This is a new review based on one visit on April 11th, 2023 at around 12:00. You have to now wait to be seated at a table. There was no one present to seat us when we entered. It has been refurbished, to be honest I noticed little difference. One of the double small tables we were seated at was so rocked enough to easily spill drinks and would have been a nightmare to eat off, some attempt had been made to wedge it with napkins previously and this was attempted by our server when we told them about it! The lunch menu was very typical pub lunch stuff but I was very surprised at the price hike from the old very reasonable to the new medium/top end of pub grub price range. Salad bar is free but you have to wait to be given a bowl and the selection though limited is adequate. Rolls were present but no butter or spreads were obvious, perhaps you need to ask, a sign of cost cutting? The rolls also did not seem fresh baked just defrosted? My companion had a chicken Cajun wrap with chips, the children both had fish fingers and chips and I played safe with Cod and chips. Report on the grub. The children were happy with what they received and there is an option for bigger appetites. The Cajun wrap and accompanying chips were fine but average. The Cod and chips was below par, the batter was soggy underneath and the fish although white and flakey was fairly bland. The usual commercial chips were accompanied by a small pot of peas and some tartare that seemed to have developed a thin skin between kitchen an table. We also had two small bottles of 7 up and two mugs of tea. Time to get the mains was average but we waited longer to get the bill. Total cost was just under 50 pounds. Make your own mind up about the value.

For me the highlight used to be the superb staff, despite working long hours they were all without exception happy, helpful and exceptionally good at keeping the customer happy. Now it was difficult to tell some staff from customers due to lack of identity. I was not impressed with the service speed now, an older couple were seated near us but left possibly due to the delay in taking orders. Having said that, our server was very pleasant, and seemed hard working but I wonder if there are enough staff now? Cost cutting?