Test Match Hotel

Very sociable and pleasant great friendly staff and excellent food eaten here many times always a pleasure to visit. I mainly go down on the open mic nights as after your meal you get to hear some up and coming talent not to mention some seasoned professional musicians and singers plus a great backing group made up of professionals who always encourage musicians of any ability to get up and join in.

My first visit back to the Test Match for 25 years, when I used to work there during my university days. Whilst the pub has been remodelled, it retains the charm it always had. Excellent service and lovely food, all complying with current restrictions. Special mention to Rob who gave me a quick look at some of the areas that weren’t open to the public for old time’s sake.

A really odd, surprising, disappointing experience last night. We went to the TM for a pint - one of my favourite pubs locally, a fantastic building and usually offering a fine selection of real ales. After being seated under a loudspeaker (emphasis on the loud) a staff member approached and offered to bring a drinks menu; but then, instead, told us verbally what was available. Fair enough; we both wanted a cask ale so didn’t need to see the whole menu. She told us of 3 ales available; much less than usual, but maybe (I thought) this is the current, post-lockdown, normal. I asked if a specific ale (normally on offer here) was available; no, it isn’t, she stated confidently. I considered the three she’d told us were on, and chose accordingly; not what I’d normally have but beggars can’t be choosers. I went to the bar to pay - we wanted to move to a table outside (away from the loudspeaker, basically) so pre-payment is a prerequisite. There I noticed a whole range of ales on tap we hadn’t been offered, including the one I’d specifically asked about - so I asked to bring back my untouched drink and exchange for the one I’d asked for. I might as well have asked to eat their grandmother. The manager said no; I explained I’d asked for this specific drink and been told it wasn’t available, so the staff member was called over and, to my face, denied having said it. The manager looked at me again as though I’d waded through sewage before entering her pub; the barman also clearly thought I was just being a difficult customer. In the end, I got the drink I wanted, but we went elsewhere for the rest of the evening rather than stay where we are going to be accused of dishonesty. Such a disappointment. I love this pub and would like to keep going; but I got no apology, only aggression from the staff and manager. I don’t leave a 1 star review lightly and I don’t think this is representative of how it is normally, so I’ll try to leave another review, reflecting our usual experience.

Always a pleasure to visit. Attentive and friendly staff.

We visited as a group of 6 to take advantage of their £2.99 coffee and cake offer. Unfortunately we were told even though it was advertised in their menu the offer wasn't on and the only cake available was £2 cash each piece as whomever had made them was collecting for charity. Collecting for charity is admirable but offers shouldn't be advertised if they are not available and limiting the purchase of cake to cash is surely limiting the sales. In fact if a colleague hadn't come to the rescue half of us would have been just drinking coffee. The cake was lovely and moist and the coffee was good but we still had to go back and ask about 2 items that were overlooked, even though it wasn't that busy.