The Barley Mow Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "For a Tuesday night it was busy with a pool match but was made to feel welcome by staff and customers alike."
• "The app was simple and easy to use."
• "All the staff were more than pleasant and we were extremely impressed by our waitress Lilly."
• "Lad on the bar who served us was a gem, and the waitress was lovely and polite."
• "Staff were lovely and friendly, very welcoming, as was the ambience of the venue."
• "The staff are great, very warm and welcoming."
• "Friendly serving staff too."

Cons:

• "There seemed to be no management present and the waitress was being sent out to take all the flack."
• "It’s a shame when 1 member of staff ruins your experience."
• "Sadly we won't be back for a long while."
• "Worse dinner ever...Absolutely waste of money and definitely no value for money."
• "Had to wait over 90 mins for food then got told half food had ran out after waiting!"
• "They said we don't have any room for your group inside. Yet their email confirmed they would."
• "Also staff very unprofessional and rude, need to be trained properly or sacked."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was the saving grace here is good news as that’s the main reason you go out right!"
• "Food is always amazing, served quickly, and always great quality even when busy!!"
• "I waited 15 minutes for my food and it was absolutely superb."
• "Good value pub grub."
• "Great out door area for the kids!!!"
• "Food came out hot and timely."
• "Super happy with the service and food."

Cons:

• "Grilled cheese sandwich - sloppy, smelly and disgusting."
• "THE FOOD WAS TERRIBLE THE COOK WAS OFF AND MANAGER WAS COOKING WE WERE TOLD."
• "Absolutely awful, my daughter just moved to the area, so went for a family meal, waited over an hour, we did get complimentary drinks for the wait but when the food came none of us could finish it."
• "Had their loaded surf and turf. But my brother in law and myself had to send them back because some of the prawns were still raw."
• "The food my family received was terrible."
• "They had only half the items on the menu available."
• "Kids chicken nuggets - burnt."

Management and Staff

Pros:

• "Joey the manager was very informative and friendly & very welcoming."
• "The manager/chef apologised for our wait."
• "Recently my daughter visited the pub and said the place has new management and the food was great."
• "I understand that a new manager has started recently."
• "Lovely staff and manager - gave us permission to stay over in their car park."
• "The new manager is nice and very helpful and must be doing something right."
• "I must give a very well done to the new management and staff."

Cons:

• "The manager looked even more so. She was stroppy and quite frankly was surprised when her question of 'was everything ok and what else do expect me to do?' and not getting the answer she wanted."
• "I genuinely feel sorry for the bar staff it seems the management need to start again or give up."
• "The manager is attentive to bad reviews as he replied leaving a number to ring back on."
• "Would I recommend this place? For food - yes! For service - no way."
• "The service needs improving."
• "This pub clearly lacks some decent management and kitchen team."
• "AND WHEN THE MANAGER DID WALK THROUGH THE EATING AREA from around the bar THEY HAD A FACE YOU CUT CUSTARD WITH SO HARD AND UN FRIENDLY."

Ambience and Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Beautiful venue...location."
• "Couldn’t fault this pub in anyways!! My favourite pub in Banbury by a million!!!"
• "The place was clean and tidy and had a pleasant atmosphere!"
• "The public areas are clean and tidy."
• "New carpet means you no longer stick to the floor and even the menus were clean."
• "The pub appeared generally clean."
• "Monday to Friday there is special offer for lunch time meals - 11 pounds for two."

Cons:

• "You couldn't hear yourself think over how loud they was playing the football."
• "60% of the tables were covered in crockery from finished meals."
• "The tables in the hut area were covered in crisp packets and other rubbish."
• "Still smells of paint following recent refurb."
• "The pub was dirty everywhere looks grubby and dirty and smelly a real tough dive."
• "Food eventually turned up chargrilled and unedible, next to no drinks available either and no apology from any member of staff for either the delay or the missing/burnt food."
• "Noisy environment, perhaps just sat in wrong place. TV in one ear, music speaker in the other."

Value and Pricing

Pros:

• "Great food and drink at very cheap prices."
• "For what you are paying the food is ok."
• "Very reasonably priced too for 5 of us!"
• "The price is good for the food in which you get."
• "Food is good with big portions and very good prices."
• "Stopped for a quick lunch after dentist and weekly shopping, had an excellent meal and only £10.50 for 2meals."
• "Monday to Friday there is special offer for lunch time meals - 11 pounds for two."

Cons:

• "Worse dinner ever...Absolutely waste of money and definitely no value for money."
• "Ordered a starter that was supposed to cost £4 and was charged £5.50."
• "Offer for Gin and lemonade £6 and was charged £7.50."
• "Orders wings for 2 with buffalo sauce. Received 4 wings and no sauce. Especially for £8."
• "Not at all happy, had a code for a free drink, didn't work."
• "Food arrived and mine sizzling also burnt steak worse piece I've ever had."
• "Sausage and mash - Pollyfilla should get the recipe for the mash."