Review: The Sandbrook

Reporter: Pete Hinchcliffe
Date online: 26 October 2010

The Sandbrook 
Sandbrook Park
Rochdale
Visited 25 October 2010 (week day lunchtime)

This is a Crown Carveries pub owned by giant parent company Mitchell & Butler.

Real Ales
Thwaites Lancaster Bomber (sampled)
There were three hand pumps but only one of them had beer on!
Condition of the one sampled: was good. However, this pub displays the 'Casque Marque' logo on its pumps which is supposed to indicate high quality cellarmanship. It is not acceptable for two of the three hand pumps not to be dispensing Real Ale and yet the pump clips had not been reversed.

Food 
Standard carvery. A bit stingy with the meat but what do you expect for under £4?

Decor/Style 
Clean, tidy. Can get busy at weekends. Handy for cinema and motorway. Obviously part of a chain operation.

Toilets
Clean 

Disabled Access 
I had complained about the number of non-blue badge holders occupying disabled spaces on a previous visit. This complaint was not dealt with effectively at the time, although on this visit there was plenty of parking. However, the notice that I was assured asking customers to be more considerate to those with disabilities had not been displayed as I had been promised.

Service
Acceptable but a bit impersonal. Overall supervision not evident.

Scores 
Beer 1/5
Wine 1/5
Food 2/5
Service 1/5
Decor/cleanliness 2/5
Disabled facilities 1/5
Overall 1/5

You either like carveries or you don't. I fall into the latter category. The trouble is that there are too many outlets trying to outdo each other on low price instead of high quality. Still, if you are hungry and have the kids with you The Sandbrook might fit the bill if you are on a tight budget. If you want a good meal in a traditional English pub with a choice of real ales then The Sandbrook is probably not for you.