travellers rest

Normally visit here once a year as it’s the venue of choice for a Christmas meal for the swimming club we belong to.
I have mixed feelings about this venue. The Christmas meals are of average quality and, if you’re a veggie, the choice is thin on the ground. The staff are helpful but there’s something lacklustre about the place overall. It has a separate function room in addition to the main pub and dining facilities and is fully accessiblle. In addition, it has a Premier Inn (motel) next door.
However this year’s Xmas meal was the pits! the mushroom, stilton and garlic bruschetta had been taken straight out the fridge and served to the table. Its hot replacement was, at best, luke warm! I’d ordered salmon fillet with buttered potatoes, broccoli, green beans and cherry tomatoes. What was served to me was the salmon, with asparagus, boiled potatoes and green beans! When I asked about the buttered potatoes as promised on the menu, I was told the manager had advised the chef not to serve buttered potatoes because some people don’t want butter with their meal! How stupid can you be? If someone doesn’t want butter with their meal, surely they’ll ask if their meal can be served without it or order something else? Anyhow, the butter was brought to me separately but only once I’d finished my meal! As you have now realised, I was less than impressed and have sent a complaint detailing the above to the head office.

The bar area is nice,but the resturant lacks atmosphere and warmth.You do not get a choice where to sit as staff direct you into one area keeping all the customers together,so you are really close to others when the rest of the resturant area is empty. Staff lack warmth and friendliness...

The Travellers Rest has improved over the last year or so (2009-2010). The decor is much improved and the food is quite enjoyable now. The chef must have changed as main courses are no longer dry and veggies over done. Infact the salmon has been perfect and the fresh salads delicious. I would definitely recommend you give The Rest a try.