Blue Ball Inn

The food is always excellent when my partner and I come here, and the bar staff are friendly and really helpful. My concern is the landlord/manager. I’d seen him quite drunk and abrasive toward staff before, but this time he was very drunk, shouting loudly at employees in front of customers. It was shocking, and I wish I’d spoken up. He seemed to single out the young female staff in particular. To the “charming” owner, I didn’t leave this review out of malice. I can only describe what I’ve now seen twice. Talking down to staff and behaving like a bully isn’t “polite, professional or charming.” Sometimes people have to stay in jobs with rude people because they have bills and responsibilities. Hospitality is hard, I know, but that doesn’t excuse treating staff badly. You have an excellent team, so treat them well, and perhaps hire a manager to take some of the pressure if you’re struggling. I wish you, your fantastic team and great pub every success.

We couldn’t leave our two dogs alone at our holiday cottage, so we called ahead to ask if we could bring them. The staff said we’d all be welcome and could eat in the bar rather than the restaurant. I’m so glad we brought them. Our table had already been reserved under our name, with dog treats and fresh water waiting, and every staff member we met made us feel welcome. My husband and I both had the steak and ale pie, which was tasty and very nice. I liked the Trivial Pursuit cards kept in a little box on each table, a good way to get people talking instead of looking at their phones. We only visited to eat, so I can’t comment on the rooms. We’ve already booked another meal and are looking forward to going back 😀.

The owner, Sam, was attentive and clearly knows his wines. We had a wonderful meal last night, with great food and staff who did everything they could for us. I’d definitely recommend The Blue Ball.

The staff were helpful and friendly, and we had both dinner and breakfast here, with plenty of choice for the evening meal. Our room had everything we needed for an overnight visit, was a good size, and so was the bathroom. The bed was comfortable.