Clifford Arms — Restaurant in Stafford

Had to walk out, after a waste of time from start to finish.

Reserved a table by calling at lunch time, booking for dinner. Called later in the afternoon to advise we'd be a little late and rebooting for 30.mins later a possibility? Could we amend? Told fine. An hour and 40 mins later apparently left a voicemail to say they couldn't do that. We were on a canal boat without signal. They might have said something before when we called.

When we got there, of course no table. So we waited. We were definitely eating there. We found a table outside 5 mins later. We then decided what we were having. Couldn't do a tab for outside tables, only inside. Fine, whatever.

Can we get a kids menu please? Sure, bring it right over. 10 minutes later, nothing. I go in, ask another staff member. Oh, we don't have any printed out. Why did I wait all this time for nothing?! At this point I hear food is 45 mins... OK, I guess so.

Then go to pay. No steak and ale pies. OK, steak and kidney. Nope, none of those. Just tell us what you don't have then! OK, finally got everything. About to put pin number in. Oh and BTW the way is now 80 mins until food will be ready!!!!! You could have told us that before we went through this ordeal!!!!

Overheard- it's 1 hour 20 for people outside, people inside will be sooner. Well thanks a bunch!

Been here before, the food looks good and the beer is excellent, but the wife has agreed we will never be visiting again. Will be passing regularly. Shame. Wasted an evening. So disorganised and felt we were a...

We visited before food service commenced and had a few drinks whilst waiting, initially the barmaid booked us a table in the restaurant but when we realised you could eat in the bar switching was no problem.

Nice to see a good dog friendly pub, good tunes being played on the TV, friendly locals and excellent service from the barmaid, she remembered our order after the first, greated everyone, bantered with the regulars and kept a good eye on things. My wife left her cardigan at the bar when we moved seats, barmaid didn't clock whose it was but did put it behind the bar for safe keeping and produced it when she saw us looking as we were about to leave. Again a local left his jacket, didn't hear her call him, she put it behind the bar and produced it a few minutes later when he came back looking for it. I didn't get her name but she's a credit to you.

The drinks were priced about what you'd expect for the area and they have a good selection of ales.

The food looked to be on the pricey side for pub grub BUT... amazing quality and good portion size, pricing I would say with hindsight is spot on. Sweet chilli chicken had just enough heat you knew what you were eating but not hot enough to make you question your life choices. Lasagne my wife had was easily one of the best she's had and the garlic bread we shared was on another level.

Would definitely recommend and will definitely visit again if we're...

Popped into the Clifford Arms on a wander around the Shugborough Estate on a day out. Surprisingly locals ish feeling pub. I expected it to be more touristy being near to Shugborough. Food definitely in the hearty meal rather than gastro pub territory. I had garlic and herb chicken breast which was wrapped in bacon with a side of stilton sauce and chips. It came with mushrooms, peas and onion rings and a small amount of salad. Plenty of it and tasty enough. Partner had steak ale and mushroom pie which was quite large. Glad we got there when we did...about 1.30pm...as others arrived at just gone 2pm and they stopped serving at 2pm, which I thought I'd for a Saturday afternoon pub these days! Lots of locals on stools sitting at the bar and as it was a nice day the beer garden at the...