The Earl Spencer

I think this place might be living on its reputation a little too much at the moment. We arrived five minutes after our booking and where told that are table had been given away already. When we spoke to the manger he was totally unapologetic and quite rude. We had booked are table a week before for 8 people and had left a contact number.
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Al Ford
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Sunday, November 02, 2008

Can't believe anyone has a problem with this place. Been twice now, both times excellent. Service is very friendly - good advice on wine, given a free taster of dessert wine, free top up etc.

Food is superb, especially for the price - on Saturday had oysters to start - very fresh, followed by pork belly with cauliflower and macaroni gratin. The pork was perfectly cooked, crisp, crunchy skin on soft, flavoursome meat. Went beautifully with the macaroni. Really good value Argentinian white to accompany.

Yes, we did have to wait a bit for dessert, but they were extremely busy and for these prices I can't see how you can complain.

Superb place which we will be returning to frequently.
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Simon
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 14, 2008

What can I say, I love the Earl Spencer. Looking at these reviews they all date back to 2005, so get with the times. I have been going there for two years and love the atmosphere about the place.

It annoys me when people complain that the policies are different from other restaurants. This is genuinely a great place and that’s what makes it stand out. Don’t go there if you expect silver service or waiters coming to your beck and call. It is a laid back atmosphere where you share your table with other customers and when did it do harm to be friendly to strangers? The limited choice of 5 starters, mains and desserts that change on a daily basis means you can always try something exciting and you can never get bored.

When you go to the earl spencer you know what to expect, gastro food in the atmosphere of a friendly living room. There is always a great buzz about the place, no music and candlelight on your table. What more can you ask for?

I never get bored of this place…………
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Sunday, November 25, 2007

I'm afraid that I have to agree with the poor reviews on this page. I have been to this pub before and have had an enjoyable experience. However, we visited on the same Sunday as "S Green", who has a review on this page and the service was an absolute joke. Our starters arrived after about half and hour, which is just about long enough to wait. I have to admit that they were good. So far, so good. We then proceeded to wait an hour and half for our main courses. We asked a few times what was happening to our food, only to be either fobbed off or ignored. The staff then did their level best to avoid all eye contact with us. The manager/owner (not sure which) made out it was our fault because we ordered starters! I wanted to point out that if I'd known there would have been an hour and half wait between starter and main, I wouldn't have bothered. I find it amazing that people in a service industry don't even think to offer more bread, or a free round of drinks etc for the inconvenience.

Eventually, we went to the bar to settle our bill, as we'd decided not to bother with the main courses (we were about to faint with hunger!) We were then told, predictably, that our main courses "were just about to come out". We left anyway and won't be going back. It's a shame really, because there is a definite lack of decent gastro pubs in the SW19/SW18 area, but I won't put up with being spoken to like that again.

Go elsewhere!
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EJ, SW19
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, October 03, 2007

I have to say that I am astounded that there could be any bad reviews of this excellent pub'. The food is excellent (and very reasonably priced). The service is extremely friendly. It is a must for anyone passing that way.
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Charles Utley
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, September 18, 2007

I am shocked to see so many bad reviews! I live in Southfields and this place was a welcome addition when it opened.

The food is delicious, and if you have to wait at least you know it's being cooked and not just heated like most pub food.

The staff are always so friendly and helpful.

The atmosphere is welcoming and they have managed to blend a traditional English pub with modern comforts really well. I love the mix match of chairs and the family feel to it.

Whenever we have friends to stay I always take them to The Earl Spencer and I would recommend it to anyone.
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Thursday, September 13, 2007

The best place ever, Service was brilliant, It was really cheap,I would rate it 10 out of 10,I love it and so i will go there a lot because of the fast service and lovely food,I want to recommend to everyone i know!

The best!!
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Michael Steelwerg
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

I live down the road from the Earl Spencer and have visited it on several occasions. The food is at best of average quality and over-priced and the service is always very slow, and each time I go there I vow not to return. However, I do return (once my bad memories of the previous visit have faded!) mainly because it is convenient and there are limited alternative options within walking distance. But never again!!! I ate there last Sunday lunchtime-the main course was cold, but we ate it without complaint and then after having waited patiently for over an hour for our desserts we had to leave. When I informed the manager that we had to leave, instead of apologising to us for having forgotten about our desserts and keeping us waiting for so long, he launched into a tirade of abuse and told us we were causing the chef anguish (!!) by leaving as he had now finally started preparing our desserts (over an hour after we had ordered them!!) Appalling slow service I can just about live with, but rudeness, arrogance and a lecture from the manager on top of this is unacceptable. This pub and its staff need to learn that they cannot continue to ride on the back of an award from 2004. My advice would be that there are better places to spend your money-avoid this place if you want decent food served by decent human beings!
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S. Green
Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 3
Friday, August 17, 2007

Surprised to see such bad reviews recently. I live locally and go pretty frequently for dinner - mostly during the week to be fair. Have always found the staff to be friendly and attentive and the food excellent. The menu changes daily but there is always something good to be had.
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JH
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Sadly the Earl Spencer is a big disappointment; the food is over rated, the service slow although the staff are friendly enough. Sunday lunch for me consisted of fish cakes - not hard to do well, but after a 45 minute wait two pototoe patties emerged, a sprig of salaad and a dollop of mayo on the side. Very poor, very expenive and NOT worht the wait. Sorry - there are loads of better places than this.
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Dazzla
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 1
Thursday, July 12, 2007