The Star Inn — Restaurant in Wychavon

After reading the reviews, we were really looking forward to our evening meal at The Star Inn in Pershore on the last night of our holiday (Thursday 19th June) There were four of us, and as big fans of Italian food, we were especially excited to try somewhere new.

On arrival, we were told our table wasn’t quite ready — which was only 5 minutes before our booking, so not a big issue in itself — but it just felt a little unnecessary to tell us rather than simply asking us to wait a few moments. We were also informed there were no pizzas available that evening, which was disappointing but totally understandable.

Once seated, we ordered drinks and food — three of us choosing mains and one person opting for the 3 for £20 tapas-style selection. The tapas dishes arrived quickly, but no other food followed, which left us confused. When we asked, we were told the tapas had been put through as a starter, something we weren’t made aware of at the time. It's not mentioned on the menu as a starter, and had we known, we would have asked for everything to come out together.

The staff offered to keep one of the tapas dishes on the table and then serve the rest of the food all together — but it felt like an odd workaround. Ideally, the dishes should have been redone and served freshly at the same time. To make matters more confusing, the salmon dish that had been left was served cold — we weren’t sure if that was intentional, but it was eaten regardless.

When the rest of the food did arrive, it unfortunately didn’t feel like it had been kept warm in the meantime. The carbonara was particularly disappointing — very heavy on the white wine, but with none of the creamy or cheesy richness you'd expect from a traditional version. I've both eaten and made many carbonaras, and this one really missed the mark. We politely asked for a replacement, which the staff were happy to arrange, and although it was an improvement, it still wasn’t particularly enjoyable.

A member of the bar team did come over to check in and apologise, which we appreciated. But overall, something just felt off. We even wondered whether there might have been a chef missing or an issue in the kitchen, as things seemed quite disorganised and not up to standard.

That said, two out of the four of us did enjoy their meals, which makes it even more of a shame that there wasn’t consistency across the table. It left the experience feeling quite unbalanced and disappointing for the rest of us.

There was also a general sense among staff that things weren’t running as usual — but no one openly acknowledged it, which left us feeling a bit let down. We even overheard another table mention their disappointment with portion sizes on a previous visit.

If there was an issue behind the scenes — whether it was short staffing or something else — I think it would’ve gone a long way for someone to be honest about it. We could have managed our expectations better or even chosen to dine elsewhere.

We really wanted to enjoy this meal and support a local spot, but sadly it fell short in both service and quality. Hopefully just an off night, but we left feeling a bit deflated — not quite the ending to our holiday...

I don’t usually leave reviews, but my visit to The Star Pub We arrived early but a no point were we told there would be a long delay for the food. in Pershore was so appalling it deserves a warning label.

We had a table booked but arrived early to have a drink before ordering our meal (we were a table of 8). At no point were we told there would be a long delay for the food. The staff were totally disorganised , we waited 20 minutes for our drinks, even longer for water we had asked for. We were given two different menus so we were unsure what menu we could use and had to ask for clarification.

I ordered what should have been the safest and simplest dish on the menu – fish and chips. What I got was inedible. The fish arrived half-raw in the middle, grey and slimy, encased in greasy batter that clearly hadn’t been cooked properly. The chips, which were like wedges were just as bad – pale, limp, and tasting as if they had been sitting in old oil for hours. I’ve had better food from a petrol station microwave. Our friend was given the wrong meal totally and had to wait further for the correct meal she had ordered (which also was not cooked to an acceptable standard) also offered a 10 per cent reduction.

As for the service, it somehow managed to be even worse than the food. An hour and 15 minutes before the food was served. Staff were inattentive, dismissive, and made us feel like an inconvenience rather than paying customers. When I mentioned the fish was undercooked, the response was that I had eaten half of it when in fact I had only eaten five of the eight chunky chips and picked at the gross piece of battered fish, which was 80 per cent soggy batter and 20 per cent awful fish and left me feeling that I was going to vomit on the table.

Lady whom I assumed was the manager gave me and my wife a 10 per cent deduction on our bill and thought she was being generous, when in fact I should not have had to pay for my meal at all.

The atmosphere? Miserable. Between the dire food, the uninterested staff, and the general sense that no one cares about what leaves the kitchen, it was an utterly joyless experience.

If you’re considering eating here – don’t. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in Pershore that actually know how to cook a piece of fish and treat their customers with basic courtesy. The Star Pub fails on both counts.

⭐☆☆☆☆ (one star is...

We stayed at Pershore Rooms at The Star Inn as a stop-off on our way to Dorset and it was truly the highlight of our trip. The pub is family run, and the landlord, landlady, and their wonderful family welcomed us with such warmth that we immediately felt right at home. The setting is absolutely beautiful – peaceful, scenic and perfect for a relaxing break. Our little girl had a fantastic time feeding the ducks at the riverside, which added a special touch to our stay here. The rooms were spotless, cosy and well maintained, providing everything we needed for a couple of comfortable nights stay. The food was delicious – we enjoyed a great pub meal in the evening and a hearty, freshly cooked breakfast the next morning. A special mention to the friendly staff, who were always attentive and made sure we felt welcome and looked after throughout our stay. It truly felt like a home from home, and we will most certainly be returning! We highly recommend both Pershore Rooms and The Star Inn to anyone looking for a warm, welcoming and peaceful...