New Continental — Restaurant in Preston

The Continental has an unrivalled location by the River Ribble, a 15 min walk from the city centre.

A gastro pub offering a wide selection of real ales and beers as well as a diverse range of entertainment from live music to literature competitions.

We mainly visit The Continental to enjoy a relaxing drink but the food is of a high standard although quite expensive.

The Continental hosts 2 beer festivals every year-in May and October and both festivals are extremely busy-in the last few years, the May festival experience has become less enjoyable due to the unbelievably busy crowds and long queues.

Unless you arrive before 7 pm expect to queue for around 30 mins just to get your beer tokens, glass and programmes. Then take your chances in the main beer hall as the crowds shove each other around to get their long awaited beer! The main bar isn't much better as non-ale drinkers try their luck there. The toilet queue winds it's way into the main bar area as you wait 10 mins to get in -and that's just the men's wash rooms!

However in an attempt to offset the delays the organisers have introduced a second tent with a more limited range of beers but less queues.

There is however en excellent work around!-if you can arrive in the afternoon however you can avoid the chaos and enjoy what is certainly one of the best ale festivals in the area; running from Thursday to Sunday up to 100 ales are available from a wide range of international breweries including interesting micro breweries as well as from the larger favourite breweries such as Thwaites. There is also a good selection of ciders, perrys and Belgian beers.

The outdoor food options include burgers, hot dogs, jacket potatoes as well as an excellent hog roast.

There is live entertainment throughout the festival and on a warm May evening sat outside, even sat on the large grassed areas if you can't get a seat!, you will find it an amazing experience-just make sure you get there early, have your choice of favourite ales, then slow the pace down when the crowds arrive later on!

An alternative would be to just come down on a summer's evening when the festival is not on-although be prepared for it still to be very busy!

An excellent pub in a great location but less attractive during the winter months if walking from the city centre-just too far out-perhaps the management could look at introducing a shuttle service between the city centre and the pub for a reasonable fee.

Other than that the owners also run The Ferret which is closer to the city centre and worth a visit.

There is talk of the owners opening a new Gin palace venue opening on Friargate-hopefully this will go ahead then Preston's pub and bar options really will start to look more of an attractive proposition befitting of...

I live very close to the pub, and go there frequently for drinks and food with friends. My family came to visit from Brazil, so I took them there to have a nice pub experience, since it was their first time in the UK. It was a very warm and bright sunny day, so I wanted us to sit outside. Several tables had a reserved sign outside, so I asked the waiter if they had an available table there. He gave us a table inside, in a dark place, so I complained. He then moved us to one table outside. We then proceeded to order our food. My sister and my mum both ordered a Ceasar Salad, my sister ordered one with chicken, and my mum, with pulled beef. The food came and there was no cutlery on the table, and it took a while for them to bring it to us. We started eating and my mum complained that her food was very spicy, and we noticed the dish contained chili (there was no mention of it in the menu). She ended up eating it, but she didn't enjoy it at all. Then, as it was very dunny6, we asked the waiter if we could change tables to one in the shadow, which was empty, and had no reserved sign on it. He said no and said people would ge coming very shortly, which was really strange, considering that pubs usually reserve tables, but I've never heard of a specific table being reserved. Note that we finished eating and no one used the table. We also ordered tap water, for a table of 4. The waiter brought one glass and I had to remind him that there were the 4 of us. He then brought a jar with 4 glasses. Two of them were very dirty, oneeven had lipstick on it I'm really disappointed with our experience and with the fact my family didn't enjoy a good time as I wanted them to . I'll very...

“INCONTINENTAL ! A Dreadful place, you need to listen to your customers!” Pending review We visited this place for my partner's birthday one evening.

The staff were stressed and miserable to say the least! Ok they had a busy pub and were working hard, but isn't this what working for a living is all about? 'If you want food, you'll have to wait about an hour, so I suggest you eat elsewhere!' Was the response when we asked for a menu! My partner explained that we have a child (The place is supposed to be child friendly!) and that could we have something quick, just for her. 'We can do chips quick, that's all!' So two portions of chips were ordered!

They were brought out and we were asked if we wanted any condiments. When I asked for 'Brown sauce' The waiter's head span round! 'We don't do brown!' 'Is it the work of the devil?' was my sarcastic reply! ( I had had enough by then!)

And the most amazing answer I have ever heard from a customer service assistant was spurted out!

'THE CHEF DOESN'T LIKE BROWN SAUCE HIS FOOD IS BETTER THAN THAT, YOU CAN HAVE TOMATO!!'

I nearly choked! - The chips were frozen McCain chips! And theChef has a view on what sauce I can and cannot put on my chips!

Pretentious, unwelcoming, unhelpful and generally not an enjoyable place!

Avoid! -

Shame, it has potential to be somewhere really...