Neptune Pub & Carvery — Restaurant in Folkestone and Hythe District

Most recent review -

I guess I was lucky the first time I visited this establishment because I now retract my below review for a more accurate one from today's experience. This place is unfortunately average to below par for a carvery for tonight I experienced no charismatic carvers, unattentive staff members and quite frankly a poorly cleaned establishment. We were seated at just gone 5.30 (partially due to our poor timing by 3 minutes and partly down to our table not being ready and staff noticing us but being too busy with socializing with other staff members to get our table ready.) We had been seated for an hour and a half before the table right next to ours (as we were in a booth it might as well have been connected to our table) had finally been cleared but not yet wiped down even as we departed it still was no closer to being suitable for the next guests if any were to come along. The carver was simply just there to do a job and not overly chatty/welcoming. The food was average at best with a poor man's attempt at pigs in blankets and a hilarious attempt at an ice cream Sunday which was in fact just 3 scoops of ice cream in a cup, no sauce, no fancy American style cup, nothing like that. The only positive from tonight was the bar man with his cheery smile and beeming personality. I am not sure if I will be returning as I know there are other carvery's out there that would provide a better experience than I had tonight.

(Pictures below are of the table which was next to ours and empty from the moment we sat down til after we departed and the remains of the poor mans ice cream sundae).

Old Review -

This place is the best hidden gem I have yet to find! Trust me when I say that this place should be put on the map, not only for the food they deliver at a very reasonable price but also the staff and the overall feeling within this venue.

Firstly I'll start with the "look" of this establishment: The outside is wonderful and oh so romantic in a rustic sense at dusk. From the Parisian style outdoor decor including metal furniture and classic bulb string lights to the family friendly climbing apparatus with benches nearby. It's most certainly dare I say it, breathtaking.

Now onto the inside where you instantly feel at home in a relaxed log cabin kind of feel. The warmth from others all being together makes for that wholesome feeling in your stomach. On Sundays (the only day I have visited but most certainly not the last!) they have a carvery station with some very charismatic staff members who would most certainly try to meet any requests you may have. The food was simply divine and suited the price you paid. The beef was very tender and moist and cut ever so finely. The turkey was melt in your mouth delish, I was so disappointed I could only have the last servings of the night because I would have wanted seconds! And the pork and crackling were perfectly fine. The staff were as lovely as the carvery team and were so attentive, praise is also due for their attention to cleanliness and how great it was to see how quickly and efficiently tables could be turned over.

Overall I was both stunned and blown away by what I had experienced tonight. It has made mother's day such an amazing memory for myself and my family and I cannot thank you...

We arrived this evening after booking last week (which was lucky as they were turning patrons away at the door - this gave us good vibes already) we were greeted by a friendly lovely girl. However, being a family of 4 with 2 children they placed us in the bar.. loads of free tables in the restaurant, maybe we were dressed too casual? Anyway I digress... facilities are great, good selection of drinks and a great small kids play are outside.

Food seemed a little pricey, we don't have loads of money and being the last night of 'eat our to help out' we wanted to treat the kids. Service at the bar was great, however things started heading south pretty quickly from here. We were told they most of the food was sold out (bearing in mind it was 6pm) so we had to settle for alternative choices.. when the food came, we were very disappointed! The pizza for my son came and it seemed like it was microwaved, the kids spaghetti bolognese was like a ball of wool rolled in sauce and a bit of meat. The chicken wings were plain and the sauce on it tasted like it was sitting under a head lamp for ages. The ribs were cold and my wife's "pulled pork burritos" were lifeless and tasteless. She was extremely upset as she had to substitute her roast for this and didn't touch it. It resembled a thick soup rather than any pulled pork I had ever seen... we weren't approached by staff to see if it was okay, like other places, or offered any condiment to give life to our tasteless disappointment of a dinner.

Very glad we didn't pay the full price of £60 else I would have complained and ruined my children's dinner even more. I tried calling the establishment many times after leaving to speak to management, however the phones seem to have no one employed staff to answer as after 9 tried it wasn't picked up... Will try again tomorrow.

Maybe it was an off day but we will NOT be going back here. Recommend you avoid also.

The service saves this place...

Always used to hear good things about the Neptune and was heading home from the beach and we decided to give it a go. We parked up and as walking in I asked a lady how things worked, she informed me to pick a table and order at the bar with the table number, I sat the kids down and went to order, there was 1 man taking food orders and doing the drinks on a busy Sunday afternoon? So I joined the queue, there must of been 7 or 8 other staff not doing too much looking miserable so was frustrating, as I was just finishing ordering the kids came over to say they were told to leave the table as it had been pre-booked? The man serving asked if we had been seated and I informed him we had walked in as the lady had told us, he then says we should of been booked in on arrival as that is how it works, (there is a big sign on the wall as you walk in telling you to seat yourselves and order at the bar as the lady said?) So now I'm standing at the bar with the kids no table food ordered....... Then the man serving leaves the bar to book us in, goes through the table chart and takes us back to the table we were sat at which is now occupied, Wish I hadn't paid by this point. Finally got seated and went for my carvery, 2 small cuts of turkey and a large Yorkshire pudding is served to you then it's help yourself, it all looked ok but tastewise so bland and the Yorkshire pudding had the texture of cardboard, and tasted about the same, the kids food arrived and was no better, they use the cheapest sausages which had no taste. Then I saw the reason for all this, I thought the Neptune was independently owned but is owned by park holidays so it's just a cash cow with no quality, it's a shame as it is a nice place, well laid out...