The Holly Tree

Went with my partner who’d been here a good few years before and had fond memories of it. It’s changed! I was told on the phone it was advisable to book, I have no idea why as it was practically empty. We were pretty much ignored when we got there by an older woman behind the bar but hoped it would get better. The elderly woman on another table went off to find her own pepper so I should’ve known then. We ordered drinks and one pint of flat coke later we asked to send it back, I was told it was indeed real Coke by the sullen looking waitress wearing cycling shorts. She then admitted it wasn’t real Coke and did he want a bottle of that. We were waiting so long for our food that dirty glasses were accumulating on the table and at one point we put them up on the window sill. Then noticed a dirty big stain on the table cloth and a candle holder with old wax in but no candle left there on the table. We asked how much longer the food was going to be as we both had work in the morning and it turned up…after 60 minutes and I wish we’d have left 20 minutes earlier when we’d thought of doing so. When it came it was a shock to see the £27 sirloin steak. Over priced and average at best. We had to ask the waitress ‘can you please take all these dirty glasses while we eat?’ The meal was already ruined and our evening out spoiled not by the food but by the shoddy way we were treated from start to finish. Even the lemon had to be sent back! No juice, fell away from the skin into mush so god knows how long that’d been there. Apparently she needed to tell the chef but brought back more of the same. We had to quibble the bill afterwards as the pint of flat cola syrup sent back was still on there. The manageress or whatever her job title is should be embarrassed at how customers are treated but unfortunately it was obvious she didn’t care and no apology given and she treated us exactly the same. If o was on my own I wouldn’t have paid so they’re lucky we did. It was one thing after another. We came home feeling like we’d been taken advantage of and I wish I’d said more at the time. I don’t usually leave bad reviews, I chalk it up to experience and move on so you can imagine how bad it was. If you like fawlty towers you may enjoy this farce but we’ll put this down to one place we’ll never go back to and will NEVER recommend. Joke of a place. What a shame.

After a nice walk from Barnham we wanted to sample a local pub.The Holly tree looks really nice from the outside and on the inside had a lovely old pub feel, they had a film on for the kids and the bar staff were nice and friendly.We ordered a burger for my son, goujons and chips for the little one, ploughman's for myself and some chips and whitebait for my wife.Unfortunately the food was not up to any standard, my ploughman's ham was very old, while it wasn't off it was green where it had been in contact with the air to long, pickled onions weren't very nice and the bread wasn't fresh, a little stale.My sons burger was pink in the middle which isn't allowed unless the make the burgers in house from whole cuts of beef that have had the outside sealed (e coli risk) they did re cook it and was enjoyable afterwards, my wife's starter @ £7 for a whitebait and only received 5 for that price, I know as a chef that whitebait is one of the cheapest starters so I would expect at least 8 while you would still maintain a 70% GP.My son enjoyed his goujons, but these would have been bought in anyway, triple cooked chips were nice.Very disappointed, I'd be happy to show the pub how the quality of food should be.

Came here for my 40th. Nick and his team really were amazing. They were so friendly and helpful. There were 45 of us and we had the Christmas menu, which was absolutely superb. When you have mass catering you expect it to be ok not much more, but each plate was delicious and cooked as if it were a table for 2. Brilliant food, brilliant staff, thank you for making it a birthday to remember. We’ll definitely be coming back.

Sat in the sun in the garden and each had a drink. We intended to stay for a meal but unfortunately there was a small group of men who never stopped swearing at the top of their voices, seemingly unaware that they weren't alone. A thoroughly unpleasant experience for us and the other people trying to enjoy a quiet sunny afternoon. We moved on to eat elsewhere.

The food was absolutely delicious, could not understand why it was so quiet. Had a lovely leek and blue cheese tart with best french fries have ever tasted.

An excellent steak dinner and a good bottle of kiwi sav - what more could you ask for. Steak well cooked and seasoned. Chips, crunchy. And even some delightful extras, like a fried mushroom and a baked tomato - with cheese!

The food was shocking and the place was filthy. It was empty and you could see why. Haven’t been for a couple of years, it has really gone down hill badly. Extremely disappointing.

We visited for My daughters Birthday Party on the 2nd Dec ... Nothing was too much trouble from a very attentive Team .The food was excellent and hot which is not often the case with party catering Thoroughly recommend The Holly Tree Will certainly be returning...Well done All