Hare Arms Stow Bardolph — Restaurant in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Booked weeks in advance to celebrate mum’s birthday. Requested to be sat in the conservatory where it was a nicer atmosphere and they said sure, will be done. The lady on the phone was impatient, obviously in a hurry to hang up even though I had called during the afternoon downtime, and I should have realised this was a red flag. Turned up on the day but no staff seemed interested in seating us. After getting one of the older lady staff member’s attention (manager maybe?), she could not find my reservation and started to question if I even booked. I had to insist and recount the phone conversation to her to prove it. As I persisted she eventually found our reservation one page over in her book (what a surprise) and gave us a table by the door. I asked to be moved to the conservatory as there was a free table with no reserved sign and I had been assured on the phone that our request had been noted. I had told them that it was after all a birthday meal otherwise I wouldn’t be picky normally. Lady replied rather rudely that I should ignore whatever table I can see and just go sit where she’s put us. It was a small and busy spot to sit and the food was mediocre - we had eaten here before and it seems the standards have really slipped since. Wouldn’t be back anytime soon. If I see that older lady staff member at the counter I’ll probably just turn around and eat somewhere else. Prices are high for a pub, and notably higher than other pubs in the area so the service and food was unjustifiably bad. Also if you want to bring a birthday cake you will be charged £15 so we did not even...

Awful. Avoid!

I’d love to give this pub a great review (my husband’s and mum’s meals were good) however mine was a disaster, followed by worse service, which was a real shame as this was meant to be a special lunch out.

The “chicken burger” they offer has been beaten/flattened to within a tissue-width of its life - they’re obviously trying to stretch a chicken breast far, far too far. All burger, not much chicken.

I politely complained, showed them the meagre quality and sent it back, only to see it later pop up on the bill (because staff rudely claimed it was my “preference” to send back an awful meal and not eat).

Ultimately, they took it off the bill after an argument as a “gesture of goodwill”. That’s not goodwill. Goodwill, is an apology, an offer of something better, and the replacement of a terrible meal, gratis.

Left with a horrible taste, and not just from the awful quality burger.

If I could give 0 stars I would. 1 star will have to do.

FURTHER COMMENT FOLLOWING OWNER CLAIMS BELOW clearly show this place has a blatant disregard for customer service. We were told chicken breast by two staff (as we specifically asked), including at the time of complaint - baffling. I took three bites of the awful burger, and sent back a full plate.

The bathroom tap claim is also bewildering given the pub had other customers in at the time too. I’m amazed people like this choose to run a customer...

We have eaten here before on a Sunday and weren't impressed then but we thought we'd give it another go for my brother's birthday. On the upside the staff were friendly. The starters were variable. The tempura mushrooms, for instance, were particularly disappointing. Two mushrooms dipped in batter with a sauce and a bring salad. The chilli beef was good however. Despite booking in and giving them our order weeks in advance, we then had to wait nearly an hour for our main meals. Two out of nine people were happy. I'm not sure how an incinerated nut roast can then be served cold, the gravy was gloopy and lumpy and I haven't eaten vegetables that cold and boring since I was a child at my nans in the eighties. It is a very rare event for me to leave half a plate of food but felt quite sick of the textures. I did eat the very nice roasties and Yorkshires I had left after donating one to my poor husband faced with the Cajun chicken. The Cajun chicken was on another dull plate of salad, disappointing to look at as much as to eat. Meals were too salty, the battered fish looked like it had merely seen a fryer. The ribs were good and the sandwich was all eaten. We'll not be eating here again and would advise...