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Abrook Arms, Uxbridge

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user reviews of the Abrook Arms, Uxbridge

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Currently closed and boarded up!
mjbea1 - 14 Jan 2015 11:48
I booked in January for my childrens christening which was in may 2013.
"Andy" quoted me with a marque and food £250. He said he would try and find the marque and keep me updated as he had just started and he knew nothing about it.
He also said a £50 deposit had to be put down to secure the date and for bar stuff (for function room bar) which we did 2 weeks later.

For months I heard nothing till about 1 month before the christening I phoned to ask about the marque. They stated that no marque is the book and "Andy" had left. After a few calls they said they couldn't find the marque, then they said it was damaged. I'm still confused on that one.

And that was just the start of the problems. I had a call saying I had not payed anything and when I said I pay £50 they said its "not in the book." Then after a lot of debating he said he would sort it and that a lady is covering the christening as he on holiday.

A week before the christening I gave this lady £200 cash for 100 people for a finger buffet. (They still sorting the other £50) She told me not to worry she would sort it. Make sure it was clean tidy and enough food for everyone.

In the morning I came to set up and decorate. It dirty,it smelt had dead worms on the floor. There was no tables. She was rude and unhelpful. Once I sorted it I asked for 1 small extra table as there wasn't enough to be told"No!"

Well after the christening I turn up with the guests to find the function room bar not opened when I asked she was again rude and very unhelpful. When I saw the food I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry. No butter on the bread, hardly no filling if filling at all. i.e 1 slice of egg in 1 whole sandwich. There wasn't enough food for everyone. I would say there was food for about 30-40 people maximum. It was also just thrown on a trays, slapped together. Guests either went early for "takeaways" or starved.

I just called the management to explain what had happened on the day and how things where while he was away. He was rude, called me a lair and he unprofessional. I'm disgusted and shocked that he is the manger.

Overall I found the whole experience stressful, embarrassing and very upsetting. Which is a shame because it used to be a great pub. The staff was lovely as well as the food. There wasn't a fault.


nleaa - 28 May 2013 15:57
Since Jackie and Martine have left, the Abrook's become a no-go. Went there with my quiz team last Wed. for what will be the last time.

From the word go, the new staff were unwelcoming. When I tried to buy a round of drinks with a card, I was curtly told that they no-longer take cards as it "ain't worf it." I explained that the nearest cashpoint is a good half hour's walk away, in the centre of Uxbridge, and how much business they were going to lose as a result, and got an unprintable earful as a result. So, they ended up with half of the dozen or so customers they had in that night - one of the two teams that bothered to show up for a quiz which former had six or seven teams and a packed pub - nursing less -than-half pints of Coke (short-served) for the night, as that's all the change we had on us. Their own fault.
What's more, one of my team members is diabetic, and they gave him regular Coke, rather than the Diet Coke he'd specifically asked for, which could've been fatal!
Then they were overheard making racist and homophobic comments about parties that had enquired about booking their function room and accommodation which they'd refused on the grounds that they were fully booked (a blatant lie), as well as similar comments about our quiz party, for being intellectual. To this can be added general grumbles and bad-mouthing about us from them for the rest of the night.
Then, to top it all, they turned off the lights over our table as soon as the quiz ended, AT TEN-THIRTY ON A WEDNESDAY! when we still had drinks! I - we- have never been made to feel so unwelcome in a pub in all my life! We were regulars, travelling into Uxbridge from as far as Edgware, Bushey, Berkshire, and Pinner because of the draw the pub formerly had. Not going there, again. Neither is Jackie, who was visibly upset at what had happened to the pub she cared so much for.

Since then, if we've passed the pub and there's been ANYONE inside, it's looked like a Chav-magnet, rather than the friendly family pub it once was. But mostly, it's dead.

This stinks of the brewery wishing to kill the pub, so that they can sell the land to a developer.

Best avoided.
QuizTeam - 5 Apr 2012 02:13
One of the bar staff (the landlady?) uses four-letter words and is as rough as they come. Pub looks uninviting outside; needs a lick of paint and has no atmosphere inside. No hanging baskets or plants. The area needs a welcoming local, and this isn't it.
vashti - 28 Jan 2012 19:20
this pub is great for a quiet drink as its really peaceful in there but the carpet smells a bit and the staff seem really sad like someone has just died, anyway the bar manager seems like a decent guy but the old lady that thinks she in her 40s and not 60s is something else.
igetknockedout - 29 May 2011 16:49
This is my favourite pub in Uxbridge because it has it all. Great tasting beer, wonderful garden (with trampoline), function room, and never any trouble. Martine is lovely and always has time for a chat. There used to be a very gossipy (moany) barmaid behind the bar but since she's left earlier this year the atmosphere is lovely. Always something different on a Saturday night to dance to. I did the quiz a few times but it's very hard questions. Football is great here as there are so many TV's in every bit of the bar. Staff are lovely and Ryan, The Bar Manager, is a real sweetie. By far the best pub for miles.
riversidebev - 21 May 2011 21:36
Luverly
watching_them_4_you - 30 Apr 2011 00:12
Interesting local pub, and the first where I have seen people have a pizza delivered to their table when food is readily available at the bar! I'm not sure if this is indicative of the standard of cuisine on offer as I have not yet tried but it didn't look that bad. Pride and Doom Bar on offer and OK. Numerous TV screens (and a jumbo canvas towards the garden end) mean that you're not going to miss any sporting action and the huge garden is great on a sunny day. Service good - worth the walk!
simonjolty - 10 Sep 2010 11:05
Myself, husband and 7 month old baby went here this saturday and sat in the large beer garden and ate from the wonderful bbq.
we had home made chicken satay with peanut sauce and home made burger each and they were so lovely.
our baby enjoyed watching the other children play on the trampoline and run around and liked watching the odd duck pass us along the river.
seemed to be having new improvements done to the outside areas so we hope this pub will just get better and better with every new improvement.
highly recommended for food and for daytime weekend relaxing with the other half or for families.
cdyos - 19 Apr 2010 15:34
I went to see the ESJ band at the Abrook on Saturday, 6th, February, with the crew from the "cheap seats".
Great gig from David (also of the Culprits duo) and the guys. What a master of his guitars and what a great band.
The layout of the pub has changed since I was last there, a long time ago.
The bands now perform at the far end and the old space now has a pool table. The London Pride was a bit lively and hard to pull up and the cost of the rounds still suffered from verying prices, but quickly sorted when challenged.
The bar staff were very pleasant and thanked us for visiting.
Will visit again. John.
JohnnyBGoode - 12 Feb 2010 20:49
Great pub with sky sports and sentanta! Hard to find in Uxbridge these day. Not to mention a pool table and live music every Saturday. The ladies who run this pub - martine and jackie are an excellent mother and daughter team. Jackie makes a roast to die for and Martine runs an excellent tight bar. Their staff are well trained and good fun. Glad to see that there are new ales every week! Hob Goblin was great. Jackie is often seen outside smoking away chatting to all the customers, or inside tending to the new open fire. Jackie has even put heaters outside so she is warm with her customers whilst puffing away. She is a real lady with lots of stories, Martine tries to keep a lid on her mum but is always proven un successful! They seem to have a really nice relationship which therefore provides a great atmosphere worth returning to.
sunsetb123 - 27 Dec 2008 00:22
nice boozer, excellently run by Martine and Andy, much improved from the days of the Sunday fortnightly jam sessions which saw the same house band play Mustang Sally every time (they even got annoyed once when my band tried it - did they have nothing else to play me wonders?) - bar staff are excellent and very friendly and Martine has really got a well run ship here.

Top stuff.
tombsie - 25 Dec 2008 09:35
Resonable pub, in an area that is good, in one respect as you don't get the town center problems of drunken yobs. However, it is quite a walk from the town itself. Went here last month with two friends, and stangely enough, we got charged threee different prices for the same three drinks!!

The only real problem is that they only had pride on, which nearly everyone has.
Jockgunner - 29 Sep 2008 12:00
Still no real ale
micky_rollins - 28 Sep 2008 22:53
Still a huge fan of the pub & my weekly local. Recently been decorated & sky TV & wii installed. Large car park which last year was resurfaced, Marque & patio been created to a high standard for weddings & parties. every Saturday night full to the brink as various entertainment nights weekly from fancy dress, themed nights, school disco, casino nights, disco, karoke with regular competions, live singers & bands-never a dull evening. New faces all the time of all ages. Definatly worth a visit-the more the merrier & you'll always receive a friendly welcome from the locals & staff. Martine (the owner) has done a fab job-time for her to relax-her hard work really has paid off
mtidbury - 25 Feb 2008 18:52
No real ale
tanya_alc - 22 Jan 2008 00:14
Discovered this pub in November 2006, has been my local every weekend since. Really large pub with function room available to hire for partys at a reasonable price. Every saturday night some form of entertainment whether it be a live singer, karaoke, dj or themed fancy dress night. Saturday night is always a full house attracting not just regular locals but new faces every weekend. The new owners have really turned the pub around and have a lot to offer. The food menu is brilliant with lots of choice and all home made-sunday roast out of this world with large portions and value for money. Garden at back of pub large with childrens playground and based on a river with excellant views-will be really nice in the summer. Definatly a pub to check out-we love it!
mtidbury - 1 Feb 2007 09:15
This pub has now been taken over and is back to its old self. Beautifully clean, great range of food on the menu including Sunday Roasts all home cooked. Regular enetertainment in the form of Salsa Classes, Quiz Night, Live Music, Karaoke (Including a Pub Idol competition in January, Which I have entered!) Also now have Pool and Darts teams and a top class jukebox! Now back to being a family run pub, ne owners are open to an suggestions from anybody and all are taken on board! Striving to help out local charities. Function room has been totally refurbished with snazzy chandaliers and the buffet's provided are second to none! Call me biased but I think the place is fantastic and this summer will be the best yet according to the plans! Also there are plans for disabled access to the garden area... All in all this place is undergoing a turnaround of massive proportions so come back and check it out! The place has been packed recently!
Oracle - 6 Jan 2007 16:41
I`m really surprised no-ones really got hold of this pub and spent some money on it because its got tons of potential.Its a nice building and could be real good proper pub ( not a bar) Went there in the summer and never realised it had a dusty unused basement bar overlooking the riverside garden, it could be great place for summer gigs, only problem might be the residents moaning about the noise
TSW - 12 Nov 2006 19:08
There has only been one good man in there in the past 6 months and he left. You could see that he was going to pull it round but push come to shove and he had to leave. SHAME!!!
anonymous - 19 Sep 2006 16:36
We were appalled at the state of the pub, dirty floors,dusty shelves, smeared mirrors, toilets with no toilet paper. The place has not been cleaned for weeks!!
I was served by an unkempt man who had a child sitting on his shoulders,Health and safety not his strong point, his partner looks about 12 and both lack customer service skills or personality. A laptop was placed on the bar with loud out of date music, making it difficult to hold a conversation. Still no sign of food being offered, although a sorry excuse for a sign has been placed on the womens toilet door (slightly sexist) personally having worked in the trade I would not want to work for the two people who are currently running the pub (into the ground I may add) This is a lovely traditional pub full of character, the previous people gave it a community spirit running different events over the year. Plus no Sky!!!!!! no Sport coverage of the big events, the locals deserve better.We will not be using this pub again until they get someone in who cares about the pub and the residents and is enthusiastic about running/Managing a pub, and keeping this lovely pub alive. Yours in Disgust.
pet - 16 Sep 2006 11:43
Beautiful pub, used to have fantastic management and fantastic food. Now they've left? Not so great. The place looks like it hasn't been cleaned in weeks. Dirty floors, dirty toilets, baby in a nappy behind the bar. As a previous reviewer said, there is no food, but they have put a 'cook wanted' ad on the door to the ladies. It will be a huge loss if this pub with a country feel becomes another Uxbridge dump.
anonymous - 15 Sep 2006 20:25
Really nice pub, just because it's not busy at lunchtimes doesn't mean it's a bad pub. Really friendly staff and good management.
charlie1 - 11 Aug 2006 14:45
They have recently changed management. No food on offer, half ther beer is off. Absolutely no one in their at lunch time - speaks volumes for the current state if this place - avoid at all costs!
aburrell - 3 Aug 2006 14:57
Strange pub, in strange location. OK enough though.
the.authority - 13 Jul 2006 14:11
The best kept secret in Uxbridge. Excellent staff and management, friendly atmosphere and great beer garden. So good it shouldn't be in Uxbridge.
1isneverenough - 22 May 2006 15:28
This is the best pub in uxbridge. The meals are out of this world, reasonably priced and so tasty i give it 10/10 the staff are great too.
anonymous - 15 May 2004 21:23
Smashing pub, great atmosphere, lovely decor ( same colour as our kitchen ).
Cliff & Carol - 6 Apr 2004 08:09
Great pub, very friendly. Just had a complete refit- it now has smart wooden floors and clean walls. Makes the place seem much bigger. Margaret (the landlady) insists that it is still a pub and hasn't become a trendy bar/restaurant, and since the same crowd still drink there I think she's right. Can't wait to hear the bands in there- the wooden floors will have changed the acoustics completely!
Ian - 4 Apr 2004 18:05
the house band used to get funny with you if you dared to play Mustang Sally (cos they ended EVERY week with it!!!) and chap who organised sunday music got funny with locals - ahhh memories. Bit too much of a locals pub - do it their way or they get funny! nice landlady though.
Matt - 8 Feb 2004 15:53
I used to join in at the jam sessions on Sunday evenings when I had the time. A good venue for all the local musicians to get together for a blast. Good quality real ales as well, what more could you ask.
John - 3 Oct 2003 08:54

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