The Earl Spencer

This is a terrible pub, absoutely hateful staff who look like they'd rather throw up than serve you. The staff know nothing about their beers which is a surprise for a CAMRA pub and were positively rude when we ordered a couple of pints of Sharps - the barmaid after trying to dismiss us eventually pointed out that it's called Doombar, which is true, but in a pub claiming to serve real ale, if Doombar is your only Sharps on tap then you should know the brewery and the beer and be able to work out that a pint of Sharps is a pint of Doombar, you shouldn't look sniffy at your customers and then grudgingly pour a badly kept, poorly executed pint.

Booked a table once for 11 people, turned up, were given menus, sat down with drinks, worked out our order, went to the bar to place the order and were told they were out of food. An evening ruined. Went this weekend, asked for some drinks and a bowl of chips, were told that despite the fact they do bowls of chips all the time, our snooty salesperson (she knew nothing, definitely not a barmaid) would not serve us chips without ordering other food 'in case we run out of chips'

For a pub that prides itself on its good food, never seems to actually have any food. And if you don't like working with people or serving drinks, I'd suggest you don't work behind a bar. Management are rude and dismissive. Such a shame as this is really handy for home, but I'll walk the extra three minutes to the Park Tavern and get drinks, a smile and as many bowls of chips as I want.
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0 Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, January 23, 2012

This is surprisingly average. I ate there a few days ago with my wife.

The "liver parfait" was rather plain and tasted like something you would get out of a tin. It wasn't bad, but not good either.

I had the roasted duck breast with risotto. The duck was actually rather good, but the risotto was bland and closer to wet white rice than a real risotto.

At that point we decided to pass on dessert.

The descriptions of food on the menu make it sound fantastic, the reality is much further from that thought.

This was my first time at the pub and I would really hesitate to try it again for food. It was sub-par given what it cost
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jdripper
4 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Sunday, February 06, 2011

Always been good and still love it. Creative food whilst still making the old favourites. Now able to book in the evening too. I had to send back a corked bottle of wine last month and not only was it replaced having been poured, but it was immediately removed from the bill with a free replacement. Excellent customer service there.
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JC - View all reviews by this user
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Sunday, January 16, 2011

Who are these people who don't like to food here? Nutters. Been here at least ten times never had a duff meal. Osso Bucco on Sunday, superb, at which other pubs could you get that for £14 on a Sunday night? Top, top notch.
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Simon
8 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, August 17, 2009