The Starling Cloud in Ceredigion

Astounding well worth a visit had traditional fish and chips well worth the visit from Staffordshire

I rarely write reviews these days but tonight’s experience at The Starling Cloud prompted this.Like most restaurants at the moment there was an issue with staffing levels and this meant that our order was slow in arriving with us. The kids were tired and hungry and the staff recognised this and were incredibly apologetic for the wait. It looked like there was only 2 staff members serving, one being the manager, and the place was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday at peak time. They were clearly working flat out while remaining friendly and calm. When food arrived it was very nice and we couldn’t fault it. As a thank you for our patience the manager made a generous adjustment to the cost of our meal and was genuinely sorry for us having to wait, for which we are incredibly grateful for Can we remember that the people working and serving us during this time are the ones who have turned up for work and are trying their hardest to fulfil all orders and keep everyone happy. With half the team off sick/isolating it didn’t take a genius to see the situation yet some customers were giving the staff a hard time. Thank you for your service tonight and we hope that things calmed down for the rest of the shift.

HelloOn boxing day i visited your pub for lunch as i had to spend Christmas day alone so thought i would treat myselfmy experience was awfulwhen i arrived, staff did not take my name, just sat me down with no collection of detail, i waited 25 mins until i got asked my detailsThe food was poor quality and not as described on the website, cold and not really very nicethis has put me off attending your restaurant again as this was a very unpleasant experiencestaff tried to chare me a second deposit when i paid it when bookingABSOLUTELY SHOCKING

Had lunch yesterday with a friend. Unfortunately the coffee machine wasn’t working and they didn’t have ANY full fat cola’s. The food was okay but wasn’t any thing special but the desert was very well presented and a good portion. The waiting staff were warm and friendly. Ladies toilets were a bit smelly and in need of a lick of paint and a bit of attention.

We have had a fantastic visit today. It was my uncles wedding and we came to starling cloud for a meal afterwards. The service was amazing! They had set up a table for us and decorated it for the celebration. Siobhan was brilliant and met with al of our needs. Service was fast and they came over to check to make sure that we were ok. Food was very good and we all enjoyed each of our meals. Thank you very much to all the staff today.

It was not busy. Immediately waiter came over and asked us if we had decided what to eat. We asked for another two minutes and didn't see him again! Ordered food at the bar. Garlic mushrooms were more like mushroom soup with a piece of bread. Gammon and chips looked like it had just been chucked on the plate. I counted 15 peas! Very disappointing. However, go here if you like dogs as there were four dogs in the bar so is dog friendly but not customer friendly! Will not be going back

Food was as expected, average at best, as was service/staff. What was really disappointing was that at the end of October there seemed to be no heating in the place and it was really quite chilly....not nice at all.

We last visited this pub some years ago and found the food to be fine, however on this occasion it was very disappointing. I don't eat meat so never expect a large choice of meals but there were only 3 vegetarian options 1 of which was off. Luckily I do eat fish so chose fish & chips which seemed a safe bet but the fish was hard, dry and overcooked as was the batter; chips tasteless. My husband chose lasagne but was equally disappointed, it was shallow and rather tasteless, a bit like a ready meal from Iceland. The dessert I chose was also off. The pub was extremely quiet despite it being Saturday night. On the plus side the pub is spacious with good parking.

Popped in to starling could after my years .and was pleasantly surprised as the staff were very help full .the staff were smiling witch I fine setting the service was second to none .well done to the management who have managed to turn it around .look forward to calling again

Visited as a last minute decision. Staff were able to seat us straight away and even though we were told 30 min delay on food after we ordered it still arrived promptly. Pleasant staff.

Customer service slow...ended going up to the till several times to order as young male server oblivious. Not very busy as well. Food good. Highchair needed cleaning. Over priced for visit. Won't be going again

Staff are attentive. Breakfast is excellent (good quality ingredients, not the ‘value’ ones you usually find). But the hotel has been starved of investment. The mattress was really lumpy and the door entry system *STILL* isn’t working two years on from my last visit! If you do find yourself locked out late at night, they now have a night porter to let you in.

In view of the covid restrictions a lot of eateries were either closed due to lack of staff or fully booked , but the starling cloud fitted in us no trouble , the staff were friendly and helpful especially Claire , would definitely recommend

Shocking food! Shocking staff! Avoid at all costs. Dirty toilets etc. Staff are so rube…. Absolutely no manners - shocking

Staff were super friendly and helpful! BUT .... food was very disappointing :( we ordered the lunch sandwiches, which the menu stated came on rustic bread, but ours came out on white medium sliced bread!! I did complain and they changed it to toasted white bread lol Staff did apology and said they had a new chef, well maybe the new chef should have been fully trained in their menu beforehand .... we had to eat it we were hungry lol ... outside tables were sticky and filthy, so maybe the management or staff should keep an eye on them more.

Awful. Opted for the Sunday roast. Aunt Bessie style puds, beef inedible, cabbage boiled within an inch of its life, roast potatoes still frozen in the middle and clearly deep fried. Sent it back, had gin instead.

Visited as a family after steam train event nearby. No problem with car parking. Staff were nice though drinks were slow arriving. Food was smashing though and would recommend the steak and chicken combo. Nachos for sharng was just enough for three people and overpriced at over seven quid. Fiver would be about right for what you get. All in all a good experience and handy if like us you plan it in after local activities.

Place is not clean, sticky tables and the toilets needed some attention as well. Second time I have had the misfortune to visit this place there will not be a third. Food not warm and the Staff disinterested.

Was really appalled by the service. I have been to many Marston pubs and my local is a great representative pity this can’t be said about The Starling Cloud!Waited 15 minutes to be seated with my partner ready to give birth in 2 weeks and the pub itself was empty. Food came out Luke warm but missing a child’s meal. I had to then go searching to get this resolved with no apology. I had to then go and find someone to clean the table and take our desert order but the order was more important and had to remind them to clean the table. A child’s ice cream sundae to them are 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream in a bowl with no other option. I asked could this be changed and told they needed to check with the manager which after 20 minutes never returned and when I asked for it to be sorted look like I was in the wrong. Avoid at all cost as there was no apology nor was there any compensation for the piss poor service!AVOID AVOID AVOID

We had a lovely meal here on 12/8/21. We were able to bring out dog inside the pub and we were waited on by some really lovely staff who were helpful and so friendly. The food itself was absolutely delicious! None of us left a thing. All of our choices were in stock and we stayed for pudding too. The staff were so lovely and couldn't do enough to help, at one point trying to comfort my youngest as I had had to tell her she might have to go to the dentist and she has a real fear of them. The lady who spoke to her used to be a dental nurse and she calmed my daughter right down. Such a lovely place full of great food and amazing staff.

Half the food unavailable on the menu, poor service given 1,coffee ordered 2 waited 20 minutes for the second no milk. Food was poor chicken over cooked potatoes were crusty and dried out.. disappointed 😞

Only 3 members of staff considering how busy it was! Waited over an hour for food even tho we had booked, had to request the table be cleared before desserts, which we ended up doing ourselves!! All in all a pritty Abismal experience, a welcoming smile wouldn't have gone a miss either !! we wont be going there again,

Lovely meals. Great menu and simply beautiful steaks. Brilliant and would love to come back again. The waitress was lovely and very chatty.

We were on holiday so didn't know the area and spotted the Starling Cloud and decided to eat there. On the plus side dogs are allowed but that was the only plus. The food was dire, the burger was bland and chewy and I couldn't even cut the pastry on the pie the contents of which were sparse and in some glutinous sauce. I actually pulled the pastry apart with fork and fingers! When the waitress asked if everything was ok I commented on the pastry but she didn't take it any further. When settling the tab my Partner again commented on the pie and to be fair we were given a discount.

Worse pub ever Drinks ordered and paid for No drinks arrive when checking with staff no drinks order gone through Asked for refund and left. Won’t be visiting again in a hurry

Myself and my partner wanted a little something while we had a beer. We ordered the loaded chips. Chips cheese and bacon. Well what can I say about portion size! We had not more than 10 chips and little bit of cheese and maybe one slice of bacon cut up if we were lucky . £3.65 ! We could of had a mag for that from chippy! Trying to get on the app was a nightmare. The only option they had for a hot drink on th app was tea! The service we couldn't fault, the poor girls trying to use the app to do our order, she ended up using good old pen and paper, we had no chance.

Fantastic service, once again we returned here for a family meal. Felt very safe with all the COVID precautions being followed. Food was amazing as per usual all hot and very tasty. We will be back thank you x

No nonsense food. Whilst the pubs in the town centre were all quite busy this pub was spacious and had plenty of room. Friendly on arrival and good service throughout. Plenty of choice and good potion sizes.

No nonsense man greeted us. Friendly chap if you talked to him. Service was excellent. Ordered Sunday Lunch. Food was cooked very well and not cold. Ran out of Yorkshire Puddings but didn't ruin what was an excellent meal. Desserts were delicious. If I come on holiday to the area again, I would gladly come back.

Terrible attitude from the host at the door. Extremely unwelcoming and made the entire experience uncomfortable. Not to mention how he treated other customers and staff. Refusal to answer the phone also made for a loud and annoying stay the the restaurant. I hope he washes his hands after catching him PICK HIS NOSE numerous times, during a pandemic!

Not very happy at all traveled for hours came to the starling cloud to be greated by a man name Peter asking us what we wanted and obviously we wanted a drink he said fully booked even though it was half empty not good won't be returning

I am from Liverpool and have a large family in Aberystwyth who we have not seen for 18 months due to covid restrictions. These restrictions were lifted on Monday 17 May 2021 and we were allowed into Wales for the first time in a long time and pubs were open to meet up to 6 a table. I fully understand and respect the rules in place to protect people from Covid 19 however - the door man was rude, aggressive, confrontational and unwelcoming, We had 3 tables, 3 people sat over 2 tables and me and my 3 year old sat on another. That's LESS than 6 per table required by the government. We were ALL buying drinks and food and talking at a distance from our tables. We respected the mask rule when walking to the toilet and throughout the pub. I have no idea what role this man has in the pub but he was on the door and seating people. He approached us and said we were not meant to be together as were breaking the rule. The pub will be shut down if the council came and he would lose his job. I explained we weren't breaking rules, 6 per table and we had less than that. He was so rude and refused to allow access to our other family members despite there being more than enough tables to accommodate them at a distance from the rest of us. He was more than prepared to sit absolute strangers to us at those tables but not our family members - So it isn't a transmission issue or a law - just him being awkward and not agreeing to it. My family have been regularly using Starling Cloud for meals, drinks, meet ups and have used the hotel on countless occasions also and never once come across someone so rude and confrontational before. He happily stood at the front door and argued with me instead of accepting he had made a mistake with his tone and behaviour. We will not be returning to the pub ever again.

Had e mail off 40% off booked via Internet, went there very welcomed gave nice table by window staff very pleasant saw good menu selection the meals was very nice fresh & well presented tasting nice had. Good 3 course meal they have really up there game & long it my continued

Visited this pub for a meal today We were made to feel very safe all precautions in place and the icing on the cake a beautiful meal many thanks

Stayed and had meals here for 3.5 weeks for a business trip. All of the team here are really helpful and professional. Food served on time. very tasty and good value. Highly recommend

No members of staff were wearing masks and we did not feel safe especially as the waiter was coming right up to our table, even to take the order and see how we were doing. No need to check on anyone during a pandemic, limiting the contact with customers should be a priority. One way system round the pub is ridiculous and not socially distanced. Food was average, and over priced which we expected.

My partner was spoken to rudely by a member of staff at the bar who was dressed unprofessionally in a t shirt, shorts and flip flops. Upon doing the track and trace, my partner did not have a phone which allowed him to scan the QR code. When he asked to fill is details in with a pen and paper instead, the staff member said bluntly that he could not do that and that he would have to find a way of doing it their way. He continued to speak sharply to my partner with every word. He ordered a tea and asked if there were any alternatives to cow's milk, but was told there was no other option, and was then charged a ridiculous £2.40 for one cup of black tea. We felt this service was most inconsiderate of other choices and lifestyles, particularly for customers without a smartphone.

Turned up and was told that they were fully booked and busy ??????? The place was empty ???? We then went online and was immediately able to book a table when we approached the the staff member on the door and told him this he started moaning that he now would have to find an extra table to seat us ???? Wow not hard when the place is completely dead no customer service with how rude he was needs training

Wanted somewhere local to where we where staying to eat and found the Starling Cloud who advertised dog's are welcome. Booked a table for 4 the week before and when we arrived told sorry you should have told us when you booked that you had a dog.Son and partner stayed while wife myself and dog had sandwiches from supermarket across road.

My partner and I have our birthdays just days apart. So a family member booked us a table and gave us money for a relaxing meal out. We arrived at 7.30 ordered, received our starter. Whilst eating our starter our waitress came over and asked it we were ready for our mains as they were already cooked. We declined. As we were still eating our starter to have them brought to the table a few mins later. So what should have been a relaxing first meal out since March was a 40 min speed eating contest. Which meant we left most of our main as we were just too rushed.

Stayed here one night recently and found the bathroom in particular rather mucky and tatty. A good clean would've gone a long way to making it a little better, especially in the current situation of Covid. Hotel gave you a note saying they've retrained cleaning staff to ensure high standards of cleanliness maintained, not my experience. Emailed hotel and manager just said 'we're due a refurb', that was it, didn't even mention dirt in bathroom. Says it all really.Did have some lunch in the pub which was ok. Service was very poor, ordered drinks, then food some 5 mins later food turned up before the drinks, we had to ask 3 times for our drinks as they served people walking in before us sat at a table.

Booked a table on line for 4 people Arrived at the said time was meeted by staff explained the guild lines then were showed to our table then a lovely cheerful girl took our drinks and food order the food came very quickly and was good over all the way they have set it out was good can’t thank the staff who were happy and helpful

We chose to dine here because we were looking forward to the rotissiere chicken, which is their speciality meal.After being seated and our drinks order taken and delivered,our order was taken. A few minutes later, we were informed that there was a 90 minute for the chicken. If we had been told this on arrival we would have chosen somewhere else to dine.However, we decided at this point to stay and chose different dishes. Our meals arrived and were very good, hot tasty and very enjoyable. The service was also professional and efficient. We finished our meals and the waitress came to take our order for desserts. At this point we were informed that the desserts we had all chosen were not available and our only choice was jam roly poly or chocolate brownie which none of us wanted.We paid our bill and left, went to tescos and bought our own desserts to eat at home. On reflection,we would not have visited this place to dine had we have known that half the menu was not available on our entry.

Stayed here a couple of years ago and it was great so decided to go again. It said on the confirmation email that we could check in at 2pm. We arrived just after 2 to find a note on reception saying due to covid check in is after 3pm. Thats OK, totally understand. We went for a walk with our 1year old instead. 3pm, nobody came and by now there was a socially distanced que growing outside the hotel. Several people went over to the pub to ask about checking in and eventually were told the night porter or similar had taken the only keys to the hotel home with him!! 1hr15mins later the bug guy turned up with the keys!! Whilst I was walking around with my toddler I noticed the bin store overflowing with stinking rubbish and a mattress on top, classy.. Our room had rubbish underneath the desk(not ours) the towels reeked of cigarette smoke (yuck)and the bathroom wall was covered in urine stains, the skirting board was covered in filth and public hairs which I cleaned immediately because I have a 1year old that would have rubbed himself against that in no time. The remote control had things growing on it, it was rank. And to top it all off, I got bitten on my ankle by presumably a flea!!! Now the restaurant/pub. Its Marston which I like. Food was pretty good.but they had run out of all soft drinks and when I asked for a lager instead, nope none of that too. breakfast was swimming in grease and no orange juice neither. What kind of pub runs out of all drinks??? And blame it on covid?? The rest of the country is functioning just fine but this one place seems to be blaming it all on the pandemic. Shameful, new management required to get this place out of a huge rut. A positive = the bed was very comfy and the air conditioning ensured we had a comfortable nights sleep,and the corridor was lovely and quiet all night.

Booked a table as eat out to help out night! Arrived and were given a list of guidelines which were well explained and understandable given the current climate. The menu was limited compared to pre-lockdown but still had a good variety. Service was very friendly and efficient, food was very nice! My only minor criticism is that there is no kids pudding option available!!

Couldn't fault the service and friendliness of the staff. Guidelines were carefully explained on entry. We pre-booked as there are a limited number of tables due social distancing, but the the meals were good and reasonably priced. The hotel was fine, it was explained that the rooms couldn't be cleaned during our stay, but it wasn't a problem as we only stayed for the weekend. Guests appeared to be adhering to the mask requirement in public spaces (corridors and reception). Having read some of the negative reviews, I would say YES there were some check in delays for some guests, YES the menu is probably more limited than usual, YES the staff are over stretched at times, and YES if you haven't pre-booked a table they may not be able to accommodate you. But these aren't normal times, everyone is doing their best under stressful conditions and a little tolerance and appreciation goes a long way.

Currently sat outside the restaurant waiting to be let in to our room, an hour after advertised and were in the booking details. We were told by on the booking details we could check in after 2pm, but on arrival there was a sign on the door telling us the checking in hours were 3pm - 8pm, this had never been conveyed to us upon booking. We went over to the restaurant and were told be Glyn, who funnily enough was also the chap who told us we could go over to check in at 2pm, that’s it’s now 2-3pm for booking in. We said that according to the sign on the door it’s 3pm and he admitted that the sign on the door is right and the website and all booking details are incorrect; apparently they need more time to change the rooms over due to covid. I want to say that I have no issue with them needing more time to clean and on one hand it is reassuring that they are taking extra time however, after several hours to get here to find out we now have to either sit in the car or on a park bench for an hour is not ideal, a simple follow up email from their team to state the time is incorrect would have done this. We got no apology from Glyn when speaking to him inside the restaurant and he seemed completely unbothered. We asked if they could seat us somewhere for the hour and, rather hostile, Glyn informed us we could “sit anywhere” despite all the covid restrictions we had already been through in order to use the restaurant prior, which we had no problems with and enjoyed the food. We have stayed in this hotel twice before and both times have been really great, hence staying again, but the service on this occasion has been very poor and we were reluctant to give any further business to either the starling cloud restaurant or to the hotel in future and will be looking for somewhere that values their customers better.

Its a chain pub, expectations not high. Checked website to see if they are dog friendly and it said they were. Arrived with (small) dog and they looked at us like we had 2 heads because apparently they only have certain areas you can sit with a dog. Anyway, we were seated and that was it. We had to ask for someone to take a drink order and then after we ordered drinks the waiter asked if we were ready to order food .... we hadn't even been offered a menu at this point! The menu has been dramatically scaled back and you have the basics available. Most of which comes out the freezer and can be cooked in the deep fat fryer. Wasnt great, wont rush back.

Stayed at the Inn next door which was clean enough but had brought own antibacterial wipes anyway. First family trip to the area and after exploring the town came back to check into the room and popped head in to enquire about tables. None available, so headed into the town. Before heading to the room for the night we called in for a drink, as wanted hot drinks..no hot chocolate available and tea luke warm. Breakfast time, was seated by the chef and only one other member of staff, taking drinks orders, meal orders and serving. Thankfully not too busy but poor guy still stretched. Breakfast was not great... everything looked like it had been in the fryer for far too long so came out a little chargrilled. Avoided for meals in the day but again called in on the way back to the Inn. The guy on the desk not very welcoming and once again no hot chocolate available. Would probably have stayed for more drinks but the attitude of the guy on the door left us not wanting to go in again. Such a shame that the rooms are ok but the pub with its 3 star food rating means that we will look for another breakfast option tomorrow and probably not visit again should we come back

Booked evening meal for my family ( 4 of us ) on arrival we were given a list of rules which was accepts given the current climate. We were sat at a specific table as we had our dog with us. We were visible from the bar and despite this we were left for almost half an hour with no one approaching us for a drink or food order. I eventually had to approach them. Despite us being in full view of several staff and an almost empty pub. So they had no coke or Pepsi !! My lime and soda was watery and didn’t appear to have any lime in. The food arrived, we had to ask for cutlery, the food was edible. We decided not to bother with deserts but then the waiting game started for the bill. The waitress assured us someone would be along shortly..... they didn’t arrive. I managed to stop another waitress just coming on shift who turned out to be the most helpful. Our overall experience was pretty dire. The staff seem rude and disinterested and it feels that you have to ask several times for anything you want. in-fact I’d say you feel like you’re an inconvenience as opposed to a customer. We won’t be returning .

Booked in at 8.30pm for evening dinner and they had run out of lots of the larger and cider. My husband had the roast chicken and was dry. I had the fish and chips and this was over cooked. In the morning went for brekkie. And that was ok, how ever they again had run out of alot of the main food options and orange juice. Other than that it was ok. Would i want to come back Big Fat No

Well what can I say, we went for a family meal here 2 adults and two children. Fabulous food, amazing service and excellent value for money! Highly recommended. We will defiantly be back. Nice to see people supporting businesses in these tough times.

Although we have visited The Starling Cloud before and were very surprised at the change then, we were even more surprised at this latest visit. We were greeted warmly at the door and led to our table, all the necessary Covid safety measures were in place and because there was seven of us (all from the same family), the staff had arranged for us to be away from the other diners, so thoughtful. The meal was absolutely superb and there was seven clean plates, even the children's plates were clean, never, ever seen that before!! It was a perfect evening, thank you very much Management and Staff.

We visited during covid 19 and were pleased to see appropriate safety measures in place. A reduced menu which was fine but having visited this place many times before and always leaving feeling satisfied having had a nice time, this time it was different. The meal was one I have had before and this time it tasted like it had been cooked by someone who was just trying to make up the numbers. Chips were luke warm, chicken definitely not from the rotisserie and the general presentation was as if they just couldn't be bothered. The staff who served us were excellent and very polite but the experience was disappointing to say the least. It will be a long time before we return if ever

Ate here while staying in the hotel. Menu is reduced and a bit basic but food was cheap and cheerful. Can't complain about price either as it was a eat out help out night. Overall good for a cheap meal plenty of room too if worried about social distancing. Your typical British pub grub.

Highly Recommended ,High class and friendly staff xgreat service ,very satisfied ...A Range fantastic Menues..Looking forward when I can visit and plan my next journey to this fantastic Establishment xx

Pub grub. Easy parking right outside, skate park across the road if you or the kids want to go shread. Good selection of booze at the bar. Does what it says on the tin. Better places to eat if you want to spend a bit more.

The food is so expensive and given the quality, not worth it.The service is really hit and miss. Sometimes you can get served quickly and get your food quickly, even when it's busy. Sometimes you can be there all afternoon for lunch even though the place is empty.

My son booked this for family of 7 which included 3 children aged 11 ,10 and 5.Initially every thing was ok.Waited after ordering drink for an hour before catching the attention of waiter to ask how long the food was taking as it had been an hour since ordering.What you must understand this was food which was more ding than haute cuisine.We were assured that we weere next.After another half hour we finally managed to attract a waiter.We had noticed than since the last time they were avoiding our table and eye contact.Additionally over the past hour all waiting staff were disappearing into the kitchen.Food eventually arrived and in most cases it was not a very good standard and my wife,s was stone cold [chicken and mash].We eventually decided to call it a day.Arrived just before 6pm - leaving approx 9pm.We expressed our displeasure at the paying till and was informed that it was best to complain on line " as no one will listen to us".I mentioned that I could advise the "chef" how to cook vegetable that should be al dente but not raw.This was one of the worse examples of service and cooking I have experienced,but even the manager, who finally dained to appear looked disinterested.Through our stay we witnessed several customers experiencing similar difficulties and walked out.To finish our night we popped into Morrisons to collect some food- would never recommend eating at this place and we, as a family, will never cross the door again"""""

Arrived at about 6 p.m. with my wife. Thought it would be nice to get out for a while and grab something to eat. The gentleman at the bar was very polite and friendly as he took our order. 6.30 came and went. By the time it got to 6.45, I’d had enough and decided to go to the bar and ask for my money back and just get some fish and chips. The gentleman was very polite and apologetic regarding the delay, popped into the kitchen and came back followed by another gentleman, who assured me that our meals would be at our table in two minutes. I assured him that if they weren’t, I would be back for my money.The meals finally arrived at 6.50. My wife had ordered vegetable pie, which arrived with chips instead of mashed potato an no broccoli as advertised. I had ordered a mixed grill with medium rare 4oz steak. I don’t think for a second the steak was 4oz, having said that it was so overcooked, it is possible that it started out that weight. Two lamb chops that I can honestly say tasted of nothing except burnt from the time it had been cooking. I still can’t figure out how you can cook a chop until it tastes of nothing! Chicken breast dry and no tomato or mushroom as advertised. The rocket which occupied half the plate was the only thing on the plate which looked appetising, probably because the cook ( and I use that term very loosely) only had to pour that out of a bag!We just left as quickly as possible. Very disappointed. I noticed other people having equally long waits for their food. To be honest, I was not in the mood for an argument, but I am hoping that by writing this truthful review, someone else avoids being ripped off by a substandard eatery. Absolutely appalling and if I could give a zero, I would.

Food was acceptable, like any other marsten/ weather spoon branch. Decorated nicely inside and in a good location. Price is good but our food was on the cold side.

Although we have been to The Starling Cloud before, we were not impressed with the meal or hotel room, we decided to give it another go as we had heard that the management had changed. WOW what a difference! The hotel room was spotlessly clean and so quiet. We both had a brilliant nights sleep. Breakfast was cooked perfectly and plenty of it. I only wish it could have been included in the room rate. We invited friends to lunch there with us and can only say, there was nothing to complain about, all the meals were perfect, well cooked and good size portions, at only £6.00 well worth the money. The staff were brilliant, so friendly and helpful, the atmosphere has changed completely. Well done that Manager, you have completely changed The Starling Cloud to a venue worth visiting.

We had a nice valentines lunch, Chloe gave excellent service! The food was nice and especially for the price.

Myself and my partner stayed in the hotel opposite so dined here for the first evening. We were sorted very quickly however this was the only quick part of the evening apart from our departure. No waiter or waitress came over even though there were two servers for six tables. The servers didn’t even acknowledge we were there. After over a 30 minute wait we ordered at the bar and so did another table. When the food came, the food was very very good and we did enjoy it. However we did not want to stay for dessert due to the length of time it took for staff to come over to the table after the meal. The food is lovely but the service is poor.

We visited for an evening meal at 18.30pm. Went to order and we were told there would be a 45 minute wait for food. There were only 3 tables in there, two out of the three tables were already eating their food. We have visited a couple of times before this and were told on both these occasions that there would be a long wait for food. They had also run out of alot of items on the menu on this occasion. We decided not to eat here this time so unable to comment on the food.

Lovely lunch steamed salmon with coleslaw and warm bread as no roast veg available .Large salad portion would have served two...Gammon egg and chips value for money .Friendly staff nicely furnished dining area plenty of choice of drinks .Worth a visit if in the area .

Four of us had a afternoon meal today, not a place I like because of past visits. My fish was definitely reheated it was a brownie colour and tough when I complained to the waitress she said that everything was freshly cooked and no way was it reheated and would tell the chef. This arrogant attitude is not away I would expect a member of your staff to treat a paying customer. Not only that but we waited at leased twenty minutes before I had to go to the bar to get a drink. We could not even leave because we had not paid and there was only one member of staff there and she was busy elsewhere, not a good place for a relaxed meal.

Avoid if you can .Waited 30 minutes to be served the meal which when arrived all had been overcooked

Food is always ok - could have bigger portions especially with the starters but the service is always always so slow and not always the cleanest of tables- the service on a non busy mid week night was shockingly bad & this has happened before- but their voucher deals are worth it

We stopped in for a hot drink and a roast meal. What a disappointment.

Just took my girlfriend for a meal here and we both had burger and chips.... chips were cold along with the soggy minging onion rings...my burger tasted like a lump of coal! I wouldn't let my dog eat from there!! Won't be coming back.

Stayed four nights in purpose built accommodation next door comfortable and clean room. Ate in pub on the four nights all meals well cooked and ample,staff friendly and helpful.

Food was very bland, service slow, not very hot and will not be going back again. could of done a lot better

We ate here last year but 12 months later has gone downhill. The place was empty which was concerning. The menu had a good selection but my hubby was very disappointed with his fish & chips. The fish was tasteless and dry.

Popped in for an evening meal on Thursday and there weren't many customers but food took over half an hour to arrive. Fair play the food was good and reasonably priced when it arrived

Food wasn't as advertised . Bits missing . When my son mentioned no cream or rocket on one dish it was brought back to us with chives instead ? Chicken was dry even though was in Satay sauce . Our food was even served to us in tea cups .

We visited the Starling Cloud twice during our recent holiday in Wales and found the service to be fast and friendly. The food was delivered promptly and was very tasty. We didn’t feel rushed in any way. The staff were friendly and helpful especially with a disabled person. We will definitely visit again.

I went with my 4 year old daughter early on a Sunday evening, never been before, plenty of car park space, walked in and it was pretty much empty; we waited at the "wait here to be seated" sign, no-one approached, a guy behind the bar wandered off leaving the bar with no staff, I then approached the bar, stood around for about 5 mins, another customer walked up as the barman came back out, he then went to serve the customer who 'd literally just walked up as he was coming out ! The other customer nicely indicated it was me first, I asked for a table and was told to just pick one and the waiting staff will come over to us, had a quick wander around, a lot of tables had reserved on them, ended up picking a table near the door where there were a couple of other tables in use, sat down, had the menu's open, a waiter walked past a couple of times to the other tables, didn't look at us, didn't say anything, the guy was still behind the bar and had been joined by a woman, neither of them bothered to see what was happening, I closed the menu's, still waiting and then the waiter walked past again without saying a word. We'd been sat around at the table in a very quiet, almost empty pub, for about 15 mins without any acknowledgement from staff, we didn't even have any drinks...that was it ! We left the pub and went to McDonald's down the road, at least we got served our food within a few minutes. Reading other reviews now it looks like we maybe had a lucky escape not getting served....

After a terrible experience at another Marstons pub in Carmarthen, I visited this pub with my daughter and family, 4 adults and 3 children. What a mistake!

Good value Sunday lunch at £9.75 (1 course); more than enough to feel full ; good quality ingredients well prepared. Would recommend the beef.

Went for an evening meal after work with the family. Firstly had to ask a member of staff to clean our table. Noticed a lot of the tables hadn't been cleaned and it was quiet there when we arrived. Our food arrived at the table I had a curry the poppodum was covered in grease, dripping. I told the waiter "sorry I can't eat that" he took it away, I presumed he would bring me back a new one, didn't receive another one and not even apology from him. The actual curry was fine my daughter and boyfriends food was fine too. However as you looked around the place, there are cobwebs everywhere grease dripping above the rotisserie, dirty floors (old dirt) not a nice dining experience.

we stopped here for some food after traveling a fair distance as last time i visitef the food was great. But this time was something else. The staff are the thickness and most laziest people i have witnessed. Couldn't even clean a table correctly, dropped a napkin on the floor and walked past it until my partner picked it up. We were left with a limited options to eat, there was no steak, chicken, pies, coleslaw . the burger was burnt, lettuce was brown, chips were soggy . was absolutely not worth the 45 minutes we waited. Also had to wait 15 minutes at the bar when there was no customers even there, the staff don't rush for service just take all the time they need. Will never be visiting here again.

Came in at 2pm on sunday 8th septenber waited 20mins at bar to be searved kept getting ignored (not even busy) then ordered food which they over charged us for, sorted this out then wait 55mins for are food to come out as again was not even busy, and people who ordered food after us with bigger familys then 4 got their food before us, when food arrived it was all wrong told server who answered back (a girl server) saying we got told your fries where a side so this is your side of fries! when we clearly ordered them to come on same plate as food,then went to eat food it was cold and the mixed grill was kinda burnt but cold so we didnt understand how this worked, we didnt send it back as was not sure they would give us warm food as waited 55mins for it to come out and by this point we where hungry and anoyed and the rudness of staff was shocking!! We come every year with family and this time we will defo be avoiding! If i didnt have leave a star i would not off defo a 0/10,

the restaurant is spacious and the staff helpful yet not intrusive, the food was ordered and promptly delivered and the menu was varied and interesting. The plate was satisfying in being just right portion size and looked appealing.

Staff are miserable and rude, food is tasteless and often served cold. Stay away from this place, there's better food in the freezers in Tesco!!

Lovely food at Marstons, Gammon, Egg, Pineapple, Chips and Peas. Certainly can’t grumble, great staff and service too.

Thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Room was clean and comfortable. Staff in the pub were friendly and attentive. Food was delicious and good choice available on the menu. Lovely atmosphere. Can definitely recommend and will certainly visit again. Thank you to manager Sue and her team of staff.

Yes free parking here.Only place in Aberystwyth we came across with parking.

Disinterested and impolite staff. Only cleaned my table because I asked but left all nine dirty tables dirty and the female staff member made it obvious she begrudged having to clear my table. When ordering the girl had long flowing hair that nearly went in our drinks and she seemed clueless to items on menu. When I asked about a straw for my son the manager moodily replied they had none with no attempt of an apology or basic politeness. I felt he didn’t care whether he had our customer or not! Been sat waiting for food for forty minutes now and not one table has been cleaned. Tables outside also full of glasses. I’m only giving a mark of average as the food was good. Bad customer services is a pet hate of mine. You also don’t get itemised billing so not sure what you’ve paid for.

Not the country! The food outlet, but they cook it for you and charge you loads for it to. Classic cardboard pub restaurant where nothing is homemade or real. Service weird. Quiet entertaining in the mood.

This is the dirtiest pub I have ever visited in my entire life.

The family all enjoyed their lunch here. It has a play place for kids, parking, easy to walk from town. The menu is very long so I’m sure there’s something for everyone - but plan some time to read! Our meals were good.

verygood meal nicely priced very good staff pleasent surroundings nipped in on a wim when coming back from racing

Waited over an hour for someone to come and take our order. Ended up going to the bar and ordering ourselves to then wait another hour for our food to arrive. When the food arrived the loaded chips were burnt and hard, 3 small pieces of chicken that they called an XL chicken burger plus the bun was also burnt.

Poor show. Ordered food around 7.20pm. Technically, still waiting. The order had been forgotten. Refund. Left.

Arranged to meet friends at The Starlings Cloud.Not too busy when we arrived, a warm welcome but rather short staffed so ordering and wait for food quite slow. The rotisserie looked and smelled awesome, we had the tasty craft platter and although some dishes were not available they were replaced with excellent alternatives readily.We were pleased overall and would return when the school hols are over and it is not quite as busy. For a reasonably new establishment, it has soon become a little frayed no doubt due to its popularity and location. Hope the staff get the support they need to maintain standards.

This was within working distance of where we were staying and convenient for a quick meal after a long day out. Service was prompt and the food average pub grub. This could be a nice eaterie but the whole place looked a bit tired, the tables were sticky and many had uncleared plates, glasses etc at 5.30 in the evening! The music was over loud (why have it at all?). OK but we wouldn't rush back.

We are currently sat in this establishment, on ordering multiple items off the menu were not available as had run out, the fryer was also out of action for the fish. We asked for a cider shandy and was given a larger shandy.

We went to the starling cloud aberystwyth took our GRANDAUGHTER for lunch.how hard is it to order 2 curries & a kiddies meal.WELL it was very hard the guy behind the bar didnt know what he was doing and asked 3 or 4 times what we wanted and each time got it wrong. We were then SAVED by a lovely IRISH girl who took our order in 2 min.if there is a space for a superviser l think she should have it ,

We had not visited for a while and we were not disappointed. We had to wait a bit for our Sunday lunch, but this is understandable as it was quite busy. Service was very good and helpful. We sat outside and was lovely.