Greene King Avis 

I remember in my early days in the hospitality industry as a member of the Hotel Catering and Institutional Management Association (HCIMA) (now rebranded as the Institute of Hospitality) being taught the importance of making your guests feel welcome.

If only that was the case with the GM of the Bushel in Bury St. Edmunds. I had booked so I could attend the town’s lovely regency theatre, as I regularly do, as part of a tour by bike and train of East Anglia’s market towns.

On many previous visits to the town, I have been made very welcome, my expensive E-bike has been kept secure and I have thoroughly enjoyed coming by train and cycle to the town.

As none of my regular hotels were available for a reasonable rate, I decided to give the Bushel a try and, having booked, rang 12 days before my stay to ask where I could store my e-bike to be told that it was 'Greene King company policy not to allow e-bikes on their premises'. Which was very odd because I took the same bike to the Dog and Partridge in BSE only a few months ago and secured it in their garden with no problem at all.

According to the woman I spoke to, who was being guided by a man in the background, I couldn’t. Company policy wouldn’t allow it.

As someone who does not suffer fools gladly and who has spent much of his later career making a living from travel writing, I contacted Greene King’s press office asking for sight of the company’s policy. As I suspected, the people at the Bushel were speaking absolute drivel.

Here is the company policy: ‘We can confirm that customers are permitted to park e-bikes in the car park of any of our pubs, however we do not allow e-bikes to be parked inside the building’.

Then customer services got involved, the area manager to boot, who offered to get the GM at the Bushel to contact me after I had written ‘to make sure that I know where exactly I can store the bike’.

I thought he would be helpful and accommodating. Instead I found him to be obstructive and difficult. He was quoting all sorts of reasons why my bike could not be locked to something in the garden to ensure it was safe overnight. His attitude was completely different to that of the Dog and Partridge, who could not have been more accommodating when I visited there.

However, I must say that Greene King's policy is quite wrong. The only difficulty ever with e bikes has been with cheap ones when they have been charged using the wrong charger. I had no need to charge my bike and clearly would not have been bringing it indoors. Do they not want cyclists to come? They didn’t answer that!

I got the impression that, behind the scenes, someone had had their knuckles wrapped, because the GM seemed to be doing everything he possibly could to try to prevent me from taking my bicycle there, which is not the spirit of hospitality I would expect from a manager at a generally well-run local company.

The following day, having had a sleepless night being upset at the likelihood of an uncomfortable confrontation with the Bushel’s GM, with much sadness, I cancelled my trip.`

To Greene King’s credit, their customer relations team was helpful, understanding and responsive, even refunding a non refundable booking.

But the episode has left me feeling let-down, disappointed and upset.
`

Opted for the Burger meal on a Friday evening (08/05/2026). The location was The Bridgebuilder on the Wellington retail park in Telford. Food was average but can't complain due to the price.
Whilst munching away on my food I noticed bar staff combining all the half bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise into full ones.
This was concerning due to the potential mix up of dates etc. Not very food hygiene/safety conscious.

A group of 12 ex work colleagues met up for a get together at our local Hungry Horse. We would have liked to have eaten in an area that was closed off. When a request was made to a staff member she spoke to her duty manager & hey presto a table was made available. The food was good sure enough but the service was even better. Well done Flemming Arms team.

Always a cheerful friendly service however busy they are.
Good food and great family pub

We went to The Robin Hood in Clifton where the bar maid was jealous, rude, miserable, patronising and gave short measures to females.

She ran out of vodka when I asked for two doubles and said it was a full measure when I asked her to top it up. She said the other was a big measure, which was a lie, as I followed her round the bar and watched her empty the bottle!! She then proceeded to call me "Love".

She seemed to be okay to my nephews, so I let them go to the bar instead.

You need new, happy bar staff!!

I booked one of the huts for my birthday party.
Little did I know that my friends and l are going to be told it's no longer available for us because someone else is "having fun and spending money" in it.
The manager said he can't ask them to move and I asked about the 1h30m policy (that's how long you can book the hut for and it says they will need the table back after that time) which he wasn't willing to enforce as he kept saying they are "spending money". Shame my group didn't exactly only come there to use their toilet... We sat inside instead and still ordered food and multiple drinks, as everywhere is busy during the Bank Holidays so we were kind of stuck.
Overall probably the worst birthday experience of my life. I would NOT recommend organizing any events in this place, and don't even think about any special treatment for your birthday, maybe just a presumption you won't spend as much as someone else that's sat in your seat.

Just three of us attended Swan Inn Tockington last night for a meal at 6pm, to say we were disappointed is an understatement! Initially staff were very attentive however as the pub became busy so the 3 staff on duty became more distracted. Food arrived reasonably quickly, however both steaks that were ordered were over cooked, the rocket looked as if it had spent a week in the sun and not one of the staff enquired after our meal. When eventually someone came to our table to clear he was very dismissive of our comments, we then decided not to have any deserts and were told to pay at the bar. The bar was a disaster zone, one bar tender was trying to pull pints with no success and was extremely flustered, the other person was taking a food order from someone with food allergies he asked them if they had checked the website regarding the food they were ordering after they challenged him he then got the food allergy guide to check! My conclusion on last nights visit was that all staff were under trained and that for a busy Friday 3 staff were certainly not enough. It will be a long time before I go back to this pub!

Stayed at the beat hotel in Hungerford.
Room 34 - downstairs, must be a corridor or similar above as the floorboards didnt stop squeaking all night. Didn't get any sleep, woke up in the morning feeling awful with a migraine. Reception staff didnt care atall. Wont be returning.

Oaktree Farm Sunderland. Had a family tea here on Saturday 25th April for my son’s birthday. Staff were absolutely brilliant especially Caroline who looked after us all from getting us seated to leaving aswell as a brilliant contribution with her colleague on the singing of Happy Birthday. Lovely atmosphere, lovely staff will definitely return. Thanks a lot x

I am tourist and Even SOHO is full of tourists THEY SUPPOSE you know how the system works. They expect you to scan for the menú.. with 0 (cero) help. They should advice tourists.

Ate and had drinks at The Westgate Bath today. Staff customer service second to none. Friendly and approachable and always made sure we had everything we needed. Food arrived promptly (as did drinks) and staff checked back to make sure everything was ok. Pub was clean as was toilets. Menu had changed for kids but my daughter preferred the chicken tenders to the nuggets previously on offer. Food was 10/10. Will definitely be returning soon.

Freshfield formby. Great pub. Fab staff.

You're pub in Enfield wash woolpack has just been scammed. The karaoke has no song lists and every song has been sung by the karaoke group thats been paid

We visit regularly and love coming here because it's great service, warm welcome every time. Very efficient service, reasonable too. We were served by Andrea, lovely lady but they all are lovely members of staff.

Hungry horse, waterfront. Food overcooked and poor quality

Staff in hotel and restaurant were always working hard and pleasant. Food service was quite quick with a rapid turnover. Reception staff likewise chatty and welcoming.
The downside was the accommodation. We stay frequently at the hotel for convenience to family but it is in dire need of a refurbishment. Bedding and towels are always clean but there was no extractor in the bathroom, the lock on the bathroom door was broken, the TV constantly pixelates. There was no decaf coffee left in the room. The coffee machine at breakfast was not working. The soap dish was positioned too low down on the wall to be able to put anything on the shelf there. Chairs in the dining room are heavily stained and corridors need a coat of paint.
The pub was The Royal Oak at Bromborough.

Visited the Union Arms in Yarm after watching a local rugby game. Wanting to "pace myself" I thought I'd buy two half pints for myself and partner. Gave the barman a tenner and got £4.40 change. That's a bit pricey says I! So I asked the barman how much a pint of Carling was. £4.70 he said. "Really? You've just charged me £5.60 for two halves" I say. So he checks his till and tells me, "Yes that's right, £2.80 per half"! So it's 90p extra! What a rip off! That's nearly as bad as your cola pricing! Next time it'll a pint and a glass of water to decant into!

Honestly went to the margate green king wheatsheaf with my husband had a voucher for birthday wine which is why I went We pop into cricketers in rainham sometimes which is always ok
Well we ordered starters just began eating them when mains came out
My veg lasagne was awful microwaved to death burnt like rubber never seen anything like it
The manager came and asked the usual is everything ok ?
I said no I can’t eat that it’s burnt and like rubber really hard to cut , maybe you can change for something else ? no she just said that’s how it comes out and pointless doing another one
Her attitude was so unprofessional maybe a course in customer care may help
I felt sorry for the little waitress who was apologetic

The CockInn Rochford is a fabulous pub & all Staff, especially Liz & Sue are really lovely. We regularly attend Steve's Quiz night in aid of Macmillan & it is a lot of fun & we learn some interesting facts although, with reference to our name, Haven't A Clue, we don't usually do too well!
We won an Easter Hamper this week, so have been very lucky.

Only given 1 as it wont let me put 0. Worst company ever. Awful to work for and be a customer. Cant get my legally mandated uninterrupted break as we now have to work on our own and you go for your break and have to come immediately back to microwave the food. Never seen such a poorly ran company ever. Last time I closed the kitchen cos of being understaffed joe Golding and the fat toad from Cheshire oaks threatened my job