The Faulkner Pub, Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in England

After months of lockdown, I decided to go out for a meal recently. I had heard good reports of the food at the Faulkner Arms, so off I trotted. Despite not booking ahead, I was offered a table and was soon perusing the menu which consists of selection of entrées, mains and desserts, together with a selection of snacks. I opted for three course lunch. The scallops I chose emerged from the kitchen some fifteen minutes after placing my order, which is reasonable given that the food is cooked fresh. They had been done to a turn … their taught outer skins giving way to the soft, melt-in-the mouth interior upon the gentlest of bites. Furthermore, I was impressed by the way the Faulkner´s chef had woven together different tastes in a way which made the whole far greater than the sum of the parts … the flavours of the asparagus, prosciutto, black pudding, mingled together in a tongue-tingling way and provided the perfect complement to the scallops served on a bed of cauliflower purée. It was beautifully presented, too, so well in fact, that it was almost a shame to butcher chef´s delightful creation. The favourable impression of the kitchen was further enhanced by the main. I opted for the pan-seared sea bass. I am not a great fan of fennel in cooking, but I have to say that once again the kitchen excelled in producing the most mouth-watering ensemble of fresh ingredients. The fennel was the perfect accompaniment to the sea bass, being tender and crunchy in turn. Delicious! In chef´s gifted hands the sea bass had become transformed into an explosion of texture and taste. The delicious soft, tender flesh eager to break out the crisp - skin outer layer in which it was cocooned. It was all delicious, but what really distinguished this dish was the lemon butter sauce. It proved the perfect complement, slightly tart, yet savoury. Gosh... It really was that good! On to the dessert. I have always loved crumbles … especially gooseberry crumble (which alas seem to have disappeared from the cookbooks of our land just like junket), so I chose the apple and rhubarb crumble. The pudding was also delicious – just as expected. I travel frequently over four continents and trying local dishes is one of my greatest pleasures. And I am fed up of going to over-hyped gastro pubs and restaurants from which one invariably leaves dispirited and disappointed. I had few expectations as I entered The Faulkner. It is unassuming … ostensibly just another local pub. But, it isn´t though! The culinary excellence of the fare, the mouth-watering presentation and the efficient and not-over-effusive staff, who were amiable and professional at all times, led to one of the most outstanding meals I can remember. The Faulkner gives extraordinary value for your hard-earned money. Highly, highly...

I was very disappointed with my visit yesterday. I order the crispy beef salad, when it came it was very dry, the salad had no dressing and the beef was either hard or chewy, and lacked flavour. When the waiter came to ask if all was well I explained I wasn’t happy with the meal and he took it away and asked if I’d like to order something else, so although disappointed by the food I was happy with their response. However, when the bill came I had been charged for both the salad and the alternative meal I’d ordered. While happy to pay for the replacement, I explained that I didn’t want to pay for the beef salad. I was told that I’d have to pay for some of it as the chef had said that the food was fine, and therefore they would only be able to take £5 off the bill. I explained that when they took the food away and asked if I’d like to order an alternative, to me that suggested that I wouldn’t need to pay. I explained that it should have been made clear to me that I’d need to pay for some or all of the salad as well as the replacement dish - even though they took it away. I wouldn’t have eaten the salad but I wouldn’t have ordered another dish had I known that I’d be paying for both. The waiter said that was not their policy and that they would only offer a £5 discount. At this point I agreed to pay and left. I wish that I’d asked to speak to the manager but I was so surprised, I didn’t think to ask. I would not recommend going here for food, it’s at best average (based on what the others in my group ordered) and the service I received...

I have always loved The Faulkner. Wonderful staff, terrific beers, and food truly second to none. And I can't tell you how happy I am to see they've made it through all the lockdowns. So why the two-star review then? Accessibility. Or rather, its glaring lack thereof. In the last couple of years, my partner's parents who have always loved the Faulkner have suffered with ongoing health issues that have made their mobility increasingly limited. Before the pandemic hit, we asked if a grip or handle (never mind ramp) could be installed at the door where the step is very high for anyone using a relator or wheelchair. No such grip has since been fitted. Now, regarding ramps, a quick search on Amazon reveals that quality, sturdy portable ramps cost around £120. Surely, some measures can and should be taken to also accommodate the disabled. No one plans for these life-changing health issues until they hit. They inflict enough pain as it is, so the lack of basic accessibility in places one used to frequent and love and must now write off through no fault of their own just adds insult to injury. This can easily be remedied and I look forward to remedying this review to five stars the day I see The Faulkner has become accessible to...