The Crooked Chimney

Had a nice lunch. Unfortunately anything fish was 'off menu' that day. Tried their equivalent to veggie burger. It was ok although found burger a little soft & tacky in texture. Service & attention exceptional.

Great place! We took my mother in law for dinner. We sat in the bar, so ordered directly from there but the staff was so friendly and attentive. We had a pie, pork belly, and kedgeree cakes. All were delicious. I especially got a chuckle out of the name of the Prosecco: “bubble and squeak”. A wonderful atmosphere, great food and great service all made for a wonderful evening.

This pub is absolutely lovely! and a very rare find even in these countryside surroundings,
It's worth reading the history about this pub, fascinating!
Cozy fire place, beautiful beer garden quality food, free parking, the staff are amazing.
If you like country walks then this is the perfect place to stop off for lunch, lovely countryside walks all around this area.
Will definitely return!

The chimney being it’s main feature this huge pub has so many rooms and a good outdoor garden. Only one hand pump beer… which is a shame.

A very nice pub with very nice food. The service was good and the prices were reasonable. No complaints at all.

Lovely roast dinner, roast potatoes were burnt but the waiter brought out a bowl full. Lovely friendly staff and a cosy place. My only criticism was it was dark when we left and there was no outside lights, we had a 73 year old with us and had to use the torch on our phones to lead the way to the car as she would have fallen

Why, oh why do we put ourselves through this experience every time. They say that to repeat an action expecting a different result is madness, and so it has been proved. Again. We are mad. It is official.

We like the concept of Vintage Inns but too often have been let down. We have had 4 complaints resolved in our favour over the years with vouchers to entice us back, but after Saturday night, the madness must end. So no more. Ever.

As the attached images demonstrate the startling prices in no way reflect what is delivered (and this cannot be laid just at the door of the Crooked Chimney - they sell the same poor value food as all the other Vintage Inns).

Chicken schnitzel and chips £15.25. Really? No other accompaniments at all - surely a small side salad wouldn't be amiss at that price. The picture shown is just minus one obligatory tasting chip.

Pie - 'better' value at £13.75, but with only 6 small pieces of chicken and a very empty dish, not much value. And I do have to reserve special mention for the carrots which managed to come out with a texture of dead flesh - remarkable.

Black Forest Flower Pot - £8.50! One scoop of blackcurrant sorbet (surely some mistake - should be cherry?), a pile of chocolate syrup and some soil. Far too sweet and far too expensive.

Luxury bannoffe pie - £6.95. All crust and cream, hardly any 'banoffee' so difficult to tell how luxury it was.

But I need to give balance. Our server was wonderful. She was patient, had a great sense of humour and could not be faulted. Perhaps someone should ask her opinion on the value of what she serves? And I do ned to point out that the desserts came free of charge thanks to a Vintage Inn offer - it would be churlish not to mention this, I feel.

But this was a night to forget rather than an evening to remember. If you are going to charge such eye-watering prices, the food should be pretty good. But it is not even close. With a curry and rice at £17.95 (the local Indian restaurant would charge £11.00 and I bet they might do a better job), there is no wonder that there were many empty tables on a Saturday night at the rather pleasant Crooked Chimney pub.

So we are mad no more. Just sad that these nice pubs think so little of their customers. We would suggest a rather urgent rethink should be on the cards.

I had been on an errand with a Friend and his wife and we had passed the Crooked Chimney and had jokingly commentted, that it would have been a nice stop for a Sunday Lunch if we hadn't been passed Lunchtime already! On the way back from our successful endeavours we agreed that we should stop for a reward drink, and to take in the perceived picturesque ambiance, so we turned around and had our drink and took in, said Perceived ambiance. So it turned out that it was, as picturesque on the inside with a friendly service to match the warm atmosphere and interiors. So we enjoyed our drink, I enjoyed my portion of chunky chips and will certainly return for the Sunday Lunch!