The Bull - Table reservation

Booked stayed at this place very recently having read the excellent reviews. As a very level headed person, certainly not delusional I failed in trying to recognise or match the place based on any of the reviews posted on Booking.com The place, whilst very quaint appealing from the outside is in direct contrast to the inside! In reality, it 's very much in dire need of deep cleaning, redecorating and refurbishing. The food, not sure who prepared the meals in the reviews I read, but fail to see how it could be the same chef as the one that cooked ours! Our meals arrived no less than 40 minutes after ordering. The drinks to occupy us while we waited never did arrive when our meals finally arrived served (if slapping on the table warrants being called served three out of the five items that made up the meal were uncooked, cold unedible! The excuse given by the waitress, is far too busy and understaffed, yet despite not being able to fulfil the job paid for, they still take fee paying guests who are treated far less than second class citizens to the regular clientele supping at the bar! Far too busy but not enough to stop them from taking longer than necessary to laugh talking to the regulars! Needless to say, we ate at other places for the rest of our stay. DO NOT BE FOOLED, as we were by the reviews, which have stayed are extremely questionable indeed! If one is used to using hostels I can see this could be deemed as good, if not excellent accommodation. On the flip side, if one is used to hotels that are clean customer focused then this hotel (a grand name for nothing more than a public house with accommodation not a very good or pleasant one at that is not the one for you!!

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I've been in Horncastle on business twice once on a Monday, once on a Tuesday and both times found the town mostly closed for business in the evenings. This time, just as I was on the point of deciding people in Lincolnshire must have a tradition of fasting on a Tuesday evening, I came across The Bull. This attractive old coaching hotel looked inviting, and the staff offered me a friendly welcome. The warmly lit, high ceilinged interior of this Georgian inn was full of diners (Yes on a Tuesday! Take note, other restauranteurs of Horncastle) and the ambiance was convivial. The selection of beers behind the bar was good and the two pints I drank were tasty and well kept. I was presented with two bar menus, a separate burger menu and shown a fish menu and a steak menu on the wall. (I understand tapas is also available at weekends). Quite a choice! The bar menus largely consisted of what you might call traditional pub grub of the best kind. Within that massive choice, there must have been at least half a dozen dishes I was really tempted by but, eventually, I plumped for the cauliflower soup followed by the pork belly, mash, peas and apple gravy. Both courses were outstanding and extremely generous in size, especially the pork belly. My only disappointment was that I hadn't room in my distended belly to squeeze in a spotted dick for pudding! My bill, for such a large and excellent meal, was very modest. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at The Bull and would definitely eat and/or drink there again.

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We thought we would try the Tapas menu as such a good tasty sounding choice. However the meatballs were black and the nacho's were very burned around the tops so much so that the waiter apologized how they were burnt but still left them for us to eat. Then the Moroccan Chicken came out and the waited commented that it had extras when I asked what he meant he answered there was a hair which he then picked off and wiped up his trousers but left that dish also. Although the food was bad and we won't be back it was a shame as the staff were very friendly and chatty but you are paying for the food.

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I feel compelled to write a review as a family who made a a VERY last minute booking. We were accommodated incredibly well and not only that, as the only family with kids in the place at the time eating in the bar/lounge area, rather than being rushed or shushed, we were treated impeccably. The children were made to feel welcome, the food was brilliant really tasty and really well priced, great choice of beers ale's and the Ice Cream treat for the girls afterwards was lovely. Thanks for making a last minute dinner feel so great!

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The food was great, staff were also friendly. I have been back since and enjoyed another meal there. Worth the money

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