The Admiral Hawke — Restaurant in Borough of Spelthorne

I popped into The Admiral Hawke in Sunbury hoping for a decent meal and a relaxing evening, but it didn’t quite hit the mark. The place has a traditional pub vibe, which could be charming, but it’s let down by a few key things.

The food, to be honest, was a bit disappointing. I went for the fish and chips, expecting something hearty, but it arrived greasy and lukewarm, with a batter that was more soggy than crisp. The menu’s standard pub grub, but it’s executed without much care. It’s not awful, just not something you’d rave about.

Service-wise, it was okay, nothing special. The staff were friendly enough. No one went out of their way to make the experience memorable, and it was clear they were just going through the motions. Functional, but not exactly warm or attentive.

The atmosphere, though, is where it really fell apart for me. The pub has a reputation for being a bit rough, and I’d agree. It was noisy, with one guy very drunk at 630pm shouting and swearing with his friends at the back. Even the garden area which is nice, didn’t balance out the loud, brash vibe. I found it more hectic than cozy.

Not somewhere I’d rush back to. It’s fine for a quick pint if you don’t mind the rough edges, but for a proper meal or a calm night out, I’d look elsewhere. Two star: one for the effort and one for the...

Sadly the roast was inedible, Yorkshire came out burnt and so did everybody else’s after ours. The carrots were burnt and the whole dinner was smothered in gravy like that’s how they heated up the food. Was really disappointed as heard good things so maybe they had a different chef on. Wine was nice and man behind the bar was friendly. When they finally took the food away (just kept walking past us but I guess that because we still had full plates), she said have you finished… she could see we had barely touched it (even the non burnt parts of the Yorkshire tasted burnt…how!!?) I said sorry it was really inedible and she just said that’s alright. Would have expected an apology or an offer of a free dessert but nothing. Not what I would expect for a £17.50 roast dinner, wish I had something else. Sorry I hate writing bad reviews but an apology from the waitress would have been...

The food at this establishment is reasonably priced, but the quality falls short of expectations. The pizza dough, seemingly self-rising, has an unpleasant aftertaste. Toppings were poorly applied, appearing messy and haphazard, as if the pizza had been mishandled.

The service was equally disappointing. The bar staff and owners were unwelcoming and rude, creating an off-putting experience. The atmosphere lacks warmth, dominated by regulars who treat the place like their personal domain, which can feel intimidating to newcomers.

Overall, the experience was underwhelming, and the new ownership seems to have lowered the standard. Sunbury has many superior dining options that offer better food, service, and ambiance. I’d recommend exploring...