Martins' Pond — Restaurant in Dacorum

Updated as I've just received a phone call from the landlady using the number given for our booking to continue arguing with us and saying that the comments by staffs about my son's disability shouldn't influence my review! Long, but I'm so shocked by the experience that I would encourage you to read to the end and also to read my other very positive reviews so you can see I am not usually negative. Also allatbr evebts were witnessed by the other ten people with us from different backgrounds and families and they were also shocked bybthr lack of professionalism. So...worst dining experience I have ever had. Confirmed booking as requested via phone. Turned up and they were two short. Unable to eat meal whilst passing baby and toddler around due to lack of space. Starter - poor quality so only ate part of it. Main course - myself and four others on the table left most of it. Toddlers meal - literally poured oil out of the 'yorkshire pudding'. Was witnessed by a waitress who shot a look and muttered an insult under her breath loud enough to be heard. Complained to bar staff who wanted me to speak to manager - I said enough time had been wasted and I didn't want to cause a scene so asked if it could be passed on. On the table next to us leaving an awful woman was abusive to my husband because she was so disturbed by all the shifting around to accommodate us. Had lost our temper by this point and retaliated. Was then told that we had been abusive to the staff (by complaining about the quality of the meal). In any situation we would have been reluctant to pay given the quality of the meal, but were threatened with the police. I commented to my husband (not the landlady) that I couldn't believe they were behaving like this, what with a disabled child (our 8 month old with severe, global brain damage Grade 3 HIE). The landlady said 'don't play that card - there's nothing wrong with your child' (I assume referring to our three year old, who does not have any disabilities). Promptly barred due to our 'disruptive behaviour' despite complaining calmly and privately and then being subjected to abuse by a neighbouring table due to how closely we had been seated (obviously not within our control). I asked them to stop atguing with us in front of our children and it continued. Never experienced anything like this and certainly never experienced the combination of disgusting food, abuse, poor service and disability discrimination all in one go. Well done at ruining the first mother's day we have had since bringing our child home from intensive care. Suspect this is a 'local' pub for local people hence the previous decent reviews (and why we attended). Don't touch with...

This is a long review to justify a Sunday misery. After my last visit more than a decade ago (many reasons I never visited again) I thought it would be a great place to book for a Sunday lunch after riveting reviews on trip advisor for the Berkhamsted catchment area.

It’s a fresh little pub, with room both near the bar and also around in the conservatory. Unfortunately Sundays seem to be a day they lack most ingredients for their menu. It was on every course that they had to check with the kitchen to see if they were able to offer such choices. Thankfully I managed to choose roast of the day, after having to opt for my second choice starter. This ended up being a wise choice, with the beef mostly being inedible, and the sides of roasted veg seemed to be oven cooked for well over a week.

To top off a disappointing roast, there wasn’t a single sliver of cheese for a menu suggesting cheese board. Adding insult to injury, not a droplet of tomato juice to calm our frustration with a Bloody Mary. There is a limited choice for drinks, this time not due to a stocking issue, more down to a single option for some drinks including ONE choice of rosé.

Finally to the pudding. Limiting choices due to massive under stocking, thankfully managed to get ahold of the final creme brûlée, which despite a crunchy top, lacked much taste. Similar things to be said for sorbets. With unsurprisingly no raspberry on offer, after yet ANOTHER visit from the waitress to the kitchen.

All in all it’s a smart little place with great setting by the village green. Staff are all friendly and welcoming, there just seems to be serious issues with stock and what they offer on the menu. Can’t say I’m overwhelmed by said menu and the fact such high reviews for Berkhamsted trip advisor prove, you can’t believe a word...

My partner and I visited Martin's Pond for the first time today and had their roast dinner. Staff were all very friendly and made us feel incredibly welcome, and the pub itself seems like a lovely local spot.

We both had a roast dinner (1 chicken roast, 1 vegetarian roast). The food was out very quickly, was piping hot and was delicious! We have been trying to find a decent roast dinner around Hemel Hempstead for a while now and Martin's Pond is the only place that has hit the mark. It is clear to see that the food was homemade with proper roasties (not your typical Aunt Bessies) which were nice and crispy, generous sized proper yorkshire puddings and amazing cauliflower cheese. I was informed that this was the first week they were trying the nut roast as the vegetarian option and, although it's not something I was usually go for, this was really yummy and I would gladly have it again. The price was very reasonable and worked out just over £40 for two meals, a side of cauliflower cheese, and two drinks.

Parking is just opposite the pub, and is free. There is a lovely open space and plenty of woodland to walk around to help digest your food after eating.

We will most definitely be coming...