The Bowling Green

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “Really disappointing experience, and one that felt entirely avoidable. We visited on a busy bank holiday weekend and the pub simply did not seem prepared for the number of customers. There were lots of very young and inexperienced staff working, and I felt incredibly sorry for them. They were clearly trying hard, but some openly said they didn’t know how to do fairly basic things such as make a cup of tea. Customers were sitting with food but no cutlery, drinks orders were being missed and everyone seemed completely overwhelmed. What made this particularly difficult to watch was the owner. We’ve been here on numerous occasions and, every time we visit, he seems to be sitting in the same spot at the bar drinking. This visit was no exception. While his staff struggled to keep up with a packed pub, he remained at the bar drinking, seemingly more concerned with keeping his own glass full than stepping in to support them. He did occasionally leave his seat — to smoke at the entrance, with the smoke drifting back inside. Being unexpectedly busy is one thing, but this was a bank holiday weekend. There weren’t enough experienced staff, those working didn’t appear to have been adequately trained, and there was seemingly no effective management or support when things started going wrong. We waited around an hour for our food. When it eventually arrived, I will give credit where it’s due: the food itself was good. I was, however, particularly disappointed by the “vegetarian option” for the roast dinner. I specifically asked what it was and was told it was simply the normal roast dinner without the meat, with no vegetarian substitute. In my view, removing the meat from a roast dinner does not constitute a vegetarian option and shouldn’t be advertised as one. By the end of the meal, the strain was also starting to show in the way staff spoke to customers. When we asked for the bill, we were abruptly told to “just go to the bar and pay”, while other tables were being told their bills would be brought over. I obviously don’t object to walking to a bar to pay; it was the manner in which we were spoken to. But even then, I found myself blaming the circumstances more than the staff. They had been put in an awful position: inexperienced, dealing with a packed pub and without the senior support they clearly needed. Frankly, if I’d been put in that position as an employee, I’d have been tempted to walk out. What makes this especially sad is that I genuinely want to support this pub. I’ve been coming here with my family for around 25 years, have so many happy memories here, and even worked here myself under previous management. This isn’t somewhere I want to see fail — quite the opposite. I want to have reasons to keep coming back. But after this experience, I genuinely don’t know under what circumstances we would return. I find it difficult to justify spending money here when I can see young staff becoming increasingly stressed and overwhelmed through a lack of preparation and senior support, while the owner sits at the bar getting his own glass refilled rather than ensuring the staff has the support necessary. The food was good. The staff were working hard. They deserved better, and so did the customers. The problem was that they appeared to have been completely failed by the person responsible for running the place. After such a long history with this pub, that’s incredibly sad to say.”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “The best Sunday Roast Dinner in the North West 🙌🏼. Could just do with investing in new tables in the beer garden. All very rickety and feel unsafe.”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “I cannot praise this place enough. Food is always amazing, we managed to get booked in for a Sunday lunch and were not disappointed. Everyone needs to visit and eat here, it's now the law 😄❤️”

• G

  Google user

  ·7 months ago

  “Has really delicious Sunday lunch, large portion, piping hot really tasty. I had chicken partner had beef and catered for gluten friendly options well too. Cauliflower cheese was amazing nice touch adding leeks. Service was excellent great value for money.”

• G

  Google user

  ·8 months ago

  “A very nice surprise to find such delicious food for lunch on a quiet Wednesday afternoon. Their tapas menu offers an attractive variety of dishes and we were deeply impressed by the taste of all we have picked. Each dish is thoughtfully put together and well seasoned. Even the ciabatta and chips are outstanding! I am glad to find this gem in town!”

• G

  Google user

  ·8 months ago

  “Really delicious food! Great value Italian style tapas, well cooked and presented nicely. Friendly staff. Arancini, ragu and Tiramisu particularly good.”

• G

  Google user

  ·8 months ago

  “Fab Sunday lunch. Lovely pate and mushroom starter. LOTS of mushrooms! Two beef dinners with plenty of veg and a big boat of gray. Gorgeous roasties and cauliflower cheese and leek. Delicious. Young staff waiting on and all efficient. Barman was friendly. Will be back soon.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “First visit to the Bowling Green with Family, recommended by a friend. First impressions are, a warm lovely little pub with friendly staff. We had a party of 9 and everyone except myself had a Sunday roast ( Fish&Chips for me ). The food came and the first thing I noticed was the size of the Yorkshire puddings (Massive). Everyone's food came piping hot 🔥. My fish and chips were very nice I enjoyed every bit, again came out piping hot. From the very start the staff were excellent accommodating us all with drinks nothing was any trouble and they were busy on this day being Mothers Day. Everyone really enjoyed the roast dinners, all came with plenty of veg and also cauliflower cheese 😊 and jugs of gravy everyone had a big plate full. I will definitely be returning in the near future. The food and service are both exceptional and the chef in my opinion is very talented and a credit to the Bowling Green.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “I go here once a month for The Bowling Green Writers' Group and it is awesome. They have alcohol-free lager on tap, the food is incredible, and the staff are lovely, especially the tall barman in the evenings who goes above and beyond for every customer. There's a great atmosphere and they do live music on Saturdays. Highly recommended as a relaxed, friendly pub. It also has a stunning beer garden!”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 years ago

  “Lovely food and chance to sit in the beer garden in the sun and eat outside. Service was good. The tapas menu is amazing and such great value - 3 dishes for £14.95. Very large portions!”