Star — Restaurant in Stafford

We went into the pub garden this afternoon for some late lunch, 14.30 Initial lunchtime rush for food and drink seemed to have subsided. Only a third of the garden tables were occupied. Great location next to the canal and a lock ! Very atmospheric and historical canal setting. Having been seated for about ten minutes without any sign fo service, I masked up and entered the bar to seek service. There was a large and prominent sign stating there was no service permissible at the bar. I was approached by a female I assumed was a member of staff, but not obvious ! I explained I had been outside in the garden for some time without any attention. Was told to return and someone would attend ! My wife and I ordered drinks and when we asked if they were still serving food ? We’re informed she would fetch a menu ! Didn’t think to bring it with her from the bar ? Very limited menu ! But we chose two dishes that included bacon ! To be told, they had no bacon ??? (Considering the time of day and that they were very close to the Town Centre and a nearby Food Hall, why had someone not been sent out to purchase some) Do they want business? Things did not improve ! Slowly patrons left the garden, but their used and dirty crockery did not get removed from the garden tables ? New customers arrived and a young waitress finally emerged from inside the bar to take orders from one table but then quickly disappeared back into the bar without taking orders from at least two other waiting tables or clearing and sanitising any of the other vacated ones ? Between the groups at the waiting tables it became a joking matter and a topic of conversation, about poor service within the UK compared with Europe. One table even coughed loudly and finally shouted to attract attention, with no avail ! She again rushed indoors with empty hand ? Was she she scared of daylight ? One group got up and left ! The rest of us persisted, out of interest. How such a lovely pub, in such a prime location, can waist such an opportunity ? In the end and after several other tables were occupied by customers, that also receives very slow and uninterested service, I again entered the forbidden bar and asked if someone could venture to bring us the bill ! My Wife enquirer if we could receive a small reduction in the bill, due to the fact that we could not receive the listed menu, due to lack of bacon ? The young waitress stated she was unsure and would go and ask ? She returned and stated there would be a £2 discount on the bill as. A result of the complaint ! She went into the bar and returned with the bill, amended, but no card machine. Second attempt, this time with the card machine she presented it for my wife to swipe her card for contactless payment, which my wife did, but noticed the card machine was held out of her clear view and displayed the full amount and not the promised amended price ???? When queried, why the price was different, she replied “I don’t know ! “ and hurriedly ran back inside the Bar ! My wife followed and demanded a £2 refund and a receipt for her card transaction ! This appeared to us, a blatant attempt to extort money from us ! This was the fist time we had visited Stone, which we found to be a delightful town with historical interest and beauty. However it was spoiled by this unfortunate experience. Avoid ‘The Star’ Pub ! There was also NO COVID-19 track or trace follow up ! Signs on show, but no check that App details were completed or if not,personal detail taken or even requested ! Whilst we were there, none taken from any other customers ??? Half way through this fiasco, any sign of Management disappeared...

Called in for a meal Bank Holiday 6th May 2024. We had passed this pub many times and always fancied it. On our way home today, from the Black Country Museum, myself, partner and 8 year old Granddaughter stopped for a meal. It is a lovely little pub, with doors opening onto outdoor tables and chairs on the bank of the canal, so 4* for atmosphere. Partner ordered adults fish and chips at almost £14. The fish batter was dark, looked overcooked and the fish inside was very dry. As they put it down I honestly thought "glad mine comes with fries as the chips just didn't look very nice. As I've been recently prescribed a new diabetic medication, that leaves me a little nauseous I only ordered a child's cheese burger and fries. When they put it in front of me, I looked at the fries and wished it came with chips! The fries had no potato inside and could be snapped in half like wooden pegs. The burger to be fair was quite nice. Our 8 year old Granddaughter also wanted fish and chips, on the children's menu under "bigger appetites " they had a half of fish with chips at £9.50. Before ordering I asked at the bar what was roughly the size of the fish. I was told it was quite big as it was literally half of the large fish. So I ordered it. I really wish I could post the photos I took of the fish. It wasn't big enough to feed my 3 year old Granddaughter. Again the batter was so dark. Bless her my Granddaughter tried to eat it but said "Nanny, I cant eat it, it's really not nice. It's the worst meal I've ever eaten in a pub". She did manage to eat most of her chips. I did tell the lady behind the bar "I'm sorry but we haven't been able to eat it all, I'd left my fries and the Granddaughter left her fish. Partner tried to eat his fish but it wasn't nice". She said that she was sorry about it. Luckily McDonald's had 6 chicken nuggets on offer at £1.38 so got her some on...

For a Marstons pub I was very disappointed. Hardly anything was available on the menu and when we did go to order we were told a 40 minute wait as they had run out of bread rolls and had to pop to Morrisons. We ordered a ultimate burger and then told no bacon available for it but also no reduction in price either. I had a cup of tea and the cup and spoon were filthy and had to be sent back( in these times hygiene should be higher than normal expectations!) my daughter then went to order herself a cup of tea and was told no as the man was to slow to make them!! Her and her partner then left to eat elsewhere which we would have also done if we hadn’t already paid. Several people came in whilst we were there and then left again to go elsewhere and eat which was disappointing to see but management didn’t seem to worry.When our food eventually arrived after over 45 minutes I do have to say it was hot but we ad asked for burger with no nacho cheese sauce and no salad and it contained both. By this point we were to fed up to even bother mentioning it.This has put me off of eating in any further Marstons pubs whilst we continue on our canal boat journey and I do hope this pub can improve as it does seem to be in a prime place but not very good when you overhear people saying let’s go to the Swan across the road as it’s better.

XX Sorry I didn’t know how to reply so had to edit. We visited you early afternoon on bank holiday Monday and literally the lady behind the bar had a whole list of unavailable items off the menu which she read out to me from a piece of paper stuck in...