The Strawbury Duck in Blackburn with Darwen

Called in on for a quick drink. Ended up having some food too as it smelt so good. Had the Lancashire Cheese and Onion Pie and the wife had the Veggie Bean Burger. What fantastic food, absolutely fabulous service, super friendly and happy staff

Great stay at the Strawbury Duck last night. Lovely beer, great selection of gin. Fantastic menu, best I’ve seen in ages. I could have chosen anything off the starter and main course menu and been happy. We both loved our meal - good portions as well. Reasonably priced too. Wish I lived nearer!!

Very nice pub and location. Nice table( booked) Food ok Tuna Sandwich and side ordered chips. The Service was a little off putting. Queued at the bar. A lady one front of me served with several drinks. When it was our turn we explained we had booked a tableandI tried to order a drink. Waitress showed my friend to a table while I tried to order our drinks at the bar. Told "no " order at the table as I would be "queuing for ages " ( it was me being served? ) but did as I was told. Ordered from the Waitress 2 alcohol free beers. She told me they only had one brand Corona which was fine Went to the loo. Came back. Still no drinks. Went to the bar. Ordered my drinks. Asked for Corona alcohol free. Again told no. We only have Moretti. I said fine look we've had a long walk and are looking for some refreshments can I order a drink if it's not too much trouble which I was then bizarrely served with. He then snapped at the Waitress to serve us our drinks The Waitress then returned with not two but one beer, another Moretti The Sandwiches arrived quite quickly but by then I felt like I'd offended everyone and been a nuisance . Coupled with this for daytime drinks and a Sandwich we were accompanied by an extremely loud eighties Stock Atkin and Waterman's so loud and awful music too . Must of been the greatest hits compilation. I didn't enjoy my experience and won't be returning.

We had heard alot of great things about this place. So we gave it a go Where do i start We booked a table for 4 people the night before. We arrived and we wasn't booked in so we had to wait while they sorted out the cockup Then they shoved us in a awful area next to the bar and two adjacent doors that was open so we could feel the draft coming from both directions. Table 10. Then we ordered drinks and food. Someone in our group wanted a cappuccino and the machine was broken. So that was another thing to add to the issues We couldn't have a conversation as people behind the bar kept ringing a stupid bell for the staff to come to the bar Staff kept coming to the table mithering asking is everything OK. This is one of my bug bears Food was excellent staff was polite. Location was out of the way and not enough car park areas We didn't feel welcome and we will not be returning

Fabulous pub in a great location Staff and service were amazing Food expensive and really disappointing Will not be going back.

Visited for my husband’s birthday in March. I had the chicken in peppercorn sauce and my husband has the duck. We could tell everything was homemade and it was delicious! The staff did very well at handling a couple of rude customers so credit to them!

Amazing homemade food, visited on a Sunday with family of 7, plenty of choice from menu, the Sunday roast was out of this world. Even though it was very busy, staff where always on hand if we needed anything, No complaints whatsoever, will definitely return.

Love this place especially for lunch and/or a drink after a great local walk. It’s very dog friendly, fantastic tasty food, great menu, lovely friendly and efficient staff. We were there for lunch after a long walk and it was very busy. There was a 60th birthday party in the snug but the service was still excellent. They have a great beer/ale choice. We had steak pudding, Caesar salad, cheese and onion pie, halloumi skewers. All were very tasty and good portions. Most tables had dogs (very well behaved I might add) so maybe not for you if you don’t like dogs!!

Very grumpy barman at least chrome today - put us off going again. A smile and someone who wants to be there would be good. Pint was ok.

Don't waste your money. We went for the roast dinner and it was tasteless and overpriced. The food was presented as a pile, with the veg at the bottom which was soggy AF. The food also tasted frozen, which was a surprise considering the cost.

Agree with other reviews that say it’s probably the worst roast dinner I’ve ever had - the meat was nice but veg and roast potatoes were really bland and just seemed like frozen veg microwaves. Had to put a lot of salt on to get some flavour out of it Expected a lot better considering it’s so expensive for a roast, the veg and potatoes were probably Toby Carvery standard. Feel a bit annoyed that we spent so much money on such a rubbish meal so won’t be going back Sounds like new chef/ new ownership which is a shame - I used to hear really good reviews about this place but can tell my all the negative reviews recently it’s gone downhill The young waitress that served us was friendly so didn’t want to complain and cause a problem for her, and I guess you can’t really make a complaint that you just don’t like the food

Mothers day treat....not. Booked in for saturday thinking less busy food to die for. NO Seated four of us 4.30 after crashing down the worst pot hole rd no signs to tell you you may lose your car. !!!!! Ordered drinks then food starters my son had scampi which was it seemed just out of a freezer bag. My self n son ordered chicken in peppercorn sauce other son duck husband steak pie. 45 minutes later n another round of drinks, table of approx 12 behind us who sat down after us had been served. My husband was presented with a cheese n onion pie chips n peas. Informed waitress who didnt come back, sent a chap who i presume was running the floor. He asked my husband if he still wanted it? Has it would take 15 minutes for another. My husband doesnt eat cheese. He left the plate on the table appeared 10 minutes with a pie and a jug of gravy....to i presume warm the original chips up..... None of us could believe what just happened, why would you leave a plate of food to get the correct choice without a new complete plate? The pie was hard and tastless the chicken was overdone hence our 45 minute wait. Duck dish no complaits. Informed waitress of my concerns who sent same chap who asked me what my concerns were???? So explained he said he would feed it back. Asked for bill, no offer of any complimentary drink ...which our order of drinks alone was 66.70 total bill 163.20. Thank you very much for probably one of the worst meals, terrible service ever. Thank you very much weve had your money, jogg on. Never again.

Visited for Mother’s Day family treat for me 4 children 6 adults Waitresses served starters and had no clue what Was children’s meals or adults meals giving one of the children the adult burger and then advising half way through it was for an adult !! Main meal Sunday lunch with three meats lamb beef and chicken asked for mint sauce and was advised there would be a charge for this shocked to say the least but still said we wanted this. Proceeded to eat the Sunday lunch never got the mint sauce . Sunday lunch roast potatoes very pale and not roasted cabbage thrown on top of everything on your plate Gravy not enough the whole meal was not enjoyable . Deserts 4 children ordered two ice creams one cheesecake and a chocolate fudge only 3 desert were brought out to the children one child was very upset 4 deserts were on the bill and i raised this with them there was no apology and no offer of a refund but because my granddaughter was upset I asked them to put it in a carton and provide a spoon to eat on the way home they put a scoop in a carton did not provide a spoon had to go back again and ask for a spoon very very poor service and poor food will never return Much better establishment nearby

Off the beaten track but popular with hikers and well worth booking for Sunday lunch. Great beers on tap and designer G&Ts. Car parking is limited as it is at the end of a track. You can get a train from Bolton to Entwistle and walk up the steep path directly to the pub. (If getting the train be sure to tell the driver to stop at Entwistle as it may not stop!!) We stayed for a few days during the week when it was very quiet in the pub in the evening. The restaurant offers great gluten free options although if you are vegan or dairy free you will need to let them know when you make your booking and they are happy to accommodate your request.

After driving 3 hours we decided to visit this cosy pub. The wait for food was over 50minutes. The food was terrible!!!! I could not believe how awful it was! Save your money and don’t bother. Plenty of other lovely pubs close by serving home cooked meals.

Went to celebrate a birthday with a family member…we ordered two sandwiches and a portion of skinny fries ( which arrived lukewarm)..one pulled pork and a cheese and Branson. The sandwiches arrived and looked lovely…although each slice of bread was so thick on the cheese sandwich I had to use a knife to cut it smaller but on doing so the bread just crumbled..it felt stale to the touch..it was as though the bread had been frozen and defrosted but hadn’t been fresh before freezing…I requested another sandwich and chose a fish sandwich but the same with that bread…extremely disappointed…considering pub only opened at 12.00 and we had booked for 12.30 we would have expected hot chips and fresh sandwiches…sorry but won’t be returning again.

First visit everything was lovely very nice food good service and a lovely place in a beautiful setting thank you to all staff

Visited yesterday after a lovely walk around the reservoirs. Now if you don’t like muddy boots or wet dogs this place is not for you. However if you like that country setting and quality food and service then it most definitely is. Always busy during holidays and weekends so if you fancy eating definitely book as we saw several parties turned away on a Saturday afternoon because it was fully booked, If judging the food alone this would easily be a five star review. An overly sized portion of beef brisket melted in the mouth suitably accompanied by a similar sized portion of dauphinois potatoes, green beans and carrots all obviously hand made saw even my huge appetite struggle! My wife highly recommends the cheese pie which was flavoursome and again ample when accompanied by hand prep chips and a lovely salad. Accompanied with a great French rose and a pint of Camden the English and equally good equivalent to Guinness. Be prepared if driving parking is tight at peek times and occasionally you may have to wait for previous tenants to leave your table, the only reason this is a 4 instead of 5 star rating. Whilst with good reason the staff never stop particularly the main guy whom I believe is the owners son? If so he is an absolute credit to you. The previous tenants could have been chased to vacate a little more. However a minor point.

I regularly call here whilst walking in the area for a drink of cask ale which is excellent. I do not eat here, although I have in the past. It amazes me that people go here, expect a 5* experience and then complain when they don't. Out of over 1000 independent reviews, TripAdvisor shows 'The Duck' has a rating of 3.5* out of a maximum of 5* To put it in perspective, Wetherspoons in both Bolton and Darwen also achieve 3.5*. Other restaurants in the Turton area achieve more than a 3.5* rating and one has a rating of 5*, the maximum. A rating of 3.5* is obviously an average, which means that some are happy with their experience and others are not. The simple answer is if you want a dining experience that rates more than 3.5*, there are lots of alternatives in the area, as we have found out.

What an absolute shame! Been coming here for years. Not been for ages, the last meal a few months ago was very poor, decided to try it again and nothing has changed ! It was even worse! Waste £100 on sub standard food! I think food is compromised because they try to fit as many people in as they can. The poor waiting staff were flat out bless them! I had the cheese pie and I sent it back as it was absolutely disgusting 🤢! I went without food ( they did offer to make me another, but I was totally put off ). They did take it off the bill b it nether the less a family meal was ruined ! Will NEVER return !

Pre-booked a month ago for a much needed family treat on New year's day. We travelled 40 mins to come for a great walk and an apparently great meal. Our booking was for 7 people at half 3. At 1pm we arrived for the walk and an extra family member had asked whether they could also come. We checked with the landlord and he confirmed it was fine. It's worth noting that the venue did at this point already have a sign up notifying customers that they were short staffed. Clearly they were also extremely busy so this would probably cause some issues. We came back at the allotted time and were told our table wasn't yet available. We had to wait outside which was ok as there's a heater and we had a pint. At 4pm a friendly staff member informed us they were still waiting on the table and offered us a table for 6 ppl, as a party of 8 we declined politely and bought another round. Finally around 4.30pm we were told we could be seated in the lovely snug area. Upon getting in there it was clear the table only seated and was laid for 6. It was big though and one side was still open so we pulled up a couple of chairs from the room and sat down. At this point a young staff member came in and told us that he needed those seats for other tables. We asked whether he could get any other chairs for the purpose he said no. He also said that we were only booked for 6 ppl so wouldn't be getting any more seating. At this point our party was getting understandably tired and slightly irate. I went with the lad to speak with the landlord. He was very short with me and restated that we had brought two extra ppl and would just have to squeeze in as it was on us. I retrieved the booking confirmation and showed him it was for 7 and confirmed that he himself had said 1 more was no issue. He just shrugged and said there was nothing he could do. I reminded him that we had been made to wait an hour and now he was refusing to accommodate us. I remained calm and polite, I thanked him and said we would go elsewhere....he said we should. I returned to my family and relayed the message. A minute or so later he returned and said our table was in the other room. No apology, no kind words, no offer of so much as a smile let alone any sort of goodwill. We had no other options really being new years day and a bank holiday we wouldn't even be able to shop for a good meal. A chap called Ben served us and was really friendly and polite, kudos to Ben given the stress which was very clearly being dumped on the staff by the boss. The food was OK in the main. There were a few complaints but nobody dared say anything after what had transpired. Again, no apologies, no goodwill gestures and lots of nasty looks from the landlord for the duration. Altogether a really sour experience not made any better by the mediocre food. Save yourself the effort of getting there and the potential stress of getting through a meal.

Went with friends for a meal to this wonderful place. The food was excellent, extensive varied menu. Service was great, very attentive staff. Will certainly visit again soon.

Our family group of 12 people had lunch here today,23 December, after we'd paddled around the Turton & Entwistle reservoir. Yes, it was damp and muddy. My only complaint about the food was that the portions were too big - no that's not a complaint really but you certainly don't leave this pub hungry. Even Desperate Dan would be content, I'm sure. The staff were magnificent and despite the complications caused by our family they remained cool and pleasant. So compliments to the waiting staff not forgetting their manager.

went for a nice afternoon walk around the entwistle reservoir with my wife, we popped into the strawbury duck hoping for a sandwich or some chips as we hadn’t booked a table on a very busy saturday. The staff were so friendly and polite in helping us get a table (even though we hadn’t booked) and we enjoyed a fantastic meal with a few delicious beers and tasty red wines. The atmosphere was perfect, the pub/restaurant was full of very happy customers and i would 100% recommend this place to anyone visiting but make sure to book a table as the weekends do get very busy. Will be visiting again

So worth the 150 mile round trip to take Dad for a pre-Xmas lunch. The Duck has had some ups and downs over the 30 years we have visited, but right now it’s on a massive up! Beautifully refurbished, spotlessly clean, great and varied beer choice and excellent food. This place deserves to do really well - a visit is highly recommended

Ordered the Angus burger...came with a frozen bun and one salad leaf the wife ordered glutton-free fish and chip came with a fish no batter on chip. After asking they didn't have any glutton free batter so just sent the fish gfs. Worst meal I've ever seen but thank good never sampled. Do not eat at this place

They are fantastic. Rang them to book for 14 people. Was on a walk. Given us a private room as there was 15 of us. Very helpful and staff very friendly. Food was amazing. We did pre order our food cos there was a few of us. But fast very quickly. Definitely recommend this place. Lovely pub. And the food just gorgeous. We will definitely be back. Oh and it's dog friendly. We had 7 dogs with us. They even do doggy treats for them. We was very happy with the service.

It’s a while since I’ve been as I don’t live in the area now, but it’s not the same great place I’m sad to say. Wrong drinks order. Ripped seats ducted taped up. Filthy wooden furniture. It’d be ok if it was cheap but we were paying a premium. It was the worst Sunday lunch I’ve ever had , and I’ve been alive a while and had a few. It’s a lovely spot , and the staff were friendly to us , hence not one star, but I really think it needs improvement.

Great evening tonight at this fantastic country pub celebrating my daughter going on a world travel adventure . Had the tandoori kebab , was told 40 min to cook as from fresh was worth every minute wait. Thank you for a lovely evening

I took my daughter out for lunch, and she suggested the Strawberry Duck. I'd heard good things, but this was my first time visiting. I went in and stood at the bar and waited a few minutes before someone appeared to serve. I ordered a drink and asked for a table and was shown into a tint room with 4 tables. In my opinion it's too small for 4 tables. I was given menus but no information as to whether it was table service or order at the bar. My daughter arrived, and we made our choice, pig butty with a portion of chips each. My daughter went to the bar and ordered food. However, other people got table service? The food came quite quickly. The butty was really nice. The bread was really thick, the pulled pork tender and juicy and the Chipotle sauce had a lovely spicy kick. The disappointing part was the chips. £3.50 for a portion of chips? Way over priced. £2 on top of the sandwich would be fair. £2.50 pushing it a little. £3.50 is just daylight robbery. The food was good but the location for me is a little out of the way and the room we were in was too cramped. Would I come again? I may bring my wife, but I doubt I'd come back after that to be honest.

Really disappointed by our most recent visit. Not sure what has happened as we used to love visiting here. The place is looking shabby, stained cushions and sticky tables. Food took ages to arrive and was disappointing, fish was dry and chicken was also overdone. We were afraid to say anything though after witnessing the most horrendous customer service at another table after a customer asked a question about her dessert and received a mouthful from the waiter. We couldn't wait to pay and leave.

Underdone burger, plate too small so food kept falling off it, Tandoori chicken over spiced, not hot just overpowering and inedible, will not be coming back.

Had lunch today - only sandwiches but had to wait 1hr 40mins for food to arrive! Ordered and paid on app as requested so unable to just leave and after an hour kept being told only a few more minutes. When it eventually arrived food very poorly presented and not at all up to scratch. Lovely walk tho' so afternoon not entirely wasted!

Called here for lunch with dad. Used to live nearby and seen the pub have various re-incarnations - some good some bad. The latest is excellent. Really tastefully decorated inside, cosy little rooms, nice bar. Staff were super friendly and helpful.Menu is extensive and has just about everything you might expect for a good quality pub lunch.Hot food was hot, and all salads were really fresh. Very good portions. Saw someone having one of the sandwiches which was huge.Good choice of beer and kept in very good condition.Great experience and would not hesitate to visit again

Me and my partner visited for the 1st time and we wasn't disappointed. In fact we left absolutely stuffed. The staff were so friendly and helpful. We used the round app which was so straightforward. It also let's you tip the staff via the app so if you have no cash then it's a great service. We had sandwiches but my god you only need one between you. We will definitely be visiting again. The baileys latte was a great finish too

Usually the strawberry duck is a great restaurant, unfortunately the take away to the rear of the pub didn’t hit the Mark. Coffees were £3 each, considering these were packet instant coffee topped up from a water boiler they were worth about £1:50 max. The barm cakes were of poor quality and fell apart, not a great experience and way too expensive for what you get. Won’t be helping out that particular take away again as I don’t think it’s fair value. I realise the business needs to make money but this isn’t the way.

Me and my partner were having a walk around the Entwistle Reservoir. We came accross the strawberry duck who were selling takeaway food and drink from an outdoor BBQ area. We ordered 2 coffees and 2 bacon, sausage and egg barms. This came to £14 and was DEFINATELY NOT WORTH IT. After waiting about 10 minutes for the food to be made (even though most of it was pre-cooked) the sausages were completely unedible and tough and the bread was of poor quality as it just fell to bits with the egg.The bacon was tasteless and the server also forgot to cook the chips despite me asking for some. They did offer to make them but after waiting 10 minutes already with a big queue behind we decided not to wait. It's not very well ran, the quality certainly does not live up to the price and you may as well just go past a greggs on the way home! We will not be returning at any cost, and if you're walking past, don't bother as it will just dissapoint you.

I used to be a regular visitor to the Strawbury Duck about 16/17 years ago but after moving, it is a while since I have been in the pub. After a walk round the water today I went in with my mum for an impromptu lunch. Not only does the place still serve decent pub food in nice surroundings, the Covid measure were excellent. Two young girls ensuring service was quick, rules were adhered to ( despite some uncooperative guests, who I might add were older - it is not just the young ones) and had a smile constantly on their face. They were busy, but very much in control. Excellent girls xxx

Great lunch today sat outside in the sunshine. Lockdown measures include a one way system including arrows on the floor and in the front door and out another. No big deal really. Drinks brought quickly to our table , had to queue a few minutes to order food but arrived promptly and large portions of tasty food. This was our first visit after finding the pub on our walk, will be back

Reading some of the nonsense reviews on here has prompted me to write my own. Firstly I'd suggest you ignore the 'I only got half a cup of water's or the 'my steak was not the exact precise temperature' etc etc reviews and go along and check it out yourself. You wont be disappointed. It's a great pub with little nooks and crannies everywhere. Every room is cosy and comfy. The beer is great and the food is lovely. The drive there can be terrifying but well worth it. I've been going here for years and have never left the place anything other than satisfying full and looking forward to my next visit.

Due to recent lockdown measures we decided to treat ourselves to a family meal out as we haven't been to restaurant in good while. We decided, after recommendation to try The Strawbury Duck. On first impressions it looked a lovely pub, set in a lovely part of the countryside....sadly that's where my positive feedback ends. Tables in the bar area were seated very close to one another, had to move to the table as we seated as it felt we were practically sat with the table behind us. Had to return my daughters soft drink as it tasted, what I can only describe as disinfectant. After quite a wait, our main courses arrived. My wife's plate was swimming in water from the undrained vegetables, which was soaked up with a napkin. We finally returned the entire dish back to the kitchen as the chicken breast was undercooked. Sadly, even after the meal was returned, the same chicken breast was still not cooked thoroughly..... unsurprisingly my wife lost her appetite with her meal and left it barely eaten. We complained and this was removed from the bill. What was initially booked as a treat for the family, ended with us looking forward to receiving the bill and leaving. Overall, we left feeling really disappointed with our first (and last experience of the Strawbury Duck).

Visited for a family lunch, staff were welcoming and friendly and the Covid procedures were good. The food was superb, good choice for vegetarians and generous portion sizes, everyone was happy.

Love the setting and inside decor. Menu for lunch a bit pricey. Meal was average but rooms were cold. If fires had been lit and heating on it would have made it more cosy and much more of a pleasant environment to be in.

I’m not normally one to write a review but after today’s terrible experience I felt compelled. Booked a table for Sunday lunch and the poor experience started as soon as we entered the pub. Spoke to the first staff member who said he would send someone over to seat us. With the people behind us being tended to first. After asking again we were shown to our table. Sat in an otherwise empty room right next to the kitchen door. The noise coming from the kitchen was loud and quite frustrating. We proceeded to order food and drinks after being reassured the noise would stop. The noise DID NOT STOP and with staff entering and exiting the kitchen every minute or so. It was becoming increasingly hard to enjoy the experience. We politely asked to be seated somewhere else. We were then told rather abruptly that wasn’t possible. Then asked to sit outside if that was an option. To which we were told they were unsure if there were any available seats outdoors. The server didn’t see it appropriate to check if we could sit outside. So unfortunately we cancelled our food order and went elsewhere. No apologies from the staff at any point. We won’t be returning. Save yourself the bother and go somewhere else.

I often stop in here during a walk. The staff and service are always lovely. Whether you’re stopping for a drink, a snack or a full meal, you won’t be disappointed.

Food was OK but tea!! Only half full cup of just about hot ( certainly not boiling) water, served with warm milk. Poor, very poor considering the price.

4 of us went for Sunday lunch after a walk. Great value menu. Wide choice of gins. Superb beers. Sunday roast was great. The young ladies who served us were very attentive, friendly and polite. We booked a table the day before and they were clear on social distancing rules.

Ordered steak and chips.Ordered the steak to be well done but was still bloody inside and the chips were pale and uninviting.The presentation of the meal on the plate was poor.Food used to be lovely but not anymore.Would not recommend.

After a walk around Entwistle reservoir I had a roast beef buttie and soup. The bread was homemade, the roast beef was warm from the roast beef for Sunday lunches and the soup homemade too. Sat in the sun in the beer garden out front by the car park. My wife had the same but cheese instead of beef and chips instead of soup which again were hand cut home made. Excellent meal and all for about £25 including a pint of Moretti. Some other couples in the beer garden had burgers and even a tandoori swinging kebab. Deffo be going back even though it is a 20 min drive. I don’t do reviews but had to put this on as soon as I got home.

Avoid at All CostsMyself and my girlfriend decided to visit and ordered £30 worth of food & non alcoholic drinks. Due to the eat out to help out scheme we expected to pay £15 but was the charged the full price of £30. We questioned this and were told that due to not booking online we couldn't have this offer.NOWHERE DOES IT STATE THIS ON THEIR WEBSITE OR THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMEI politely told the manager this however he argued with me and make me feel stupid and harrassed. He refused to refund the money and ignored me completely.I advise anyone to NEVER EVER VISIT!

Stopped off here with family and dog for a quick snack, great service, food was good and despote what others have weitten, the place is Covid compliant, one way system, plenty of cleaning going on and lots of tables closed off. We had a full room for 3 of us. Will definitely be back soon

The Strawbury Duck is not social distancing, lets start with that one. We sat in the back room on a table for four, the room is approx 12ft sq and there was seating for ten people in there. Part of that room also functions as the one way system around the pub going to/from the toilets, so it's a very busy and small room. The food was nothing more than okay and nothing to rave about but the service was perfunctory at best, We had drinks spilled onto our trousers and could hear throughout our meal the staff shouting to each other across the pub like feral youths. I've enjoyed going to the SD for over thirty years on and off but I won't be going back.

Not especially impressed with the Covid rules put in place here. Its setup well inside with one way systems and floor markings etc. However outside its a complete free for all except in the queue for the outside bar.We were there for about an hour outside. Tables were not cleaned at all while we were there despite multiple groups using the same tables. Staff were approaching close to customers without face masks. Not very impressed to be honest.Inside its well setup though we did have a issue with our booking. We had requested 2 tables of 2 next to each other as we were 2 households and wanted social distance or a table of 6 so we could separate. We put this requirement on our reservation and telephoned to ensure this however we were still put on a small table of 4 and were told we couldn't move despite there being lots of empty tables. I explained that this wasn't what we had arranged to the waitress who just gave me the stock computer says no answer. The only reason we stayed is that after about 10 minutes I managed to get hold of the manager who found us a table for 6 in a few seconds so clearly the waitress didn't know what she was doing or hadn't asked the manager.When we called to arrange the table the person on the phone also said they wouldn't know if we were from separate households if we wanted to be on the same table. This is completely against Covid regs and I was annoyed that they were encouraging customer s to try and bypass the rules. Its this kind of action that is the reason that Blackburn and Darwen higher rates than other areas and in danger of getting locked down again.This remains a good pub, food and beer wise, but they need to make a better effort regarding Covid and stop trying to do the bare minimum.

Came here based on recommendations, but found it only a bit better than averageFirstly. Use sat nav directions for enwhistle train station and not the pubs post code. You will be directed up the tarmac road. Not up the back road which is pot hole hell and you think your lost, start swearing at the sat nav to them pop out more or less in the beer garden. Small car park and limited spaces near. Parking is a pain Service in here is good. Service is a little slow but you couldn't fault the staff for attention to detail. Seated quickly, drink or taken and drinks on the table. We ordered garlic mushrooms and a hummus starter. The wife loved the mushrooms. The hummus was a little bitter, but loads of it and plenty of pitta. Not sure why it's served with a small bowl of oil though...For mains I had the hanging tikka chicken kebab. The chicken was awesome. So tasty, I could have eaten two lots. A few fries and side salad. A great dish. The wife order the Sunday roast with three meats. It looked good and a nice size portion. But the meat was just fatty and bland. She only ate the ham and veg. Said it wasn't the best. For desert we tried the chocolate fudge brownie. Normally most places make it stodgy or dry as hell. But here, it was stop on, this was the best brownie desert I've had. I would have licked the slate clean of no one was watching My better half order the Apple and sticky toffee pudding. She enjoyed it. Price wise, a bit more than I'd say it's worth but had to try the place once

Made a visit after we had a local walk with the dogs. We did stay in the muddy dog area, but found the staff very accommodating and we loved the concept as we did had muddy dogs. Stayed for drinks, but ordered of the dog menu. No no complaints from the dogs either. We’ll be back.

The service really lets this place down! Food is lovely and a good standard but some of the staff act like they can’t be bothered. When asked what the fish of the day was (as stated on the menu) the reply was ‘don’t know, probably cod’!This is a ‘walkers pub’ full of muddy boots and muddy dogs, it is also very very draughty and cold! We were given a table by a door that was constantly opening, our table was freezing, there were other tables available yet when we asked to move we were told we couldn’t!! The table next to us became free and we moved there anyway to save us feeling so cold!The food however, was delicious! So well done to the chef, they have the food just right at this place, it’s just such a shame it is let down by poor service.When we were brought the bill we were told to go and pay at the bar. We did this and at no point were told about an extra charge of 99p for a ‘Carbon Free Dining’! We only noticed this after we had left the pub. Granted, it’s only 99p however it leaves a sour taste in your mouth when you are hoodwinked into paying for something you didn’t know about or agree to.I don’t think I will be returning or not will I recommend to any of my family and friends.

Visited for lunch after a walk around Entwistle reservoir. We had reserved a table (as we were using a Taste Card and you need to book in this case) and it was ready for us when we arrived. Lots of variety on the menu plus some specials on the chalk board. When told the Pie of the Week was sausage pie, I was sold. I wasn't disappointed either. The pie was delicious as were the chips. I highly recommend the gin and bitter lemon tart. My idea of the perfect desert (and my husband tells me his brownie was good too. It was a very good portion size). We will be back.

Excellent fish and chips, good pub grub done well. Outside space out the back for a drink in the sun. Perfect break from entiwistle reservoir walks. Only issue I found was there was limited seating inside and most tables reserved. We were there for over an hour and no one took them the whole time. It would make sense to just say reserved from... so people could come out the cold and eat meals inside. Other than that no complaints it’s a great little pub.

Fabulous Christmas 🎄 day lunch with friends and family. Food was superb and service was 5 star. Will definitely go again. Highly recommended

I came here as a party of about 20 on Friday (a booking made beforehand) - a very cute pub in a gorgeous location. I would strongly recommend getting the train as the station is right across the road - driving there was a little bit of a nightmare and there isn't lots of parking!The chap behind the bar was lovely and all our food was served in good time and at the same time.I ordered the signature strawberry duck and was not disappointed! It was cooked to perfection and the trimmings all complemented eachother immensely.I would definitely return but travel by train next time!

Previously enjoyed it here but Sunday lunch wasn’t great - both beef and chicken very tough! Yorkshire pudding was nice but overall not hugely impressed.

worst Sunday lunch I’ve ever had.Cold food. Lamb and beef tough as old boots Staff were ok... not great. Guy who showed us to our table had the personality of an ant.Wouldn’t even eat here for freeNever againYou got £80 todayBUT NEVER AGAIN

Much improved on our last visit. All the food was great and still reasonably priced for the portions! A fantastic place to go for a walk with the dog before having lunch. Glad we booked (and asked for a dog-friendly table) as they were queueing out of the door when we arrived!

Used to go here regularly in 1980s so not been in a long while, moved away from the area.Called in for a look to see what it is like these days Pleased to see a lot of the same features, friendly staff, good choice of ales, looked at the menu though didn't eat, looks pricey but it is all freshly cooked so I would expect to pay a bit more.Extremely nice building in a great setting, kept very clean. Would definitely recommend a visit.

Called in after a walk around the reservoirs for some lunch and a drink with our bouncy Boxer dog Bilbo. From the moment we walked in we were given fantastic service and the atmosphere was lovely. We sat ourselves near the fire with a pint and a gin and our every need was catered to, and water brought for Bilbo too. We had the Pan Fried Chicken and the Strawberry Duck, both meals were presented beautifully, were generous portions and tasted sublime! Compliments to the chef! We felt as though this was a home from home and will definitely return. Thanks.

It's been about 12 months since we last came and it's good to see that the food remains of a high standard. I had the Duck Breast with Dauphinoise Potatoes with Strawberry Sauce, huge portion, beautiful flavour combination. My other half had the Chicken in a Basket which he really enjoyed. Live music was provided by our friend Alex Hulme who does a great range of acoustic covers. Service was great and didn't wait long for food to arrive. Highly recommend. It does get very busy at weekends so I would recommend going mid week.

This is a dog friendly pub and made it perfect for a lovely walk around the reservoir followed by a hearty lunch.

Average food, the staff all very young work hard but seem to have no one guiding them (lack of management). We were shown to a table not given menus, eventually we managed to get a menu but weren’t informed of any specials which we discovered were available when the table next to us were told of them. We were in a small room with 4 tables, 1 table having just had their food placed on the table were then told they needed to move as that table was reserved, the staff then sat a family down and as they were ordering food were told to hurry up as the table was reserved. We had to almost beg for drinks, asked twice for desert menu and got fed up waiting to pay, if I wasn’t so honest I would and could have walked out without paying. The pub is living off its location and doesn’t seem interested in returning custom which is a shame.

Went for a lovely Sunday walk around reservoir and stopped for a roast here. It was busy and the table next to us had a party. My roast arrived with stone hard roast potatoes and veggies. I have requested for roasted potatoes to be replaced and I got given new dish with soft potatoes, which was nicer however parsnip the rest of veggies were still not cooked. Disappointing

We stayed for a 2 night break between Christmas and New Year and had a lovely time. All of the staff work extremely hard and really made us welcome. Jason the landlord runs a tight ship but the staff are obviously happy to work there. Ellie is a real asset in the bar / restaurant area and Sarah who looked after us at breakfast. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent and obviously fresh.

We came for a Sunday Roast and as a vegetarian, there is no option apart from x4 different type of meat. The waitress wasn't too sure what the alternative was, so after checking with the kitchen, I was told that it would be a plate of veg. A little disappointing. I appreciate that there was a vegan menu, but why have a vegan menu when you can't even cater for vegetarians on a popular Sunday dish?

Fabulous Christmas lunch for 13. Excellent food. Service 5 star. Will definitely return. Highly recommended 🎄

We came here over the Christmas period . The atmosphere was very homely with great ales being served. I opted for special which was the fillet steak well worth the money cooked to perfection and huge Lancashire Portions. All the staff where busy but we were still looked after and they all had a smile. Would recommend this place

A family visit last night at this cost venue in Bolton.

Same old same old sounds bad but for the duck completely different it mean all way the same superb food exelent service with a smile pity we have to drive Jason's real ale top notch the cheese pie to die for they tell me it's the old retainers secret recipe I can liv with that

Called in on speck for lunch nice and quirky pub with accommodation. A very good menu choices with a special board. I decided on the fish pie ( wasn’t disappointed) my wife and sister in law decided on the Hanging Chicken Kebab they said it was excellent and very filling whilst my brother in law decided on the rag pudding off the special board (again wasn’t disappointed). All food was very well presented and staff very pleasant. It is a bit of the beaten track but well worth a visit and very reasonably priced.

Cosy and warm country pub restaurant. Our first time for years. Car park has 13 bays but no disabled bays and was virtually full mid week. The road to the pub is narrow in places and crosses the reservoir glad we went in the day time. The food was good and value for money. A pint of San Miguel is £4.30 and a latte is £2.75. There is also an a courtyard to sit outside when the weather is warm. Staff were friendly and helpful. Worth a visit.

The pub is in a small hamlet half way up a hill .Somewhat surprisingly with its own railway station ( request stop) . Couple of ways to drive to it on single track roads but only one is for public access ( in case your satnav takes you up a private road) No problem on a Tuesday night to park but guess could be an issue at the weekend . Easyish walking access to the nearby reservoirs for a scenic walk.

Another great visit to the Duck. Cheese pie declared to be 'Like my mums'! Fish and chips a delight. Properly cooked and no nonsense peas in a tiny ramekin! Good portions. Both puds just right. Even the Affogato. Highly recommended.

Absolutely terrible experience befitting a back alley used car dealership. Avoid this overrated pub at all costs. Food was served cold and had to reorder drinks. To be fair we got £10 knocked off after complaining but had to be lectured how good the food actually is. Very unwilling to listen and belligerent customer service. The well known ups and downs of this pub begin. Plenty of other choices in the area. Seek them out.

Stayed overnight at the strawbury duck after attending Blackburn football match. Disappointing football but great accommodation and food. Little gem hidden away great ales and really comprehensive menu. Six of us attended and all really pleased with the quality and quantity of food. Staff were run off their feet but really engaging and made the stay really good. Breakfast was superb and the lady who served us was fantastic. Rooms were quirky but could do with a lick of paint but did not detract from a great stay. Would definitely recommend and would stay again but will not go to the football!!

We stayed at the Strawbury Duck for a local wedding. Booked mainly because of proximity to the wedding venue but also for the very reasonable prices.

Called for lunch were were rcomeded the lowswater gold by Jason the manager must say a more pleasant host hard to find these days and he was rite but by the cask mark posters you could a well run cellar it was crystal clear we had a selection off the menu it was really tasty cooked perfect good value for money

I knew the SD from a few years ago and went on a re-visit and for a couple of autumnal walks from the hotel/pub. The area is a beautiful place especially at this time of year. The Duck however has been polished up beautifully. We stayed in a lovely well appointed room - on All Hallows' eve. The restaurant is lovely and the menu listed many delicious options. The staff were competent and very friendly - a credit to the place. Lots of effort had gone into "spookifying" the place up too! Breakfast was as requested - there was no set menu but my scrambly egg and toast etc was utterly lovely. I thoroughly recommend the Strawbury Duck but will be disappointed if I can't get a room next time!

Heard about the Strawberry Duck near Darwen, went for evening drink, but all tables geared toward eating, expensive basic pub food . nice name though.

We booked a table for afternoon lunch after we’d worked up an appetite walking around Wayoh. I’ve been before and have always enjoyed the food and this visit was no different. Great food, service and dog friendly.

We’d heard good things about this pub and decided to give it a try, i now completely regret that decision! Definitely should’ve read more reviews on here prior to going! The service was awful, yes the pub was very busy but we were given a table and when asked, were told that there was no rush for us as that table was not reserved (the others in that room were but not that one). We got drinks from the bar and ordered and paid for our meals. We were then left unattended to for over an hour until one of the very young waitresses cane to say we needed to leave as our table was reserved by someone else who was due within 10 minutes! We explained that we had asked about that initially and that we had food ordered, She went to check details. Our food arrived which was reasonable pub grub at best, not the higher end type meal we were expecting (from word of mouth and reviews we’d read). We still had not yet been provided with any cutlery or napkins. I was so unhappy with the service that I told the waitress when she returned with the sauces requested and some cutlery etc that I wanted to speak with the manager. Another of the teenage waitresses then came saying that she was there regarding my complaint, saying it was ok, we could stay at our table (the rest of my family were quickly trying to wolf down their food in the belief that we had less than 10 minutes remaining to vacate the table!), I said that that wasn’t good enough, the entire experience was now tainted, we hadn’t had an enjoyable time, so much so that I hadn’t wanted to eat at all rather than wolf down my food due to fault of my own. She replied that that wasn’t her problem so I asked again for the manager. A few moments later a rather scruffy looking man who looked more like a gardener or handyman came in to see me, said his waitress had said I’d shouted at her and was abusive, which was completely untrue. I made the reasons for my dissatisfaction clear to this man, who wouldn’t look me in the eye and had a general attitude that he couldn’t be less bothered. He offered no solutions what so ever, not any kind of apology for the mix up with the tables which had completely ruined our afternoon. He only said that if I was going to be rude and abusive to his staff then it wouldn’t be tolerated. I nerves once said anything in a raised voice nor anything that could be said to be aggressive or offensive in any way. The attitude at this pub is clearly to take your money (pricey for the quality of the food) and then leave you to it, they don’t care if you enjoyed your meal or not, they don’t ask how you are finding the meal and the waitresses show as little interest and manners as possible. I definitely will not ever be visiting this pub again and will urge everyone I know both now and in the future to go nowhere near it whilst it is under this current management. There are plenty of top quality eating establishments around this same area, there is no need to waste your time and money at this one!

A really lovely place to stay. Great nights sleep, awesome food and ales. Coming back with friends in December. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Set amongst a beautiful part of the world this is a hidden gem. If I was really picky I would have liked a better headboard. But superb. Thanks

Very welcoming good choice of beers dogs welcome well worth the walk round Entwistle reservoir happy days 😁 😁

Booked lunch here at the end of a 7k walk around Entwistle and Wayoh reservoirs. I went for the Tandoori Chicken kebab, my companions went for the Strawbury Duck burger and the Chicken breast in peppercorn sauce. The food was fab...service was a bit slow - we ended up going to the bar to order as we’d waited such a while for table service. Asked for the bill, waited a while and when it came it was full of items we hadn’t had (including a pig ear for a dog...we didn’t take one!). Staff went to sort it out..came back 5 minutes later to confirm what we did have and then we didn’t see them again! Eventually went up to the bar again...told someone else what we had and eventually managed to pay! Busy place; booking advised.

Really enjoyed our meal at the Strawberry Duck . We both decided to go for the 2 for 1 steak night with a bottle of wine. We enjoyed this as it came with a delicious side salad . We also ordered sides which consisted of peppercorn sauce , garden peas and Chunky chips. For dessert we went for the cheeseboard for 2 people. Again we loved this and was a lot bigger than we expected but we felt was great value for £11.95.Overall great meal and close to train which is even better as for the bottle of wine in the deal.

I am a regular, I have been there many times because I love it there. Fantastic and generous breakfasts, comfortable beds, great service. Jason (the manager) is brilliant.

We did an 8 mile walk on Monday from Jumbles along the Weavers Way, around Entwistle reservoir and after lunch at the Strawbury Duck around Wayoh before returning to Jumbles - a lovely walk, even in the rain!!!

We visited Sunday 8th September for a late lunch. Booked online so could take advantage of the taste card offer, arrived and the pub was obviously busy but were taken to our table relatively quickly. My only problem was the table we had was right near the door to the beer garden, being a slightly nice day, it was really busy and thus my shoulder was being bashed as people walked past. My advice would be to get rid of this table all together as it does ruin the experience slightly and it only seats 2 so not a lot lost.

I visited the Strawbury Duck with an old friend on Thursday 5th September. Having seen the many bad reviews on tripadvisor I felt sad that such an iconic pub appeared to have gone downhill but decided to visit anyway due to nostalgia for my youth. Firstly I was pleased to see that the olde world character of the place has been preserved. It wasn't very busy when we arrived at 6pm but a few more diners arrived over the next couple of hours, several with their dogs taking advantage of the dog friendly policy. I had a raspberry gin and my friend, who was driving, had an alcohol free gin which was surprisingly pleasant. We had a delicious meal of homemade steak pudding with freshly cooked,chunky chips and mushy peas; I was delighted to see a jug of gravy making it easy to dip chips or pour as preferred. We managed to squeeze in some sticky toffee pudding (served with icecream or custard). Not wanting the evening to end we then chatted for a while over irish coffee. The staff were polite and friendly. The service was good. The owner did tell me that the fact that this is a small pub which gets busy over the weekend means there are times when service is slow, however there is a sign informing customers of this so it seems somewhat smallminded to complain about it; I suggest visiting during the week if you are impatient. The Strawberry duck is a bit off the beaten track if you are driving but google maps will take you right to the door no problem; Furthermore, it is right next to Entwistle train station so if you are planning to drink travelling by train is an excellent option. There are also some great places to go for a country walk right on the doorstep. I will definitely be visiting again. Booking is recommended if you wish to visit over the weekend as the number of tables is limited.

Got there but was too busy so went to another restaurant but food looked nice but was just very busy on a bank holiday.

Went for a 3 meat Sunday lunch was fabulous very good service nice selection of drinks and very nice desserts

This place was absolutely bustling on Sunday at 1.30pm. Book ahead to ensure you get a table. The mains were good. The desserts were fabulous! Parking is a nightmare, so you may want to consider catching the train to Entwistle station, which is a short walk from the pub-restaurant.

Lovely, country pub. Great location for a drink or food after a walk around one of nearby reservoirs. Nice beer garden also a few log burners so I expect cosy in the winter (I will have to return later in the year to sample). 2 for 1 on glasses of prosecco (and bottles) on a Friday. Family friendly, dog friendly. Food was amazing! My new favourite pub. Was recomend booking as it seemed very popular.

This old inn is set in lovely location and has a ton of potential. The interior could do with an overhaul to make it feel like many of the similar warm old and homely English inns around. Food was nice and service was friendly if it wasn’t for the constant banging of the swinging door as they constantly kicked it open into the kitchen.