Lichfield
The Star Ember Inns

The Star Ember Inns

United Kingdom, WS7 0HQ, Lichfield

Steak • Fusion • British • Western


"I went to the restaurant with my mother and sister this evening at 6:30 on December 6th, 2023. When we arrived, our booked table was ready for us. Nobody asked if we were the booked party, as the table was reserved for 4 people but only 3 of us were there. After about 5 minutes of searching for the Christmas menu in the table menus (which was what we had booked for), my mother went to the bar to order drinks and ask for a Christmas menu. The lady behind the bar was not aware that the Christmas menu was available, despite it being advertised since November 15th. Eventually, we received one menu to share between the three of us. For starters, we ordered 2 breaded mushrooms and 1 order of chicken wings. The starters took about 20 minutes to arrive. The chicken wings were delicious, but the mushrooms were overcooked and too crispy. For mains, we ordered 2 sirloin steaks cooked medium rare and a Turkey pie. The mains took almost 40 minutes to arrive, and both steaks were overcooked. After asking for steak knives, my sister's steak was acceptable, but mine was overcooked, so I sent it back. The staff apologized and brought me a new steak cooked medium rare. I ordered another round of drinks, and the service at the bar was pleasant despite some issues with the till. Our desserts took another 15 minutes to arrive, and they were tasty. Overall, the pub has a nice atmosphere but the food quality and service need improvement. I believe the staff would benefit from better training. I don't think we will be returning anytime soon."

The Crown Inn

The Crown Inn

Post Office Road, DE13 7BS, Lichfield, United Kingdom

Steak • Chicken • British • Vegetarian


"I’d like to start by referencing the oxford dictionary’s definition of ‘gastro pub’, for the benefit of the owners of the Crown ‘a pub specialising in high quality food’ assuming that this doesn’t include tough chicken and rubbery pork). Following our visit, I would also like to point out the definition of the word ‘Carvery’ according to the Oxford dictionary, ‘A buffet or restaurant where cooked joints are displayed and carved as required in front of customers’ assuming this doesn’t include cheap chicken breast fillet that has clearly not been roasted). My reason for leaving my first ever Tripadvisor review, is primarily based on the misrepresentation of the Crown’s menu and its poor quality of food, but mainly due to the lack of customer service and inexperience in this area that we experienced on our visit for a ‘carvery’ today. We were offered without asking) a lower price for a member of our group, who has a gluten intolerance and was not able to order the full meal we were told by one manager that she could pay for a child’s price, which we thought was really fair thank you). However, when we received the bill, we were told by another gentleman, that despite the fact that we had been offered the reduced price, we would have to pay the full price, because the course was on the adult menu. I made it very clear that retracting the offer was very poor customer service and pretty unacceptable. To be honest, my qualm was not with the price £13.95), it was the principle of being offered something and then told that it no longer stood, twenty minutes later. I must admit, my disgust lead me to say a few things that I wouldn’t normally say out of politeness), but which were in fact true ie the fact that it was an awful meal and it would explain why we were the only customers in the pub. An finally, with the Oxford Dictionary being the common theme of this review, I’d like to finish with one last definition, for the benefit of the gentleman who insisted on continuing to address me patronising as ‘darling’ and had no real excuse for retracting their offer Jobsworth, ‘an individual who upholds petty rules even at the expense of humanity or common sense.’ And one last point. Don’t expect me to read your establishment’s response to this darling), I’ve already heard quite enough."

Horse Jockey

Horse Jockey

Tamworth Road, WS14 9JD, Lichfield, United Kingdom

Full • Steak • Lunch • British


"Visited today for our daughters Birthday (this was noted on the booking). Found the place deserted when we arrived, staff seemed more interested in discussing their evening plans for the football than attending to their customers, didn't even wish my daughter happy birthday. We ordered two Sunday roasts, one surf and turf and from the special menu the salmon fishcakes. When the food was brought out the first issue was with my sons surf and turf as they failed to provide the surf part, rather than taking meal back to the kitchen we were left with half the meal and promised the scampi would come along once it had been cooked. The steak which had been ordered well done, was at best medium rare as was still very ****** not only this but the peas were hard and tasteless. The roast dinners (one turkey and one gammon) when they arrived were not warm including the veg (with the exception of the roast potatoes) and the meat had the appearance of being reheated. The final meal of fishcakes was OK but the fishcakes were clearly not homemade and were very dry. Sadly, we were unable to feedback directly as the waitress did not return for a table check after delivering the food, in fact we had to pay at the bar in the end, even the person taking our money didn't ask if we had enjoyed our meal. Clearly some training issues. Very disappointing, so despite being our local we won't be returning."

The Crown, Brownhills

The Crown, Brownhills

A5, Lichfield, United Kingdom, WS8 7JU

Pubs • Full • Steak • Lunch


"After driving past this restaurant on numerous occasions and seeing it was busy most of the time, me and my partner decided to give it a go wish we hadn't of bothered! Walked into restaurant an could see they were fairly busy but was quickly shown to a table might as well of been sitting on the persons lap next to us how close the tables are! Had a look through the menu, ordered drinks and decided on bbq ribs was then told that they didn't have any, which is fine, I understand restaurants run out of things. So reordered a cowboy burger, and my partner had a rare sirloin steak. 45 minutes later, with empty glasses on the table and no sign of our food we seemed to of been forgotten about, not one waitress asked if we would like another drink no one would make eye contact or apologise about the wait. Another long 20 minutes after that our food arrived to the table and i was shocked to see the order was wrong! Bbq sauce was on the burger yet on the menu it states it should come with burger sauce on the side, waitress asked if we would like any sauce my partner asked for mayonnaise. I explained to the waitress that my order was wrong and she grabbed the plate back and took it back to the kitchen. 10 minutes later my food came back to the table (may I add my partner was half way through his meal and was slammed down infront of me.. Without any sauce at all (and without an apology! Explained to her again that the meal should be provided with burger sauce and she just turned and walked away. By this time i was angry with how we had been treated, and the fact we waited 1 hour 5 minutes for wrong food and had not been given an apology was astonishing! She then returned 5 minutes later with burger sauce asked us again if we would like any other sauce... My other half had asked for mayonnaise but had now finished his meal but she still brought 5 pots over the table.. Confusing I know! My partner really enjoyed his steak, said it was cooked just to how he liked it which I was glad about, my burger was good also when it was all right! Overall I won't be returning to this pub, there are many restaurants of this chain (2 for 1 around, and would rather go that extra mile as I know we'll have great food AND great service such as the Sax and Penny in Lichfield, which is always 100%! The waitress at The Crown looked as though she couldn't be bothered to be there, and made very little effort with us."