The Brave Nelson Pub — Restaurant in Brentwood

Before the lockdown was were regular guest at The Brave Nelson, today we visited the Brave Nelson for the first time after lockdown. After using the user-unfriendly app we managed to order three drinks, one for each of us. When the girl came with the drinks she only brought two drinks, I made her aware that we paid for three drinks and expected three drinks, she suggested that the people in the bar had mixed the lemonade with the Orange Mixer and she asked my wife to task if that was the case (LOL). She went back to the bar and came back and told us that if we wanted a lemonade we had to order another one online, I told that it that was the case then we would rather leave, she suggested that I should ‘talk to someone’ I agreed.

The owner came and his opening remark was ‘if you guys are here to abuse the staff then we should leave’ first I thought that this was a taste on the English humour, I’m form Denmark so familiar with sarcasm, however it did turn out that he was dead serious, I explained the situation again and he went to the bar and came back apologising that the bar staff have misread the order.

The owner have not spend any time figuring out what had happened, he didn’t even now that we haven’t got the third drinks, very embarrassing for him especially accusing us (me my wife and our 6 year on son) for being abusive.

He offered to pay for the drinks or the next round, but we turned down the offer, we did not come for free drinks we came to relax and enjoy the nice afternoon and not to be insulted.

So that was our last and final visit at The Brave Nelson, the best of...

I booked on line...? Reserved a table and time slot. Went into pub, well tried as blocked by locals watching football. Queued at bar to ask where our table is, where to go to be told theres no tables - where do i want to sit? If outside get the table no, order at bar. Completely wrong impression, i really thought i was coming for a nice sunday lunch with garden. Sat outside in the end. Woman behind bar quite rude, didnt go out of her way to explain whatsoever, acted the least helpful possible. I asked for a straw for my daughters drink she shoved a box at me! When i ordered despite feeling id failed a nice birthday lunch for my 3 children... barmaid mmediately quizzed whats your table number like shed trumped me!? Responded the one and only hut...just as well as raining and bar full of football fans. Food arrived in tin foil and paper takeaway wrap. Horrified, awful experience. Food average to poor grade food, cheap burgers. Granted nice garden but they are priviledged with its size; its tired and tatty. They were aware of this online site apparently, as others had also made the same mistake. Doesnt take much effort to sort this, or go out of their way to be more hospitable...i.e explain...

Really wasn’t sure about visiting The Brave Nelson with the wife & kids so asked a neighbour who recommended it.

So glad we went. Lovely little pub with an expansive gorgeous outdoor beer garden with benches and parasols. Great cider and the barmaid couldn’t have been friendlier.

Seeing my three kids, the barmaid (Katrina) served us all drinks then assured us she’d put up a bouncy castle in the garden for them.

Ten minutes later they were having so much fun bouncing around on it while me and my wife laughed in the sun drinking cider.

I even had a go on the bouncy castle myself and bounced straight out!

Cannot recommend enough!

Only criticism is the pub doesn’t serve food which would definitely give them a 5* review but maybe in time that’ll come.

Otherwise, couldn’t be more delighted with the afternoon we had there and will definitely be going back again and again.

Apparently, a new children’s play area is being installed soon so it can only get...