Ancient Oak Reviews Summary

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Staff were very friendly, helpful and welcoming."
• "Several times the staff said that they really wanted us to have a good evening."
• "Visited here one evening and it did not disappoint. All staff went above and beyond and always with a smile on their faces."
• "Staff are really nice and friendly try their best."
• "Its super clean, lovely friendly staff, cosy seating and a great atmosphere."
• "Even though it was very busy the staff were brilliant, great service friendly and hard working."
• "Always a warm welcome from the attentive staff."

Cons:

• "Absolutely shocking service went with my family on the 28th of August 12 in all had to find our own table sat there for 30 mins nobody came and asked if we wanted drinks or to order food."
• "Long wait for food that we were not informed of until after the third person in our party had ordered."
• "The thing that let's this place down the most is the failure to clear empty plates and glasses quickly."
• "Service a little slow at times."
• "When we ordered our food they told us there was going to be an hour wait for food as they were serving everyone else first."
• "The website table service very slow, along with the service to the tables 40 minutes for first course 1hour 10 minutes for 2nd course."
• "Service was poor and somewhat slow."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food and service is always good here."
• "Ordered fish and chips, fish was lovely but the chips and mushy peas were only just warm."
• "The food was absolutely perfect, I had a mix grill and it was delicious and faultless."
• "Fish and chips were delicious - light and crispy batter and perfect chunky chips, crunchy outside and perfectly fluffy inside."
• "Came for lunch today honestly say that the mixed grill was wonderfully cooked the steak was perfectly cooked which at most pubs is uncommon the chips were light and fluffy really enjoyed it will defo be back."
• "Food was great, tasty and comes at an affordable price."
• "Good portion sizes of tasty food."

Cons:

• "The meat was dry and three roast potatoes with no colour to them."
• "The food was awful it was dry and burnt and cold we have never had a meal so disgusting."
• "The beef burgers, which the majority of people ordered were dry, the rump steak in the 3 mixed grills that were ordered were just all gristle and no meat."
• "Been tonight with my wife and son and grandchild. Very disappointed in my meal. Cold and over cooked and waiting nearly a hour for it to come and be replaced."
• "Food is typical pub food which is what you want when you go here, however it's been dry and not very good the last few times we've been."
• "The sunday roast Was very poor So sorry to say but I do not recommend it it was cold."
• "Disgusting food had the Sunday roast."

Ambiance and Atmosphere

Pros:

• "-4° outside but inside a warm friendly atmosphere with traditional log fire."
• "Great atmosphere good selection of beers."
• "Good atmosphere. Great for a drink."
• "Great for walking or rambling. Ancient woodland with native trees.also next Brockholes Country Park."
• "Enjoyed a brilliant family 40th birthday celebration. Really liked the reserved area, nice ambience."
• "The atmosphere was friendly and warm, the staff are always attentive, even when it gets busy they will say goodbye which is nice."
• "Fantastic atmosphere, and the staff are so helpful and friendly."

Cons:

• "Should have known what the food was going to be like from an establishment with no Coke nor straws... The empty-ish car park on easter Sunday should have been enough to give it a miss... Will definitely never return for seconds."
• "It's okay. On the occasions I've been, the food has been average, and the service quite slow for the amount of customers there at the time. That said, it's fairly cheap, so you get what you pay for really."
• "Just.. nothing positive. The atmosphere? There's none."
• "It's a popular place but seems a bit lairy the last few times I've been in."
• "Staff not very helpful, food average, some people wearing masks a lot of young ones not."
• "We had to move inside on a lovely summers day due to the number of wasps."
• "Menu was disappointing, over priced run of the mill pub grub and didn't see any specials advertised anywhere."

Value and Pricing

Pros:

• "Great menu, good prices and plenty of places to sit."
• "Decent chain pub. We popped in while doing the guild Wheel. Decent selection of ale, sensible food selection. Sensible prices."
• "Excellent table service with their app and reasonable prices for their draught lagers and Guinness."
• "The before 5pm fixed price menu is a good deal as long as you like the mains."
• "Good quality food, reasonably priced variety of drinks to choose from."
• "Excellent food with very affordable prices."
• "Great place to come to meet before moving on, to share a special occasion or simply relax with family or friends."

Cons:

• "Over priced. My father who was with us was shivering, it was cold."
• "Used to come here a lot and hosted my children's christening meal here for a party of about 50. Since being refurbished the play area was taken away and access to outdoor play area."
• "Visited the pub/restaurant on the 05/08/22. I came due to numerous promotional offers otherwise wouldn’t normally visit. All the vouchers sent by the company where invalid making it feel as if we had been lured in under false pretence’s."
• "They ran out of Sunday lunches by 6pm and didnt offer an alternative dessert was over priced nearly £5 for 4 small profiteroles."
• "Food was not good at all. Expensive for frozen food warmed up beyond eating."
• "Awful Sunday Lunch 'Rib of Beef' with below standard trimmings. Everything was Luke warm on cold plates."
• "Wouldn't eat there again. The only good thing about the visit was the coffee."