The Briars — Restaurant in England

I used to have a great affinity for this place and would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone. However, I must express my disappointment with the recent decline in its quality. It is disheartening to note that this is the fourth consecutive time in the past month that my dining experience has been subpar.

During my first visit, I encountered the frustrating situation where a significant portion of the items listed on the menu were unavailable. This forced me to settle for substitutions, which was not ideal considering the initial anticipation I had for specific dishes. The second time around, I decided to order through their app, only to find that our drinks were served after we had already finished our meals. This lack of synchronization between food and beverage service was quite off-putting.

On my third visit, I planned to enjoy a delightful breakfast as I usually do on Sundays. However, despite the website stating that they open at 9 am, I arrived at 9:55 am only to find the establishment still closed. This inconsistency in their operating hours was frustrating and inconveniencing.

Regrettably, my fourth visit proved to be the most disappointing yet. The food served was noticeably burnt, indicating a lack of attention and care in the kitchen. Additionally, one of the meals we ordered was missing its accompanying dips, further diminishing our dining experience. The atmosphere in the kitchen was chaotic, with audible shouting among the staff members. Despite these shortcomings, it is important to note that the two ladies serving us were pleasant and accommodating; their efforts should not be undermined.

In conclusion, it deeply saddens me to witness such a decline in the quality and consistency of this once-beloved restaurant. The issues encountered during my recent visits have left me hesitant to recommend...

Terrible experience with food here. I ordered a jacket potato with cheese and beans, this is usually a safe and easy option, however when in came out i was absolutely flabbergasted! I am 99% it was made the day before (this is my guess as we arrived at the restaurant at approximately 11:50am on a Sunday ready for the lunch menu)it came with the cheese and beans already on, it had just been reheated in a microwave. The potato was hard the cheese had solidified from where it was previously melted the day before, the cheese encased the baked beans which made the beans completely dehydrated, the bean sauce had completely dried out, no sauce at all in them, it was 100% inedible, they should have said they had sold out of jackets rather than serving that, the only place for it was the bin. We also ordered the toad in the hole on the kids menu, there were a few small sausages and a Yorkshire pudding, this wasn't the issue, it's just the little sausages tasted awful, they left a strong after taste and after me and my son had one bite we couldn't bare to eat anymore of them.

It is such a shame the pub itself is beautiful but the food was the worst I've ever experienced, never have I had inedible food before. I even like hospital food, so I know the problem wasn't with me. We left annoyed and hungry, wasted money. We went to ASDA café straight after and the food was better there, at least it was edible. This pub is good for drinking and eating crisps etc. but not for the restaurant itself. I have never had to write a negative review on a restaurant before but this was...

Comfort Food with a Side of “Could’ve Been Better” Tucked away in Kettering’s quieter corners, The Briars is your quintessential English pub, low-key, warm, and inviting without trying too hard. It’s the kind of place you’d instinctively drift into on a drizzly Tuesday, which is exactly what we did.

Atmosphere The vibe inside was mellow, with no noisy crowds, no blaring music, just the hum of casual conversation and the clink of cutlery. It’s a relaxed setting, perfect for a midweek family bite.

Food We ordered a few pub staples, nothing ambitious, but done right. The kids’ meal came as chicken dippers with waffles and corn on the cob, a classic combo that went down well. As for the adults, I went for the Honey Clucker Chicken Burger, a crispy chicken fillet glazed in sweet honey, served in a decent bun with the usual trimmings. The flavour was solid, no fireworks, but hearty and satisfying. Portion sizes were good, and everything came out hot.

Service Now for the elephant in the room, the service. While the bar staff were pleasant enough, there was a bit of a sting when we realised, after ordering and paying, that kids eat for £1 Monday to Friday. Since it was Tuesday, this should’ve been flagged. Instead, we were charged full price. It’s a small thing, but in hospitality, these details matter. It left a bit of a bad taste, and not the edible kind.

Verdict Would I go back? Yes, the food hits the mark, and the venue is peaceful and family-friendly. But a little more attentiveness from the staff could easily turn a good meal into a...