The Tollemache Arms in Kettering - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

It's a hot summer's Thursday night, you make your way through rural Northamptonshire through many miles to the nearest pub, you've checked the opening hours and you're well within time to pick up a pint there... Except the sole member of serving staff has other ideas. "Sorry but the bar is now closed" she smugly grins. "What, an hour before your advertised closing time?" I respond. But there is no explanation at all. Nothing. It's surreal that this pub - which was absolutely deserted - would turn away custom, but they obviously didn't want me there. And so I check them here on TripAdvisor and find that I am far from the only one being turned away during the pub's actual opening hours. I had to drive about four miles further into Rothwell for a well-deserved drink and that's great, I am now sitting in a very busy pub the same size of the Tolly. I have never run a pub. I have no desire to run a pub. But if I had to, I think the number one rule is to serve customers. That's a no-brainer. Will the owner offer up an explanation or do they want to carry on being absolutely deserted?

We visited the Tollemache Arms today for lunch. Although we’ve had good experiences here in the past, today was disappointing. We were given a menu to choose our lunch while we enjoyed our drinks. After about 10-15 minutes, the waiter came to take our order. However, he rudely told us, “wrong menu,” snatching away the one we had been given upon arrival. There was no apology, and his surly manner was entirely unnecessary, making it seem as if their mistake was our fault. The replacement menu offered limited choices, and the prices were higher. We reluctantly chose something from the minimal menu after being bluntly informed that we couldn't order the King Prawns from the original menu. We selected a feta cheese starter, which was overly salted and would have benefitted from some bread. It was also disappointingly small. For mains, we had roast pork, which was rather fatty, and fish and chips. Both meals were average at best—not great, but not terrible either. In the end, we had two subpar meals and a bad experience for over £60. While we were there, I overheard another customer complaining to the same surly waiter, who responded rudely once again. Sadly, this establishment has declined since our last visit, and the staff's disdain for their customers is disheartening. We won’t be returning. I recommend alternative pubs like The Red Lion in Cranford or the Snooty Fox in Lowick for great food and even better service.

We’ve been to the Tolly a few times now in the past and have always had a lovely meal. We recently took part in their Kickstart campaign to raise money to renovate the pub, in exchange for a banquet meal. We attended tonight and had a fantastic time. The service from the staff was absolute spot on, the 6 courses were all delicious and the drinks they were paired with went down a treat. The atmosphere was fabulous, well worth the money & a much better time had than going to other local food places to us for their tasting menu experience. All in all, we’ll definitely return but if this was put on again as a special banquet, I’d 100% do it again! Such a great night, thank you Joe & staff

Incredible pub with amazing staff, brilliant food and a lovely view too! One of my many visits, this time with two friends who haven’t been before that loved it! Loved the new additions to the menu!

Cannot rate this lovely place highly enough. Amazing from start to finish. The welcome we got was the best I have probably ever had in a small pub ... there were 8 of us and the barman was so personable and welcoming, The front of house chap was lovely. Every single member of staff was friendly, charming and just on the right side of attentive. I think Lily was our server and she was brilliant. We had a 2 year old with us and the crayons and paper came out quickly to keep him happy! The food was SUBLIME. The wine was GORGEOUS and we felt overall very well priced. We will come back and this time we will not be driving! 10 out of 10 Tolly x

The Tollemache Arms is a lovely country pub. The service is excellent and the choice of drinks is fantastic. However, my experience of their Sunday lunch as a vegetarian was poor. Every menu choice is the same price and there is only one option if you don’t eat meat. On the day we visited, that option was roasted aubergine. I am not a particular fan of aubergine but if I wanted a Sunday roast that was my only choice, so I went with it. What arrived on my plate was half an aubergine cut into squares and roasted. I felt a bit cheated to be honest. It seemed like such a lazy option for vegetarians. My wife, on the other hand, had roasted pork and really enjoyed her meal. Bearing mind, the two dishes were the same price, it didn’t feel like mine provided value for money. There are so many interesting and varied dishes available to vegetarians these days, so I feel let down by the Tolly and would not recommend it for Sunday lunch if you don’t want to eat meat.

Popped in for a mid week dinner. My hubby and I had Fish & Chips which was excellent. Very friendly waitress and staff, gr8 value for money. Lovely pub, we will definitely return.

The buttermilk chicken burger (Korean Burger) was very nice and the staff was very friendly and polite it was a lovely pub and dog friendly

Lunch out on a Friday, my wife, myself and our little dog. A really excellent lunch. The quality of the food was very good, you could tell quality ingredients were used. The Korean burger was exceptional and my wife had a beef pie which was lovely. Staff were exceptionally friendly and attentive. Quite highly priced but the quality and experience was most appreciated. We will visit again soon. Thanks.

We were staying in Orton for a brithday weekend away for my husband and would like to thank all the staff for a the delicious food and wonderful friendly service on what was a very busy Friday night. We enjoyed it so much we asked and were able to be fitted in for lunch on Sunday too (which included a 1st for our Springer spaniel- a doggy roast dinner!). We really appreciated the thoughtful touches for Nigel's birthday and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this local gem to anyone living or visiting the area. Wish we lived closer ....

This place is a favourite of ours. It’s a real old building full of character and in a great setting with views over the valley. The menu is varied and the food excellent. Service always friendly.

Such a great pub and restaurant, always busy, always good food and service. Never disappointed. Set in lovely village with good atmosphere and great outdoor garden.

So, we’ve been reluctant to leave negative reviews for restaurants that are clearly down on their luck (and the posters, flyers, table toppers and cards posted around this place suggest they are desperate for money) but this place needs a shake up. If you can cook, you’ll be disappointed with the food. If you enjoy eating mediocre food…you’ll be happy here. One vegetarian choice (a mushroom and a pice of haloumi is not a burger!) so if you’re a veggie and are not into a watery, flavourless Sri Lankan curry, stay at home. Other meals that night were just ok…that’s it, just ok. Unfortunately, this is becoming a trend…pubs selling themselves as amazing places to eat, then serving flavourless, unimaginative meals at high prices. Our waitress (Hannah) was bright and attentive, but other than that…let’s hope the £30k they’re after sorts the place out.

Ordered the mega roast to takeaway, it was stunning! Great quality food, amazing taste, 100% fulfilled my Sunday roast craving!

We booked a table for 5 people, for lunch for my Mum’s 82nd birthday. The service was good, the meal was really good but the voucher and birthday card, signed by all the staff was a really touching gesture. Thank you Joe and Nathan and all staff for making my Mums day more special.

Popped over for a mid week meal.Good service and smashing young waitress called Milly. Bang, bang cauliflower was an awesome starter! The food was so tasty! My only complaint was noisy children in a party. I get that children come out with the family but either control them or when the booking is made, then move them to a separate dining room. Rant over!

an amazing place to stumble across the place is full of character the staff most welcoming and the food is extremely good, for me the best part of visiting was the bill came as a shock that the 4 of us who where there had starters mains and dessert with drinks for less than £170. the slow cooked braised lamb was perfect the apple and rhubarb crumble with cream was divine the icing on the cake so to speak was the serving of Earl Grey tea with the after dinner coffee's.

We had lunch today 15th Feb. A bright welcome, we were early, pleased to wait a little while, and drinks were served as soon as possible. The menu was not exciting. We had the prawn and salmon curry, which was very bland, and two of us had the cod, chips and mushy peas. The fish batter was VERY undercooked, and the mushy peas were a "clod" on the plate. We have been here several times before. The pub has a lovely atmosphere and the staff are full of welcoming smiles and the prices 'reasonable'. The kitchen needs to up the pace, surely cod and chips should be a signature dish???

Yesterday's lunch at the Tolly can only be described as simply outstanding. we were greeted warmly as always, seated quickly and welcomed by the very cheerful, smiling and positive Amelia. All our food choices were spot on, these included Brixworth pate, salt and pepper squid, buttermilk chicken and beautifully soft burrata. Mains of burgers, bang bang cauliflower and lamb to follow. We managed three puds between the party of four, all delicious. It isn't just about the food when you dine at the Tolly. The whole team have been trained to perfection, all work with keen observance and obvious professionalism. All move at a smart pace, taking and delivering bar and kitchen orders with smooth efficiency. On a Saturday lunchtime, every table was taken and the ambience was lovely. As always, the Tollemache arms demonstrates a clear and shining example of how to run a rural pub and how to train and retain their outstanding team.

Booking after Warner distillery visit ( you must do that!). Very busy and a little tight in the dining space. Menu not huge but varied enough for all tastes. Beef bourguignon pie with tender stem broccoli was lovely. I was told it does not come with anything else so ordered some new potatoes. This portion was enough for three easily. Would be better to just come with 4 or 5 potatoes? Burger lovely. Excellent Caesar salad and delicious curry. Good drinks selection including Warner gins. Some ales. Could promote more local beers? £11 for large glass of Rioja is a tad pricey. Service was very good. Extremely polite and courteous. We were checked on during service. Food arrived very quickly considering how busy it was. Plenty of parking although full when we were there. The views from the carpark are to open countryside. There are a few tables out here. Would be an amazing vista in the summer. Excellent gastro pub that we would happily return to.

The Tollemache Arms is one of our favourite restaurants for family dining. It consistently offers an enjoyable dining experience. As we had a guest from the USA staying with us, we reserved a table for a pre Christmas family lunch. We chose the traditional roasts for our guest to enjoy an English Sunday lunch. As usual the meal was excellent. The servers were friendly and attentive, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, an all round success. Highly recommended.

Great food .well presented. We had the Lamb really tender.. Tasted superb .staff really helpful.with the person touch.great atmosphere in the dining room .quaint 17th century Building..highly recommend the Tollemache Arms. Looking forward to our next visit there

We had an excellent Sunday Lunch at the Tollemache Arms. The food was delicious and really well priced, the staff were really lovely and attentive, and the building itself is very pretty. One of our group has allergies and the staff and kitchen were really accommodating and helpful which made the whole experience even better. Overall, a wonderful time and we hope to come back again!

Another incredible visit, this time for my birthday! The food was amazing as always, and Flo and the front of house team were so welcoming and kind! A truly special place!

For my Father in law's birthday, he's over 75 , we booked an early evening meal. The staff were brilliant. Accommodating a change to the number of attendees without any issues. Warm and welcoming . Attentive without being intrusive. The food was superb . Nothing was too much trouble. We love going there and will return again soon. Recommend without hesitation

Our son in law booked a table here for Sunday lunch and it was amazing. Lovely setting, very very friendly staff. Food was amazing Roast beef was so tender ! one of the best roast dinners I have had in a long time. Would definitely...

Went for a festive catch-up with my husband, my cousin and his wife. Very busy with Christmas diners, but a lovely atmosphere and the staff were on the ball. Starters (squid, Brixworth pate, tiger prawns and Camembert) all arrived promptly and were all enjoyed. For...

Went this evening for dinner. Very welcoming smiles as we walked in the door. Restaurant very busy. Despite this staff came straight to table to take drinks order and bring menu's. All food was delicious, hot and fresh and we were not kept waiting long....

Great pub, lovely food, good service. Menu slightly limited. Easy place to find, ideal for meeting friends. Would definitely return.

We had a kid free night so booked a table for two. The staff were really welcoming and introduced us to the pub as we came in. The food was great (rump steak and fish&chips) We will be back Thanks for a great experience 👌🏻

been a few times over the years and this place always delivers. lovely greeting on the way in. good to see an area where having a drink is acceptable (not the same in all pub restaurants). Excellent food and looked after very well by Amelea....

Top notch food and the service was excellent! Great car parking. Spotless clean. Sadly I can’t comment on the wines as I was driving but the list looked interesting. It is now a firm favourite. Special thanks to Isabelle for adding to the experience.

Excellent lunch .. on a very busy day fantastic service from the young lady with the Christmas headband , food was very good and the Christmas atmosphere was brilliant

I rarely take the time or the trouble to write reviews however praise where praise is due and the Tollemarche Arms certainly deserves my time and trouble. We had the Christmas lunch today at the Tolly. Three excellent courses cooked to perfection. The chef even...

Took a chance here as we hadn't been before. It was for my sisters 70th so was hoping I'd made the right choice. It's obviously a well loved venue as it was 'heaving' with customers. Staff were very friendly. Service was quick and efficient. Food...

Party of 12 (booked) went to the Tolly for dinner on a Saturday evening. All good. Although very busy, the kitchen were very proficient getting the food out. Staff very pleasant and helpful.

This was an amazing spot for a lovely pre-Christmas family lunch-all aspects perfect. Particularly good fish and chips and steak dishes and the affogato and sticky Toffee puddings. Beer went down well too!

Amazing meal in perfect setting. The staff are warm and friendly, happy to chat and enhance your experience. The food is wonderful and sourced locally which is great to see. We enjoyed local pate, sticky chipolata’s and house burgers. They also make homemade lemonades which...

6 of us visited the Tollymarche Arms for lunch … it was fabulous! Food was delicious! Ambience was perfect and the staff so attentive and friendly!

This beautiful pub in the village of Harrington is a great find for us. We live in Cambridgeshire and have friends who live in the Cotswold, so the Tollemache Arms is an ideal mid-way meet up destination for us. From our very first visit we...

Our first visit and I can't believe we haven't found this pub before! It is very rare to be able to take your dog into a restaurant of this quality ( often we have to stay in the bar area or an uncarpeted area. We...

This is truly, a delightful find in the small, picturesque village of Harrington. One cannot fail to be impressed by the beautiful thatched pub which dominates the main corner of the central street in the village. We went on a Tuesday evening, and the large...

Another wonderful visit! Lukas had a fantastic kids lunch, and the new boozy hot chocolate was incredible! Amazing service as always, and Flo was very welcoming and kind! As always, we will be back!

Absolutely excellent. Lovely atmosphere: very friendly staff who all gave us a warm welcome and looked after us superbly during our meal and drinks afterwards. We would very much come back here again and we would recommend it to everyone.

Visited today for a birthday lunch....Food was fabulous and staff so friendly. ...This is my second visit here and on both occasions, the service has been first class. ...Belly pork was delicious,followed by amazing sticky toffee pudding .I mentioned it was my friends birthday when...

Great place. Service was excellent from the moment we walked through the door. Menu was thoughtfully compiled and (reassuringly) not too long - this means there’s a chance that the food is being cooked properly, and it was! Notwithstanding that, it would be nice to...

If you're not at Tollemache right now then what are you doing? Get yourself there! Me and my partner attended on 16th of November for a 4 course dining in the dark experience. After a terrible day at work this was a real treat. Lovely...

We visited as a fmaily of 4 - 2 adults and 2 children. This was our second visit after a fabulous Sunday lunch earlier on in the year. I had the Bang Bang cauliflower as a starter and I honestly have not stopped thinking about...

Fantastic. Due to finishing work late, we ran 10 mins behind but everyone was kind and welcoming and the food was amazing. Def take other friends there. Shop outside is a great idea and full of amazing Christmas gifts. Great find

Visited as a family of 6 today for a late lunch and it did not disappoint. Tasty starters and fantastic mains; including seabass, roast pork and beef. The mackerel to start was lovely as was the popcorn chicken. Vegetables were great, a huge and crisp...

Was staying in a nearby b&b that suggested I eat at the Tollemarch. I arrived 20 minutes before service and was sat down in the bar area where I happily read my book and sipped a good merlot. For dinner I sat next to a...

My wife booked for 40th birthday! 10 of us in total l. Meal was great staff were attentive (don’t find this often in restaurants these days) kids enjoyed the play area. Menu and beer selection was great and the whole experience complemented my 40th perfectly....

Very nice location with a well designed interior. The bar area was small and cosy and perfect for our pre-dinner drink. Having said that, £8 for a G&T seems steep even in these straitened times. We opted for the chicken burger which my wife thoroughly...

What great place to eat. the food was amazing and the Staff where outstanding. The Beef pie was the best i have tased in years. Thank you all for making me and my wife so welcome.

Went for my birthday on a hot evening. Food is always fantastic and beef bourgogne was gorgeous. Plenty of food so didn't need a starter or dessert.

Incredible food - both roast dinner options - beef and veggie!! Wow!! The service was very high standard!! Loved it. Eton Mess topped it! Flawless. Can’t wait to get back.

Booked a table in the Bar side of the pub as recommended by the Staff on the phone, Arrived approx 20:50 in time for a meal Table fine ordered at the Bar, But noticed a couple sat down same time next to us the ordered...

Could only book a 7pm slot but wasn't overly busy during the evening. Food good but one person ordered Pizza and it arrived about 10 minutes after everyone else's meals with no explanation or real apology. We requested coffees and teas at around 9.30 to...

Very poor food, service was good, beer very good Why did I need a piece of grease proof paper under my food which towards the end of my main course became part of my food

Was with a large party of friends. I ordered chicken thigh, it was terrible. Dry, hard bits which I couldn’t even bite down on. None of the group were asked how our meals were, I tried to get attention from the several waitresses but they...

We were passing through Harrington en route to nearby Lamport and decided to stop off at the Tollemache Arms for a light lunch. It is a traditional country pub with exposed beams. The menu consisted of a good range of starters, mains and deserts but...

Really nice pub with friendly staff. Food was great quality and whilst not cheap, probably worth the money. Good portions and varied menu makes for a great meal. Lots of different beers on tap, averagely priced and of course lots of Warner's Gin available. Lovely...

Excellent staff and service, cosy/ relaxed dining & varied menu. I had Tandoori Halluomi starter which was tasty & well presented. Hubby had the spicy sesame chicken wings: ample serving, excellent flavours & gets our 5* I had a beef roast dinner which was enjoyable...

Fantastic food in a lovely village. Perfect for lining your stomach before gin tasting!! Sadly had no room for dessert 🧁

Great atmosphere, good home cooked food (the baked Camembert was to die for) best to book in advance as gets very busy.

My daughter and I popped in at lunch time for something to eat. The lunch menu is great if you’re after a full meal. We just wanted sandwiches or similar, but found a pizza to share on the main menu which kept us both happy....

Staying in nearby B&B whilst away on business and ate here tonight. Made to feel very welcome and the food was lovely.

Four of us went for an evening meal, which was very nice. The building is full of character and atmosphere, and the friendly bar staff and waitresses, together with the quality of the food was excellent. Recommended.

We have visited this Restaurant a number of times this year’s and always found the service and food good. My wife of 19-years is Russian so loves the English oldie type pubs and Restaurants, the staff are always pleasant and polite, something she values. There...

We visited on Friday 05/07/2019 after taking part on the Warners Distillery Curiosity and Cocktails tour. We did book in advance, as this was part of my husbands birthday treat together with an overnight at Church Farm Lodge. It is very popular I would recommend...

Good choice of food all cooked beautifully to order. Staff seem to cope well with large groups. Booking advisable

We visited the Tollemache on the evening of 03/07/2019 as we had been in the area doing the Warner's gin tour and wanted a drink afterwards. We were hoping to eat, but we were a little bit late so could not order food, but a...

Just been for Sunday dinner. The place looks great the staff were really friendly a perfect village pub. On the down side the food was a let down from the look of the place I was expecting a really good Sunday roast. Unfortunately what I...

Went with wife,daughter,and grandson for Sunday lunch yesterday. The pub is open all day on a Sunday and was pretty busy upon our arrival. We were pretty quickly shown to our table by very attentive and pleasant staff,and our drinks and food order taken.Daughter and...

We had visited the Warners Gin farm just down the road for a tour, and booked the pub for a late lunch afterwards, and met up with some family. It was a lovely sunny day, so spent a bit of time outside in the garden...

Went for Sunday dinner again as the 1st time we went it was really nice. Staff were very good, couldn’t fault them, 2 beef & 1 pork were ordered. When it arrived everything was stacked in a heap, it didn’t look good, then there seemed...

We went to Warners for the tour, ate here and slept at Chruch farm lodge, all excellent. Food was lovely on all the occasions we ate there. Tip if doing the tour, book the pub even if its for lunch.

Our birthday party of 9 enjoyed good meals, with excellent service. We would have liked a more varied classic pub menu, for example ‘Pies’ included and maybe ‘Scampi” 🙂 but that is just our personal preference, the atmosphere was relaxing and pleasant.

We heard the tollemache via social media; yesterday lunchtime we were both free so decided to visit. On arrival my partner went to order of drinks while the little ones and I explored the small play area. On returning, he told me the staff would...

Lovely building inside and out. Not even a Hungry Horse menu. Such a disappointment. Would I come back. No.

Friendly staff and good food. I enjoyed learning about how the salmon had been prepared and the plans for the new menu.

Was surprised to turn up and was turned away at 8pm saying they no longer are serving food. There was an A board outside saying that they were serving food till 9??. Needless to say won’t bother again obviously they pick and choose when they...

We met some good friends here,approx half way between us geographically. A very pleasant meal was enjoyed by all four of us,waiting staff were efficient and friendly. Some very good ale only spoilt by being told as soon as we had paid the bill and...

Lovely pub. Great indoors and out. Modern Decor. They can accommodate bigger groups. Good food and drink. Fabulous Gin and puddings.

Lovely Northamptonshire country pub. Extensive menu with good service. Ale was nice on a warm summer day. Need to book as it's very popular.

Our party of 4 had a really enjoyable meal and service to the table was great. We had paid for the distillery tour, paid for rooms for the night and paid for our £240 meal, but when we wanted another drink at the bar at...

Really nice end to the day after visiting the warner distillery earlier in the afternoon. As its only a short walk away. It is very busy, so I would recommend booking as early as you are able. Staff are friendly and helpful.

We visited here after our gin tour at Warners. Lovely classic menu and reasonable prices . Staff were super attentive and polite. Really nice atmosphere. Food was delicious and plentiful. Good selection of ales and of course Warner Gins. Would come back on a warm...

A beautiful pub and excellent food and drink with the exception that it didn’t have port! My partner had the burger and I had the sea bass and both were excellent and served quickly! I liked the ice cream with coffee and amaretto biscuits but...

Excellent overall meal, good burgers and fish and chips. Sticky toffee pudding very nice but all desserts a bit overpriced.

We booked a table for Dinner yesterday (Saturday) evening at 7pm. Wow! It was already really busy - a great sign! - but that didn't stop the Staff doing what they do best: Superbly attentive service offering more-than-delicious food choices. Nice to see the Chef...

This place gets a lot of guaranteed trade from folks visiting Warner Edwards gin distillery. However I know from our circle of friends people use this as a destination dining venue. I’ve now been twice ; once 6 months ago and once a few days...

I have eaten here a few times now and every time the food has been good. The steak is a personal favourite but there is a good selection of food on offer and the bar has some nice ales and plenty of other options too.

We had a great night at The Tollemache Arms. Good food, good service, good company and great ambience.

Have been here quite a few times but had a lovely meal last bank holiday Monday. Staff went above and beyond to cater for us and baby too. The only slight criticism is that I would suggest this for special occasions as it can be...

We visited the Warner Gin distillery and stayed at the local B&B so had dinner here. Service was very friendly and prompt and our meal was good. High end pub food I would say. Was a reasonable price. I would recommend.

Our fourth visit here as we have previously enjoyed this pub. Sadly today’s experience was extremely poor from start to finish. A poor welcome saying the five of us could squeeze round a table for four. A fair point had the pub been full but...

Busy village pub with great service and a range of products that you would expect in a city not a quiet village

I had to book 7 weeks in advance and the only time left and available was 4pm, so I booked it. We arrived at 15-45pm and we're taken straight through to our table, there was a set 3 course menu for mothers day, but they...

English country pub and restaurant at it's best , lots of character. Pleasant ,friendly staff and quick service. Food was well cooked. I really enjoyed the " Tolly " burger and it's possibly the best burger I have ever tasted. My friend, who is not...