Topic ID 2042
Has anyone been there recently and if so would you recommend it?
Reply ID 27097
It's still much the same as it was in it's Beefeater days (decor wise) with vaguely similar food. Do try the Sweet Potato chips if you go, they are too moorish!
Reply ID 27103
quote:Yes, we and several of our customers dine there regularly. Good food at reasonable prices and excllent service. Nothing like a Beefeater. They send out discount vouchers to you if you register with them when you eat. Can save up to 25% on you food bill dependant on when you dine. The bar food is good too. Had to eat in bar last time as restaurant full. Best to book in advance, as it is very popular.
Originally posted by GrahamF
Has anyone been there recently and if so would you recommend it?
Reply ID 27126
how is it for veggies?
Reply ID 27127
quote:There is quite a variety of veggie dishes on the menu. Sounds good, but I like my meat and fish so have never tried them.
Originally posted by Gemma
how is it for veggies?
Reply ID 27155
I have been there a few times and it is very good at decent prices.
Reply ID 27158
Forgot to add in my previous post that off peak at least, it's very good for kids as there's plenty of space. Also there's a fair sized small person menu and colouring sheets and pens available.
Reply ID 27160
Is the food freshly prepared or Brake Bros semi-prepared ?
Reply ID 27161
Tried it after it converted from the Beefeater and enjoyed it. Not sure if the web site is current but you can view menus here: [url]http://www.heritageinns.co.uk/menuanchor05.htm[/url]
Reply ID 27167
I have eaten here twice in the restaurant (upstairs) and once pub food (saturday afternoon in the garden). It is well worth a visit as the food is excellent for the very reasonable prices. Also, it may be worth mentioning that parts of the building are a lot older than you would imagine from its outward appearance, according to the menu there was apparently a saxon hall on the site - although I doubt whether any of that building still remains.
Reply ID 27339
quote:its brakes, boil in the bag, sous vide. Not for me, but others love it.
Originally posted by Frenchie
Is the food freshly prepared or Brake Bros semi-prepared ?
Reply ID 27389
quote:Do you know that as an actual fact, or are you summising? If a fact, how do you know? What we have eaten there, has definitely not been a 'boil in the bag' meal and never could be.
Originally posted by justinquote:its brakes, boil in the bag, sous vide. Not for me, but others love it.
Originally posted by Frenchie
Is the food freshly prepared or Brake Bros semi-prepared ?
Reply ID 27392
Same here, if it is I would be very supprised
Reply ID 27398
This may or may not be Brakes, but its amazing how many people swear the food in their favourite dining pub is freshly prepared from scratch and cant possibly be made in a factory somewhere hundreds of miles away on a conveyor belt...and in reality it is. Just look at how many fresh, ready prepared varities are on supermarkrt shelves these days, pubs havent let this pass them by. Its probably fresh but its nothing more than re-heated in the kitchens (or in the bag). The Anchor could of course be an exception.
Reply ID 27431
quote:We are another exception. And, why does everyone always quote Brakes? We don't even use them.
Originally posted by Frenchie
This may or may not be Brakes, but its amazing how many people swear the food in their favourite dining pub is freshly prepared from scratch and cant possibly be made in a factory somewhere hundreds of miles away on a conveyor belt...and in reality it is. Just look at how many fresh, ready prepared varities are on supermarkrt shelves these days, pubs havent let this pass them by. Its probably fresh but its nothing more than re-heated in the kitchens (or in the bag). The Anchor could of course be an exception.
Reply ID 27434
Restaurants - I'm not convinced. And as for pub-diners... Why would anybody go to a pub and then defame the whole sacred moment by eating? The job of pubs is for dismantling the brain. Walk in, go to bar, point at mouth, say 'put beer here.'.
Reply ID 27449
We buy in fresh and make our own homemade meals as I am sure other people with there own food do as well buying pre-prepared food has poor margins for profit I hope if your going to say something about a pub you have the proff to back it up PLUS pubs are not just for getting drunk thay are there for meeting freinds sharing time with family and making memorys not just wiping your memory
Reply ID 27466
You're right, of course. If I'd chosen to look harder I'd have realised that I'm frequently mown down by waves of metropolitan trendies all armed with their community sensibilities. Singleminded and anxious to get to pubs to have a really good meeting. I must have been trying to make myself feel better by diluting my apparent experience of pubness as an opportunity to re-engineer my temporal lobe.
Reply ID 27467
quote:The delivery van in the car park with BRAKES on it gave me that impression. Im not knocking it, im saying that when i get the chance to eat out, i want to eat out properly, and will avoid these type places. I actually went to the anchor once a couple years ago and thought that it was abissmal. I dont like it, others love it.
Originally posted by Roosterquote:Do you know that as an actual fact, or are you summising? If a fact, how do you know? What we have eaten there, has definitely not been a 'boil in the bag' meal and never could be.
Originally posted by justinquote:its brakes, boil in the bag, sous vide. Not for me, but others love it.
Originally posted by Frenchie
Is the food freshly prepared or Brake Bros semi-prepared ?
Reply ID 27478
It was taken over not so long ago. Am not sure when though.
Reply ID 27562
quote:It relaunched its restaurant about 18 months ago. I would also mention that Brakes don't just sell prepared meals.
Originally posted by Avery
It was taken over not so long ago. Am not sure when though.
Reply ID 28419
I have recently been back to The Anchor, where I had the Morroccan Lamb. Once again a truly splendid meal. I'm not generally a big fan of pubs posing as restaurants as the food usually ranges from barely edible to mediocre (Brewer's Fayre springs to mind). However, there are exceptions and this pub is one of them. I know a few people who had had meals at The Anchor before it was taken over by Heritage Inns and the food then was apparently awful. I assume that Justin's visit was before the change of ownership, although it would be interesting to know if anyone has had a bad experience there in the past year or so. But judging by my own experience, I would be surprised.
Reply ID 28434
quote:Out of interest, there is a Brake Brothers' dish of this name see the mellifluously titled: http://www.brake.co.uk/pdfdoc/Brake_Chilled_Intolerance_List.pdf
Originally posted by lemonjelly
I have recently been back to The Anchor, where I had the Morroccan Lamb. Once again a truly splendid meal. I'm not generally a big fan of pubs posing as restaurants as the food usually ranges from barely edible to mediocre (Brewer's Fayre springs to mind). However, there are exceptions and this pub is one of them. I know a few people who had had meals at The Anchor before it was taken over by Heritage Inns and the food then was apparently awful. I assume that Justin's visit was before the change of ownership, although it would be interesting to know if anyone has had a bad experience there in the past year or so. But judging by my own experience, I would be surprised.
Reply ID 28471
Chilled Intolerance list - sounds rather sinister to me. You have better eyes than me and possibly more time on your hands (sixteen pages!). I couldn't find the 'Morroccan Lamb' but i did find 'Anchor' butter - I'll take your word for it. Whether or not the dish was pre-prepared by Brakes I thought it was lovely.
Reply ID 28488
quote:no, was heritage inns when i visited.
Originally posted by lemonjelly
I have recently been back to The Anchor, where I had the Morroccan Lamb. Once again a truly splendid meal. I'm not generally a big fan of pubs posing as restaurants as the food usually ranges from barely edible to mediocre (Brewer's Fayre springs to mind). However, there are exceptions and this pub is one of them. I know a few people who had had meals at The Anchor before it was taken over by Heritage Inns and the food then was apparently awful. I assume that Justin's visit was before the change of ownership, although it would be interesting to know if anyone has had a bad experience there in the past year or so. But judging by my own experience, I would be surprised.
Reply ID 28547
quote:Adobe Acrobat has a search facility so it was just a matter of moments following a google search to locate the entry.
Originally posted by lemonjelly
Chilled Intolerance list - sounds rather sinister to me. You have better eyes than me and possibly more time on your hands (sixteen pages!). I couldn't find the 'Morroccan Lamb' but i did find 'Anchor' butter - I'll take your word for it. Whether or not the dish was pre-prepared by Brakes I thought it was lovely.
Reply ID 28646
quote:Thank you, I didn't realise that. The stepping from the 20th century into the 21st can be a long journey for some... but I'm getting there... just over the next hill.
Adobe Acrobat has a search facility so it was just a matter of moments following a google search to locate the entry.
Reply ID 29264
Oh dear - went in for a quick drink this evening and after 5 mins stood at the bar with tongue hanging out and not a soul about headed over the road to the Feathers instead. [:(]
Reply ID 35605
Further to my previous posts, I wouldn't recommend The Anchor anymore. Heritage Inns no longer owns The Anchor and it is now run by Pathfinder Inns, which I think is owned by Marstons. I went there tonight and can report that the food can be best described as ordinary pub grub. The menu is uninspiring and barely covers four pages, whereas its predecessor covered about ten and included a brief history of the building. The service was also mediocre, although our orders were taken promptly and the food arrived about ten minutes later - which I thought was suspiciously quick. Microwaved by any chance? The vegetables were definitely straight out of a bag from the freezer. All in all, a big disappointment and I won't be going back unless there is a further positive change of ownership. I wonder what happened to Heritage Inns...
Reply ID 35616
quote:Even as heritage inns, it was still the same offering as u have mentioned
Originally posted by lemonjelly
Further to my previous posts, I wouldn't recommend The Anchor anymore. Heritage Inns no longer owns The Anchor and it is now run by Pathfinder Inns, which I think is owned by Marstons. I went there tonight and can report that the food can be best described as ordinary pub grub. The menu is uninspiring and barely covers four pages, whereas its predecessor covered about ten and included a brief history of the building. The service was also mediocre, although our orders were taken promptly and the food arrived about ten minutes later - which I thought was suspiciously quick. Microwaved by any chance? The vegetables were definitely straight out of a bag from the freezer. All in all, a big disappointment and I won't be going back unless there is a further positive change of ownership. I wonder what happened to Heritage Inns...
Reply ID 35685
Any restaurant with a 10 page menu is definately one to avoid [xx(]
Reply ID 35694
Went there for a christmas dinner and it was good!
Reply ID 35906
I went in there on Tuesday and wont be going back. The food was average at best. The thing that annoyed me most, as it does in any restaurant/eaterie, is when ingredients are substituted without warning. If an ingredient is not available for a particular dish then that dish should be off the menu or a suitable alternative offered. ie. offered when you order not stuck in without warning you. I ordered "Eggs Benedict". I got "Hard boiled egg on bits of bacon on CIABATTA???!!" A complete pi55 take. If the muffin is not available then Eggs Benedict should be off the menu! I got some rubbish about overcooking eggs due to salmonella risks as the reason for my hard boiled egg. I got a shrug when I mentioned the ciabatta. Anyway, I wont go on. The starter was crap. The main (Fish and Chips) was crap. I wont be going here again and I wouldnt recommend it to others.
Reply ID 35928
quote:i dont know of people who go to theses places.
Originally posted by gregb
I went in there on Tuesday and wont be going back. The food was average at best. The thing that annoyed me most, as it does in any restaurant/eaterie, is when ingredients are substituted without warning. If an ingredient is not available for a particular dish then that dish should be off the menu or a suitable alternative offered. ie. offered when you order not stuck in without warning you. I ordered "Eggs Benedict". I got "Hard boiled egg on bits of bacon on CIABATTA???!!" A complete pi55 take. If the muffin is not available then Eggs Benedict should be off the menu! I got some rubbish about overcooking eggs due to salmonella risks as the reason for my hard boiled egg. I got a shrug when I mentioned the ciabatta. Anyway, I wont go on. The starter was crap. The main (Fish and Chips) was crap. I wont be going here again and I wouldnt recommend it to others.
Reply ID 36088
quote:Sadly Justin, the "sort of people" who go to these places are the "sort of people" who still feel intimidated by what they feel are "posh" restaurants. The "sort of people" who don't want to feel silly when they don't recognise anything on the menu, the "sort of people" for whom the wine list might just as well be written in Serbo Croat. This really isn't a dig at The Hillside - I have eaten there and I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Why? Because the whole experience was comfortable and I felt relaxed. No stuffiness, great food, excellent service and honest advice on the wines and the menu. Keep up the great work [:)]
Originally posted by justin i dont know what sort of people go to theses places.
Reply ID 36091
I havn't been to The Anchor in a long time, but I think the tables are probably a reasonable size for 4 adults and have enough space between them so that you can get in and out comfortably. Also, you probably don't feel as though you are forced to listen in to someone elses conversation. I don't think you have to give up your table at 9pm just as the after dinner conversation is getting good and is in full flow, or have to wait until 9pm for a table then not get your main course until 10.15pm. I expect it's affordable if you want to treat the extended family and offers child-friendly options for fussy kids. I believe diners pretty well know what to expect from the menu and aren't expecting something truly special only to receive something pretty average and pretentious.
Reply ID 36093
quote:[?][?][:0]
Originally posted by nora batty
I havn't been to The Anchor in a long time, but I think the tables are probably a reasonable size for 4 adults and have enough space between them so that you can get in and out comfortably. Also, you probably don't feel as though you are forced to listen in to someone elses conversation. I don't think you have to give up your table at 9pm just as the after dinner conversation is getting good and is in full flow, or have to wait until 9pm for a table then not get your main course until 10.15pm. I expect it's affordable if you want to treat the extended family and offers child-friendly options for fussy kids. I believe diners pretty well know what to expect from the menu and aren't expecting something truly special only to receive something pretty average and pretentious.
Reply ID 36098
quote:Allow me to explain, Steve. People who criticise and demean people on these forums have to expect to be able to take such comments directed at themselves. Justin, who is proud to be known as the chef in The Hillside, saw fit to post a rude and unconstructive comment about people who use the Anchor at Wadesmill. Nora posted some comments that could be perceived as applying to his restaurant, where the tables are too close together and many people dislike the 'sittings' system they operate on busy nights. Justin has now edited his comment! rendering Nora's comments a bit out of context. [:)]
Originally posted by Stevequote:[?][?][:0]
Originally posted by nora batty
I havn't been to The Anchor in a long time, but I think the tables are probably a reasonable size for 4 adults and have enough space between them so that you can get in and out comfortably. Also, you probably don't feel as though you are forced to listen in to someone elses conversation. I don't think you have to give up your table at 9pm just as the after dinner conversation is getting good and is in full flow, or have to wait until 9pm for a table then not get your main course until 10.15pm. I expect it's affordable if you want to treat the extended family and offers child-friendly options for fussy kids. I believe diners pretty well know what to expect from the menu and aren't expecting something truly special only to receive something pretty average and pretentious.
Reply ID 36103
quote:... in contravention of the Terms and Conditionas. Take note Justin!
Originally posted by Rachel
...Justin has now edited his comment! rendering Nora's comments a bit out of context. [:)]
Reply ID 36107
people can see fit to take my comment as they wish, but after the prvious comment posted i was trying to understand something which has absolutely nothing to do with the responses directed or not to the hillside, or, is this forum designed to be responsive to members backgrounds, jobs etc. i dont get it! I didnt intend to be rude, i edited a word or the order of words, because it was misunderstood, thats fair enough. Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36108
quote:I feel the same about restaurants that automatically add an 'optional' service charge to your bill [;)]
Originally posted by justin Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36109
quote:well, you do class yourself as a grumpy old man.[;)]
Originally posted by Leo Densianquote:I feel the same about restaurants that automatically add an 'optional' service charge to your bill [;)]
Originally posted by justin Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36122
quote:I apologise for misunderstanding Justin's comment before he edited it. How foolish of me to think he was sneering at 'the sort of people' who use The Anchor! [:I] Tsk! It was just a typo! Happens to me all the time, like when I typed, 'the Hillside is dated, pokey and overpriced,' instead of, 'excellent good value food in lovely surroundings.' [}:)] Just to clarify, Nora did not imply that she knew of any restaurant that asked people to leave at 9PM without telling them on booking. Certainly, the Hillside made it clear to me when I rang to make a booking that they were having two sittings on the night in question, which is why I went elsewhere. [:)]
Originally posted by justin
people can see fit to take my comment as they wish, but after the prvious comment posted i was trying to understand something which has absolutely nothing to do with the responses directed or not to the hillside, or, is this forum designed to be responsive to members backgrounds, jobs etc. i dont get it! I didnt intend to be rude, i edited a word or the order of words, because it was misunderstood, thats fair enough. Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36124
I use different restaurants for different things. For fine dining and especially for a celebration if I am lucky, I like somewhere a bit more special with freshly prepared food, good service and somewhere I couldn't go all the time because it costs more than my temp. secretarial wages allow, but I also like cafe bars but not steak houses and good pub grub too. I think people do sometimes feel intimidated to go to nice place for fine dining, no we don't want to look a chump when trying to get into a lobster without using a pnematic drill. Equally, I wouldn't enter a Harvester type restaurant cos I am not a great fan of chips etc and the smell of chip fat, but... I know that a lot of people do like them and maybe we should encourage people to eat out and provide jobs for our catering establishments and not bash other peoples tastes. Personally I would give my right arm for my other half to take me to Gordon Ramsays place, but as he detests him.. I think at trip to the "Golden Arches" is nearer to me!!!!!
Reply ID 36127
quote:Watch it Justin, Egon might take you out of his book next year.... NOT!
Originally posted by Rachelquote:I apologise for misunderstanding Justin's comment before he edited it. How foolish of me to think he was sneering at 'the sort of people' who use The Anchor! [:I] Tsk! It was just a typo! Happens to me all the time, like when I typed, 'the Hillside is dated, pokey and overpriced,' instead of, 'excellent good value food in lovely surroundings.' [}:)]
Originally posted by justin
people can see fit to take my comment as they wish, but after the prvious comment posted i was trying to understand something which has absolutely nothing to do with the responses directed or not to the hillside, or, is this forum designed to be responsive to members backgrounds, jobs etc. i dont get it! I didnt intend to be rude, i edited a word or the order of words, because it was misunderstood, thats fair enough. Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36142
quote:but you came once, didnt like it and tried to come back? or not darling[:X]
Originally posted by Rachelquote:I apologise for misunderstanding Justin's comment before he edited it. How foolish of me to think he was sneering at 'the sort of people' who use The Anchor! [:I] Tsk! It was just a typo! Happens to me all the time, like when I typed, 'the Hillside is dated, pokey and overpriced,' instead of, 'excellent good value food in lovely surroundings.' [}:)] Just to clarify, Nora did not imply that she knew of any restaurant that asked people to leave at 9PM without telling them on booking. Certainly, the Hillside made it clear to me when I rang to make a booking that they were having two sittings on the night in question, which is why I went elsewhere. [:)]
Originally posted by justin
people can see fit to take my comment as they wish, but after the prvious comment posted i was trying to understand something which has absolutely nothing to do with the responses directed or not to the hillside, or, is this forum designed to be responsive to members backgrounds, jobs etc. i dont get it! I didnt intend to be rude, i edited a word or the order of words, because it was misunderstood, thats fair enough. Noras comments whoever perceived against are terrible, and i cant believe a restaurant can tell you to leave at 9pm without telling you whilst booking, thats absolutely terrible, id like to know this restaurant, so i never have that experience.
Reply ID 36147
quote:Since you ask, darling, I can clarify - I rang to book the Hillside for a Saturday, got told about the sittings, so didn't book, went elsewhere, re-booked for a Wednesday. My one and only visit. That is however one more visit than I've ever made to the Anchor at Wadesmill. My son's friend worked in the kitchen there and while it is hygienic and organised, it was mainly pre-prepared food.
Originally posted by justin but you came once, didnt like it and tried to come back? or not darling[:X]
Reply ID 36283
quote:For my sake, seeing as you have replied to my thread, would it be possible to see what you orginally posted as I can't see the point of your comment as it stands. Should I be replying to posts about plumbers with "I don't know of anyone who is a plumber"? With regards to "these places", you mean a pub with a menu??? What is different about The Anchor compared to any other pub with a menu. Do you visit pubs that serve food?
i dont know of people who go to theses places.
Reply ID 36286
quote:Am I being classed as one of these "sort of people"?? I'm not intimidated by upmarket restaurants. I've visited my fair share and will continue to do so. If I dont recognise anything on a menu I'm more intrigued than put off and am not ashamed to ask. I don't drink wine but do speak Serbo-Croat so maybe I should have a look. Bare in mind my visit was on a Thursday lunchtime. I wasn't looking for an eating experience out of this world - if I had been I would've surely visited The Hillside - after all, it seems to be the most plugged restaurant on here! Not by the owner of course :D (others more pedantic than me may see this as advertising) [:0] [:D]
Originally posted by Deverauxquote:Sadly Justin, the "sort of people" who go to these places are the "sort of people" who still feel intimidated by what they feel are "posh" restaurants. The "sort of people" who don't want to feel silly when they don't recognise anything on the menu, the "sort of people" for whom the wine list might just as well be written in Serbo Croat.
Originally posted by justin i dont know what sort of people go to theses places.
Reply ID 36320
i went onceand wouldnt go back , after reading about your experience greg b, who would visit,have a similar experience like you did, and go back.?
Reply ID 46746
Saw that this place has now reopened in its Marstons 2 for 1 format which somehow suggests to me an oik with a pile of ready meals and a microwave oven. Anyone given it a go yet?