Phone: +441926815185
Address: Folly Lane, CV47 8NY, Stratford-on-Avon, United Kingdom
City: Stratford-on-Avon
Menu Dishes: 8
Reviews: 8019
Website: http://follyatnapton.co.uk/
"Could be great but is stuck in 1980... I chose to ignore the many recent negative reviews on here which all comment on similar things surrounding poor service and rude management because I thought the pub looked lovely and I often think that people can be quite unfair in their comments... However the name Folly sums it up...in so many ways. If you like a cluttered dirty bar, basic pub food of the jacket spud or brown chewy steak and chips variety and a Landlord who stands drinking with the locals until he 's sufficiently drunk to imagine that being rude to the rest of the punters is a great idea, then this place will delight you. Any normal person living in the 21st century may wisely choose to avoid this cheap homage to the days of Basil Fawlty and a phobia of people from 20 miles down the road. At first glance this pub could be truly great. It sits on the canalside and has an attractive outdoor bar and entertainment area called The Potting Shed. It looked lovely but was closed on the warm Thursday evening in early September when we visited. There are outdoor builder 's toilets for use by customers for some reason which I couldn 't establish. We went into the main pub which has an old fashioned public bar and a restaurant , all of it very much of the not decorated or cleaned) in 40 years feel. Cosy but grimy. Menus were well thumbed and sticky. Four of us sat in the restaurant and ordered dinner. Two of our main courses were the most expensive items on the menu. A Rib Eye and a Fillet steak £27 and £30 respectively). The menu went to some lengths to explain that those in charge of preparing our dinner would not countenance cooking a steak beyond medium. Since we wanted rare and medium rare this was reassuring. Sadly what we got was, being generous, a medium Rib Eye and a well done and very dry/chewy Fillet. The reason was clear. The steaks were tiny and ludicrously thin so they cooked too quickly and the fillet was cut from the very end which has some connective tissue sinew) which would normally be trimmed out. Cooking it to dark brown didn 't help the dryness or chewiness either. Apparently they are sourced from My companion chose to eat his rib eye, I spoke to a lady at the bar and attempted to explain what was amiss with the fillet. She cut me off and demanded to know what I wanted her to do about it. I asked if I could please have a medium rare Fillet steak without the sinew. She didn 't say another word but asked the Landlord to come and see us. He had previously introduced himself after he had left his pint of lager on our table and had seemed very pleasant and affable, commenting that he preferred socialising rather than serving behind the bar. He seemed fine and went to the kitchen to sort it out, he returned and said another was on its way. After a very long time everyone else had finished eating and the plates had been cleared) a replacement arrived. No sinew but it was well done, brown and chewy again. I found the Landlord and apologised for making a fuss, I felt sorry for him as I realise it 's difficult when one customer gets repeated faults in their meal so I just quietly asked him to take a look. He did and in seeing the overcooked meat he threw the knife and fork down and said oh for f 's sake albeit whispering the swear part. I assumed he was annoyed with his chef, which would be understandable. He never returned, although I saw him staring at me several times from the other bar. Some time later a new meal arrived. It was OK, not great, still very thin and just about medium/well. I felt like they had done their best and it wasn 't going to get any better no matter how many times they tried. However, was it worth £30 for this one dish? Not at all. Nevertheless we stayed on and had some more drinks including 4 measures of their most expensive whisky. In other words we were quite happy and happily paid our bill. When leaving I went to thank Landlord and apologised again for the situation as I felt that he was a pleasant man, doing his best, who had been let down by his Chef. I could not have been more wrong. He was drinking heavily with 4 or 5 cronies in the 'Public ' bar and made it abundantly clear that he considered me to be the problem. Rude and unprofessional would be an understatement. I left it there, not wishing to have an argument with a man who was obviously quite drunk, but as I left one of the group drinking said loudly that 'll be on TripAdvisor tomorrow . I returned and gently pointed out that all I was looking for was my steak to be cooked the way I ordered it. The Landlord essentially told me where to go. All in all a terrible pity since it has a beautiful location and lots of potential but is badly let down by a dull, old fashioned menu and a terrible approach to customers the Landlord knows are on holiday and who he can get away with treating badly. Maybe this is a recent development after a hard summer since he seemed genuinely friendly to begin with but sadly if you 're not local and a drinking buddy of the Landlord then expect to take pot luck on your meal and maybe be told to leave if you don 't like what you get!"
Full menu - 8 options
All prices are estimates on menu.
Main Courses
Sirloin
Tender and juicy sirloin steak, grilled to perfection, and served with a side of seasonal vegetables.
Salads
Coleslaw
Crunchy cabbage and crisp carrots mixed with creamy dressing for a refreshing side dish.
Mexican-American Food
Empanadas
Savory pastries filled with spiced meat or vegetables, wrapped in a crisp, golden crust.
Vegetarian
Cauliflower menu
Crispy cauliflower florets with tangy lemon aioli and a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
Steaks
Ribeye Steak
Juicy, tender ribeye steak grilled to perfection, featuring rich marbling and bold flavor.
Fish Dishes
Fish & Chips
Crispy golden fried fish fillet served with classic French fries, a side of tangy tartar sauce, and a lemon wedge.
Indian
Chicken Curry
Tender chicken simmered in a rich, spiced curry sauce with aromatic herbs and a touch of coconut milk.
Rachele
Lovely quirky pub, great for a drink, but food hmmm, not a patch on the Admiral Nelson at Braunston. Had cod and chips, the cod was awful!!!! Old, mushy, greasy and so far from fresh. I would have sent it back if any of the staff had come to check on our food. So VERY disappointed. Avoid fish if eating here!
Address
Reviews
Christine
This is the best pub in the UK. Literally. Thanks to the wonderful landlord. Set in an idyllic location it is a world away from reality. Flowers. Canal, narrow boats, olde worlde and an eccentric charming landlord. What more could you want? The pitting shed in the grounds is beautiful. The inside is a show in itself. Live bands on Wednesday and Thursday. Brilliant. Go.
tcc1960
I often come here for dinner. It's best to make a reservation, especially in the summer. There is plenty of outdoor seating and the pub food is excellent. The atmosphere is fantastic, making it a great spot for both drinks and food. This restaurant is a valuable addition to the village and hosts regular music and quiz nights. Mark and Caroline, the hosts, are lovely, welcoming, and efficient.
londonlass06
I brought some friends to The Folly last Saturday because they had never been before. We started with drinks in the Potting Shed before heading to our reserved table in the pub. The experience was fantastic! The food was delicious, the atmosphere was perfect, and the music selection that night was wonderful. Our friends enjoyed it so much that they are already planning to bring their son on his next trip home. View menu
Andy
What a great place to eat and drink. We were afforded a very warm welcome by the landlord, Mark who was a great host. We were there on the Saturday evening for food which was superb and we returned on the Sunday for lunch. On both occasions the food and service were fantastic. It’s been a few years since we last visited due to covid and the addition of The Potting Shed is fantastic! We’ll definitely be back soon!
Stay12240889742
My family and I recently dined at the folly restaurant during our stay in the area to visit relatives. We were pleased to see the new potting shed addition to the pub, which was built since our last visit before the pandemic. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was delightful. We enjoyed our experience so much that we decided to return for Sunday lunch, which turned out to be the best Sunday lunch we've had in a while. It was the perfect end to a Sunday morning walk. It's refreshing to find a local pub that serves tasty food and beer at reasonable prices without any gimmicky offers. Thank you to the staff at the folly, we look forward to visiting again on our next trip.
ANGELA
We booked a meal for the Saturday evening and weren 't disappointed, on arrival we were warmly greeted by the landlord and staff and shown to our table. The pub is very quirky but wonderful and the atmosphere is warm and friendly with a tasteful selection of music playing in the background. We ordered our meal from a varied menu and it arrived piping hot and well presented, the landlady was very attentive and asked if we required any additional condiments or drinks. Silence fell as we all tucked into the hearty meals that had been placed before us, everything was delicious and everyone enjoyed it so much we decided to book a table for the next days Sunday lunch. We later moved over to the Po... View menu
Will
Terrible experience GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. After sitting down after a long day of travel at around half 4 we sat down for a drink and food. The staff informed us that we could order food from 6 onwards and ensured us we would be able to order food. 6 o'clock arrived and we were then told to wait till half 7 to order food. After already waiting an hour we asked to make sure they could provide us food or if we should go else where but again they assured us they would serve us food. We decided to go in for a round of drinks at 20 past 7 and we asked to order food, they told us to wait 10 minutes to order so we paid for the drinks and as soon as we had paid for the drinks they informed us they were...
martinlane22
Well this pub truly lives up to it's name and you would be a fool to try the folly. We were cruising on the canal and had planned to stop here on Saturday night for our evening meal. Arrived about 4:30 and sat in the lovely garden for a few drinks. We asked about food and were told it didn't open until 6 so we had more drinks. At 6 o'clock we were then told then they were pretty busy with pre bookings but we could get served at 7:30. We confirmed that as long as they would serve us then we were happy to wait so had more drinks including our last round at 7:20 where they again said we needed to wait until 7:30. At 7:30 they then told us they were not serving customers without bookings! To say...
Tim
Could be great but is stuck in 1980... I chose to ignore the many recent negative reviews on here which all comment on similar things surrounding poor service and rude management because I thought the pub looked lovely and I often think that people can be quite unfair in their comments... However the name Folly sums it up...in so many ways. If you like a cluttered dirty bar, basic pub food of the jacket spud or brown chewy steak and chips variety and a Landlord who stands drinking with the locals until he 's sufficiently drunk to imagine that being rude to the rest of the punters is a great idea, then this place will delight you. Any normal person living in the 21st century may wisely choose... View menu
Categories
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Pub Enjoy a lively atmosphere with our classic pub favorites. From hearty burgers and fish 'n' chips to savory pies and craft brews, our menu promises a cozy experience ideal for unwinding with friends.
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Steak Savor prime cuts of juicy, tender steaks, expertly grilled to perfection. Each bite offers a burst of flavor, served with classic sides and delectable sauces to enhance your dining experience. View menu
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Cheese A curated selection of artisanal cheeses from around the world, featuring diverse flavors and textures that delight the palate. Perfect for sharing or savored individually with the ideal accompaniments.
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Chicken Succulent and savory, our chicken dishes are crafted with tender meat, flavorful seasonings, and diverse culinary inspirations. Enjoy a delectable variety that's sure to satisfy every palate.
Amenities
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Wifi
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Takeout
- menu
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Seating
- menu
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Live Music
