The Miners Country Inn — Restaurant in Forest of Dean

Thought we’d try it for an evening meal and it is hands down one of the best if not the best meal we’ve had out for a long time.

We had a rump steak, a venison pie and childrens meal of sausages. First of all the ingredients used were clearly excellent, but also someone had cooked that food with experience, skill and love.

The steak was cooked perfectly and very tender, and we cook steak a lot at home and are quite picky on it being right. The suet venison pie was a delight, British classic at it’s best, full of rich hunks of meat that were juicy and tender and with a beautiful sauce. Even the sausages on the child menu were good quality and perfectly cooked…no catering rubbish in sight. Chips, potatoes and vegetables were great and, woohoo, a dressed salad instead of a pile of dry leaves!

Dessert was sticky toffee pudding and oh my days they nailed it. It was glorious and rich but not overpowering. The pudding was moist, spongy and full of flavour. The ice cream balanced it out as it wasn’t too sweet, and the biscuit/crumbs and sauce complimented everything. Getting a dessert like this right is not easy.

Having worked in the industry myself, if I had a very slight niggle I’d say the service seemed to lack a little warmth. It felt like it was more about getting us sat down, taking our order etc but not really engaging with us so much. It wasn’t super busy so I’m not sure if it was staff preoccupied with other things or perhaps a little inexperience as people new to it can be a bit shy to begin with. I must emphasise it wasn’t bad service, it’s just that a bit of proactive extra warmth would make it perfect.

As I say though that is a very minor thing, overall our experience was fab and this is our new local favourite place for food and it is hands down the best local place we have eaten at, but actually better than most places we have eaten at more widely (Bristol, Gloucester, etc), and we do eat out a lot. Thank you and we...

Room basic but absolutely to requirements and sparkling clean. Nice addition was Nescafe Dolce Gusto (I think) - hadn't a clue how to use it, no instructions so used the google squad. No milk in the room, just about to call down when I found a note in one of the drawers explaining fresh milk was in a fridge at the end of the communal corridor - fridge located and several pints of semi-skimmed, spring water and fresh orange juice all chilled and gratis - very nice. Dropped star was because I reserve that for a walk-in 'wow' moment. I had room 1 so others may be far more decadent.

Had three course meal at restaurant, tipped to be a gastronimic delight and it didn't disappoint. Had battered Haddock with chips and home-made curry sauce. I have never had batter that light and crispy in my 50yrs. Outstanding. My three courses, a pint of draught and a chocolate liqueur - £50 with 10% tip (voluntary).

Serving staff very pleasant though the menu could have come with some explanations about some of the more cryptic items and the room (shown to room by serving staff) could have come with a few bits of information first-hand rather than having a mini escape room type feel - how does the coffee machine work? and where is the milk? Didn't have breakfast as had to be out at 6am but no mention of time either when taken to room - when I asked I'm not sure they knew. BUT, 10/10 for sincere welcoming nature and pleasantness from all staff.

Room with breakfast on a Friday evening was £75.

Large car park and a remote enough feel to know you're away from home and possibly - some of you, having a Forest of Dean vacation.

I'd definitely come back - even if just to eat if I were in the area again. Last thought would be 'How nice it must be that the restaurant at your digs isnt just convenient but it's probably serving some of the best food...

The worst 'Gastro Pub' ever. I've just come away from The Miners Sling unable to fathom why so many people are eating there.

Starters - small portions, nothing fresh or seasonal about them, not great but still edible 4/10

Main menu choices were hardly seasonal or fresh, We ordered a battered haddock, boar burger, hunters chicken and ravioli. The fish, burger and chicken were all edible. The "triple cooked chips" that accompanied the mains were barely cooked, dry, clearly out of a freezer and had a funny smell/taste to them. The ravioli was tough and smothered in cream cheese sauce. 2/10

When we pointed out the issue with only the chips to the server she returned to say that the 'chef' said there was nothing wrong with them. 1/10

The two pints of cask pale ale were flat, we pointed this out to the staff and they quickly apologised and said they would try again to see if it was more lively. We got a second apology at the table that the gas was out and we would receive another when it was changed. The second pints we received were just as flat as the first ones. 1/10

Now we were served on a "pot luck" Monday but if they're willing to serve that quality of food I'd question how much 'chef' has worked with Gordon Ramsay, kitchen nightmares perhaps?

Overall the website promises great things with quotes about local produce and seasonal ingredients but there wasn't a single fresh vegetable in sight. If I had seen the menu online that I ordered from tonight, not in a million years would I have turned up for the microwave oven / deep fat fryer dinner that I received.

Absolutely fuming about the quality of what I received. Nothing like what I'd expect from a 'Gastro Pub'. We paid up and quickly...