Based on 1.636 opinions finded in 5 websites
Based on 1.636 opinions finded in 5 websites
Nº 228 in 345 in South Cambridgeshire
Nº 51 of 81 British in South Cambridgeshire
Opinions
The Willow Tree is just amazing! It was my girlfriend's Birthday and so I wanted to take her out for dinner somewhere safe and isolated. She is recovering from cancer and had chemotherapy a couple of weeks ago Booked a beautiful pod 20 minutes before arriving as another restaurant with pods we'd booked with (way in advance) phoned 1 hour before our reservation to say because of the rainy weather they couldn't host us. At this point, we were on our way and so were panicking trying to find somewhere to go for her Birthday that suited her health-needs. The Willow Tree were our heroes! The welcomed us in to their wonderfully decorated pub and prepared the pod for us: heating it up and putting comfy blankets on the chairs. The food was great and the ambiance was magical. The pods are set in the garden, under the whimsical willow tree and its colourful fairy lights create a really special atmosphere and dining experience. Our hosts/waitresses were so kind and accommodating- especially at such short notice. Thank you The Willow Tree!
Ashton Attzs . 2025-02-10
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Despite booking (and paying for!) a dome for valentines night over a month ago, I have just been told they have overbooked and need to cancel my booking. It is now far too late for me to book anything else as most places are already fully booked. They have held onto my money now for 5 weeks before telling me. I’ve declined their offer of an indoor table - anywhere that treats customers like this do not deserve my custom.
Lynne Speller . 2025-02-04
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Friendly place with hard-working staff and great tasting food.
Kathie Pugh . 2025-02-01
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Friendly staff and a nice atmosphere, set in a nice location. However the food is too overpriced for what it is, as well as some of the drinks. The chips were not hand-cut but rather from a frozen bag, and a salad on the side would have been appreciated if paying £18 for a burger.
A E . 2025-01-26
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Booked a table for 18 for my son's 30th Birthday (Surprise) - staff were absolutely amazing - we were able to leave the decorations, and they did a grand job!! Food - all plates were left empty!! Good choice of drinks. Great atmosphere. Would definately recommend. x
Candace . 2025-01-11
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Had a wonderful evening celebrating a special birthday in a private dome at The Willow Tree. Our waitress, Yaz, was extremely welcoming and accommodating- wonderful with the children too. The dome was beautiful in the winter... sparkling with fairy lights and pleasantly warm, in spite of the cold weather outside. The food was served quickly and stayed warm, despite having to be delivered to the outdoor dome. A Bluetooth speaker was available to play our own music, which added to the general ambience. Overall, we were very satisfied with the whole experience and would recommend. 👌
Ehan 1234 . 2024-12-30
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Insanely overpriced, poor quality food, untrained staff, worst 'cocktail' I've ever been served.
Emily Brady . 2024-12-29
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We had a lovely meal at the Willow Tree! I had a large crispy duck salad which was delicious - also loved the decor and appreciated the fire being lit for us as kept us nice and toasty and felt very cosy. We aren’t local but saw the pub on Google maps and glad we made the trip - will definitely be back next time we are in the area :)
Charlotte Rick . 2024-12-28
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The worst meal we have had for a very long time ! Ordered 3 large mains of Duck salad, however very small portions arrived with very poorly cooked tiny pieces of Duck. We questioned whether we were being charged for small or large and the server confirmed. ‘Large’. My daughters who were already struggling to eat this dish could not believe they were being charged £25 per portion for what was in effect ‘a starter’, which was also badly cooked. We informed the assistant manager that we were not prepared to pay for these meals. I made the mistake of taking three bites of my Christmas burger, whilst hoping the next bite would be better. I quickly gave up as it was disgusting and the chips were a poor imitation of McDonalds all for £19.50 !! As we were very forthright in our complaints and determined that the pub should be reasonable, we said we were not prepared to pay for these meals of 3 duck starters . We should not have paid for the burger meal either, however as I had taken 3 bites in the search for something delicious ( Not found) we felt obliged to pay for this blob of a burger ! The Cocktails ordered by my daughters mat £10 per shot were simply not cocktails so please be advised ….do not order ! We were refunded for the Duck starters and one of the Cocktails, however, sadly ended up having to pay for the burger and the deposit for the pod. Looking forward to a decent McDonald’s Bug Mac !!
Peter B . 2024-12-27
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Everything was spot on, honestly was a quality time there with my wifey, food is really good, staff very polite and friendly (specially Charlie who was giving his best top bloke) . Prices are a bit higher but still worth visiting this beautiful countryside place, highly recommend and deffo coming back again. Thank you
Rafal . 2024-12-27
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We attended with a party of 6 and all left disappointed with our meals. Sunday roast beef was terrible. I have never had such bad meat at a restaurant. The sticky toffee pudding was dry and came with a thimble of custard. A real disappointment.
Jacob Carter . 2024-12-23
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“We had the most beautiful Christmas family meal! The atmosphere was magical, thanks to the cozy dome we hired—it was the perfect setting for festive cheer. The food was exceptional—hot, delicious, and of great quality. The service was absolutely incredible, with staff going above and beyond to make our experience special. Everything came together to create a truly unforgettable celebration. Highly recommend!”
Sophie George . 2024-12-23
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Me and a friend hired one of the globes as a Christmas treat. Very pretty, heater inside, can play your music. We had 3 courses, food was great and staff kind, attentive and helpful. Extra parking is around the corner near the war memorial. Fab place.
Cassie S . 2024-12-22
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Beautiful place, with a warm, welcoming crew and fantastic food to boot.
Catherine Warne . 2024-12-22
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Came here for dinner in a dome, service was very good and attentive. The food was fantastic, overall the willow tree is a little gem would definitely recommend to anyone
Connor Flint . 2024-12-21
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Went here recently for an afternoon tea. Quirky place. Young staff were nice and friendly. Seating wasn’t the most comfortable and would have probably stayed longer if it had been more comfortable. Whilst the afternoon was Alice in Wonderland themed, it’s a real shame they don’t offer a Christmas themed one for this time of year. The food was good but definitely overpriced at £40pp. It’s not somewhere I wouldn’t revisit.
SamH6 . 2024-12-20
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Love it here it was really good in the outdoor globe make sure to go when it's dark because then it gets better with the lights
j b . 2024-12-19
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I remember visiting this pub over 30 years ago when it was called the red lion. Really nice to see that they have kept the old fireplace, on a cold winters evening it was great to be able to sit near a real log fire. The Dome was toasty and warm, staff were really friendly, serving excellent cocktails. The full moon was out so we had the magic of dining under the moonlight in our dome.
Katherine Childerley . 2024-12-15
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Amazing experience! I visited the willow tree domes for my birthday last night and we had the loveliest time. The dome was nice and warm in the middle of December, and we had two attentive waiters that were keen to make our experience the best it could be. The food came out in relatively good time and was served hot - we weren’t left waiting for too long, which was great especially as the food was being transported from the kitchen inside to us outside! I even got a special birthday cocktail with a fancy sparkler in (not requested!) which added a nice touch to our meal. Overall I throughly enjoyed our time there and would definitely recommend to anyone in the area! A big thank you to the Willow tree team :)
Megan Roberts . 2024-12-15
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What a lovely night for my daughter’s birthday … we dined in the dome, so pretty …very attentive service , food was lovely, staff so friendly, thank you all ,will definitely be back 💜
ARoberts68 . 2024-12-14
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Unfortunately, I must express my deep disappointment with my recent visit to this restaurant. The experience fell far below expectations, especially considering the high cost. When we arrived, our reserved tent was not ready. I had hoped to order mulled wine, a popular choice this season, but sadly, it was unavailable. When we were finally shown to our tent, I was shocked by its condition. The tent, situated under a tree, was dirty on the outside, covered in bird droppings, and appeared unclean. It was embarrassing to bring my family to such an uninviting spot. After being seated, we were given menus, but no one came to take our order. Frustrated, I decided to go to the bar myself to place the order. We waited an hour for our food to arrive, which was far too long. At one point, someone came to ask if we’d like a speaker for music, which seemed like a nice idea to improve the atmosphere. However, the speaker turned out to be broken, which was another disappointment. When we wanted to order additional drinks, no staff were available, so again, we had to walk to the bar. The path from the tent to the bar was poorly lit, making it difficult and unsafe to navigate in the dark. Once again, we experienced a long wait for service. Finally, we decided to order dessert, but the waiting time was excessively long, which dampened the mood further. To add to the frustration, I was charged £270 for the meal, plus an additional £45 for booking the tent. I had assumed the tent fee would be deducted from the bill, but it was not. Spending over £300 left me feeling like it was not worth the money at all. The only positive aspect of the visit was the decoration in the bar and restaurant, which was quite lovely. Overall, this was a disappointing and frustrating experience. I would not recommend this restaurant unless significant improvements are made.
Ewa Kołodziejczak . 2024-12-13
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My colleagues/friends and I booked our Christmas lunch here and it was worth the special occasion. Pub is lovely, food excellent and well presented whilst the landlady has a wonderful manner and sense of humour. We will hopefully go back to try the a la carte which looks excellent too
Joe Pinnock . 2024-12-11
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Unfortunately it appeared that management had recently changed. I wouldn't ever visit this place again. I had had a previous excellent experience on a prebooking in 2018, so as for coming again was looking forward to it We pre-booked a pod, ordered before hand specifying all allergen requests: and even specified this immediately on arrival. Shortly after, a woman has a first aid incident and we were fine to move to a different table. The pod wasn't ready for almost 80 minutes. Once we arrived at the pod the zip was broken and during the storm the pod was only 8 degrees. Food and drinks took extremely long time. When food arrived, all allergen requests had been neglected so I couldn't eat what I had specifically pre ordered. After complaining all the team including the waitresses, chefs and management pointed fingers at eachother - with no clear resolution to actually getting the food we had ordered. We ended up leaving as it was 2300PM by that point, left hungry and upset. The entire experience was awful. Do not visit.
Franklin Hudson . 2024-12-11
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A lovely, small pub with a cosy atmosphere and attentive, friendly staff. We went for Sunday roasts which were delicious and plentiful, menu had great options for food and drink. Staff very accommodating of our large and rowdy party, great for kids too. Thank you, would love to return.
Gena Moore . 2024-12-09
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If I could offer zero rating I would. Last night we had the worst dining experience I have ever encountered… in fact we didn’t really have any dining! Having pre-ordered food, 48 hours in advance, and paid extra for a pod at 8pm to celebrate a big birthday… at 10:15 we had had been served no food! We left having starters served that were cold, then when mains arrived specific dietary requirements had been ignored, and the staff were so poorly trained - it was toe curling! We thought the Willow Tree would be a special treat for a very special celebration. Instead, it was honestly shockingly bad! A lot of work needed here to get this place fit for business!
Matthew Hudson . 2024-12-08
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Went with my work for a christmas lunch, it was amazing, food was brilliant and was enjoyed by everyone, will definitely come again in the new year
Sheena Gregory . 2024-12-05
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Fue nuestra primera visita al Sauce en pocos años. Siempre hemos disfrutado de la comida en el pasado. Reservamos una cúpula para una celebración familiar especial, una reserva de cena temprano por la noche. Fuimos "recibidos" por una señora totalmente desinteresada (¿el gerente?) y unos pocos empleados jóvenes que eran lo suficientemente amables, aunque un poco caótico. Nos mostraron nuestra cúpula, que era encantador y hermoso. Uno de los servidores ayudó a configurar el altavoz Bluetooth y luego también ayudó a algunas personas que acababan de llegar a otra mesa que se seguían conectando a la nuestra! Fue una lástima que el menú del sábado por la noche fuera diferente del menú de otoño anunciado en el sitio web, con menos opciones atractivas: sin vientre de cerdo, sin venado, sin tarta de tatin. El servicio de comida era extremadamente lento, especialmente teniendo en cuenta que éramos los primeros comensales que llegamos en la noche temprano. Los bocadillos se traían tarde, después de los entrantes en lugar de con las bebidas. Nuestros entrantes, cuando finalmente llegaron, estaban deliciosos. El plato de vieiras contenía solo 2 vieiras. El huevo escocés era encantador y más generoso. Los principales fueron extremadamente decepcionantes. El filete (solomillo) estaba aparentemente muy bien cocinado, servido con papas fritas y una cantidad absolutamente diminuta de salsa, sin acompañar verduras o ensalada. Por 35 libras esto fue abrumador. La hierba costra de cerdo era horrible. Dos de nuestros miembros ordenaron esto, y tuvieron que raspar la corteza de hierbas - semillas de comino entero y otras especias abrasadas aplicadas sin elegancia en una gruesa capa picante. Era un sabor muy, muy desagradable. Nos preguntamos si el chef había probado esta creación. El lomo de cerdo en sí no era nada especial, duro y peor de lo que cocinaríamos en casa. Tres personas comieron hamburguesas, todos dijeron que estaban bien. Las porciones de papas fritas, aunque sabrosas, eran terriblemente inconsistentes en el tamaño de la porción, algunas personas tenían el doble que otras. Todos estuvieron de acuerdo en que las papas fritas eran la mejor parte de la comida principal! Planteamos las preocupaciones sobre la decepcionante red al servidor, que era muy disculpado y agradable al respecto y dijo que se lo dirían al chef. Finalmente, elegimos unos pudines, y dos de los pedidos salieron mal, los migas servidos con helado en lugar de natillas. El crumble parecía servido en un tazón para perros. El pudín de toffee pegajoso era delicioso, pero muy pequeño de hecho por £ 10 por porción. En general, servicio lento e inconsistente, comida muy pobre y decepcionante, y una noche cara. Nuestra factura llegó a más de £ 320 para 6 comensales, solo dos personas tomaron bebidas alcohólicas. No nos ofrecieron ninguna deducción por la mala comida o el servicio lento. Lo mejor de la noche fue el ambiente de las cúpulas centelleantes y el árbol de sauce dramático en el jardín.
Dr D . 2024-11-03
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We had the most wonderful experience here at The Willow Tree this week. To start, the place is absolutely beautiful. We loved the whimsical decor and the light up outdoor globes were so pretty, we’d love to book those when we return! The staff were great fun and personable and made a fuss of our little dog, which means so much to us. We had a great house wine which we really enjoyed, we don’t really drink a lot so it says a lot that we enjoyed it. The food was incredible! To start we had scallops and mussels, both were really tasty and the perfect portion size. All the flavours were really well balanced and beautifully cooked. They arrived really swiftly too, freshly cooked. For mains we had a beef roast and Sea Bream. Both were hearty and enjoyable, a great portion size and carefully cooked to perfection. We were too full for dessert! We thought the price point was an expensive choice for us but great value so didn’t begrudge spending. We can’t wait to visit again on our next trip to Cambridge.
Lily J . 2024-10-29
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Visited here during early afternoon on a Friday so it was pretty quiet with only a couple of tables full. Despite this, the food took nearly an hour to arrive at the table. We only ordered 2 burgers and chips. After watching the other tables receive their starters and mains (even people that arrived after us), we were told ‘burgers take longer to cook, theyll be with you soon’. I wonder if the chef was hunting the cow and slaughtering them fresh for our lunch? Once they arrived, the chicken burger looked like it was about 3 days old and had died from some awful deadly disease - tasted like this too. The beef burger was rock hard around the edges, soggy on the bottom and covered in thick grease. I can only assume that it had been reheated in the microwave. We politely complained to who I think was the owner. She apologised and removed the plates then came back to the table and said to me ‘if you had eaten past the hard bits of burger, I’m sure the middle would have tasted nice’. If I rolled a chocolate in snot, would you lick the snot off to get to the nice part? No, probably not. For £18 I expected so much better than the greasy slop we were served. After complaining, we were told there was only one chef which is why our food was served at a snails pace. Would have been nice to know this before ordering as we both had young children to entertain during the wait. The owner then avoided us like the plague so we had to approach her for the bill. One glass of rose, a glass of coke and a small bowl of chips cost me nearly £20! Absolutely not worth the money. Would have been happier with a cold Greggs steak bake.
kim roberts . 2024-10-26
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We celebrated our engagement in a pod at the willow tree. Excellent service, amazing food and such a lovely setting. The staff were really friendly too, which is always a bonus. Thank you for having us! Xx
Hannah Wallis . 2024-10-26
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We celebrated our engagement in a pod at the willow tree. Excellent service, amazing food and such a lovely setting. The staff were really friendly too, which is always a bonus. Thank you for having us, can’t wait to come again!
Hannah W . 2024-10-26
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We had our work event here, it was a great place. We were in the tepee with a nice atmosphere and good food, enjoyed it very much!
Laurenz Suedhof . 2024-10-24
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The Willow Tree just hosted a girl 7th birthday party! The owner helped organise everything from finding an entertainer to preparing food and drinks, decorating the venue. Everything was amazing! All of our guests were amazed! And the most important thing is that the birthday girl was over the moon!
Yi Zhou . 2024-10-24
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A Thursday lunch at The Willow tree - a group of walkers received a warm welcome in comfortable and peaceful surroundings. There was a good range of menu options; food was served promptly and in copious portions by attentive staff. Care was taken with gluten free. The skate I had melted in the mouth, the dish of the day, a venison pie, looked delicious, as did the salade nicoise and the chicken supreme. Prices have gone up a bit, but altogether a place to go.
PDB-Cam . 2024-10-20
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Birthday celebration for Alex, we arrived at 7:30, warm welcome and offered choice of tables and elected quiet romantic table in the corner, menus were full, everything available, ordered drinks great Malbec! Both had Scallops and Baked Cod which was first clsss! Emily the waitress was attentive and fun and added extra character to the place which was Devine. Food and drink 10/10
Simon S . 2024-10-17
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Very chilled out atmosphere and a lovely waitress with a wicked sense of humour!
Lynn Baranowski . 2024-10-12
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We had an absolutely fantastic experience at this beautiful place. It was a special occasion so we opted for a dome, which just elevated the whole evening. If you want to eat beautifully prepared and presented food in a bona fide magical fairy lit geodesic paradise, then I can’t recommend this place enough. I would like to give specific thanks to our fantastic hosts James and Emily whose professionalism and joie de vivre were immaculate. Great food and drink and stellar service. Standouts were the venison loin, the skate in brown butter and the delicious bread and beetroot hummus. The tarte tatin was also worthy of some kind of Michelin star. We’ll be back for sure.
Roderic Burns . 2024-10-10
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Great village pub. Fantastic food and friendly service.
Sarah Taylor . 2024-10-06
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Heater didn't work. Service was polite but very slow. No one came to check if we wanted dessert. The food we did receive was dry, and we asked for sauce and had to chase a further two people for sauce after asking. When arrived with sauce. The food was dry and cold. We were advised there was live music when booking but when we arrived the band was leaving. There was a band but we couldn't find it. Seemed to be at a private event. Overall. Shame wasn't as great as it looked aesthetically.
Charlotte heavey . 2024-09-29
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Went for dinner last night, chicken burger overcooked. The owner then sarcastically made a comment about me asking for vanilla ice cream rather than chocolate. Every time we go there me or my partner has an issue with the food. Not coming back here again. Overpriced inconsistent food.
PB . 2024-09-21
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Lovely food and friendly service. Thank you!
Sarah Caleb . 2024-09-21
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We had our Wedding Reception at the Willow Tree and it was just the most magical day ever! Shaina was amazing at helping us to create the day and atmosphere we wanted :) The food was incredible (all of our guests raved about it), the teepee is beautiful - we just had the absolute best time! Thank you so much to the most wonderful team ❤️❤️
Sam Price . 2024-09-20
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We recently had our wedding at the willow tree and I cannot recommend this venue enough, it was the perfect space with a mix of indoor, outdoor - luxury meets outdoorsy. The staff at the willow tree really didn’t miss a single detail and could not have made the day more perfect for us. The food as well was incredible! All of our guests complimented the food. I cannot recommend this enough as a wedding venue! Special shout out to Emily the assistant manager who went above and beyond every time we visited, she is particularly fantastic !
Dominie Clarke . 2024-09-11
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I recently had dinner at The Willow Tree, and while the place has a lovely setting with great decor, the food didn’t quite measure up to the surroundings. I ordered the beef roast dinner, which the staff described as large and hearty. The beef had a nice color, but it wasn’t hot and was really chewy. It was tough to cut into with the regular knives they provided—a steak knife or something similar would have been much more helpful. The portion was smaller than I expected, and the rest of the meal wasn’t much better. The roast potatoes seemed reheated and were lukewarm, the carrots were cold, and even the Yorkshire pudding wasn’t warm. The only part of the meal that had a decent flavor was the kale. The staff were friendly and tried to be attentive, but my meal took a while to arrive. I noticed others who ordered after me got their food first, and when the staff finally brought mine out, it made me wonder if it had been sitting around for a bit. To top it off, I had the sticky toffee pudding for dessert, but that was also disappointing. It was just a mushy mess—disintegrated the moment the spoon touched it and turned to mush in my mouth, so I couldn’t even tell what it was supposed to be. Added the service charge automatically aswel, i understand if its a large group, but customers should not feel obliged to automatically pay it, as no option was given, just a card machine pointed at me with it already added.
Ollie S . 2024-09-01
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Absolute disaster, potatoes were over cooked and very hard, the yorkshire pudding was burnt to crisp, the menu was awful it needs to be updated online as the only thing on the menu is roast, the dome was dirty and unpleasent to sit in. It was absolutely waste of money. I will never visit again. Was supposed to be a lovely evening for my partners birthday and it turned out the worst. The only decent thing that happened was free drinks because a waitress spilled our drinks on the table.
XKlaudia StefaniakX . 2024-09-01
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We hosted a bridal shower for our friend in one of the domes, and the experience was nothing short of magical. The atmosphere was incredible, with beautiful table decorations, and a stunning chandelier with fairy lights adding to the charm of the dome. A Bluetooth speaker on the table allowed us to play our favorite songs, and the dome’s soundproofing ensured we didn't disturb other guests. The food and drinks were excellent; we highly recommend the steak and beef salad. The service was outstanding. Thank you to The Willow Tree team for making such an important day truly unforgettable.
Khin Thazin Oo . 2024-08-25
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The waitresses were lovely but our order was not correct and the food was bland. The menu is 50% beef with one vegetarian option and a fish dish which ‘wasn’t ready’. A very mediocre evening unfortunately.
Harriet . 2024-08-23
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This place is phenomenal. All the staff are so so lovely, so kind and friendly. The food was also insanely delicious, I had the bone marrow burger and it's definitely in my top 3 burgers ever. It came with some delectable fries and the pecan pie for pudding was beautiful. The interior design is so aesthetic and really trendy with instagram photo spots and cute decor ideas. Definitely worth a visit, I couldn't recommend it more 🙌🙌
Anna Cairns . 2024-08-22
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I have seen a couple of negative reviews from July but I took my wife for Sunday lunch and everything was spot on . Food was 9/10 service 9/10 and wine was a fair price for better than average rose. Those that catch my google reviews ( 255,000 have read them ) you know that if I recommend a restaurant then its worth a visit over the next few months.
lance w . 2024-08-18
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We enjoyed a 50th wedding anniversary at the Willow Tree. Super lovely establishment with friendly and attentive service. Good quality food and a lovely atmosphere. Highly recommended. We will see you again.
Venus Velochikski . 2024-08-17
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Just enjoyed a wonderful lunch with a friend at this beautiful pub in the Cambridgeshire countryside. Freya our server looked after us so well and the food was really delicious and beautifully presented. Highly recommend 👏👏👌
Paula Abramson . 2024-08-16
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A visitor to Cambridgeshire may not be aware of this establishment hidden away in this picturesque rural village bedecked with quaint thatched dwellings and home to second oldest working windmill in the country. You really need to sample the food served up by Mary who cooks for her esteemed owner Shona. Shona believes in serving luxury in a holistic manner. Upon arrival until departure, you are made to feel that you are a VIP. The attentive staff and beautiful gardens with romantic domes for those private moments which will stay in your hearts, are complemented by an ambience of luxury, with the furnishings complementing this atmosphere. One feels as though you are stepping into Shona’s home as a much wanted guest. The Specials board details dining dishes that would not be out of place in a Michelin standard restaurant. The food is well presented, tasty and very good value. No small mouthfuls of haute cuisine but equally not too much in portion size terms either. The pleasing aromas are verified by the rich flavours which tell of naturally sourced ingredients. The cuisine has traditional dishes nestling comfortably alongside glimpses of a fine dining repertoire. Having travelled to Cambridge to visit the famed heritage and scenic monuments, you would do well to venture 9 miles from the centre to discover this jewel. The best things in life are often hard to find, and so make sure that you pay Shona a visit to sample her fare. This is South Cambridgeshire’s best kept secret… The Willow Tree at Bourn.
GoonerRocky HJ . 2024-08-12
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You really need to sample the food served up by Mary who cooks for her esteemed owner Shona. Shona believes in serving luxury in a holistic manner. Upon arrival until departure, you are made to feel that you are a VIP. The attentive staff and beautiful gardens with romantic domes for those private moments which will stay in your hearts, are complemented by an ambience of luxury, with the furnishings complementing this atmosphere. The Specials board details dining dishes that would not be out of place in a Michelin standard restaurant. The food is well presented, tasty and very good value. No small mouthfuls of haute cuisine but equally not too much in portion size terms either. The pleasing aromas are verified by the rich flavours which tell of naturally sourced ingredients. The cuisine has traditional dishes nestling comfortably alongside glimpses of a fine dining repertoire.
Tony HJ . 2024-08-12
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I've been to The Willow Tree with friends, family and date night; the food, service and ambience are fabulous. My friend and I had dinner on Friday night, so much fun. Really recommend the Willow Tree!
Louise H . 2024-08-11
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Great place to eat out. So many great fish options. Tasty cocktails, chilled “holiday-vibes” ambiance. Even the child food options were great. Only suggestion would be to replace spaghetti with pasta for kids noodles as toddlers struggle with spaghetti (even though it makes for cute photos). Will return when back to Cambridge area!
Eva Carrington . 2024-08-10
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We came for our anniversary meal. We booked the dome. So glad we did. Very beautiful indeed, great food loads of flavour. The 2 young girls serving was fantastic. We shall definitely be back again!
Charlotte Joslin . 2024-08-08
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Beautiful place, lovely outdoor dining. Staff are attentive. The menu changes seasonally so it never gets boring.
lisa sargeant . 2024-08-04
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Had a chicken roast, was disappointed with 2 potatoes on the plate with 1 carrot that were dry. Rest of the meal average at best. The price of the meal was also expensive. However waitresses were friendly and polite. Would not go back.
Gerry Woodham . 2024-08-04
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The food was really good and the server was absolutely lovely. Shoutout to her (didn't catch her name, unfortunately). Nice ambience, can only recommend this place.
Антоня Свобода . 2024-08-03
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Beautiful location with a very peaceful atmosphere Food was very well priced and absolutely delicious!
Wouter van Wijngaarden . 2024-08-02
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Had high hopes after a local recommendation, but we ended up being served some mediocre starters (ordered 3x olives; were given 1x small bowl of olives and told 'this should be plenty', along with some small pieces of bread). This was the least of our concerns though, as the mains never turned up, hence we all went hungry. Ridiculous really. I think they were preoccupied with a larger group in one of the domes.
Lester Sandles . 2024-07-31
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Best Mac and four cheese I ever had.
Swathi m s . 2024-07-29
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We visited with our two daughters. We shared Elderberry BBQ beef short ribs paired with Hispi cabbage. Our daughters took items from the kids menu. All the food was excellent and delicious. We called ahead and made a reservation about 30 minutes before we came and although the kitchen was closing to prepare for the evening we were told that they will wait for us. They not only waited but did an amazing job preparing our dishes. Holly the head chef recommended our choices from the menu and we were grateful after we tasted the food. The ribs were very tender and the sauce was superb, perfect with the cabbage. The cabbage was very tasty and soft yet had a substance to it. From now on the cabbage prepared this way will be my main side to replace the potatoes. I love potatoes but being diabetic I cannot have them too often. We also tried their chunky chips and they were perfect too. We were served by Amber, who was waiting for us as we were parking our car and took us straight to our table, told us about the restaurant and the amenities and introduced us to Holly. The kids had a great time in the garden and playground at the back. This is one of the best places we visited in the UK. Considering the mix of the awesome yet reasonably priced food, relaxed atmosphere and fun that our kids had I would choose The Willow Tree over a Michelin Star restaurant any day. Especially if you are a family or group of friends.
Land Analysis . 2024-07-27
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What a surprise! In this small town outside Cambridge, there are actually such a series of cute shops! A big surprise 🥰
Zac Koo . 2024-07-25
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We booked with a large party and were told we had to pre-order either burgers or tacos. Some of us waited over an hour for a drink, despite several reminders. Food came out in dribs and drabs. Apparently, this is the "nature of street food from a tiny kitchen," we were informed by one less-than-cheerful member of staff. Yet, another large party who arrived after ours received all of their food in one go. (It may have helped that they were, apparently, a film crew associated with Sky TV.) The burger bun was burnt, and the chicken was overcooked as were the (meagre portion of) churros. All in all, I did not feel it was value for money, and I will not be returning.
Ess Tee . 2024-07-13
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Booked a pod especially for a surprise birthday celebration after looking at the lovely pictures on the website. It was an hours drive away as half way point between us and other guests. Management suggested on arrival if we got too hot we could sit elsewhere but as it was cloudy we thought we would be okay....urm, no, it was like sitting in a greenhouse, but as we traveled for this, we toughed it out. They need to have a weather temp recommendation when booking. When I saw the pod I was bitterly disappointed at the rickety furniture, decor and overall cleanliness. Pod looked like it needed a good scrub. Had to wipe down the table as looked like hadn't been cleaned in a while, even though staff assured me it had been done twice before arrival. Table was pealing terribly and had dirty sheepskin throws on the chairs. I love shabby chic but this was more shabby than chic. Sitting on large, dusty, gravel, it was not great. Staff were polight and helpful but clueless. Handing out the wrong dish, missing some food off a plate and arrived cold, however it did taste okay but way over priced and definitely not worth the money. Wished we eat in the restaurant as it looked nicer. Pods may work in the dark as you wouldn't see the failings but still looked very amateur for the cost. I dined in a pod locally to me last year and it was sooo much better for a fraction of the cost. I Wouldn't recommend this for special occasions.
lorna barrett . 2024-07-09
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Lunchtime staff not efficient. Table needed wiping. Price for diet Coke ridiculous. Chef reluctant to serve bread for pate. All in all a poor experience. Staff discussions in bar area not in a private place. All in all a bit of a sham bles.
Julia Daft . 2024-07-02
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Amazing place The reason I gave 4 stars is because they put way way way way too much salt! I don't understand how people can survive that much salt on the fries! Anyways, it was amazing, it has a swing bean bags and much more. The staff then started singing! We came as 4 people, and we spent £61 all together
David G . 2024-06-27
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A lovely setting to celebrate a family birthday, exceptional food and service from our lovely waitresses, very friendly nothing was to much trouble. Well done Willow Tree we will be back 🙂
Lesley F . 2024-06-19
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Food that we had was nice, service was good but dome dining not worth the booking fee, first dome was too hot, in the second one, the lights did not work, nor did the Bluetooth speaker. The dessert options we wanted were not available. Drinks were too expensive. Having booked for a special occasion, we'd left feeling the whole experience was a bit disappointing, sadly I will not be returning.
Tanya Govender . 2024-06-16
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A bit pricy but worth it as the food is well presented and full of flavour. Our service from Emily was excellent, she made it all the more special.
Alastair Ham . 2024-06-12
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We went as a family, chose the tacos, burger and chicken burger, even had a dessert, delicious and fresh, and the staff were very friendly, was nice and relaxing on the deck in the sun
Louise . 2024-06-08
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Very yummy burger. I had the chicken burger on Friday with smoked paprika fries. Super yum and I was very happy. Looked good and tasted super yum! Was also tempted with churros that came with a pot of Nutella and cinnamon sugar coating. We shared a G&T as the sun was setting in the meadow! As it got colder the Teepee had the fire on and we enjoyed that with the fairly lights and lovely atmosphere! Defo recommend it! Price was good too as it’s £11 burger and £4 fries :)
Rilla HBC . 2024-06-07
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Delicious street food, great vibes, and lovely staff. The perfect way to spend your evening in a secret garden!
Aneesa Al-ani . 2024-06-07
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Thank you to The Willow Tree for offering the new menu & experience of delicious Street Food. We went on a Friday night and sat in the garden enjoying the warmer weather. The Street food is absolutely delicious and I highly recommend everyone to try it out this great menu. Such a great atmosphere in the gorgeous gardens of The Willow Tree and the music completed the experience. We will most definitely be back.
Marie-Louise Marshall . 2024-06-06
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Service was amazing, food was delicious. The place has a sort of magical vibe. A hedgehog popped out of a bush in the garden, stared into my soul for a solid minute and left. 10/10
Leonardo Tavares Brown . 2024-06-06
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Very nice pub in the country. Thank you very much to the owner that helped us out it was very good of you. Thanks again.
Angie Williams . 2024-05-29
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The owner and staff are always friendly and accommodating where possible. Great atmosphere, great place to just sit and have a drink, you don't necessarily have to order a meal as they do have a bar and seating area
James Buss . 2024-05-21
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Good food. Nicely presented. A little expensive for the children's menu and the deserts. Overall a nice treat. Service could be improved. Waitresses and waiters standing around talking and ignoring customers. Had to ask twice for desert and the bill.
Colin Ide . 2024-05-20
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What a great venue and superb food and service We dined in the Dome early evening and it was really special Staff are amazing Thank you 5 Star
Tim S . 2024-05-19
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Lovely location but food and service didn’t match it up. Never had in my life a pork belly that was so dry it was near to impossible to eat. The place was quite empty and I guess the waiting stuff in an attempt to be caring went on overdrive and Hypecare. Difficult to have a conversation when you get approached by the waiting staff and average of 3 times per 10 minutes!
Simona Prezioso . 2024-05-19
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We booked this for a family birthday while we’re staying nearby. Initially we booked a pod which looked lovely but as it had been so warm we couldn’t use it so the staff relocated us to the veranda without fuss. Food was lovely. (Scotch eggs are a must as a starter) and the friendliness of the staff really did cap it off. Emily in particular gets a special mention for being a perfect host.
Richard G . 2024-05-13
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Half the food showed up then half an hour later the rest appeared cold like it had just been sat in the kitchen the entire time. Manager then came over and said he didn’t know what to suggest so offered pudding thinking that would solve the cold food problem. Safe to say I’m extremely disappointed with today’s services. And no one seemed to know what we ordered. Not only that they gave the wrong food from another table to us and nearly forgot to give them their food. The expressions from the manager were poor too! He was constantly rolling his eyes like he didn’t have time to solve the issue we had.
Mark K . 2024-05-05
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It is a pity that they were very short staffed as the food, drinks and atmosphere were perfect if you were prepared to wait! Nevertheless we all enjoyed our evening with family.
Roger Green . 2024-04-18
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Very friendly staff. Food is just OK.
Nicki E . 2024-04-16
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My family and I came for a Sunday Lunch. The roast was brilliant. A special thanks to Freya and Cecilia who were very tentative during our visit and made our experience special.
Lucy Morgan . 2024-04-08
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Have been a few times recently and glad to say the place is back on form. Staff including Emily are friendly and helpful. Honestly enjoy it most when we go and the menu is one of the simpler themed ones. Atmosphere is always good. The main menu can sometimes be a bit over the top for a regular night out though. They do quite often have short term themed menus, which are on the website and worth checking.
clare r . 2024-04-02
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I’ve been coming to the Willow Tree for a few years now and it is without a doubt, one of my favourite places! The food is amazing and due to the seasonal menus, you’re always able to try something new. Shaina, Emily and the staff are what really make this place special, so friendly, welcoming and relaxed. It’s the perfect place for a date night or lunch with the girls 🫶🏻
roxyhull7 . 2024-03-29
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A beautiful pub that provided a great night out, food was fantastic and service from Nolly was friendly and attentive!!
h_8989 . 2024-03-28
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Had a baby shower afternoon tea at one of their Doms. It was amazing- loved it! Service and atmosphere was brilliant!The staff was very helpfull and polite 🙌 will come back to try their food one day!!!
Deimante Zelenkauske . 2024-03-19
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It was a cold night and walking in to face a glowing log fire and a warm welcome from Emily was just great! The table looked gorgeous and obviously no detail has been spared in creating the perfect dining ambience. The service was amazing, friendly yet unobtrusive and everything timed so well. I had the Shetland mussels which were delicious as was the sticky toffee pudding. For sure, I'll be going back soon.
Roam591219 . 2024-03-13
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Great food and great menu. Would recommend
Michael Barry . 2024-03-12
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Planned a long doggy walk today with lunch here as a half way treat. And what a treat! Lovely stone bass risotto with curried cauliflower was absolutely delicious! Staff always friendly and didn’t blink an eye at our muddy boots and paws. Thank you!
Susan B . 2024-03-09
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A wonderful evening - dinner with friends. The staff were delightful , the food was delicious. We had such a lovely evening. Thank you.
becky johnson . 2024-03-09
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We went to The Willow Tree with friends. From the start, the staff were friendly and couldn't do enough for us. They served the food with smiles and added to the enjoyment of the evening. Emily is a true gem. The food was delicious. We all had different things and each really enjoyed the food. It was a fabulous evening. Thank you.
becky j . 2024-03-08
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It was my best friends birthday the other day so we decided to go to The Willow Tree. We had the best experience, thanks to the lovely staff. Everyone was super friendly and could not have helped us anymore. Not only were the staff amazing the food was SUPER! We had the moules and wellington for our mains and they could not have been more flavoursome! I would highly recommend this lovely village restaurant to everyone! I will definitely be back!
436freyas . 2024-03-03
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My friends and I have just had the most amazing Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea experience at the Willow Tree in Bourn. The food was superb, all freshly prepared and baked and utterly delicious. The fabulous staff couldn't have been any more helpful and obliging (huge thanks to the fabulous Emily, James, Jamie and Freya for making everything extra special). Nothing was too much trouble and from initial enquiry emails through to our booking today, everything was seemless, friendly and extremely professional. My friends and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again and would all highly recommend the venue. Hope to see you all again very soon!
Rebecca Wiles . 2024-03-02
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My friends and I have just had the most amazing Alice in Wonderland afternoon tea experience at the Willow Tree in Bourn. The food was superb, all freshly prepared and baked and utterly delicious. The fabulous staff couldn't have been any more helpful and obliging (huge thanks to the fantastic Emily, James, Jamie and Freya for making everything extra special). Nothing was too much trouble, and from our initial enquiry emails through to our booking today, everything was seemless, friendly and extremely professional. My friends and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again and would all highly recommend the venue. Hope to see you all again very soon!
Rebecca W . 2024-03-02
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I had such a wonderful Irish leapling birthday 🎂 🥳 felt so special and everything was amazing, the staff, the food the setting. Thank you so much will definitely be back
Christina Gleeson . 2024-03-01
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Food was tasteless and quantity really poor too, very over priced. Booked a pod for husbands birthday. Wasn't what I expected. No water on table, no music had to use phone for a bit of music, couldn't get WiFi and no code on menu or anywhere, where we were wifi didn't reach us, had to ask for a blue tooth speaker. Daughters pasta was tiny for cost asked for more which was given. Broccoli was wet and tasteless, mash had no taste was like from a packet, My daughter even said we could of made better than this at home. That summed it up for me! It wasn't the treat we were expecting. Husbands mac cheese was awful not cheesy at all like from a tin. Didn't even stay for dessert, we were really disappointed for a special occasion. Shame as I had heard good things, but I won't go back:- (
vanessa e . 2024-02-21
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These schedules may not be completely accurate on special days. Please always confirm with the restaurant
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95 Opinions
Solid old-school pub! Good selection of beers on tap and alcohol-free options too. Lose a star for not stocking scampi fries.
545 Opinions
Fabulous booza, it's about to be re renovated. i hope it doesn't spoil that original pub atmosphere 🤔
1281 Opinions
Wanted a cosy Sunday pub roast on a rainy day and got exactly that . Lovely warm and instantly welcoming staff and country pub atmosphere. Noted a decent range of beers on the pumps and had a tasty local ale to go perfectly with the food . Had already looked up the menu before going and chose it having noted the veggie roast option which cites roasted root veggies ( I love roasted carrots - and feel often pub roasts lack this ! ) Food arrived in a pleasing way and can say the nut roast was full of texture , the cauliflower cheese was rich in flavour and the roasted parsnips were absolutely lovely - could’ve pigged on more ! My only minor drawback ( and this is being picky ) is for the roasted spuds - I love a really extra crispy crunch on the outside they were great but a personal taste for me would be to have that extra outer crunch :) Great value, really well presented very tasty - I’d go back and recommend to others :) … dived in too quickly to take any pictures but can verify that the pictures already shared on previous reviews are accurate , if I’d had room for a pud I’d have gone for one !
675 Opinions
Great pub, cold beer, delicious food, nice spacious and very clean rooms, ample car park, still found a space during Sunday lunch service, not much more one could ask. Stayed 4 nights here, and it's been a great experience. Very clean room, recently, in my opinion, refurbished room, very comfy bed, great wifi throughout, smart TV with all your streaming app pre installed so just sign in and keep watching your fav series. Pub is great as well, very clean, the smell of the wood fires, and the very good music choice just makes it that bit extra cosy. The food was fantastic, all freshly made and delicious. Staff was very helpful, smiling all the time, and made sure everyone had a great time. A couple of things to consider: they only serve continental breakfast during weekdays, would love to have the option of a cooked one, judging by the quality of the food I had it would definitely be banging! On the flip side, I understand we are in a small village, and perhaps it wouldn't make financial sense to the business to pay chefs and staff for maybe 2 guests. Also, if you check in on a Sunday, they stop serving food at 4 p.m., and the pub shuts at or around 7 pm. With everything considered...it's a 4.95 stars from me. Very quiet area, so sleep was great, great food, cold beers! Will definitely return if I'm in the area! Thank you for a great stay!