Master Builder

[richardbrennan]

As my taxi to Beaulieu failed to turn up last night at Bucklers Hard, we had little choice but to eat in the Master Builder.

We ate in the Yachtsman's Bar and to my surprise, the food was excellent. I had the BBQ ribs and my crew had the fish and chips, both dishes were delicious, as was the food going to other tables to judge from it's look and reception.

Can the place finally have turned the corner!

 

[richardsn9]

Please let it be so! It is so frustrating as it could be such a good waterside pub.

It was still lurking at 10th out of 10 venues to eat in the Beaulieu area on Trip Advisor, with some dreadful reviews, mainly over the attitude of the staff. Surely the manager must be fed up with posting 'We are really sorry, please give us another chance'? Fingers crossed!

(assuming you meant the Yachtsman's Bar. The main restaurant has much better reviews)

 

[BelleSerene]

Were there three or four people behind the bar but none or one of them actually serving people as usual? How long did it take to get served?

 

[johnalison]

I thought this was going to be about the lovely Robert Clark ketch we used to see run by the OYC if I remember.

 

[hisw]

It's been a while since I was there, refitting a boat in the yard next door. After a very poor meal, I announced that I was an environment health office and wanted to inspect their kitchen. After flashing my wallet with ID card they let me into the kitchen

It was two microwaves, a fridge, freezer and a deep fat fryer in a corridor! They do well with the space constraints.

 

[bitbaltic]

We stop a night in the Master Builder every January when delivering our sails to Sanders. So far we have eaten in the main restaurant every time which always turns out to be a weird experience- memorables include me having to explain the menu to the waiter, and a "cheese board" wherein the cheese had been turned into a sort of cheese custard and was served on crackers. This year it was even a set menu so the eccentric courses were unavoidable and billable. The restaurant is basically abominable, at least in winter time, but we like the bar and setting. The best course of action I can come up with is to be drunk enough beforehand that the wild menu turns into an entertainment.

Last January I promised the wife that we would try the bar food next year so it is encouraging to see a recommendation. There are quite a lot of cheaper places not far away with decent menus however.

 

[xcw]

Was there the spring bank holiday weekend and called in for a pint. Apart from the ale being cloudy, a couple at the bar ordered food, they were asked where they were sitting, they said in the garden and were promptly told we don't serve food in the garden only out front. They protested that out front was full so they were told they would have to eat inside. #customerservice NOT.
Time before was the previous November, couple sent food back because it had a hair in in!! I will not be eating there.

 

[z1ppy]

Was there for a drink last weekend. middle of the afternoon. sun and people everywhere. wedding taking place. very prompt service from the garden bar and a really nice place all around. food looked good although i did not eat.

We have had mixed experiences there, one very bad previously and one very good (more recently) its pretty local to us so we often walk down in the summers evenings so will try the food there soon.

the place has SO much potential and really is a beautiful setting!

 

[Stemar]

It was two microwaves, a fridge, freezer and a deep fat fryer in a corridor!

That tells me all I need to know. I'm no longer tempted to go there. If I'm going to eat a Ready Meal, I'll do the Dine in for Two for a Tenner deal several supermarkets do, not the Dine Out for Two for Fifty Quid deal.

 

[richardbrennan]

Just to fill in a bit more; I am talking about the Yachtsman's Bar. The staff, including the manageress, could not have been more friendly and helpful and service was swift, but this was a Monday night and they were not that busy. They did trip up a bit as they had run out of virtually all the deserts, the manageress did ask the posh restaurant if we might order from their desert menu, but the request was denied. The place does seem to suffer from a lack of flexibility demonstrated by the rather petty you can only have this if you are sitting there attitude. You would think they would realise they are turning away business!

 

[bitbaltic]

So one supposes the bar food and restaurant are separate businesses- interesting because that's not made particularly clear.

Don't think you missed much by not getting a restaurant dessert.

 

[Babylon]

Just accept that the Master Baiter is likely to be rubbish most of the time - for all time - and if you do wish to visit the beauty of the river and environs, then do yourself a favour and cook your own proper food aboard.

 

[Babylon]

PS The Kid and I had a couple of days down there in April, taking in some walks, a visit to the motor museum, revisiting the interesting little shipyard museum, and eating seagull food on the trestle-tables outside the MB.

Always a lovely setting, the river and all that, but I can't quite put my finger on what always weirds me out ashore. I sometimes think I'm back in some feudal era (like with the staff at NT properties), or on a bizarre science-fiction set (think 'Westworld').

People who work in the area either don't meet your eye, or give you a sort of conspiratorial glance then clam up.

Creepy.

 

[Tranona]

People who work in the area either don't meet your eye, or give you a sort of conspiratorial glance then clam up.

Creepy.

Its the magic mushrooms they forage from the forest which forms a major part of the diet. More pronounced at the autumn equinox but has a long lasting effect.