Beefeater Cheltenham Review

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Last weekend we popped into the Beefeater Cheltenham restaurant for a much needed lunch after a very busy morning.

We had been asked to pop along as the restaurant had recently been revamped and as well as being given a more family friendly, the Beefeater also has a new menu. On arrival it did look nice, clean, and modern. It also felt very much like a restaurant with nice chairs and a more upmarket feel than a regular pub or chain. We hadn’t been before so I can’t make any comparisons, just say it was very nice. I must admit that the upmarket theme did also echo through the prices which did feel on the high side for a chain. In saying that I do believe there is a lunch menu which we didn’t see.

 

So, back to our arrival. We were served quickly and taken to a table. As you’d expect to receive anywhere these days, Toddler H was given a colouring sheet and some crayons. As we sat ourselves down a high chair was immediately brought over. As any parent will say this is definitely a bonus with a little one who likes to explore! ?The lady seating us also asked what we’d like to drink, but as?we were in the process of putting H in the highchair, we asked for a few minutes. Now I think?being asked quickly?is really great when you have kids, as they (and you!) might be gasping for a drink. However, after what felt like less than?a minute later (we hadn’t opened, or turned over, the menu yet) our?waitress appeared asking for our drinks order. This was a bit quick for me, so I just asked for a coke. They actually had both Coca Cola and Pepsi, so I felt even more in a flap when I was told I had to choose which one I wanted. It’s a choice we never usually get and one that thoroughly stumped me as I really didn’t mind!

 

 

As I mentioned above, the menu is extensive, and it was really hard to choose. I chose the chicken wings, followed by a cheese and mushroom steak burger, and hubby chose loaded potato dippers?followed by a sirloin steak.
The kids menu was on the colouring sheet and there were quite a few options for Toddler H. We were very pleased to see one of her absolute favourites: veggie sticks. They came with a yogurt and cucumber dip, and, we love giving them to her as she potters away eating them for ages – perfect in a restaurant! For main she had sausages chips and peas.

Here are some pictures of our starters (chicken wings, loaded potato dippers?and H’s veggie sticks):

And of our mains (H’s sausages and mash, my burger and hubby’s steak):

 

See? They all look delicious and all courses consisted of really good portions. Needless to say we enjoyed it all and were thoroughly stuffed.

Whilst the food was good, the service was ‘relaxed’. After our waitress’ initial keenness to take our order, it was difficult to catch her eye to ask for drinks. It always feels really awkward having to track down your waitress, and this was no exception. I would have expected to be asked how our meal was and offered a refill (which were free), however this was not the case. I also think it worthwhile to note that by this point we’d been there for one and a half hours, which is quite a while.

We then ordered our deserts… Me: Mississippi mud pie, hubby, a sundae and Toddler H an ice cream.

As you’d imagine the deserts were delicious. Really?really delicious. I could each chocolate all day and even I struggled with mine.

It’s also prudent to note that we hadn’t been to this Beefeater, or any Beefeater for a number of years and so we don’t have any concept of the changes or what it was like before, only our perceptions of the chain, However, we do think the changes have made a lovely restaurant and delicious food. In fact, we heard people at the table next to us saying how “the food had improved.”

Along with the revamp and new menu, the Cross-Hands Beefeater Cheltenham has also?donated towards restoring a piece of Cheltenham’s history ? a portrait of the infamous Mr. Whittern, local greengrocer. It’s always nice to hear of chains who want to help the local community and who are also preserving the past. Don’t you agree?
Overall we had some really yummy food and were completely full when we left. I would say the prices were more premium than those at similar eateries. I’d say we’ve had a meal out (for the three of us) at a nice restaurant for a similar price to the Beefeater. ?The service was also quite slow – our 3 course meal took us 2 hours 20 minutes, and we really could have done with that drink refill earlier. However, that should not detract from the very good food and that we really were full to the brim and bursting after our meal.

 

Lynne x

 

Disclaimer: as mentioned we were asked to review the new Cross-Hands Beefeater Cheltenham menu and see the new revamped restaurant, and so part of our meal was paid for. However, all opinions are our?own!