Christopher’s Caribbean Carvery at The Royal Oak — Restaurant in Bromsgrove

I've had issues with this establishment since day one but avoided saying much due to having friends employed there. We have had some awful meals here, they don't follow the law on weights and measures act, they don't display documents which they are legally required to do. They hire staff who harass underage girls who also work there, head chefs previously have been cocaine addicts and worked under the influence. I was verbally assaulted by a member of kitchen staff prior to a trial shift I was supposed to have there, I declined my trial shift after this and have not stepped foot back there since. Myself and my husband decided to pop in tonight for one final drink on his birthday to be informed we were barred, when we questioned this with the new supervisor who had not met us he cleared it up and said we could come back as long as I "didn't slate them on Facebook again" I have made comments about negative experiences I have had there which I am in my right to do but never have I made false accusations about the venue or staff. The response to a complaint should ALWAYS be a sorry and work to rectify it, not to bar a customer for being rightfully upset.

From being regulars with good relationships with staff and other customers to feeling bullied, ignored and pushed out for falling victim to verbal attacks is appalling.

To sum up, disgusting management, law breaking and bullying, no doubt I will be barred for this but good riddance, I'm happy to not step foot in here again.

Sincerely, a fellow publican and...

Christopher’s is a brand-new Caribbean fusion spot that makes a great first impression — warm lighting, a spotless venue, and genuinely friendly service. The atmosphere feels inviting and the cocktails are well-executed for the price point.

Unfortunately, the food doesn’t live up to the setting. The mutton was cooked nicely but lacked depth of flavour — surprisingly bland for a dish that should be rich and aromatic. Chips arrived unsalted, which the staff attributed to EHO reasons, but basic seasoning is non-negotiable in any kitchen. The side vegetables looked and tasted processed, arriving dull and grey, while the burger seemed bought-in and poorly presented — limp lettuce, no real care in prep, and a generic patty that didn’t inspire confidence. The gravy also tasted suspiciously like Bisto, which only added to the sense of corners being cut.

It’s worth noting we visited midweek, and I’ve heard the Sunday carvery portions are far more generous. Still, the level of care and attention shouldn’t be reserved for one day of the week — consistency matters, especially when you’re serving food throughout.

There’s promise here — the service (Selina was great!), ambience, and drinks are strong foundations — but the food needs far more love, seasoning, and attention to detail. Hopefully they find their footing, because right now, Christopher’s is a beautiful space serving forgettable food.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆...

Honest review - Me & my partner ate here tonight (Friday). We’re foodies & regularly eat Caribbean food. I myself home cook an enjoy cooking regularly.

Atmospheres mellow an chilled, employees were polite & friendly - no complaints here.

My partner ordered the oxtail, rice & peas, steamed veg and mac cheese. Myself a Caribbean roast.

We waited 50mins to be served our meals - not acceptable. Can understand a bit of a back log but there were plenty of empty tables so “busy” wasn’t the reason. We excused the time wait in hopes that the food would be on point amazing with a home cooked feel but this wasn’t the case or the reason.

The whole oxtail meal was cold, meat chewy, rice & peas dry and the portion of chips were bare. Yet the rice & peas on my Caribbean roast were hot but the rest of the roast cold. The elements on our food were all different temperatures & I hate to say it but seemed reheated/microwaved.

We have full respect for business adventures an how challenging it can be & hope this criticism is taken on board to make things better.

We were really looking forward to our meal but extremely dissatisfied. Won’t...