Pheasant — Restaurant in Wales

Updated review (August 2024): So, a few months since our last visit, and it seems like the nice weather brightened everyone's spirits. The food was better, service was a lot more positive and staff were accommodating. Much better than previous, for sure!

First review (March 2024): Four of us went to the Pheasant for Sunday lunch, and despite having the same menu as the Rose and Crown in Nottage a handful of miles away, there was a gaping chasm in difference, both in terms of quality of food and service. The staff were grouchy cleaning up, muttering under their breath, a table where two children had dropped food and crayons on the floor, whilst the entitled, carefree parents didn't bother to do any parenting. (Stay at home if you won't be decent human beings) The starters came but left much to desire; the baked lamb koftas were overcooked, bland-tasting, and came with an over-abundance of greens dumped on top of the dish. "Sprinkling on top" seems to have an alien meaning to this kitchen staff. For my main, I ordered a trio of meats dinner which, when served, was even smaller than the three single-meat dinners that my table buddies ordered. Triple the meat for a quarter of the quantity... Whereas the "sprinkling" of greens on my starter was an exaggeration, the gravy on my plate looks to have gone through a drought period. We had to ask for an extra gravy boat, yet that barely got the four of us through. And when it finally came to dessert, we were informed that they were out of Biscoff biscuits, when they could've just gone to a nearby store to replenish stock and expense it, so we had to order the chocolate brownie sundae. Did they redeem themselves with this? Well, only partly. When it finally came out, there was one piece of brownie on the top, and then just ice cream the rest through. Call me picky, but I like my Sundaes with the main ingredient both on top and part-way through. The brownie here was a mere topping than a key component of this well-established dessert. The service, as touched upon earlier, was sporadic and distanced, and left us waiting for 30-odd minutes between ordering to service. And we had 3-4 staff to take our orders and serve.

Would I go again? Not for food, no. For a drink and a...

The Perfect Interlude on a South Wales Day Trip!

We stumbled upon The Pheasant during a wonderful day out and it proved to be the absolute highlight of our journey. After a busy morning of retail therapy at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet in Bridgend, we were looking for somewhere to relax and have a proper meal before heading on to the coast, and The Pheasant was the perfect choice.

From the moment we arrived, the place felt like a tranquil escape. We chose to sit outside, and we were rewarded with the most stunning, peaceful view over the Welsh countryside. It was the ideal setting to unwind after the hustle and bustle of the shops. The beautiful scenery alone would have been worth the stop, but the experience only got better from there. The food was, in a word, lovely. It was clear that real care and quality ingredients went into every dish. Everything was cooked beautifully, presented with flair, and tasted absolutely delicious. It was the perfect, satisfying meal to refuel us for the rest of our afternoon.

What truly elevated our visit, however, was the staff. Every single person we interacted with was incredibly welcoming, attentive, and genuinely friendly. Our waitress struck the perfect balance of being professional while making us feel completely at ease. In a world where service can be rushed, the team here made our stop feel truly special. She even brought out more custard for my crumble!

We left The Pheasant feeling perfectly refreshed and ready to continue our journey to Ogmore-by-Sea. It was far more than just a "stop for lunch"; it was a memorable part of our day. We will absolutely be building a visit into our plans whenever we're in the area again. Highly, highly...

Disappointed at The Pheasant: A Disheartening Dining Experience

My recent visit to The Pheasant left me extremely underwhelmed and disheartened. Having booked a table for four at 5 PM—two adults and two children under 7—I had hoped for a pleasant family meal. Initially, the waiting staff were attentive, swiftly taking our food and drink orders. However, twenty minutes later, they returned with a caution: a buffet for a function was causing a delay of about five minutes for our meals.

Five minutes turned into fifty, and in that extended waiting period, none of the staff checked in with us or offered additional drinks. It was only after I inquired at the bar that our food miraculously appeared—simultaneously with the dishes of a couple who had ordered merely twenty minutes prior.

Now, if you're still with me, let me tell you: the food was not worth the wait. Most of it arrived lukewarm, suggesting it had been sitting out for those forty minutes. The dishes were bland and did not match their menu descriptions. The "skin-on fries" were just regular fries, the halloumi kebab consisted of three measly thin slices, and the chicken kebab had only three tiny portions of chicken, each barely larger than a fingernail.

We refrained from complaining, as the opportunity never arose. After delivering our food, the staff didn't return until thirty minutes later to check on us. By that time, we were ready to leave.

It's a shame because the pub area appeared inviting, with a nice ambiance and ample outdoor space. However, if you decide to visit, I strongly advise you to steer clear of the food. We certainly won't...