol Spritz. The tables were perfectly spaced with plenty of room and the premises were spotlessly clean. I couldn't recommend this brilliant restaurant highly enough.
Butterfly_bytheSea . 2020-08-13
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Went here for a meal, service was really good and the food was excellent, just needed a few more vegetarian options
lonergan65 . 2020-08-02
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Went for dinner here on Saturday 11 July 2020. The pub had just re-opened and had a number of excellent COVID-19 prevention measures in place, including hand sanitiser on entry, well spaced out tables and carefully thought out instructions on how to access the toilets. The staff were warm and welcoming and the food excellent. If you choose to dine out during this difficult time, this place is a very good and safe starting point.
RobJJ64 . 2020-07-13
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Wow . Such a great find Food amazing I mean amazing . 5 star and above . Especially if u r a fussy cow like me . I absolutely loved every mouthful . So refreshing to have a London standard pub in our midst . Staff so helpful friendly and just great guys . Have to mention the desert was to die for . We had such a lovely night in this pub / gastro / friendly / buzzy / happy place . Good luck guys you deserve high praise I will be sending my clients here . Beverley & Ian Hastings house b & b
Beverley J . 2020-03-06
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Lovely Roast dinner choice of 3 meats, we had pork and lamb. Good size portions and nice side of veg. House red was good value. Easy to book on line worth a visit
JCJOHNCONNOR . 2020-03-01
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This restaurant was recommended to us. The room has been done up beautifully and the staff were top notch but the food wasn't so good. I ordered the spinach and aubergine curry and it was so spicy I couldn't eat it, my husband had the pork which was cooked well but would have been better with veggies. I did mention to the waiter that my curry was so spicy I couldn't eat it and was offered more raita.It's a pity our valentine's meal was spoilt.
clairedG4532YB . 2020-02-16
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Went for the first time with my son on a cold rainy Tuesday in January and we had the pick of the tables as it was quiet when we arrived (early!) - it soon filled up and after eating there I know why. Great cooking - reasonably priced, good wine list and relaxing atmosphere. Just what we're all looking for I guess. And it is dog friendly to boot - always a good idea in St Lennys.
lljlee . 2020-01-29
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Us old farts go out every 6/7 weeks trying a different place each time.The Royal recently refurbed .Pleasant staff. Not a large menu but a good variety.Six of us went and all agreed that it was good food and reasonably priced.Two of us shared lamb shoulder ,Good choice .Good selection of ales too.Worth a visit .
robkettle . 2020-01-19
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Have been here for a couple of drinks a few times in recent weeks, the bar staff have always been attentive and the place has a good relaxing atmosphere. The first time I visited for a drink I noticed the food coming out the kitchen didn’t look half bad, so me and my wife visited for a Sunday roast that weekend. Again staff were great / attentive even though it was fairly busy. The food was cooked well and of good quality, was a good experience at fair price. It’s worth a visit
Adam_Hastings . 2019-12-28
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Had an amazing Sunday lunch here today with my family. Everyone really enjoyed their meals (some roasts, some other dishes). My husband and I shared the braised shoulder of lamb, which was absolutely delicious and quite enormous! Delicious desserts too and overall excellent value for money. Online booking system was super quick and easy too. The only disappointment was no hot drinks, so we couldn’t have a coffee after our meal. But all in all a really great place for a meal. We will definitely be back!
ionah321 . 2019-12-15
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Went with great expectations but disappointed. The pub was cold with no atmosphere we sat in coats! The beef although excellent quality was luke warm along with the rest of the veg and gravy watery. We left promptly to go elsewhere for a warm up!Yes we should have said something at the time but too cold to be bothered just wanted to get in front of a fire. Real shame.
Deb4Cake . 2019-12-02
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Met at this newly refurbished pub as I firmly believe in supporting new local businesses. What a massive disappointment. The menu was short, with a bizarre selection of mostly unappetising options, with expensive price tags (pig’s head, anyone?) to match. Anyway, we pressed on, determined to stay as the first friendly bar staff chap was so nice. The second chap, less so - when we queried what something Italian actually was, he rattled off an explanation that was no further help, delivered in an unsmiling ‘do I really have to explain this’ sort of way.The pub has been nicely done out, but was so cold so we kept our coats on, and very noisy - I think probably more to do with the high ceilings, not their fault.I ordered a ‘small plate’ with chips, and my friends opted for the same as none of the mains appealed to any of us. When the food arrived it was a) cold, or lukewarm, and b) tiny. When my friend politely asked for some more bread for her soup, she was provided with the tiniest slice of sourdough cut in half. My friend had the pork, which looked rather nice, but was stone cold on arrival.Come on guys! This was awful! I apologised to my three friends for choosing the venue, but we coughed up the £50-odd bill and left in order to finish our lunch date somewhere where we actually felt more welcome. This could have been a new lunch venue for us but we all felt slightly ripped- off, and less than keen to repeat the experience.
giniboz . 2019-12-02
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Fantastic food and service, lovely drinks too!!! Grilled squid was tender and tasty and the cod was to die for - fennel purée tasty tasty tasty !!!
811chloeb . 2019-12-01
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Excellent pub food, reasonable prices, friendly staff and a tastefully decorated dining area. Located right outside the railway station.
Deetee100 . 2019-12-01
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Had the most delicious food at The Royal, which was recommended by a friend. The standard of food was high, I had 3 courses which was beautifully presented and tasted amazing! Could of been in a London restaurant, cannot wait to come back to taste more from the chefs delicious menu!
amandahE2882MA . 2019-11-29
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Sunday roast was huge, amazing looking pub, very clean, child and dog, friendly. My plate was filled and it was delicious. Service was amazing, bar staff were friendly and always smiling.
Emilylouise34 . 2019-04-09
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This is the 2nd Sunday that we have been down to the royal hotel for our Sunday dinner.
Missunique68 . 2019-01-27
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We have just demolished one of the best pub Sunday roasts ever. Hot, lots of lovely veg, lashings of gravy, big plump Yorkshires, scrumptious. New owners, so welcoming. Dog friendly so will bring the woofa next time. Thank you
Simone E . 2019-01-20
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New management have made a big difference. Better pricing, Sky TV, great service. It is more welcoming just needsmore people in there. Schedule of live music now on offer will certainly help.
Lee W . 2019-01-15
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Super visit was made very welcome by the staff who were chatty and friendly. Nice refurbishment and new manager.
yvettefeltham . 2018-11-16
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Had nice Sunday roast here and decided to go back for steak on the stone on a Friday with a cocktail beforehand. Cocktail waiter was at their other pub and no steak available so very dissapointed. Staff very pleasant though.
Angie B . 2018-09-25
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This place has certainly spruced up! We'd heard it had had a makeover, so we popped in for a drink. It didn't disappoint! Really lovely inside, friendly staff, great range on tap. We're going back to eat soon!
MrsBsTravels . 2018-09-16
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Meet up with my lovely girl friends, group of 4!
Tryphena H . 2018-06-16
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We had two very enjoyable evenings and a meal in the pub. We loved the Greek themed menu and enjoyed our moussaka very much. Excellent service.
Mary G . 2018-06-12
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Lovely comfortable pub to sit in and the food is great. Dogs aren't allowed in so you can sit and and eat in peace!
SD M . 2018-05-31
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Went to a private, informal meeting at this place, with about fifteen others.
vegetablebrain . 2018-05-31
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The greek food is really good The pub has had a lovely facelift lovely surroundings and the staff are lovely & helpfull would recommend for sure
Sofia D . 2018-05-26
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We visited for the first time last night and ordered the Cyprus Platter for 2. It was beautiful. Freshly cooked chicken skewers with a delicious marinade, halloumi, gorgeous toasted pitta and delicious home made hummus and tsatsiki and salads, really delicious. Everything seemed so fresh and lovingly prepared, always a nice surprise for pub food. Not a deep fat fried morsel in sight except the beautifully crisp fries. We can’t wait to try the rest of the menu. The guys who served us were both so friendly and welcoming and there was s really lovely atmosphere. We’ve just moved to the area and are so pleased to have found this lovely pub, we will definitely be regular visitors. Can’t recommend enough.
MoMoBeat . 2018-05-18
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I recently visited The Royal with a group of friends for my birthday. We were NOT disappointed!!!! I could not fault it at all from the service, to the food, the dancing with the live Greek music to my free Daquari!!!! I have since recommended this place to lots of people as it's such a gem and with the traditional Greek Meze you don't go home hungry!
abbiem2015 . 2018-05-17
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Just moved to the area and found our 1st home cooked Sunday roast. Very well priced and plentiful. Fresh veg and We had lamb which was tender and plentiful. We will be back but will leave room for the desserts next time
Angie B . 2018-05-17
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We were very pleasantly surprised to find this fairly new arrival right opposite St Leonards Warrior Square station. Its predecessor was quite rough and generally a place to avoid, so this is a very welcome improvement. The menu has something to suit everyone and the prices are reasonable. The Cypriot options are fantastic and my son is still talking about how much he loved his burger. The staff are really lovely - very accommodating and friendly and the service is quick and efficient. This place deserves to be popular and we will definitely be back. The one downside is that we couldn’t bring our dog. Maybe the no dogs allowed policy could be reconsidered, given the number of dog loving potential customers in the area...
justinebee2 . 2018-04-02
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Picking up Madame in the freezing cold from St. Leonard’s station we thought it would be nice to have a bite to eat in the part Cypriot kitchen of the Royal.
Baron2013 . 2018-03-04
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What an amazing find ...Looking somewhere for a Sunday roast and discovered The Royal .
LisaWillHills . 2018-02-18
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We had been recommended the Royal by friends and were a little uneasy given its previous reputation .Its been taken over and completely refurbed and changed .
Azurlover . 2018-02-18
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Have visited a few times, since the refurbishment, sometimes for just a drink, very good Theakstons, and sometimes also for a meal.
sebbs . 2018-02-06
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This pub used to (deservedly) have a terrible reputation and unfortunately many people may still think of it this way. However, it has recently been refurbished to a very high standard. The staff are exceptionally pleasant, friendly and helpful.
1ec . 2018-02-04
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I popped in for a light lunch and ordered the Mediterranean Warm Chicken Salad. The presentation was excellent and it tasted wonderful. Very fresh! It's a nice recently refurbished pub and the staff are attentive and friendly. I've been to The Royal a few time before and can also highly recommend the Traditional Sunday Lunch. Great value for money
patrickmG7065PQ . 2018-01-31
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This pub has been done up and it's lovely. Friendly and relaxed. Wine is Lovely, even the glasses are impressive here!!!! I'm very impressed!!
Nadia M . 2018-01-21
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The refit has transformed this place. I visited with family for Sunday lunch and was very impressed. Decor and atmosphere is great- stylish and relaxed. The food was great and reasonably priced. Staff were very friendly. At last there is somewhere in St Leonards to get some tasty pub grub.
gaughanmb . 2018-01-03
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Great pub after refit. Have eaten here many times with my friends and family always welcoming staff and lovely food with a great atmosphere. A most welcome addition to the area.
Sharon I . 2017-12-28
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Appeared as a group of 9 and the staff could not have been friendlier or more helpful.
Peter H . 2017-12-22
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What a transformation. Absolute quality refurb and it looks like a top London bar. The food had a Greek twist and although the menu is limited the food we had was fantastic. Staff are really attentive and very smart. This must now rate as one of the best pubs in the town. I will definitely be a regular visitor.
John L . 2017-12-01
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Just returned from a fantastic lunch at The Royal. This place has been renovated to the highest standards. There is plenty of comfortable seating and the decor is charming. Staff were welcoming and efficient, the toilets were clean and beautifully renovated. I enjoyed tasty olives to start and then chose stifado for my main. The beef was well cooked and very tender and the flavours in the stew and the accompanying salad were delicious.
GillL528 . 2017-12-01
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Visited last week with a group of friends, today with family for lunch. Food fantastic on both occasions, love the hint of Greek food, just what the area needs, a great venue for all
Trek546655 . 2017-11-12
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Great service and great food, hope you do well guy's. This pub has obviously had a lot of money spent on it and is looking good, like a pub should.
astraltraveler1 . 2017-11-08
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The only place I know locally that has Greek Food. Not a massive selection but good to see. I had a Beef Stifado. Massive quantity of beef and a good greek side salad included. Couldn't manage it all but the staff doggy bagged it for me. Saw some burgers coming out of the kitchen that looked terrific and beautifully presented. Young attractive staff who were underused that time. Very quiet for a Saturday lunchtime but was only opened a couple of weeks ago and it takes time for word to get around. Very nice refurbishment. Only drawback if you are disabled is that the toilets are down in the basement although access to the bar itself is easy. There is a children's menu.
Planetbenner . 2017-11-07
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Refurbished in October 2017 and they have done a fantastic job. Friendly staff, excellent menu and contends with any top london pub.
BritExpat15 . 2017-10-22
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65 Opinions
We popped in for a quick bacon sandwich and coffee before shopping on Saturday. Quick service, tasty bacon sandwiches and the reason for this review is to call out the service we observed to others. The server with the brown hair and beard obviously knew his locals, and listening to him chatting to his regular clients was heartwarming, as for many he may be their only interaction that day. He was explaining to a lady that he was due to be off and that he would be back and that she wouldn’t see him for a few weeks. The young lady that delivered the sandwich to us was equally charming but both my husband and I sat listening to the chat across the counter and both said how nice it was to hear. So well done to the server, great customer service goes a long way!
175 Opinions
Really nice coffee and hot chocolate. Been a few times, will definitely come back.
412 Opinions
Absolutely love this place! We come to Hastings for the May day run, and always go here. But have also been here anytime we come to Hastings. Went today, just me and hubby, had Haddock and chips, Scampi, chips and salad, food was Amazing ,as usual, and great service! Can't recommend this place enough. If you're in Hastings, this is deffo the Fish and Chips place to go!
500 Opinions