UPDATE DUE TO REPLY: We arrived when you had just opened and were still setting up. The booking was made a day in advance and to be fair I wish you said you were full. As for a 140 diners, this must be a typo- more around 40 at the time we were there. We were not informed of an Irish night either on booking or at the the pub. Would be nice to actually be offered the "special" Irish menu. The table did have cutlery but was cleared after the starter but nothing brought with the main. There is also other reviews about your uncooked pie but I guess these are liars along with all the other bad reviews. My partner did mention on paying that she was unhappy with the food but this was obviously ignored, like the plates full of chicken, chips, oinion rings, veg and pastry. There is obviously a pattern with your replies to negative comments, and I hope people reading this refer to other reviews and your unprofessional responses. Also, your rating must obviously be due to the previous owners amazing food as this pub could not be 4.5 stars now.

Used to be a regular of the blue bowl and was always lovely food, thought we’d give new owners a go and what a mistake! Requested to be seated in a quiet area out of the way and was seated in the noisy bar. Service was appalling, waitress could not remember an order of drinks for 2, served main course and wasn’t even given cutlery. Starter was ok, but that’s the best it got. I had steak pie, meat was lovely but pastry was raw, onion rings were unpleasant. The “famous” blue bowl bake, was absolutely awful. Chicken was pink and chewy, borderline raw, sauce was watery with a gloop of Stilton at the bottom. Left 80% of the meal and after paying £50, would expect at least one of us to be satisfied. Didn’t cause a scene and immediately left, not a patch on what it used to be and would not visit again. Seriously disappointed.