The Maiden's Head — Restaurant in England

We have been there today with friends with few people coming a bit later. There is nothing special about food (rating 3 is for over grilled/a bit burnt burgers and chicken, probably even that is too generous), drinks selection is generally very standard. However, staff was rude and service substandard because: One of our friends coming later was very hungry and tried to order food, but was told that kitchen is closed for next hour(it was few minutes into that closure hour). She got a sandwich outside, and order drinks in the Maiden's Head, and was eating this sandwich with beer waiting until kitchen opens (again, nearly one hour before it reopens). She was in rude manner told to stop eating it, etc and no one from staff even apologised to kitchen closure nor tried to find a reasonable solution. So, this pub gets rating of 1 for service (they claim to serve food, have food menus available, but close kitchen in the middle of the day). (hint - reprint your menus and put this information there, it is not difficult and not even very expensive, single sticker(at least that is the only one I saw) on one of doors to smoking area is definitely genius approach) and rudeness (hint - you knew that kitchen is closed, and didn't even attempted to apologise to your customer. Also, although for some people it might be debatable - if you were attempting to provide good service you should have either let her eat sandwich - closing kitchen is YOUR problem, - or figure out how you can provide her with food she was ready to order). This is a very rare case when I personally regret that we were not in the US - you guys would get 0% tip vs usual 20%.

Overall summary: quite ordinary pub, with average (but edible) "nothing special" food and poor service.

Update to a response: I do not want do get into argument, sort of pointless, I believe we all will stand where we are. Re: burgers - I am sorry to say, but if beef in the burger is crunchy and burnt on edges, that is not a great burger. Though, I will confirm that pickle on it was surprisingly good. There was only one noticeable sticker on one door about kitchen opening times (door to area where smoking is permitted). The only smell I remember what smell of tobacco smoke when someone opened the above mentioned door for several minutes, so 'smelly' argument is sort of empty. (point being if I can smell tobacco smoke, I certainly can smell smelly food someone is eating less than a meter from where I am) Your staff was acting in a manner 'stop eating because I told you so'. Not even single attempt to apologise for inconvenience caused and find a solution. And finally: your kitchen being closed and lack of well noticeable signs about it - your problem. Overall, my goal was to write here what really happened and my experience as a customer, and this...

Came in to meet some mates and the service was awful. The first guy didn't know which beer I was asking for even though I told him the name of the beer, then the name of the brewery, then both, then both while pointing at it and then he asked his manager. I'm guessing he was new, so I can get over that.

Then I ordered a erdinger (one of my favourite beers) sat down with it and it tasted really funny. So I went back to the bar and spoke to the manager guy, here is the conversation: "This tastes really weird mate" "It's fine" "How do you know if you haven't tried it?" "Because we sell lots of it" "Ok, there could be a problem tho right?" "It's probably just a dirty glass" "Ok.... Is that a good thing?" "......" Proceeds to pour me another one even though I'm saying it's wrong "try that" ".... It still tastes funny" "Then it's the glass" "Ok.... Do you want to change it for a clean glass?" Puts it in a non erdinger glass "That tastes better mate" Gives me a dirty look and walks off

Why not just ask if I want to change it for something else and not get mardy? Why are you upset a customer is bringing back a beer that's been served in a dirty glass? Why are you serving beer in dirty glasses? All things that aren't my problem. I...

A pub had stood here for generations and has changed hands many times and had many different names. The last landlords did a good job with renovations. The interior is very smart and well maintained. The bar staff are pretty friendly and attentive.

The bar offers a good range of decent ales and lager. You won't find the lower tier Australian and American lagers served here.

The food menu is simple and straightforward as expected of a small kitchen. The burgers in particular are well made here.

At the rear of the premises is a very nice out door/beer garden area, which is often heaving in the summer.

Most Saturday nights you can expect to see a live band preform and this often draw quite a throng so be aware of if you are planning quiet Saturday...