Forum Topic

The Rocket

Ignoring my earlier post re pigging out I have a friend coming tomorrow and want to eat out locally.  Not been to The Rocket in ages is the food still good,  as vague recollection they changed hands.

Jen Morty ● 5094d14 Comments

Ages ago.It is jolly good and we go a lot.Excellent brunches till about 1300 on the weekend - eggs florentine are my favourite and very good valueThe roasts are pretty good too. I often have the fishcake accompanied (low be it spoken) by their fab chips.

Sara Nathan ● 5094d

Ta muchly,  never been there for brunch must try it.  Mind due you say you went ages ago too!  Did it change hands?  If so did you go afterit changed hands?Of late have tended to sit out and have tapas at Station House but no really a goer now.

Jen Morty ● 5094d

Sara was saying that it changed hands ages ago.

Susan Kelly ● 5094d

Ah so I did not imagine,  well I have not been there since it changed hands so are new people as good as the old is the question?

Jen Morty ● 5094d

It was years ago - five or six maybe. The new team are great: Filip who runs it is very accommodating to local groups and the food and drink is of a good standard. the staff change a bit but are usually very helpful.(slight bias as son was one of them a couple of years ago - honestly it did more for him than any other part of his education/growing up. He now encourages school-leavers to work in a pub and see the world)Prosecco at £4 the glass. Say no more.

Sara Nathan ● 5094d

Good God have I not eaten there for 6 years!?  Thank you seems still ok so will certainly go there.

Jen Morty ● 5094d

There's this big boutique thing on tomorrow - you might want to check whether the restaurant bit is open and if so, when.

Sara Nathan ● 5094d

I love everything about living round here, but nothing more than the Rocket - it's just a perfect pub. The staff are really friendly and down to earth, the food is superb - I agree Sara, the fishcakes are something else, as are the burgers and steaks; we had a local junior docs meeting there the other day and the mezze was also outstanding - and the decor and atmosphere pitch perfect. Other half's only complaint is that they could have a few real ales, but otherwise - real jewel in the local crown. (no conflict of interest, just really like it!)

Andy Heeps ● 5093d

Sadly as I feared it is totally different since new hands took over, more cheap looking and tacky than before.  It is sad that the lovely ambience of the restaurant area before has been ruined by the tacky dark wooden booths at one end and the hideous red curtains are just vile,  vile,  vile. A lovely room turned into a a tacky room.The food was fine though but more cheap and cheerful than good quality which I felt it was before,  of course you paid for the quality before as it was more expensive.The Bar area was never one of my favourite bits but is looking very tired,  and the music urgh!If I had not been before I would have thought it was ok,  but comparing it to before was disappointed.  Back to Station House but I only like sitting outside there in summer.

Jen Morty ● 5092d

However on the plus side the staff were very friendly and attentive.

Jen Morty ● 5092d

Did you go on a Friday night?They have a DJ - not every Friday but sometimes - and that is noisy - too much for us./ But it's often pretty peaceful other nights.I'm so sorry you didnt like it as much as Andy and I and others do.

Sara Nathan ● 5092d

There was no DJ I could not hear the music in the restaurant,  but as I walked through the bar thought I would not want to be sitting there drinking.The food was tasty it was the ambience in the restaurant,  I expect I am more aware of the contrast in decor as I have not been in a while.  Obviously the food is the most important but I always liked the fact that the restaurant area was a bit classy and it is not now!And I repeat the waiters were very good.I am being picky!!

Jen Morty ● 5092d

Yes, I rather think you are. We had a lovely meal there on Friday night. I'm quite picky too. I liked the ambiance - in the restaurant it was busy but not in the least bit frenetic.  or pretentious; food good, service lovely; couldn't hear the bar music from where we were sitting in the restaurant. What's not to like? I love the Station House too, by the way. We are lucky to have two fantastic locals on Churchfield Road. They are both consistently busy, so we're not the only ones who are fans.

Clare Gittins ● 5092d

I love everything about The Rocket, great food, friendly bar staff etc but I wish they would brighten up the outside with some flowers or hanging baskets...the plants they have outside look half dead even though they aren't, it could look lovely and much more appealing/attractive from the outside but I suppose everything else is fab so I will let them off!

Rachael Moore ● 5091d