The Better Half Pub — Restaurant in England

Hello, As a Hovian, it's disappointing to have to post a poor review!

Well, we arrived to meet friends around 8ish and having not catched up for a while we fell into funny anecdotes ordered wine, beer and some chips all served by a friendly welcoming person behind the bar. The friendly laughing and joking between us continued for a couple hours until .......when the pub was basically not busy at all....a guy in a t-shirt told us off for laughing too loudly. He explained his chef had complained ...not any actual customers🤔. Now we enter the realms of finding ourselves in a scene from the Old Vic with Peggy dressed in a T-shirt confronting our query about the fact no-one had complained (accept steven siegal in the Kitchen). You've had too much to drink ... he tells one rather confused member of our five some (2 boys 3 girls)...40 plus in case your wondering....she has had too much to drink and Get out my Pub. Have to admit as quick as a Flash...her companion suggested 'Peggy' should calm down; he didn't instead he now said get out or I'm calling the Police. I'm sorry but we couldn't help but laugh at this; officer arrest these customers they are laughing too loud and my chef doesn't like it ... plus they called me Peggy!. PC Jones, I'll have to take statements first but was the dog involved too....was it barking or can I let him go. Peggy: I don't think the dog was involved but by association I think he too should be charged. Right you are Peggy, I mean sir!. Right you lot ... your all coming down the station with me!

We tried to reason with Peggy but he simply doesn't seem to understand customer service and the fact he raised the drunk and disorderly flag after he was asked who complained.

So Peggy, in a right old strop now...strutted and stuttered up and down in front of what was basically only one other group of customers....an extended family...who appeared totally bewildered by the scene unfolding. We decided not to contest his authority further ....instead politely said we would leave and finished with a separate last attempt to explain perhaps his aggression towards our female friend was over the top and very upsetting. Did this last ditch attempt .....to perhaps give feed back and guidance to help poor Peggy see the value in good customer service and not throwing out paying customers......nope; instead hand on hips Peggy reiterated his managerial status....he lives above apparently (parents must be thankful)...that he's the boss and he can choose to throw out whomever he likes, whenever he likes; cos it's his pub....sort of!

I know what your thinking ....when will the Fabulous Five be back there; I'll keep you posted.

...... Thank you Simon for sharing your truth!

It's wonderful to have owners of pubs like yourself pay attention to reviews and offer up such responses. Just for balanced reporting ....you were not a there. I can categorically confirm there was no aggression from myself, the other four or the Dog. So I need to call you out... because...like I said...you..were not there. I have made no comment on any other aspect ...in fact I complimented the female staff member who first served us and bought her drink too. I commend you for defending your business and your staff. But don't step too far from the truth and offer up tales of aggression and a like. That did not happen.

So to be clear to anyone who reads this; the Better Half is a good pub, the foods ok and generally you will find it mostly welcoming. I recommend you visit....if only to have a drink and view the now infamous case of Laughter Crime.

PS. Simon for some reason I thought you might invite us back....or offer up a refund for the last round we were forced to abandon. A voucher would be ok too ...the chips were excellent...please let the...

I went to this pub for the first time last night with a couple of friends. The first thing we were told as soon as we sat down was that for "Security Reasons" we had to leave a card (credit/debit) at the bar, what??? After 5 min talking to the waiter trying to understand what were these security reasons we understood that it was in case we left without paying, not a good start! For security reasons we refused to leave a card so we were told we had to pay upfront, so we did and in cash.

I ordered a veggie burger with no mayo, when the food came and took a bite realised they brought me a BEEF BURGER with mayo!! Told the waiter and was asked to wait to see what could be done, really?? After a while they took the burger and was told they would bring me the veggie. 10 minutes on the my food arrived, at this point my friends that already finished their food and their plates taken away.

The veggie burger was completely tasteless, bland and the whole thing utterly dry. There was no ketchup or mustard in it or on the side to put in. I ate half without the bread, the waiter came asked if the food was ok and I replied it was tasteless, bland, dry and really no eatable, her reply was just an OK.

Owning a catering business and my friends restaurants we all agreed the situation was completely poorly handled, they should have not only apologise but also offered a full refund of the food. Is better to loose £10 than having an ever green ban review, a no returning customer and for that customer to tell all his friends about his...

It was our first visit yesterday and was on a busy Saturday night. We were able to book on the day, and we called, but there is also a booking system online. The staff were very pleasant, friendly and looked after us really well. Our table for six people and one dog was next to another with about twenty people, so it was incredibly noisy and very lively, but everyone was jovial and smiley. The staff realised it was far too noisy for us and helped move us to another table, which was much appreciated by all of us. The food was excellent, we tried a couple of the starters to pick between us all - if you like pork belly, you must try the pork belly bites - we had a couple of the pork bites and some delicious olives. Everyone enjoyed their main courses. There's a good selection of gins and tonics, which we all had as well as beer/ larger on tap and a good selection of soft drinks. Our Labrador came and was very welcome by the staff. There were another two or three dogs in the pub. Parking is all street parking, zone N in Hove, and paid for between 9-8 daily. Just use the main PayByPhone app. We booked our table for 8pm and I found a free spot just a road away. Overall, it was a great little pub with very decent food and excellent team. It's close to where our daughter lives so we will be visiting again soon....