The Oakley Arms — Restaurant in South Staffordshire

Edit: just looked at some of the pictures of the lamb others have posted, and this was FAR from what they tried to con me with. Wish I'd take a picture of this shower, but I would have been embarrassed to have it in my gallery.

Avoid if you want decent food or service. The Xmas menu has most the same stuff from the main menu BUT the exact same items cost 2-4quid more on the set price Xmas special deal menu, than just ordering the same from the main menu separately, depending on what you go for. Anyway, went for the lamb shoulder, minted new potatoes, seasonal veg etc. ok so got told no new potatoes, so I could have roasts or mash. Chose roasts, no probs. £25, so was expecting a good meal. Took 45mins to get food. The lamb came, the 4 roasts were dry and hours old, the "seasonal veg" was what seemed like microwaved swede mash, and cabbage - the sort of pre-prepped thing you get from Morrisons. And the lamb was full of sinew, again very much like the stuff you get in vaccumn bags for Mozzers, all just dumped on the plate. Honestly if this had been 15 quid then ok, tasteless disappointing food, but at least some kind of value. But £25??? Joke. Took it back to the bar and they looked at me like I'd got two heads and said to me, 'that's what the lamb is like'. Said theyd change it for what else i fancied, no apology or owt. so I went for the burger. Burger was nice but just came with firm, dry old french fries, and nothing else - no side salad, coleslaw blah blah for 17.50. Well if you wanna pay 25 quid for canteen food, then fine, or 18 just for a burger and old, thrown on the plate fries, then go for it. And then they tried to keep the lamb on the bill too! Oh and enjoy the ages wait to get it as well. One of the worst meals for years, but at premium prices.

They gave out vouchers to everyone at the end as part of promo, could win up to free meal for whole table - wouldn't even go back if we won top prize and didn't have to pay.

Funny thing is, that by trying to fob off canteen food as premium pub food they: Lost £25 for the pathetic lamb dish Forgot to add the £18 extra burger Took off a round of drinks, so about £30 So they lost over £70 - for trying to...

First time coming to the Oakley Arms but unfortunately will not be visiting again for food. Tried phoning for 2 hours to find out what time Sunday dinners served until as does not say anywhere on website (that I could see, maybe add to website if not on there) and not one answer on the phone. Thought we would wing it and drive over and were happy to find still serving Sunday dinner. As weather was amazing, thought we would sit outside in the beautiful garden terrace overlooking the lake as it does look amazing. Unfortunately, staff very half-a-job, walking past tables full of used drinks glasses and dinner plates which subsequently attracted the local population of wasps and insects around all the tables. We counted numerous times where staff were bringing out dinners, and then walking back into the pub past all the tables full of dinner plates and glasses. We had to go into pub ourselves for a full set of cutlery and napkins as was not brought out with the dinner. No salt and pepper either brought out. Stuffing that was asked for as an extra was not with one dinner. Dinner was luke warm as well. Some people had dropped food on the slabs which had clearly been there some time and the local insect wildlife was having a great time on it. Feel quite dissapointed as we had an amazing dinner at the sister pub The WoodBridge in Ironbridge and exceptional service, and thought as part of same group it would be the same, but felt very dissapointed especially with prices charged. If I was the manager I would be really giving the waiting/staff some hard words as it really is not hard to pick up some empties whilst walking past or to clean food...

Honestly wish I could give more for this one. The place itself is lovely with the garden area having plenty of seating overlooking a scenic and clearly well kept pond out the back. Pet friendly and the staff are good with the pets putting out water for them.

The food and service however is where it goes downhill for me. I visited as a group of 4 and we all had meals. We ordered in two separate orders and asked the young bloke who served us on the bar if we could have the food brought out together and was told abruptly and sternly that cannot happen 'because of the orders' which didn't really clear anything up (I appreciate things can't be guaranteed but there wasn't even a 'we'll do our best but can't guarantee' or anything of the such. Just a stern and frankly rude response.) Further to this I had a few questions about the menu items which the bloke who was serving us also had no idea on and didn't offer to go and check or anything just said I don't know. When my meal arrived it was covered in mint sauce which wasn't stated on the menu and as such I had a refund on that (the staff were great in resolving this and getting a refund sorted). The others all said there food was nice and no issues with that. I have seen alot of comments from others saying the food and service doesn't justify the menu pricing which I have to agree with here.

I don't know if we visited on a bad day however I can't say as we had a great experience. Personally for a pub which appears to market itself to a higher class of customer than a generic Marstons or Green King, the serving staffs knowledge and expertise and food presentation and serving does not...