The Barley Mow, Epsom — Restaurant in Epsom and Ewell

Poor. If you want food, I'd avoid! On arrival, were taken to our table in the restaurant area... Sat there for around 20 minutes, waiting for someone to take our order. I eventually went to ask someone and was only then told we don't do table service. This, I don't have an issue with, but would have been nice to be told this as we were seated. So, ordered our food - it did not appear busy at all. An hour later, no food and very hungry kids. I asked how much longer, and was told we're the next table. An hour & 15 mins we waited for our food. Yes, it was Fathers Day but there was 1 table of 4 and another table for 2, both tables were already eating when we arrived... so I couldn't see the hold up. Fine.. perhaps they were busy else where. No big deal.

The food eventually arrived, we ordered 3 roast dinners (chicken, turkey and beef) Turkey: Cut like a piece of steak! "1/2 Chicken" - Teeny tiny! Bearly half. Beef: it was a very thick slab of beef, that was very, very over cooked, and incredibly dry. Almost grey where it had been cooked for so long or left under a heat lamp. I politely took it back. The guy I had spoken to, looked at me blankly and said.. "I don't know what you want me to say" before eventually turning to the chef who appeared from the kitchen, and said "she's complaining about the beef - she said it is too over cooked" the chef then said.. "what do you expect at 4.30" (Note, we had our table booked for 3pm) Clearly, the quality of food takes a dive at some point in the day. They said they'd bring me out another plate and do their best to get a less over cooked beef. 🥴 Out it came, along with a butter knife 🤦‍♀️ again, the beef was cut super thick.. at least 2 cm deep! I couldn't cut into it... it was so gristly. At this point, I gave up and lost my appetite, and left the entire meal on my plate uneaten. The waitress asked how my food was, to which I felt honesty is best here. I told the waitress it wasn't good. She told the chef, and I over heard him say.. "Well it's a difference of opinion" And that was that.

I would have refused to pay for it if they hadn't insisted we pay at the start. Incredibly poor experience and would never recommend this place to ANYONE. Unless they replace the chef.

Sorry, I hate to leave negative reviews but this place takes the biscuit!

On the plus side... decent garden to have a couple of drinks in the sun.

#SundayRoast #PoorService...

They say on Instagram they are the most friendly pub around. I didn’t see that on our visit last night. The prices are not cheap and one small bottle of Prosecco is £9. We ordered out food at 7:10 last night and by 7:50 it still hadn’t arrived. I asked the blonde lady at the bar and she snapped at me saying the chef is busy. When the food came out the fish and chips my partner had was dry and chips were hardly cooked. I had the linguine and it was full of oil and made me feel pretty sick. It repeated on me when we arrived home.

The opening hours of this pub are wrong as they actually close at 10pm. Shocking for a Friday night. They said it’s because of covid, just before 10 a man came round asking us all to drink up and leave. Pure rudeness. I wouldn’t ever visit this pub again. They don’t deserve the business. If you are suffering due to the cost of living crisis don’t come here. The prices are very high for drinks.

The staff need training on customer service and need to learn some manners. They also looks miserable and like they didn’t want to be there. I think they need to replace staff and get the place buzzing and vibrant again.

The food menu was terrible. Lacked choice, no vegan options and the fish and chips has caused my partner to suffer food poisoning today.

Terrible place. Won’t go again.

Update: food alert have made contact after over a month of trying to get issue sorted. They have said the food poisoning didn’t happen here and that’s lies. We have home cooked meals so they are blaming me. It’s absolutely awful the way my partner suffered. This issue hasn’t been taken seriously so I will be taking this issue further. I will update this review in due course.

If you don’t want food poisoning yourself...

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying a pint at The Barley Mow in Epsom, and it was an absolutely delightful experience! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm and friendly atmosphere that made me feel right at home. The pub has a charming, rustic decor that perfectly complements its cozy vibe.

The selection of beers on tap was impressive, featuring a variety of local brews and well-known favorites. I opted for a pint of their house ale, and it did not disappoint. It was perfectly chilled, with a rich, smooth flavor that was incredibly satisfying.

The staff were attentive and knowledgeable, always ready with a recommendation or a friendly chat. The service was prompt, and I never felt rushed, which allowed me to fully relax and enjoy my time there.

What really stood out to me was the sense of community. The Barley Mow seems to be a beloved local spot, with regulars who clearly enjoy spending their time there. It was great to see people of all ages coming together to share a drink and some good conversation.

Overall, my visit to The Barley Mow was fantastic. Whether you're looking for a place to unwind after work, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy a quality pint, this pub is a must-visit. I can't...