The Abbey — Restaurant in St Helens

We came here shortly after 7pm on a Sunday bank holiday weekend to have some drinks and few bites from the menu. As weather still stayed nice we decided to stay outside in the beer garden. Only when my husband went to the bar to order drinks, he was told that to order food he needs to stay inside, no food allowed outside after 7pm. However table next to us was having mains and it was close to half 7 at that point. I took the drinks my husband ordered and went back to the bar requesting a full refund saying we are leaving. They didn’t really want to issue us a refund and take the drinks back (drinks were not touched), and argument carried on for a while on how ridiculous this is, we even suggested to put on their system any table from inside and we will take our portion of chips outside, still we were not allowed and were told, if we do that, they will come outside and will ask us to come back in. When challenged on a fact why is there a couple eating two mains outside at half 7 and not been asked to come in, all they had to say they ordered before 7pm, which made even less sense. We are arguing the fact about eating outside after 7pm, not the fact that food service has been stopped from 7pm. Rules won’t be applied to all the customers across the board in this pub. After few minutes some lady came out and and said we will serve you food, so we got our order placed and had a portion of chips outside!!! What an achievement!! Absolutely ridiculous!! What a terrible experience!! I would suggest the big board that pub has in the beer garden displayed inviting people to eat outside must have a note in capital letters added - no food...

Left a bad taste. My partner and I normally go to the Richmond pub in Southport, they serve the same menu and we always have a lovely time at that pub. Sadly the menu on offer is where the similarities end. Took my mother and my two sons for a meal Sunday tea time to The Abbey, which we had booked in advance. To start off the bar was on the loud side which some could say is to be expected but unfortunately it affected the atmosphere of the other rooms where people were trying to eat, maybe it’s the norm for their clientele but not something I’m happy to try and enjoy a meal through. The tables were too close together and you couldn’t have a conversation without other people being able to hear, not a relaxing environment at all. I was also shocked that when it came to ordering food we were told we had to chose our deserts now before we had even eaten our main in order to be able to have the 2 courses offer?? never experienced this before! When I asked if I could please order another drink when they brought our food they said we had to go up to the bar, which meant squeezing past other diners and going into the crowded bar area. The food was bland and expensive for what it was, had better elsewhere unfortunately. Didn’t order more drinks or stay for desert and left soon after, didn’t even finish our meals....

Nice locals pub with a good beer selection at decent prices.

Just visited after their recent refurbishment and was extremely impressed. Much nicer inside and out with a whole new traditional look that works very well. Beer, wine and gin selection was awesome and decent prices. Outdoor television screens are a nice touch and will bring people outside in nicer weather than the day we visited. Wow five stars to one star in one visit !!! Bartender ignored me to change the television channel for someone so I waited until another employee came to help . Sat down in a comfy armchair only to be told they were only for show . Now this is when stupid just becomes insulting. The table had a menu on it plus beer coasters and a table number. If you don’t want me sitting there just say but please don’t insult my intelligence. Left and went to the Gerard across the street and immediately felt welcomed and a much nicer vibe . Please see my attached photo of the forbidden...