The Cuckoo

This place has certainly seen some improvements on the last few months. If i’d wrote this review in 2014 it would have been only 2 stars. However, the way this place is run has improved, and the staff and service have improved too. The food is certainly nice, but not amazing. I had a steak last time I came and it was good, but slightly undercooked. Luckily I like it bloodier XD
It is certainly a vintage style establishment, the wood and stone makes the place feel authentic and homely. The log fire is nice too if you’re sitting near it. Desserts are the best thing on the menu. They are veeeeerrry tasty.
Overall i’d say this place is pretty good. 4 stars is where I put it. 5 is a bit of a long shot considering the pub still has many minor drawbacks, but if you’re in the area i’d advise checking it out.

Utter disgrace… Manageress who can’t manage anything
The dead rat in the car park as we walked in should have been the sign we needed to turn back and go somewhere else. However, we went in for what was hoped to be a nice quick light lunch…
20 minutes just to place an order for drinks and food by 2 staff trying to serve the whole restaurant… Complete joke.
After an hour sat at the table freezing cold as they don’t seem to feel the need to put the heating on anymore… It’s mild but not summer! Our food hadn’t turned up, when we asked when it might come… Oh it hadn’t been sent through to the kitchen yet… System crash, unlucky us only seemed to impact us 2… Everyone else just got to wait ages because of the terrible way this place is run.
We left having wasted our entire lunch break, still hungry.
Don’t go here, they don’t deserve your business. Once upon a time it was nice, now it’s an embarrassment.

I have had a bit of dilemma before writing this review as I was expecting so much and … well read on.
Look fantastic with a great and really interesting menu. Called to book a table and staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful.
Arrived way too early with some time to kill but not a problem for the bar man who was keen to ensure that the glass of red house we ordered was what we wanted.
The bar area had a very nice ambiance with some really comfy chairs that allowed us to while away our early arrival. With the wine going down nicely we ordered the Mediterranean bread to nibble on and it was delicious. Things were looking up for our first visit to this hostilely.
Table for 4 was very pleasant and despite the large group with children nearby we were certainly not disturbed.
Orders taken by the very jovial and helpful bar manager who interacted with the party with good humor and promptness.
Then …
The beer breaded mushrooms were satisfactory and the garlic OK.
It will be fine …
The main course arrived just before it got a bit silly and were all a little lackluster to be perfectly honest. Meals were just warm enough to ensure that nothing was said. Whilst the meals were presented well the taste just about lived up to expectations of the diners.
Dessert, not this time thank you and after paying the bill little more than a side ways glance of a good bye.
You know when you get that deflated moment when something does not quite live up to your expectations. We all felt it.
I will visit again just in case this was a blimp in what was clearly a busy day for the staff but as a customer that was really not my problem.
On leaving we did spot the giant chocolate éclair …

Nice quaint place. Warm European feeling when you walk in: showing wood beams and stone walls. A classic looking pub with traditional English beers and modern beers too. The menu has a good variety of options from local savory pie to Black Sea bass including great set of side dishes and a tasteful selection of side sauces. I recommend the beef pie and the sides «gourmet potatoes» and the «Mediterranean veg».

The service picked up in recent months, but on my last two visits it has been awful. We have been forgotten by the waiters, and had to wait over 30 minutes for drinks, had mix ups with meals, and had long waits for food. Not impressed with The Cuckoo at the moment, so I think I’ll perhaps try one of the other similar places like the Windmill down the road.
I hope they sort it out as I love the building and location, and the food (when you finally get it) is pretty good.

the best meal i have ever had. the risotto is the best i have ever tasted and the atmosphere is lovely. great music on the stereo. a huge thumbs up to the staff.

I’ve eaten here a few times before and had nice meals, so prior to actually booking, arranged with friends that we would eat here for my partner’s birthday. When it came to booking the table, I called and was hung up on 3 times. I should have gone with my instincts and gone somewhere else but on the 4^th time, managed to speak to someone who didn’t hang up on me to book the table.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by the manager who was honestly very nice– but the same could not be said for the servers.
I visit the ‘Vintage Inn’ chain regularly at the Fitzwilliam Arms in Marholm– so to my knowledge, the menus have always been the same. I ordered my usual of home-​made fish cakes with potatoes and vegetables, but it came out with salad and chips. I mentioned that it used to come with peas as salad is not traditional and that I had ordered veg– the waiter was very rude and didn’t acknowledge the changes to the menu– and I waited 10 minutes for what I ordered– for everything to come soaked in butter (and I mean filled up half the bowl) which was disgusting.
A few of my party ordered the mixed grill and items were missing off the plate, but again the waiter was rude and reluctantly brought over a menu so we could check.
in my experience, if you’ve ran out of things– you tell the customer.
Overall wasn’t a nice meal and should have gone with ‘The Green Man’ who are 5 star.