Ridge Farm Hotel

Appalling !!!   Worst meal we have ever had in 40 years. Would not go back - even if the meal was free!!

we were sat beside the kitchen - the area around was filthy. One of our party waited 20mins at the bar for someone to serve us drinks ...  No joy. Came back to the table and waited 15 mins more for someone to take our order. The food was diabolical - one main course did not arrive and asked where it was - the order had not even been taken to the kitchen so .we left. We complained to the Person in charge. ( who was running jaround like a headless chicken As he explained staff had not turned up for their shift ) he took all our details and assured us the owner would call us the next day - as expected he didn't !  When the waitress did arrive she was extremely rude and off-hand when we asked where missing main course was.  We paid the bill - as no-one seemed to have the authority to reduce the bill and expected to take it up with the owner/ Manager when he called. There were other diners complaining about the food and the dirty state of the restaurant but no-one cared.

All in all - filthy - food appalling and staff rude and unpleasant- don't waste your money 

Arrived there just after 5pm on Thursday as we like to eat early. Plenty parking right at the door and all on the level so quite handy for wobbly legs. Lady member of staff welcomed us in and sat us down at a table and which are well spaced out. We took advantage of the 5 - 7 special deal with two courses for £5.99. I had a carvery and rhubarb and custard sweet whilst the better half had vegetable soup starter and the mince and dumpling. The waitress took the order and ensured that we had refreshments delivered to the table and then proceeded to the kitchen for the soup which was accompanied with a nice piece of baguet. The soup was very tasty and fairly hot. The mince and dumpling arrived next and we topped up the plate with the potato and vegetables from the carvery which meant that we both sat down to consume our main meal at the same time. The carvery meat, consisting of gammon, beef and turkey were all cooked to perfection and were accompanied with yorkshire pudding, stuffing balls, carrots, peas, boiled onion, cauliflower, cabbage and boiled and roast potatoes covered in beautiful beef gravy. Bowls with mustard, mint source, cranberry sauce and apple were plainly available if you had room on your plate. The good thing about the vegetables were that they did not sit in water and were constantly being replenished by the chef. The waitress saw that we were finished our main course and cleared the dishes away and enquiring whether we required the sweet straight away or would we like to rest for a few moments. The sweet was deliverd after few minutes and was consumed with pleasure as it just happened to be my favourite. All the time that we were in the restaurant we were surrounded by 80's music at a volume which did not impinge on our conversation or those around us. The decor could do with a lick of paint but the premises were obviously clean and cared for in these economic times. All in all a pleasurable experience and we will look forward to returning.

Unsure after its recent negative reviews but after not having been in a long time went today. Were seated straight away even though we were 40 minutes early. Bar staff were quick, chatty and pleasant. Carvery was great, plenty of food, meat was delicious, bringing fresh veg out all the time. Bonus in that its quite spaced out in the dining area compared to lots of pubs so with a noisy baby we didnt feel like we were annoying people. All in all thoroughly enjoyed it, good value for money and no dishes!
Oh and in response to the carrot comment, its called 'rustic' they are meant to come with the peel intact. Some people are never happy!

I've seen some negative reviews about the ridge farm hotel,  tbh i have never had any negative experiences with the food or staff.  The truth is the staff are approachable, friendly andprofessional.  The food is first class, especially the carvery.

My husband and I visited the Ridge Farm last Friday (23/03/12) after seeing a special offer for a 2 or 3-course meal. I have had bad experiences before with the surly, lazy and downright rude staff before but thought we’d give them the benefit of the doubt. That was our first mistake. As ever, we stood around looking like spare parts whilst the two waitresses did everything but see if we required a table. Eventually, we were shown to a table and sat for a good 10 minutes before a drinks order was taken. We ordered the 2-course meal, a carvery and a sweet. We approached the serving area and stood again for over 10 minutes with no servers and again, the waitresses trying to look busy and avoided us. Eventually, a server appeared from the kitchen to serve us with a slab of bone-dry beef and turkey that had evidently stood best part of the morning. What irked me the most was that as we moved down to the vegetables, another couple behind us were advised if they wanted to wait a few minutes they would bring fresh meat!
The veg was dry, not peeled properly, cold and the stuffing balls were like rocks.
Whilst eating this poor excuse for ‘food’, we were subjected to the two “busy” waitresses discussing private business including how Natwest bank are apparently ‘pants’ for getting one of their direct debits wrong. I won’t post it here but I know what the direct debit was for and how much and frankly, not what I want to hear during a meal out. I can sit at home for that!
Before dessert and because we couldn’t find one of the busy waitresses, empty tables take an intense amount of cleaning I suspect, my husband ventured to the bar for more soft drinks and yes, waited the obligatory 10 minutes. Mind you, they were serving another patron but then proceeded to walk away from the bar area. I know my husband isn’t the biggest bloke but he’s not invisible! Eventually she returned and proceeded to slam the drinks onto the bar with no please or thank you as she returned his change back onto the bar.
We opted for a fruit pavlova for dessert but only after the waitress had to ask us what we ordered as she had lost the order. It was obviously a shop-bought meringue nest with frozen fruit in jelly, accompanied by cream with no taste and swirled with ice-cream syrup. Yum…if I was at school!
Needless to say that although I am Bedlington born and bred and a firm believer in supporting local, we will not be returning to the Ridge Farm again.
I’d recommend the Ridge Farm only if you are a fan of sub-standard food, dirty looks, atrocious customer service, waiting around and you love hearing about staff gossiping about their private business.

Popped in for the carvery after hearing good things about this place. The staff were unbelievably bad and very, very slow.
The carvery itself was average with the meat being OK but most of the veg was overcooked and we noticed the carrots had not been peeled properly. Quality wise, about what you would expect from a poor works canteen.
All the above I can put down to experience and just not go again, but what prompted me to write this review was the dessert of apple crumble and custard.
If you like huge lumps of undercooked apple with a light dusting of almost raw crumble (flour and sugar) swamped by a powdered lumpy custard finally served 35 minutes after your main course then this is the place for you.
If not, avoid like the plague.
Truly awful!!

great value 4 money, lovely juicy meat on th carvery

We've been going to The Ridge Farm for years, & my parents often pop in through the week for a quick & easy carvery. It's never been fancy just a good plain roast.
Last night we went for my Uncles birthday, it was terrible.
I agree the staff are poor, this has been the case for a while, but is beyond a joke now. The barman serves his drinks in dirty smeared glasses, & always serves the wine warm. The waiting staff, flirt with the barman, and ignore customers, & just generally sulk around.
Two of us were served up with cheesy garlic bread which was late (the other 6 were well finished their starters) & was burnt to a crisp.
There were burnt Yorkshire puds, no veg left in the pots & jut a general air of a place which is sinking.
I did complain to the owner but he seems to lack any sort of passion, he seemed surprised to hear a complaint & certainly didn't come & check if everything was resolved. The least he could have done was come over at the end of the meal & ask if everything had been ok with the mains.
Previously there was no competition but a newly refurbished pub along the road must provide a welcome escape.

went for a last minute bar meal on wednesday evening, the lounge bar person was quite a hoot but could of been taken the wrong way by most people. The meal however was rubbish, we have been an avid user of the Ridge for years, but hadnt been since the begining of this year due to lack of baby sitters !!! But the meal really was disgusting, hardly ate any of it, I chose the bbq chicken melt as it used to be my favourite. It used to come on a sizzler plate with chips and a lovely side salad it wasnt a large portion but was lovely tasting and enough. What I recieved on Wednesday evening was a large white plate, piled with greasy over fried frozen chips which were over cooked but cold, the salad was limp and unimpressive, and the chicken had what looked and tasted like cheap ham on and cheese and was very watery. Was left quite disappointed, been along time since out for a meal and felt cheated lol !! :) Has the Ridge changed hands? just wondered as it was definately differant and dont get me started on drink prices !!!!

the service at the ridge farm is awfull, the staff are surley and treat you like you are a problem. the food through the week takes ages ,they probably need to invest in more micro waves as our food was defenately heated in a micro.we have tried the ridge a few times and have always come away dissapointed. there is no competition in bedlington so they are able to serve microwave rubbish.

This place is always packed, and for good reason. Offers really good quality and affordable carvery. Only complaing is its a nighmare trying to phone up and book a table, the phone is always engaged.

Went for my wifes birthday at the last minute (Astley Arms being packed, which it so often is).

This place was brilliant, the service was cracking the meal was fantastic and the drinks well priced. The cavery though is a bit more expensive than the Astley but well worth the trip over.

Great meals available from this restaurant.