Kings Head Masham by Chef and Brewer Collection

There were four of us out for lunch on Mothering Sunday. It was very busy, but we were seated quickly, and our drinks order was taken and brought over promptly. The staff stayed really friendly despite the rush. The three-course set menu was £30, which I thought was excellent value. We tried a variety of dishes and every one was delicious, piping hot and generously portioned. The desserts stood out too. If this is the food and service on such a busy day, I can’t wait to come back during the week. Hats off to the kitchen and service teams. We all enjoyed the meal and left very happy.

The olives were lovely, and the staff stayed friendly despite how busy it was. That’s what kept this from being a one-star visit. The rest was incredibly disappointing. My wife and I came in recently and asked whether they could fit us in. They said yes, though looking back, being told the kitchen was too busy would have been kinder. We ordered camembert and olives for a quick lunch, plus two Cokes. The drinks came promptly, but they were very weak. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that the syrup mixer was playing up rather than assume it was deliberate. The camembert was warm rather than hot, with raw garlic. The sourdough toast was stale, and the garlic bread was so hard that it broke into pieces when I pressed it with my finger. It had the feel of food being sent out just to clear the pass. Management would be better off telling people they’re very busy and need to slow service for the kitchen than squeezing in another table and serving food like that. The edit to my original review was just to fix a few typos.

Breakfast was the highlight for us, and even our boxer got a few sausages. As with the rest of our stay, nothing seemed too much trouble. We had a lovely evening meal in the restaurant, and the rooms were clean despite being pet friendly. We arrived with our dog and were made very welcome. The staff were friendly, efficient and professional throughout. Tracey on reception was especially personable, and Lily was a real trooper who never seemed to stop. We had such a good time at the King's Head. Our only disappointment was that the visit was too short. We’ll book again for next year and stay a little longer.

We finished work and dropped into the pub at the last minute. They found us a table for a meal even though we hadn’t booked, and the crispy chicken burger was a hit. Clean plates all round. Thanks!