The Windmill — Restaurant in England

Update: I’ve been back a handful of times, including the Sunday carvery. I’ve had great service every time and once I asked to take leftovers away and they brought me something to put it in. Sunday carvery is a good value. It’s now summer and the beer garden is vibrant. The main menu is a bit overpriced for what you get, for me. But, we are enjoying the beer garden and the occasional carvery. I’ve updated rating. The Windmill is worth a go. Must have been an off day on my first visit.

1st review: Most bizarre restaurant experience of my life. Had a booking for Sunday roast. Came in and asked if we could eat outside by the playground as it we had small kids and the restaurant was very quiet and not kid friendly.

They gladly accepted. Walked out the long path and was impressed with the beautiful beer garden. It had just rained so we needed to sit under the tent. Not one single clean table there so I had to bus a table. Had to make a few trips back and forth to clear the mess.

It started raining again so we decided to Just eat inside in the more relaxed pub side. 3 people working the bar and and not a clean table there. My only option was to bus and clean yet another table! No one working there offered to clear it. They even gave me a spray bottle to clean it with. (I asked for some spray to be fair).

Food took an hour to come out. You can’t have starters first. So I bought peanuts. Roast was huge and was decent.

I wanted to take leftovers home and that is where it got crazier. They act shocked at the mere suggestion and they have to dig through a storage shed for take away containers. I was handed an entire roll of foil to wrap food in. It just kept getting crazier. I had to laugh.

I worked a full shift prepping tables so we could sit down. And then had to offer solutions and wrap food in tin foil to take leftovers home.

I asked if no one ever takes their food home. The bar staff said “nope, not really”.

£30 a plate. And you can’t take the rest home. Also have to bus and clean your own tables. And wait and hour for food.

Will I go back? Yeah probably. Food was decent, not incredible, but edible, and I can walk there. The outdoor space is impressive. I’ll bring my own cleaning supplies and Tupperware. Oh you also have to load a tray up with your drinks and trek them way out to the back of the garden if you’re eating outside. And your dessert has to be brought with the mains as no one is going to do table service out there. £30 a plate. Maybe that sounds crazy for a £100 dinner. Convenience comes with a...

Sadly they keep spending money on this lovely village pub but never listen to feedback about what customers want. It is too expensive for a village pub. They have priced themself just out of the market. It’s practically £12 for a prawn cocktail!! It puts people off. It’s the reason many villagers don’t go along with the atmosphere/service from the land lady. Every time me or my friends go in she never speaks to us or even exchanges a smile. She shoes the nice guy with gold tooth to serve us after she has finished chatting. As if we are interrupting her even when zero customer are inside. Whilst the ethos is family owned friendly pub ..friendly it is not. When asked last year about what would be good on the menu the feedback was snubbed. When we suggested it was more expensive than anywhere else we go ( we eat out 2/3 times per week and never the windmill) the land ladies partner said ‘you obviously don’t live here as houses sell for 1 mil, the price is relative!!! How blind and rude. We live on church drive. The cuckoo is their competition and the houses in Alwalton are higher end too? Yet is cheaper with prices more palatable. The garden refit is lovely truly beautiful and people that come will come for a beer or too on a sunny day but that will not boost custom as they all say how expensive it is. Sit among them in the garden and the jokes are a plenty about cost. Not to mention a landlady who is stand off ish. People that walk out with a menu and then have a beer and leave to eat someone else. A promotion could be as a family run pub that cares about its community and has reduced prices for cost of living and then keep them that way would be a business boost. Happy hour? People with money are d thrifty I fear that the owners haemorrhage money on this place and will not listen to advice . One other thing that people look for in a village place especially of this age is open fires. Bring them back. Local produce. Use the words ‘local, British farmed, organic, grass fed’ Home cooked winter warmers Most of the menu has been the same for a long long time. They clearly ask a few regulars that matches their own views. Several times I have been at the bar and been served after the locals that prop tye bar up every day. It’s new business they should seek. It is not welcoming and I met a friend there this week and as I arrived her first words was ‘that was awkward’ as she walked out with a drink to gardens. Play some music all the time in the garden. Doesn’t...

Visited 18/12/22 (Sunday lunch). Upon arrival the restaurant didn't have us on their computer system. They checked their paper diary and we were in it. Thank goodness, as I had no backup plan for lunch! Wasn't a great start. Restaurant was clean and nicely presented, albeit a little chilly (esp. when restaurant door opened). It took 40 mins for starters to arrive. The mozzarella arancini balls were a good size. The pork belly tasted nice but was very small portion for £8.50. Then we had another very long wait for the mains, and the food came out between cold and lukewarm (no exaggeration). You could hold the cauliflower cheese side dishes in your hands and there was no warmth. We asked them to rectify and my plate was microwaved (which I was ok with as was so hungry). Came back warmer but not hot and wasn't expecting half cauliflower dishes to be returned to us. When ordering I asked if the beef was medium. Server said yes but could have it come out how I'd like, so I said rare. When it arrived (even before being microwaved) it arrived well done. We chanced desserts and had the same wait and was told after 20 mins that there was no vanilla ice-cream so an order was changed and then magically the new dessert arrived within seconds. The restaurant/bar was busy but not heaving. The food was tasty but just took forever to arrive, wasn't presented particularly well and was cold. Wasn't even a Christmas menu. It came to a total of £150 for 3 people (includes drinks - 2 glasses of wine, 2 beers, 2 coke zeros and a £12 tip). Don't mind paying that but was left a little disappointed for what we got. Shame really as they are our new local and if good we would have...