Jim Lucraft (30 March 2009)

After all the hype recently surrounding this pub, I was nervous about posting a message, but the previous entry has filled my confidence and completely matches what happened to us. We went this Saturday for my mother-in-law's birthday. Our total party size was 7 including an 18 month old baby boy. We had booked an early table as we were warned they cooked from fresh, and we wanted the baby to be a part of the day. On arrival all was well, a beautiful building. I politely asked a young lady if they had any place where I could change the baby, as I had seen a disabled toilet. ‘Oh no, we don’t do that’ was the reply! She wasn’t very happy, that said, no problem I'll just change him in the disabled loo. I put it to the back of mind and rejoined the party, not saying anything to anyone. Seven of us sat around the smallest table in the world, which barely held all the glasses etc already on the table, cramped is an understatement. We ordered out starters and mains and waited and waited. They arrived, we ate, and they were pleasant, nothing like the hype that we had read! I have had many duck eggs that were better.

Sitting around us by this time were four other families with babies, a really nice family atmosphere. My main eventually arrived, another long wait, I had ordered the burger - a huge disappointment, I think the chef had literally ground up the meat. There was no sign or taste of any seasoning or anything else. It was also very small, accompanied by five chips, and half a plate of salad. Not the best value for money, which appeared to be the general theme. It took ages for them to bring all the meals out and they still managed to get things wrong. The service was polite, but very poor. At this point our little boy became tired, and as my meal wasn’t particularly nice, I took him out to sleep in the car. On my return, it appears all hell had broken loose in the pub, with the maître d' throwing a couple out because they had a noisy child and still charge them. Now believe me, all other parties in the downstairs restaurant at the time couldn’t believe as the child in question had been extremely well behaved! They had quite clearly confused it with another child that had bumped his head and cried for all of 2 minutes! Don’t get me wrong I wish this pub all the best, and a pub is all it really is. The food was okay, the service appalling, and they clearly need to get another maître d'.

Tim Vice (20 February 2009)

We just visited The Kingham Plough having heard numerous recommendations from friends. It’s a beautifully refurbished pub with exposed beams - the 'works'. Arrived on the dot of twelve noon for our reservation and were greeted by a pleasant barman who informed us that they were just about open but he would find us a table nonetheless. The menu is superb, which would suit the most discerning of palates, but unfortunately not matched by the service. We were informed that everything on the menu was freshly prepared and we would probably have to wait thirty minutes but it turned out to be nearer sixty and having two children in tow and having just travelled some seventy miles to sample their delights, it wasn’t the news we wanted to hear. I do feel that the chef and co-owner Emily Watkins of Fat Duck fame is let down by the front of house team. To sum up The Kingham Plough, I would say great food, lovely setting but get a new maître d'.