The Conservatory Restaurant

Russ Douglas
2 Star
We checked in to one of the hotel's cottages for one night, booked a table and headed there at 7pm. My wife and I are on whole food plant-based diets (i.e. focusing on 'nutrient rich' not 'calorie dense') for the clear health benefits, which sadly restricts what we can eat when out and about. I ordered a large tomato & red pepper soup starter as a main course with a basket of brown bread, but there were no larger bowls (so I asked for two smaller) and the only brown bread available was sandwich bread. The first bowl that came was warm not hot and with white bread, and I'd finished it before the brown bread (that I reminded someone about) -arrived, the second bowl was nice and hot - both were very tasty. My wife ordered the Moroccan vegetable Tagine on a bed of cous cous, which was ok but lacking protein (e.g. chickpeas) and lacked a decent breadth of flavours. Service-wise no-one asked if our food was ok after it was served, or if we wanted a dessert or anything else after we'd eaten our mains. So I made my way to the bar to pay. Oh and an adjacent group's order was mixed-up after one person changed the sweet potato fries to triple fried chips, then all three of them were served regular french fries. Overall highly disappointing.
Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Brian H
3 Star
The Conservatory Restaurant, Crown Hotel, The weather turned cold and thus we decided to eat in the hotel at the Conservatory. My wife had the Twice Baked Goats Cheese Soufflé which she really enjoyed it. It was accompanied by a pear and walnut salad I had the Seared King Scallops. It had a minted pea puree which was a nice decoration but did not add to the taste for me. However, the black pudding bon bons was almost as good as the scallops! the pea rock salad was a nice decoration. The orange sorbet was nice to cleanse the palate before the main course. For the main meal my wife had the Lakeland Beef & Ale Pie. It comes with choice of chunky chips or mash potatoes. The pie was very nice and deep. It did not have excessive sauce but was filled with tasty meat. Breast of Guinea Fowl. The buttered new potatoes were very deciduous and I enjoyed the wild mushroom butter. I tried my wife’s pie and hers was the better choice. I am never a fan of sitting in the lounge to order your food and drink before going into the dining room. I presume this is an English or European custom? Another concern is that water was on the table but we had to serve ourselves. Also, we were never asked about refills on our drinks but they did ask how each course was. Finally after waiting 15 minutes for the bill we left the dining area, walked up to the two bartenders, mentioned the same and our room number.
Friday 10th August 2018

Edward Harris
5 Star
Sooo delicious! Highly recommend! Everything was wonderful, great kitchen!
Monday 15th August 2022

David GC
3 Star
The Soufle was poor. The fish n chips not very appealing. Greasey fish did not seem anything like Cod. Chips were a bit better. Service OK. £50 with a scotch & gin and tonic. Not worth it. Room was OK. Clean spacious and comfortable. . Perhaps on a Tuesday the chef was off.
Tuesday 6th October 2020

Tom
1 Star
*Edit* Pathetically late 2 month response - no this is the restaurant, it cancelled our 5 person booking less than an hour before and we had to frantically find an alternative restaurant. Cancelled a pre-made booking for a very poor excuse. We made a booking to eat there, made arrangements to do so and even left a car in a garage as we knew dinner was sorted. Then less than an hour before the booking it was cancelled. Pathetic way to do business, I guarantee if I booked a room and cancelled it an hour before I was going to stay they’d be quick to charge.
Monday 12th October 2020