Visited this place Saturday 30th July, 2011 for a very late lunch/dinner approx 4.45pm. Been at least 8 years since my last visit, friends had advised me not to bother!!!! But was with a friend after a busy day, both were starving so decided to try it. Friend chose a seat in pleasant garden whilst I ordered. There was 1 person taking drinks and food orders, his face was glum, he looked so bored and was definetely on a go slow There were 3 people waiting to be served, I politely asked if he was the only staff member serving, he nonchantly nodded a yes to me and carried on his go slow serving. I ordered our drinks and a caesar salad and piri piri chicken, food arrived after 45 minutes, waiter was quite helpful. The caesar salad was terrible, my mixed salad leaves were dry, some had wilted, the bacon lardons were soggy and not crisp, there were no anchovies or olives, and the dressing had been sparingly drizzled over a few leaves and not tossed to coat the whole salad, however the chicken was acceptable. My friend's piri piri chicken was over cooked and very tough. I complained to the glum go slow person behind the bar, he gave me a blank expression and said oh, choose any drink and I will not charge you, I replied I just want a tonic water and a glass of tap water, and requested he forward my complaint. We sat for a further hour enjoying the sun in the garden, no one approached us to discuss our complaint. Eventually a new member of staff appeared to collect glasses, and cheerfully asked us if we had enjoyed our meal, I replied no it was dreadful and we are waiting for someone to discuss our complaint with, she just utterred 'Oh' and carried on collecting her galsses. Never again, this place needs a massive shake up, re-training of staff and kitchen staff who know how to prepare a simple salad!!!! read more

Visited for a late lunch on a Saturday. Arrived at 2.40 to find the place more than half empty but no-one approached the table to offer to serve. In the end my husband went to the bar for drinks and a menu and was promised someone would come to the table to take our order. After another long wait, with no sign of a waiter/waitress, he returned to the bar and placed an order that way. We then endured another long wait before our food arrived and was presented by a harassed waiter. The party at the table next to us was left with a 20 minute wait for their pudidngs and we didn't feel we wanted to be treated the same way and so we left after the main course. No-one came to bring the bill to the table and so we went to the bar to pay. Were asked if we'd enjoyed the meal but they staff did not seem unduly concerned when we complained about the appallingly slow service. Used to be a nice place but it clearly needs to examine its customer service policy before we would go back again. The Bugle Horn less than 10 miles up the road is part of the same chain. They seems to get it right always. Wish we'd gone there instead. read more

I have to say that I was surprised to see all of the bad reviews on here about this pub. We were looking for a pub to have lunch before visiting the Roald Dahl museum in Great Missenden, and turned around after passing this place on the A413what a good decision. The place is really nice, reminded me of The Secret Garden, we walked up to the bar, the friendly waitress took us to our table, quickly following was the very polite and friendly waiter to take our orders. We chose our drinks and opted for the fixed price menu (£6 for the main, £2 for a starter, £2 for a pudding) which had great choices for the price, the food took slightly longer than similar priced pubs, but when it arrived, we realised why, freshly cooked and beautifully presented and great taste. The best service we've had in the last few years and a lovely location. 5/5 read more

Visited the Firecrest on Saturday 11th June 2011 for an evening meal. We booked a table online as we thought being a saturday would be busy. We turned up and were ignored. 10 minutes later the barmaid spoke to us and got a waitress to show us to a table. Dirty and untidy! so much for booking!. The starter was ok, but the main course was served whilst we were still eating our starter!. The staff were a joke as they just wanted to have a natter with each other. The resturant was like a bomb had hit it!. We did'nt stay for pudding as we felt that we rather not spend anymore money at a poor resturant. Shame really as it was the first time for over a year we went out for a meal due to our daughter being born. Poor service, average food and the staff are a joke. Never recommend. read more

A christmas booking was made for our old school girl reunion, no christmas decorations on the table, no lighted tea lights in the two holers. Long wait for starters, meal was ok but not much of it, the sherry trifle was terrible, looked more like grout!! whipped cream was more like melted ice cream, not sure where the custard was and as for jelly, strawberrys, and sherry, they were nowhere to be seen. On complaining about the trifle, I was given £2 back, shows what they thought of their own dessert. Very disappointed as the meal was £16.95 and being it stated a christmas meal, we had nothing on our table that resembles chrsitmas, we even had to search for knifes and forks. read more

I visited this pub briefly this afternoon and won't be going back. I should have been suspicious when I saw that there were no prices listed on the menus I had a Pimms (very small glass!) and a cheese board (3 crackers, tiny pot of jelly, tiny pot of butter and 3 thin slices of cheese) and it came to £9.55. Service was slow and not particularly friendly. Very disappointing for what looked like it should have been a very good place! read more

Party of 3 adults and 3 children went for lunch. Just ordered soup, a couple of sandwiches, chips and some drinks. Food took over 1/2 an hour to arrive and then it came in dribs and drabs. Soup was lukewarm and portions pathetic. When we queried why one bowl had more soup than the others we were told there must have been some left over! Would not rush back. read more

Really disappointing. We were told it was a 30 minute wait on food and were still waiting an hour and a half later. The waiting staff made me feel as though I was in the wrong for asking where our food was (three times). Food was nice when it finally arrived but wouldn't go again. read more