The Silks on the Downs in Wiltshire

Wow, what a terrible experience, which ruined a 40th birthday dinner. What should have been a wonderful “feasting” menu with ample food to share, was in fact more like a famine. We were a table of 14 (11 adults, 3, children) and due to the party size, we had to choose their “feasting menu”- food pre-ordered and 50% paid some weeks in advance. So, they had plenty of time to prepare for our table. We had 2 plates of meat for 11 adults- these weren’t sharing plates, piled high. These were normal dining plates with a level amount of meat. Chicken was wonderful, however beef had lots of fat and gristle. HALF the table had what only can be described as a childs portion of meat and one member had no meat at all. I was sure more would arrive- surely 2 plates of meat for 11 adults is not suffice. But no, that’s all we got. When we told the waitress one member had no meat at all, she brought back a couple of slices of beef and said the Chef advised there was no more. Same with the potatoes- two bowls, one roast and one dauphinoise, some members getting little to none. We asked again- the chef advised none left, but we could have some boiled potatoes. Wow. The roasts were dry and hard, my knife struggled to get through them, they tasted 3 days old and had been reheated. The veg was boiled and plane. The gravy was in tiny little boats- again we had to ask for more. By the time it came food was cold Service was non-existent. Not once did anyone ask how our meal was, no one asked if we needed more drinks, no one asked if we needed sauces etc. We had to go to the bar to get our drinks ourselves. No cloth napkins, just cheap flimsy paper ones. The children’s meals were tiny as well, served on side plates and with no room for them to cut anything up. The desserts were below average. A sticky toffee pudding that tasted like it came out of the microwave, the crumble- I’ve had better supermarket ones. The table was booked by my dear Mother who hates to make a fuss and as it was a birthday she didn’t want to complain when we were all there. I have since tried to call to discuss the experience, with no joy. I have emailed and asked for the Manager to call; however, they want me to discuss it over email. No- I would like to speak with someone. Seems like they do not care for customer feedback or satisfaction. This was not a cheap meal either. If you are in a group and want to leave a restaurant where you’ve received no service, still starving, and ripped off, then book here.

Dinner here last night. Fabulous service, tasty local produce menu, delicious food, lovely glass of wine and a cosy atmosphere. Thanks for a lovely evening everyone at Silks. Perfect!

Went for Sunday lunch, food was wonderful. We are often disappointed with Sunday Lunch out, but Silks did not disappoint. Food was really good, staff were very attentive, overall a great experience that will be repeated !

We booked Sunday lunch for three , we were given a nice table at the back by the window . Thankful there was already water on the table as it took ages for anyone to ask us if we wanted a drink , when he came we ordered three beef dinners at the same time . We waited for ages , no food came , waited longer ! Now other people had sat on the table next to us and had no drinks plus waiting for food so it was not just us . Food came - little to no gravy on the plates , very disappointing we had to ask for more , more came ( a small little amount in a jug between the three of us ) , we had to ask for more again to just have an acceptable amount with our dinners . The food was nice however some potatoes boiling hot some cold , parsnip cold , carrot cold , cauliflower was nice . We then ordered two cheesecakes and a coffee . One cheesecake arrived . We waited . The coffee arrived . We had to get up and ask for the second desert . The waiter mumbled something about the kitchen . We were aware of the other table having just as long to wait and having money taken from their bill . We paid in full and also paid the service charge . We are aware this pub was taken on by the local community so should show empathy which I think we did however thelevel of service provided and quality of food is at best average for quite a premium price .

Lovely, will return! Me and my partner came here for date night. Lovely food with a nice selection. Everything tasted fresh. Nice friendly staff

TERRIBLE: Want a quiet full choice dinner? Avoid any quiz night! Booked a table for dinner on line in the restaurant. Open plan set up and pa system meant you could hear the questions in Marlborough. What was even worse that menu was scaled back to almost no choice and this was not indicated on booking on- line so wasted journey! Had a far better meal from a full choice menu in a much more ambient environment at another establishment in Marlborough. Will not be going back to ‘The Silk on the downs’ or more appropriately in my opinion the ‘Downs and Shout’.

Came here as a pit stop on a cross country drive, arrived at opening time 6pm for dinner. We were greeted very warmly by a lovely chap behind the bar and told that it was a quiet night so could take our pick of the tables. The food was fantastic, just the right number of choices on the menu. The drinks selection was equally well thought about with a couple of local choices. A good number of zero alcohol drinks too! Before we left we were told it was a community pub and the chef was retained by the 2020 champion of masterchef! It really was a perfect way to end a holiday and the perfect stop in a lovely village in the middle of a 6 hour drive!

We called in here a few months ago and were most impressed. The were a lot of locals helping out with the community venture who were interesting to talk to and the food was tasty and fair value. Things have changed since that visit because local helpers seem to have gone and the pub is now run differently. We only wanted a snack and what we had was satisfactory but the prices were excessive. 10% is added to everything so the beer is over £6 a pint. One of us had pate and the amount of bread that came with it was tiny so more was requested and that cost £4.40 extra for two little bread pieces. Regrettably we may not return; better value is obtainable elsewhere.

We had a very enjoyable lunch, the food was tasty and well presented and the service was good. It was very good value considering the quality of the food. There was a nice relaxed ambiance and I just wish we lived closed then we could visit more often!!

We know the Silks well, it has changed from a good old country pub to something you would find in a London wine bar. We went for Sunday lunch and was given the menu to find 2 different starters, is that all, mmmm. We chose the leek and potato soup which was only warm and tasteless, we mentioned it to the waitress, who apologised. The main course was roast Lamb, again, just warm. Then came the Bakewell Tart which was very pleasant, was it bought in or not, I'm not sure. The wine was very good, no complaints. It has lost the old atmosphere that it had, shame. Would I recommend the Silks, not as it is.

Extremely disappointed with the food and customer service we received. One of our steaks went to another guest which they declined and waitress took it back to kitchen and brought it out to my husband after she had taken the salad off plate as my husband didn’t want any salad. We then had over 5 minute wait for my steak to be delivered to me. My husband’s meal consisted of a piece of steak and 8 chips and half a cherry tomato, we complained to waitress about amount of chips and she seemed clueless as to why we were complaining. We asked for more chips. Then my husband’s steak had so much grissle in it he couldn’t eat it. We complained to the manager who said he had a steak a couple of weeks earlier and it was good. He then asked if I wanted to add a tip to the bill which I declined. We go out to restaurants and pubs each week and this is the first time we’ve ever had to complain about the food. Even the kitchen staff told the waitresses to get it together as they were so slow and not with it.

A really tasty Sunday lunch with great service, really friendly and super food , we will definitely go there again- we’ve driven past many times and will stop next time!

Another superb visit, I was introduced to the Silks just before Christmas and this is my fourth visit since. Service has always been friendly and food always delicious and today was no exception - a traditional Sunday lunch. Will be back soon.

Great food, lovely decor but the ambiance was missing. A lovely log fire on a chilly February evening would help as quite cold. Service was slow and amateurish and menu was a tad pricey. Would like to give it another try maybe for lunch

Fantastic community run pub. Food excellent and great atmosphere even on a Wednesday evening.only 15 mins from Swindon, worth the drive.

Warm welcome and excellent service. The food was delicious and couldn't fault it. The pub is so clean as well. I highly recommend.

From entering the pub to leaving a lovely experience. Met by a very pleasant Lady who gave us menus and showed us to our table. The Landlord had just cleaned the lines so the real ale was spot on! A very helpful man . When our food arrived it was hot and tasty. The prawns were delicious, the main course of spatchcock poussin was very tasty. I couldn’t resist a pudding, the chocolate and caramel tart was worth the calories! A enjoyable experience that will be repeated.

Dropped in by chance for a quick drink, wow. We were welcomed by a wonderful chap who told us the story of how the pub has become community-owned, we all need guys like this to keep village pubs part of village life. The service and wine choices were second to none. I am going to return with my work colleagues for a full lunch. If you want to have a great lunch and an even better welcome please give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Can't wait to make a second, third and many more visits in the future.

Popped in for a couple of pints and will be going back. Community run pub which has great service and a friendly welcome. Recommend!

Lovely pub ,it's run by the villagers ,and they do a good job,we had a great meal ,I'm a chef of 30 plus years and found the food was nice personally I would do some tweeks here and there but that's my opinion,,very modern inside ,will be back ,,keep up the good work .

Friendly pub/restaurant lovely staff good food and nice beer will definitely revisit car park a n bit tight

We visited this community pub as a large group of 20 people or so for a Christmas get together. The food was very good and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Apparently it is run by the villagers with one employed chef and waitress, with villagers doing everything else and all profit put back into the pub. Very impressed

The 6 of us really enjoyed our early Xmas get together. The food was excellent whilst the service was friendly and efficient. It was really pleasing to see how the combination of volunteers and servers worked together so well. Definitely worth giving a try if you are in the area.

This was my first visit to The Silks to meet sisters….we had all travelled some distance from different directions …and it was a lovely one. A stab in the dark, turned out to be an absolute gem. The staff were warm and welcoming and the fish and chips scrumptious, as for the Sticky Toffee Pudding…….!This will definitely become our regular meeting venue. I look forward very much to the next time. Thank you to the Community for reviving such a lovely pub.

A Christmas lunch for our walking group. Great service, food and atmosphere. Set menu for Christmas was great food and value. Allowed us all to pay on separate tab making it super easy to split the bill. Staff are friendly & helpful. Food excellent. Highly recommend

Excellent food. Excellent atmosphere. Great place to meet friends from around the country. Thank you! 👍

We had a lovely meal at The Silks on the Downs today. There was a big group of us and everyone enjoyed their meal. It's a lovely setting and the staff were so friendly. We would definitely return!

Birthday treat with my family. Good variety of dishes on the menu to suit everyone. Excellent service and very friendly.

For the second time, we dropped in for a light lunch on our way from Shropshire to nearby Hungerford. Our first visit was very rewarding and this latest one was possibly even better. There was a cheery welcome from behind the bar as soon as...

What a splendid spot. We went with my family, cousin and Aunt and Uncle from Brasil for Sunday lunch. A great atmosphere and being a community owned and run pub what a delight Silks on the Downs is. A super menu, simple and delicious and...

Excellent all round. Convivial but not noisy atmosphere, cheerful service. Delicious food and portions just right so that although we would have hardly starved on 2, we had room for 3 courses ie luscious desserts.. I think we will be back there pretty soon!

Went on the Thai night and have to say, the short rib Massaman curry was amazing! So delicate and the flavour, out of this world! Truly amazing what the chef can do and a lovely atmosphere! Recommended

Silks is a community rescue job nearly a year old; it is calm and open to enter, with lots of wood everywhere; sensible length menu with good choices; cooking by the cool and collected Lubos, with lots of flames to see, is pretty good; by...

We had lunch as a party of five. Greeted warmly, excellent service, and food really good, and interesting. Acoustics are a bit challenging for aging ears but we all enjoyed the occasion in this attractive community pub.

Always a warm welcome, you can just have a drink or a proper meal. Dogs welcomed in the bar area. The portion sizes are decent but not too huge and there is enough variety on the menu that all needs are catered for (even with...

Lovely friendly service and really excellent food - particularly the soft-shell crab! We will come again when next in the area.

Went with family for Sunday lunch. We all had starters, mains and desserts - greed not need - and all enjoyed everything that we ate. The roast beef was fabulous, with a great variety of vegetables and crispy roast potatoes. The homemade ice-creams and sorbets...

Just back from a dinner with friends. Extremely friendly and attentive staff and an excellent, if a little limited, menu. However, we all had different main courses, which were all perfectly cooked and presented. We will definitely be back and spread the word that this...

We have been meaning to have dinner at The Silks on the Downs for ages and were not disappointed. Really friendly staff who made us very welcome. Very good service and the food was amazing. The menu is not big but still difficult to choose...

Gorgeous place for lunch. Great food and ales with friendly staff. Pleasing decor with old photos of the place on the walls.

Stopped at the Silks for some lunch and a few drinks. Lovely restaurant with a really nice atmosphere. Highly recommended!

The service was excellent, as was the food. It was the first visit for some of my family and everyone really enjoyed it. Thank you for making us all feel so welcome.

Having used SotD many times over the years I was filled with remorse to see it’s decline over the pandemic. However buoyed by the news it had been saved by the community we decided to try it out. Very pleased to see the Wednesday takeout...

We had a family meal here on Saturday night and it was excellent. Service was great, food was great. If I were to book again, I would book the table at the front of the pub which is more snug and the main restaurant very...

Water brought to the table within a minute or two of sitting down and without asking - what a refreshing change! Friendly, efficient service. A wine list and a menu that represents excellent value for money. And the best roast beef for miles around. The...

Fantastic food, well presented and great for value for money. A good choice of dishes avoiding the traditional pub grub cliche

We had a fantastic Sunday lunch here. All of the food was beautifully cooked and absolutely delicious. The roasts had a wonderful selection of vegetables to accompany them and the beef was lovely and tender. The desserts were a really good size and very well...

The food here is so good and a more interesting choice than most pubs , soft shell crab and stuffed squid , very tasty and now with beer garden at rear , for when it stops raining

We love coming here, 5 star service and great food as always. Staff are always welcoming and smiling! They will even make allowances for accommodating menu choices (such as my daughter ordering chips as a starter and my son changing the ice cream a dessert...

A chef that knows his stuff. Tempura prawns, delightfully fresh and crisp with a hint of chilli; rugged fish finger sandwich served on really good home made bread with fresh-out-the-air-fryer fries and a asparagus risotto finished to order. All in all, great value.

We booked here for the first time for a family occasion and our experience was brilliant. Sunday roast cooked so well , lovely veg & good choice of desert . The restaurant is really relaxing and service good . We will definitely be back ,...

Great food and service on midweek visit to the friendly, locally-operated Gastropub. We had heard the “Silks” had reopened following their pre-Covid closure and were keen to see what the new ownership had done. Food was excellent, with some lovely unique touches and twists on...

Went to the Silks for lunch after a long walk. Great food as always. The burger was spot on and the burrata was delicious. Recommend the Cotswold extra pale IPA. Prompt service with a smile.

Newly opened as a community restaurant after the previous owners closed it, the Silks took on a short term chef who did a great job getting things off the ground. The local owners had done a good job of smartening the place up and it...

I went in to try the new menu and had the pork belly bap which was amazing. Really tasty, juicy pork - and with crackling on it! Great service with a super friendly front of house team.

I had my third meal at The Silks this weekend and all three of the group had delicious meals. I had the tempura prawns as a starter. They were juicy, tasty and plentiful followed by the steak which was very tender and cooked perfectly. The...

We had a family lunch at the weekend and just loved it. We had a fabulous table, were beautifully looked after and the food was absolutely delicious. I had the most perfectly cooked risotto I’d had for a long time, my daughter devoured her burger,...

Great food and lovely atmosphere. Perfect place for dinner with friends/family. Classic pub food and great beers

I have to admit I eat here way too often. Lovely menu with some interesting stuff on it. Nice environment and great service. I recommend it. And no doubt I’ll be eating here again soon!

Encouraging re-opening of a great pub. Sunday lunch was excellent. Nice atmosphere in the place and the staff were terrific. Will be back soon.

The silks is a great place to go for lunch or dinner. The atmosphere is informal, the food is delicious and reasonably priced and the service is great. We go there quite a lot, but this review is specifically for a recent lunch. We ordered...

We managed to get a last-minute table at the Silks on the Downs for a Weds night family dinner and very glad we did – we all love the food here and a fabulous atmosphere as always. The duck tacos were a family favourite but...

What a lovely restaurant, full of families, couples and groups of friends. We popped in on the off chance. We were lucky enough to get a great table. Swift service attentive staff and absolutely fantastic food . Incredible value for money. Will most certainly pop...

First time we visited since the reopening. Midweek lunchtime was surprisingly busy so signs were good. We had a selection of the small plates which turned out to be a good choice. Will definitely go back. A special word for the lovely waitress.

Attended the Silks on Saturday night with a few friends. Had the duck tacos for started and pork schnitzel. The food here is very high quality. There's also a good selection of beers.

We visited here on a Wednesday lunchtime and the place was busy so we were glad that we had booked. There’s not much to say really apart from how excellent the experience was. The service was great throughout and all of the food delicious. Can’t...

Went for Sunday lunch....historic roast beef, excellent ice cream, v. good service....highly recommended.

A table for 5 for a gathering of friends meant we were in the Silks for a full evening. The staff were hugely attentive (and patient), ales were great and food was superb. A warm and inviting atmosphere added to the occasion. Having driven by...

Great quality seabass and cuts of meat which were done well from a decent menu with choice - the prices here I thought were superb value and really enjoyed how we were looked after so well by the manager.

Took my mum out for lunch with the family. My youngest is a big fan of a good burger and she certainly wasn’t disappointed - “delicious” she says. The roast beef was divine, supplied by the fabulous local butcher. The atmosphere in the Silks is...

Friendly community gastro pub, welcoming staff, brilliant atmosphere, excellent menu can certainly recommend the fish boulabaise superb, good value

Family of 5 went for Saturday lunch. Our children are ages 12, 11 and 9, they are at an age where they ask for an adult meal as often the children's portions are more suitable for toddlers and not for my children who have hungry...

We visited for dinner and found it hard to pick from the all the lovely choices on the menu. Also really appreciated the range of low alcohol drinks.

We went for supper , couldn’t fault the staff , service and food. Starters were great and the mains all good. Can’t wait to go back.