BackThe Hawk, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex
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The Hawk, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex has been reviewed 6 times and has an overall rating of -3 points out of a possible 30, or -10% negative feedback.
| The Hawk, Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex has Below Average Rating |  |
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| Review Date | Reviewer's Name | Review |
| 20/01/2011 20:12:44 | Mick Bond |  |
| Surly bar staff! When we ordered drinks, it was like we were in the way of them doing their job, which is, er, serving drinks! So Uncomfortable!! Sat on table for 8 (there were 8 of us) near burning hot radiator. When asked to have it turned down, we were told the heating was off. Now, I didn't come down in the last shower and am pretty sure that if the heating was off ALL DAY, as suggested, the rad might be a little cool?? Nowhere else to sit, either. Food RUBBISH!! When the starters arrived, they were over-cooked, and stuffed with lettuce, etc to bulk out. Batter on mushrooms was well sealed, like they were in a shell! Mains were forgotten and the handover was blamed! 'Rushed' them out and when they arrived - over 90 minutes after order - much the same as the other reviews. Burned, dry, rubbery, cold, microwaved and dry are words that can be used to describe the meals! Returned food and waited.....new food came and was better, tho one order STILL wrong. Toilets DISGUSTING!! No one checked the toilets and when my sister-in-law took her 3 year old up, she returned stony-faced and complained as someone had left a 'present' on the toilet seat!! Yes, you can guess what that was! She rightly compained and was accused of being aggressive!!!! Manager! Spineless, as he only faced us once and sent waitress to talk to us. Actually had the nerve to try to ask for payment, but we refused and he agreed to cover bill. No apology from him. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!![Report for Removal] | Mick Bond Chelmsford Essex |
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| 26/10/2008 19:18:29 | Adam Hartley | |
| The Hawk is, according to its own website blurb, “well known in Battlesbridge and across Wickford as a fine country pub… with freshly prepared food, a great selection of real ales and a diverse wine menu for you to choose from.” As our family had the misfortune of eating there today I can confirm that this is simply untrue. The Adnam’s ale was drinkable enough, yet the food was inexcusably bad. After having waited the best part of an hour for our food, we were ravenous, yet three of our party of five had to return their meals as they were just inedible. My own Cornfed Chicken Stuffed With Smoked Bacon dish was let down, firstly, by the notable lack of any bacon, secondly by the fact that a thick skin had formed on the mash in the microwave and finally by the fact that every single element of the meal tasted cold and vile. I didn’t have the heart to mention the lumpy sauce or the deadened, stringy asparagus as I returned it to our waiter, merely hoping the lack of one of the main ingredients and the toughened mash top would explain my unhappy, still hungry face. As my wife commented at the time, referring to the Goats Cheese and Nut Wellington she and her sister had just returned to the kitchen, “any chef that thinks it okay to serve something like that should be ashamed of themselves.” The item in question resembled some form of vegetarian pie that had been reheated enough times to render it as hard (and as tasty) as a brick. A brick without any gravy on it. My brother-in-law and nephew were too hungry to re-order and tucked straight into their Sunday lunch (“the beef’s alright, but it’s a bit cold…”) and Guinness and Beef Pie (“there’s not much meat in this, is there?”) while I re-ordered myself a beef roast and my wife and sister-in-law went for ‘seafood pasta’, reasoning that it was pretty damn difficult to go too far wrong with that. They reasoned wrong. So while I begrudgingly ate my (cold, stringy) beef, with a trimming of toughened roast potatoes and wilting, reheated veg (which reminded me, in a very bad way, of 1970’s school meals) they were treated to small, tasteless portions of seafood pasta. (This is a very easy meal to prepare and cook. I make it at home on a weekly basis. Pack of king prawns, pasta, crème fraiche, pesto, garlic – easy, cheap, yummy and feeds a family of four. Or a family of eight - if you are serving ‘Hawk size’ portions). However, The Hawk’s chef still failed to deliver on a dish that most five-year-olds could turn out with a bit of basic guidance. My wife and sister-in-law each had three prawns served in a starter-size portion of pasta, cooked with ‘sauce au bland’. A fairly poor highlight to a meal that cost over £7. But by this time they were too hungry and too far past caring to send a second meal back to a chef with little or no quality control. Being typically English and polite, I mumbled something along the lines of “mmm, it was okay, if a bit cold…” when asked while paying at the bar if things had been fine. They were not fine. They had in fact been the exact opposite of fine. Yet as the staff had showed little interest in our plight throughout, I figured there was little point (and nothing much to be gained) in complaining too much further. All in all, a great shame. Perhaps they were having an off day, as we had all eaten there before and had all previously enjoyed it. Perhaps, I suggested, it was because we were dining a little too late in the day (hence the reheated, comedy food). But it really doesn’t and shouldn't matter. These are not good enough excuses. If I am paying £8 and upwards for a Sunday roast or in excess of £10 for a main meal in a pub, then at the very least I expect it to be fresh, well-cooked and served to the table in under 45 minutes. I will not be returning to The Hawk and I would not recommend anybody out there gamble their time and money on this place, as I’m sure there are plenty of other good gastropubs within a fifteen-minute drive radius. [Report for Removal] | Adam Hartley London London |
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| 28/07/2008 06:37:25 | Gordon Packer | |
| Went to the Hawk Friday Friday 25th July 2008. Have been there before and has always been good. On this occasion the whole experience was diabolical. First I entered the bar to get some drinks as we were sitting in the garden about twenty people queing and 1 person serving!!! Eventually after several complaints they managed to get 2 25 Mins later got drinks and menus. We then ordered a starter for the 4 of us and a main course another 30 mins starters came out 2 right 1 wrong 1 missing, eventually they all arrived. Main courses came an age later asked for sauses never arrived until I complained 3 times then we had nearly finished our very average to poor meals the carrots with my wifes fishefrmans pie were over cooked and cold if that is possible. The staff outside appeared to be rushed off their feet and were obviously short staffed. Several people around us were complaining and seemed disatisfied with their food but not wanting to complain if you could have found any one to complain to!!!. After all of this I went in to the pub to pay the bill and was told to queue in another massive queue which i said would not do so they very put out took my money and then had the cheek to ask me for a tip!!!!. In my opinion if service and quality of food does not improve they will have no problem with queues for very much longer!! G Packer[Report for Removal] | Gordon Packer Benfleet Essex |
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| 28/04/2007 18:37:51 | Brian |  |
| Review hidden, pending approval.[Report for Removal] | Brian South Woodham Ferrers Essex |
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| 23/01/2007 13:46:14 | Sarah | |
| I recently visited the Hawk with some old friends, and found it to be the most wonderful dining experience. The atmosphere and the staff were welcoming the second i walked through the door and the service was attentive but not intrusive. We ordered some traditional english food and sat by a lovely fire. I would recommend the hawk to anyone who is looking for a tasty, value for money meal in comfortable surroundings.[Report for Removal] | Sarah Chelmsford Essex |
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| 27/12/2006 16:16:30 | Clair Frost |  |
| The Hawk was well run when the old management was in place. Snce new management has been in place, the atmosphere has reduced the service is less and also the food has reduced. We have asked for the last 4 weeks was being held on new years eve and we were told: normal business, a casino evening but normal day business, but also told 3 days before new years eve that no business as normal as the in-appropriate casino evening is taking place. Therefore no locals are able to have good english food and beer in a good english pub as they are trying to be a venue that is not able to cater for something like this. I have been visiting The Hawk for the past 5 years + and I have been very impressed with the venue, however within the past month or so I would say that I would not consider the hawk as a venue for a good lunch, socialising or borthday celebration venue. Such a shame, they are obviously following the wrong route as to a successful venue (it has been very successful in the past).[Report for Removal] | Clair Frost Runwell Essex |
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