Horse & Groom — Restaurant in Broxtowe

I would think carefully about eating here if you are coeliac or have a food allergy; on our visit the restaurant showed no understanding of the safe preparation of food for those with allergies, nor did they accept their responsibilities in this area.

This is a pub that I’ve been visiting regularly for over fifty years, with friends and family, although slightly less often since my wife was diagnosed as a coeliac three years ago.

Yesterday evening we visited for an evening meal. We chose from the menu, my wife used the gluten free menu in conjunction with the app and selected the gammon with baby potatoes. This differed from the standard option in that potatoes were offered instead of chips. Chips in restaurants are not usually considered gluten free as they can be fried in the same oil as other gluten containing food, such as sausages, onion rings, battered fish etc.

The manager came to take our order. My wife explained that she was coeliac, said that she wanted to specifically order from the gluten free menu and asked if he would inform the kitchen so they could take the appropriate precautions, ensure her food was prepared away from possible sources of gluten and to ensure they understood she wanted the gluten free menu version.

The manager refused to inform the kitchen. He said if he did so, he was assuming personal responsibility and that if anything went wrong he could face a possible prison sentence. He assured us that he would put the order through on the system as the gluten free menu option, that the kitchen staff would be aware of this and would understand what this meant and take the appropriate precautions.

I can honestly say, I’ve never, ever before come across a restaurant that would refuse to pass important safety information to their kitchen.

Although we both felt uneasy at this unusual attitude and that we were somehow an inconvenience, we placed the order. Finally after an hour, our food arrived. My wife’s gammon was served with chips, clearly not the option from the gluten free menu.

I asked to see the manager who was apologetic. He went to speak to the chef and came back and assured us the chips were gluten free. Clearly they are not, for the reasons I’ve mentioned above. And if they were, there would be no need to have a variant of the standard dish on the gluten free menu. There are no chips at all on the gluten free menu, any dish with chips on the standard menu has a substitute for the chips on the gluten free .

He then offered to replace the meal with the gluten free version. We didn’t really want to wait another hour for it to be cooked. Also, we had heard the waitress tell the next table half an hour before that there was no gammon left. We asked how he would do this if he didn’t have any gammon. He again was unable to explain, the dish was removed by the waitress and came back two minutes later with potatoes instead of chips. Obviously they had just scraped the chips off and replaced them with potatoes, although he said they hadn’t done.

It is obvious that the manager and staff at this establishment have no understanding of the basic rules of allergy management, nor do they wish to accept any responsibility for customers who are not lucky enough to be able to eat whatever they wish.

Obviously we did not stay for our meals and we left, my wife in tears as she doesn’t like to be the centre of such fuss and our evening was ruined, we still had to find somewhere to eat. I will never go to the Horse and Groom again while it is managed by the current team.

I have written to Greene Kings Head Office for...

We have been going to the Horse & Groom for the better part of 16 years now. In all of that time it has always served good food at a good price. The atmosphere is light and friendly, with a cosy interior and a spacious garden.

The garden area has lots of bench seating. There is a fair amount of table & chair seating on the deck area, which during cold weather is complemented by gas heaters. There is a wooden climbing frame, and also a swing, which can keep children entertained for quite a while.

The pub is dog friendly. Bar staff are happy to serve fresh water in bowls; so that your furry friend can join in a drink with family and friends.

The furniture is comfortable and in great condition, indoors and outdoors. The decor has recently been update and looks really nice. There are equine themed artworks around the walls which are discrete enough not to be obtrusive, but make for interesting conversation points whilst waiting for you dinner or relaxing after a filling meal.

Today we sat and had a meal. A couple of the Turkey Roasts, the Signature Fish, and Sausages for our lad. The portions are unquestionably generous and offer good value. The quality is very good (although the Yorkshire puddings could be more accurately named Yorkshire Hardtack. Other than that, the meals were very much enjoyed. Locally I would say that the food is second best only to The Thorn Tree (A610, Woodlinkin). Certainly when we are eating out, the Horse and Groom is always on the consideration list.

I was disappointed with our drink order today. We had ordered a J2O (which comes from a bottle so you know what you are getting), a half pint of Guinness (which came perfectly filled with a good head), and "Two pints of Coke". It was these last drinks which were the let down. Both were served as the one you see in the photo. Now Cola is not subject to the weight and measures requirements like Alcohol is. But those glasses were barely more than half filled, and there is no way that they were a pint. In the past the glasses has always come...

Went here with son and his partner for first meal after lockdown..Was not impressed with safety measures put in place.Was meet at door and shown to table but not offered hand sanitizer on entrance as green king app says.All tables full none removed to create space couple on next table to the side and behind only 1 metre away. Manager came to take order with his face visor pulled up over his head.Wife ordered steak with sauce asked manager what sauce was made of when ordered so he was sure what she wanted and son ordered surf and turf.for main.When the main arrived they served my wife and son both with surf and turf my wife has a serious seafood allergy.Complained and was replaced. Once main finished notice the so called safety monitor whos job was supposed to be to ensure people were following safety rules was serving at tables.waited 30 mins for main platesto be cleared eventually asked waiter to clear plates and take our sweet order he said he would clear plates and come back but never did had to asked some else to take order.Table to our left became empty and was not cleaned before next customer was sat at table.Salt and pepper was brought to table in metal pot .will not going...