Fsharpminor's Qype profile

Visted here yesterday with wife, my father 91, and mother in law 88. Dad has been coming here for years from his home in Keighley.

The Garden Centre itself  is a good size with a pretty good range of plants and garden things. Also plenty of gift items and also an Edinburgh Wool Shop.

The prices for garden stuff are horrendous !  In many cases about double what they should be, and I would never buy any garden things here.   Would you pay £49 for a metal watering can or even £19.99 for a plastic one ??? !    Plants and shrubs are also ridiculously priced.  We have a large Garden Centre near us on the Wirral which I also regard as expensive, but this place is a complete rip-off. An Acer palmatum tree was £245 compared with £159 for a similar size at Gordale (Wirral).  We paid £59.99 for a smaller one two years ago which is larger now than Stephen Smith one at £245.

We also visit a large ‘posh’ Garden Center (van Haags) near Ware in Herts (near my daughters), and their prices are lower than here.

We had a main meal at Hatties Restaurant as described by the previous reviewer. Main courses £7-8. The fish and chips were reasonably good, , except batter was a bit anaemic, but Ive had worse.

Summarising , its OK for an afternoon out, but dont buy plants here, you will get twice as many for you moeny at a smaller garden centre.

I am pleased to be writing the first review on this very popular restaurant in Greasby, middle of the Wirral (Note the location is some 200 yards east of what is shown on the map). We tend to eat in Heswall (Eg Gustos, see reviews) as we can walk there but my son and daughter in law recommended this to us so the four of us went together last week to celebrate my birthday (and a forthcoming baby /first grandchild in two weeks) .
This restaurant was indeed very good. A very nice old Manor House, but with a tasteful but more modern decor, a pleasant ambience and was about half full on a Thursday night We all had different starters and mains , there being an excellent selection to suit all tastes, and the pace and friendliness of the staff enhanced the occasion. All the food was of a good standard, and nicely presented. Pricing was good for the quality, just a shade under £100 for the four of us – two courses, and some drinks. Highly recommended. We will have to split our loyalties now between those restaurants nearer home, and The Manor. So we will definitely be back.

(edit three weeks later, a beautiful granddaughter born on April 6th !) (Also I have a table for 8 booked Easter Monday – will edit this again after we have been)

Edit Monday 25th April 2011 – Eight of us for lunch, food even better than the first time. This place is really top class for food,ambience, and service, and the prices are very reasonable. 8 three course lunches with some drinks cost me £180 inclusive of tip.
The map marker is still out despite my telling Qype administrators, its about 200 yards east of where indicated.

Edit April 2012.

Agia

Again hosted a family lunch here , this time for 11 people + baby. Everything was again first class, food, service and ambience. £230 for three courses and drinks inc gratuities, so slightly less per person than last time. Map marker is now correct.

Firstly just to clarify, I am reviewing The Black Horse at Askwith, situated in a small attractive village about 4 miles form Otley and 5 miles from Ilkley.
It is not to be confused with a pub of the same name in Otley town. It seems the prvious reviewers have referred to the town pub , and only awarded one star. This has had the effect of reducing the average rating of this pub, of which I believe I am the frist reviewer
This place is a little gem. It comprises a pub with an added conservatory style dining room with a pleasant ambience.
I got off to a good start with a pint of Taylors Landlord, one of the best bitters around, even though I may be biased, having been brought up 200yds from Taylors Brewery in the nearby town of Keighley. Black Sheep Bitter is also an excellent bitter, if weaker than Landlord, and also available here.
I called without booking at 7.30 on a Wednesday evening, and shown to the table , my beer and menu placed there whilst I had a comfort visit. The menu comprised 6 or so starters, and 10 Mains with additions of Steak and Burgers as other options. I went for a starter of Tempura Prawns, beautifully presented with a sweet chilli relish and some well prepared salad. Prawns were crisp and delicious. It was at this stage that I saw that there were a number of specials on a blackboard, slightly behind of me. This would have changed my choice (I am a sucker for a tender Lamb Shank), and I dont remember the young lady or her colleague mentioning the board to me (unless it went in one ear and out of the other). But it mattered not, as the Sea Bass main, served on a bed of crushed potato and with the sweetest of vine tomatoes , with seasonal vegetables also came beautifully presented and was equally delicious. Indeed it was as good a Sea Bass as I have had, and its something I choose a lot.
Other readers of my reviews will know I stay regularly at the Chevin Lodge Hotel, Otley. The food there is excellent, but for a what is essentially a village pub like the Black Horse to be serving food of similar quality and presentation is excellent. It deserves to be better patronised.
My two courses and a pint came to £22, but the Sea Bass was one of the more expensive options. Pies as a main were £9.95, and a choice of three.
There is also an early bird system with two courses for £10.95 before 7 pm weekdays.
The two young ladies serving were charming, efficient, and attentive and service was prompt.
There was only one other table of four running at the time, so I cant judge whether the same level of service could be maintained say on Saturday evening or Sunday lunch when it would doubtless be busier.
I will be back here (hoping to see the Lamb Shank on the blackboard again). No hesitation in awarding five stars

Edit 17th Jan 2012. Well it took me along time to get back here. Had a meal here this evening, just as good as before. And nice attention from the two young ladies! Lamb Shank not available ! I will try again .
Garlic Mushrooms in cream sauce were well executed, and was the chicken in bacon (back not streaky), served on a bed of mash with veg, and a cream sauce. Place very quiet, but pleasant and cosy by the fire , to which I had been directed. No reason to alter my five star rating.

Further edit 14th February.
Visited again , still very quiet despite it being Valentines Day. Lovely pint of Taylors Landlord again. Had the prawns in filo pastry – delicious, but on my first visit they were ‘tempura’ style , not the same . For the third time there were no lamb shanks. I am told they have stopped doing them but it still appears on the menu!
Specials board had a 28day matured Aberdeen Angus Sirloin. Tasty and cooked as requested , with excellent chips and quite the best onion rings I have ever had. The whole thing spoilt rather by a mushroom sauce, which just seemed like pouring single cream on your steak, little evidence of mushrooms. I am going to reduce my rating by a star now because of this, and lack of atmosphere probably better when its fuller

Further edit , Called last night, 28th March 2012 at 6pm and found the restaurant closed. I am not sure whether this is permanent or some temporary problem . A big pity if its closed down

Well I am pleased to have the honour of writing the first review of this excellent restaurant right in the centre of Ilkley. Indeed I am kicking myself for not having discovered it before, given that I have stayed many times at the Rombalds Hotel (qv my reviews).
Was eating alone , and arrived at opening time of 6pm. So I ordered a pint of bitter (John Smiths smooth – it would have been good to have had Ilkleys own brewery bitter Mary Jane). I was shown to a nice window table in a pleasantly decorated , and quite large room. Good ambience. Menus were brought (Early bird, A la Carte, and some daily ‘specials’)- I didnt really fancy the ‘early bird menu’ but others may have been perfectly happy with it. Ordered a starter – Mushroom, Leek and sundried tomato tartlet (£6.25) and for main a Duo of Lamb (Rump and a cutlet at £16.75) . An excellent selection of home made bread rolls was brough , together with pots of butter, olive oil/balsamic vinegar, and sun dried tomato paste.
The tart arrived hot on a bed of greens with some small cubes of cheese, and a sweet/sour type of relish which complemented the tart brilliantly. I thought one of the most enyable starters Ive had for a while.
The two types of lamb were equally good, they came on shredded savoy cabbage with pancetta and served with side dish of veg comprising Dauphinoise potato, carrots, sugarsnap peas and ratatouille. For me the carrots were a bit too ‘al dente’, needed cooking for longer, but this was the only minor adverse comment I have to make. Dining alone, I declined a dessert. No hesitation in giving 5 stars
I have another recommendation in Ilkley (Martha and Vincents) which I will try next week as I am staying over in the area again. Noone has yet reviewed it on Qype, and it has been described to me as the best in Ilkley. Well it will have to be good to beat The Farsyde.
PS forgot to say the Wine list is reasonably priced and that there are 14 wines available by the glass (and three sizes)

Further visit 27th March 2012,

Standard as above still maintained. Crispy Duck starter with ebasprouts, pine nuts and mustard mayo was well executed and delicious. Trio of lamb, composing some medaillons of rump, a parmesan coated cutlet and some confit, was outstanding Highley recommended anf form what Ive heard locally about The box Tree, this is the best food in Ilkley

I have deleted my previous 4 star review as it was 2 years ago, it was family group lunch enjoyed by all, particularly the chicken and leek pie.
This review would only have appeared as an edit to the previous one had I not deleted it, so best to start again as the most recent review appears at the top of the list.
I called alone last night for a drink and a couple of courses. As mentioned by another reviewer its disappointing there is no draught bitter, surely they could carry at least one. However the bottle Saltaire blonde from the nearby brewery was quite enjoyble.
I dined in the restaurant upstairs though there is a good choice also in the downstairs bar. I had the soup of the day (Asparagus0 , was nice and creamy in texture, and tasty. Bread roll was so hot that when I broke it the steam caught my fingers and I dropped it !
Main was a crispy duck breast (it was tempting to have that chicken and leek pie again) served on mashed potato also with a creamy sweet potato and red/green salad leaves. It came cooked to my preference, and was delicious and tender. Bill was £21.
Pleasant attentive service from the young lady who served me, but it seems she hadnt been trained on how to properly use the travelling credit card machine ! Neverthless I recommend this place, on both my visits the food was well executed , and I commend it to other qypers.
Its situated near to the famous Salts Mill, so there are other things nearby to justify a day out.

Easily the best restaurant in Heswall for food quality and service. Maybe a little on the expensive side but worth it.

Edit, 10th October 2011.
Had a family meal for five there on Saturday night. Absolute excellence in terms of both the food and the service. We all had different courses, but I must rave about the whole salt baked Sea Bass ! Others had a rib-eye steak, a pizza dish, a chicken dish and Sea Bream. All thoroughly enjoyed, and we had some good starters as well (my roasted mushrooms on a crusty bread with garlic dip), and desserts.
Some may feel its a touch expensive, however having recently joined their Dining Club (l also have a Gusto near my Leeds office in Cookridge), I even got 20% off on a Saturday night. (Bill was £126 inc drinks) – can be 40% at times if booked on line). I reiterate my assertion on my original post that this is the best food and service in Heswall. Indeed on the Wirral only the Manor at Greasby and the Cowshed at Raby come close.

Edit 13th March 2012,

Three of us again for dinner, and I have no reason to change my opinion above. In particular Sea Bream and Rump of Lamb both enjoyed, as well as Calamari starter. Excellence all round.

Restauant Closed Down

Called in for a quick meal last Tuesday. Good sized pub with several rooms, one mainly for diners.
Warm welcome as I ordered a pint of their current guest beer, Wells Bitter, not often seen in this area.! One of my favourites Mushrooms in a Garlic sauce , delicious and well executed with some rustic bread and salad. Not over sauced, just the right amount. Had Pie of the Day which had decent chunks of steak, not too fatty and tender, with a good crust on top, though an underside crust was soggy and could have been left off. Both these items were on the ‘two courses for £10’ as I was an early bird.
I recommend this place. But maybe not quite as good as the Scotts Arms at nearby Sicklinghall which I also have reviewed. However much better than the horrendous Bingley arms at Bardsea, I reviewed also !

Popped out here this evening for a quick drink and dinner. Its a bit off the beaten track, but neverthless a delight.
Had a pint of excellent Black Sheep, and started with some mushrooms in a creamy garlic sauce, tasty indeed, personal preference would be for a bit more garlic , and less sauce, but I’m picking at straws.
Main of Lamb Henry was superb, meat very tender, with a delicious gravy, and served with a dauphinoise potato stack and three vegetables. Mint sauce requested and supplied promptly
There was a nice warm friendly atmosphere , even though the pub wasnt too busy. Service was prompt and efficient from the young lady who served me. Theres also a small gift shop adjoining the pub

Well I promised the last reviewer I would call, and I have – twice ! Tuesday last week, arrived with a pleasant welcome from the young lady and later Manager Joe. Nice pint of Black Sheep. From the menu I chose a starter of warm shredded duck on a salad with pine nuts (I asked for the beetroot to be omitted). This was excellent and I could not fault it. Un fortunately I couldn’t say the same of my Lamb Shank. It was under cooked , tough , and I could have done with a hammer and chisel. A properly cooked lamb shank should be supremely tender and come away from the bone. Its a dish I often choose, and also cook myself (4-5hrs with balsamic vinegar and red wine). This was the worst I have ever had. I complained and wasnt charged for it.
Tonight I gave them a second chance as I was passing.
Again ‘Welcome back , sir’ etc. Not particularly fancying the soup or other starter, I had the warm shredded duck again. Not warm , stone cold, though I was on the phone when it arrived so may have been partially to blame, as it was a couple of munites before I started it and it would have gone cold quickly. Selected Braised Liver with Onions, which came on a bed of mashed sweet potato, and also rather too many vegetables, cabbage, swede batons, and lots of carrots. The liver itself and excellent crispy onions actually tasted good, but the coating of a rather sticky glutinous sauce/gravy was not. A thinner texured gravy and more of it would have made it more palatable Curiously the bill was £18.20, exactly the same as the meal I had the previous night at the excellent General Tarleton at Ferrensby , some 10 miles or so away (See my review). No comparison in the food between the two !
This place is also residential , and from overhearing a telephone conversation they obviously are fairly well booked. I just hope the guests go elsewhere to eat. I wont be back again. Or at least until I see some better reviews.