Poppy Field Farm — Restaurant in England

We booked for a family meal of 4 adults and 2 young kids for a kid friendly time of 5pm. Admittedly we were 5 mins late arriving, but it still took a few mins to allocate us a table as the planned table was still in use. We had ordered by about 5.20 and the family area had mostly cleared out by this point and was quite empty! Starters came quickly......and then we waited. And waited. And waited. A single waitress occasionally sauntered down to clean a table or throw away rubbish, but she never engaged with us or took the pates for our starters or asked after our food. After an hour of waiting, I chased our missing food with a member of staff at the bar who apologied for the delay and told me that our food was now cooking (which suggests it hadn't been for the previous hour). I politely reminded him we had young children who were hungry. The manager, Kath then popped out, apologied and offered us free desserts as a goodwill gesture. Then we waited and waited and about 30 mins later, our food slowly arrived....but even then the kids meals were last (and one was slightly wrong, but in the circumstances i just wanted my girls to eat). The young waiter who served us said we would need to speak to the manager about the desserts when I asked if we could arrange them immediately, as by this time it was closer to 7.....but no one came down. As soon as we were finished our mains I went back to the bar and found the manager, Kath. She was very apologetic and actually offered to refund all our starters and mains because of the tile we spent waiting, so we were only charged for drinks and dessert (several which had sold out). I appreciate that we visited on their busiest day of the week, but there was clearly a breakdown somewhere in the chain of communication for our food to take that long, as it was much less busy when we ordered. We know it's a cheap and cheerful meal, but the kids food was quite dry. There were no sauces (ketchup), no one took our plates from our starters. The waiting staff we felt with were not very proactive or enthusiastic (again, I appreciate they have had a busy afternoon, but a smile and some initive goes a long way in the service industry). Thank you to Kath and the man who sorted our desserts/bill at the bar, but the rest of the evening was rather...

Visited sat 20/09/25. First impression, regular chain destination pub suitable for families. On entering no one to greet us. Bar man came around to check our reservation. Let's just say customer service was his strength. Impersonal, almost like he couldn't be bothered. Served us drinks at the bar, again little customer service. Not even a smile. Ignored request for no ice in one drink, no ice offered in refil soft drinks. Asked for a tab to be opened, no "certainly sir/madam" just "put your card in!" As a seasoned hospitality worker and graduate of the trade, this person is not doing your business any favours. I fully appreciate that to keep costs competitive, staffing is minimal, hence no table service, but having to remember the drinks and food orders for a party of 10 was challenging. On to the food. The carvery was ok. Menu boasted 14 hour cooked meats. Turkey was ok, gammon ok but beef didn't benefit from a slow cook. If indeed it was. It was clear it was a very cheap cut, lacked any real flavour and thewey. Toasties described as "fluffy," I'd Hazard a guess they were waxy potatoes not floury. So not fluffy at all. Stuffing better than Toby carvery. Yorkshire's good. Veg ok. Cauliflower cheese had a twangy taste, not pleasant. Gravy lacked any real depth of flavour. Parsnip replicate s in honey, magnificent. Wish I could replicate at home. Waiting staff happily presented the birthday cake we brought with us. Didn't have dessert but they all looked tempting in the display case. On balance the food was as expected for the price charged. Certainly not expecting the Michelin guide to be listing in the near future, but for a good old feed it was just right. The only real negative was the lack of table service when we wanted drinks replenishing and the negative welcome we received on entry. Other than that I'd rate at 4.5 review only works in single stars. Hopefully my honest, balanced, review will be taken at face value and if lessons can be learnt, all the better. Would we return? Based on cost v quality v customer service, definitely yes but we'd known what to...

🍽️ Ambience & Facilities • Welcoming atmosphere: Warm and inviting, with tasteful farmhouse decor and thoughtful layout. The indoor play area is a standout feature for families, while the separate “family zone” ensures kids can play without disturbing others • Accessibility & convenience: Level access via double doors, wide ramps, accessible toilets with baby-change facilities, and EV charging in the car park make it exceptionally inclusive . • Comfortable design: Free Wi‑Fi, high chairs, ample seating in both pub-style and relaxed zones, and generous parking cater to diners in any setting .

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🍛 Menu Highlights & Quality

Carvery & Roast • Signature carvery: Featuring up to three slow-roasted meats (turkey, beef, gammon) cooked for 14 hours, served with Yorkshire pudding, roasties, vegetables, and rich gravy . • Portions: Consistently praised for being generous and hearty—ideal for a satisfying meal . • Vegetarian carvery: Cheese, onion & potato pie option ensures non-meat eaters aren’t left out

Pub Classics & Burgers • Diverse lineup includes Hunter’s Chicken, loaded chicken strips, burgers (beef, vegetarian, vegan bean), plus award-winning pies and fish & chips —ensuring there’s something for everyone.

Desserts & Cakes • Cake cabinet delights: Zesty seasonal cakes (“Simply the Zest”), Biscoff specials, giant sweet treats—made in-house by “Cake‑a‑tiers” . • Ice cream deals: Kids get a free scoop with meals; when temperatures exceed 25 °C, scoops drop to 99p—a fun, family-friendly perk

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👩‍💼 Service & Reviews • Friendly & efficient staff: Staff receive high praise for warm service, especially during busy carvery times when they guide diners to maintain smooth flow . • Community favorites: A “Women 4 Women” group praised Denise and her team for welcoming them with organised service and attention to dietary needs . • Dietary awareness: Vegan and allergy-aware staff go out of their way to accommodate...