Blue Boar Pub

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990 reviews

#8 of 20 Restaurants in Hay-on-Wye££ - £££, Bar, British, Pub

+44 1497 820884+ Add website

Hours

Sun

11:00 - 23:00

Mon

11:00 - 23:00

Tue

11:00 - 23:00

Wed

11:00 - 23:00

Thu

11:00 - 23:00

Fri

11:00 - 23:00

Sat

11:00 - 23:00

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Ratings and reviews

4.0

990 reviews

#8 of 20 Restaurants in Hay-on-Wye

RATINGS

Food

Service

Value

Atmosphere

Food and ambience

Local cuisine, Bar, British, Pub, Welsh, Vegetarian Friendly

“... we think you’re smashing It and we love the new burger bar, well done!!!!!!”

“We had the beef curry and a few steaks.”

“Lovely atmosphere and the best burger!”

“We came back another time and had the chicken curry again it was delicious.”

Location and contact

Castle Street, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5DF Wales

+44 1497 820884

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Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?

Yes

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Details

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CUISINES

Bar, British, Pub, Welsh

Special Diets

Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options

Meals

Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours, Drinks

FEATURES

Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly

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4.0

990 reviews

Excellent

393

Very good

313

Average

139

Poor

Terrible

smurftastic

27 contributions

Pub looks great, staff were friendly, but the food took too long to arrive.

Sept 2020 • none

We were travelling through the area and needed somewhere to eat after a long day cycling. We had a reservation and ordered food. The beer was food and they had a good selection of gins. Whilst the food was good when we got it, it took 1 hour to receive the dishes from the initial order. We also noticed that other tables seemed to be served before us despite having arrived and ordered first. The staff were extremely friendly when taking our order at the bar. The gentleman with long hair was very open that there would be a delay but did not give a timeframe. It’s a real shame as the establishment has so much potential and is obviously very popular with tourists and locals. If we came on a bad day, then it’s one of those things. However, it seems the evening was a little mismanaged from our perspective. We did not stay for dessert as a result.

Written 7 September 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen

1 contribution

Disappointing!

Jan 2020 • none

Called for breakfast which is served between 9:30 - 11:30am. Arrived at approx 10am on a cold and frosty morning. Pub was cold as the fire had only just been lit. Staff member wasn’t particularly friendly or helpful at first. Some of the full English breakfast menu (sausages, hash browns and fried bread) weren’t available as the grill wasn’t working although bacon and grilled tomatoes were - haven’t worked that one out yet! Breakfast, however was good. The owners, as residents of Hay, are obviously far too superior to even acknowledge their customers, although I am assured that not all residents of Hay are like this. Disappointing!

Written 29 January 2020

stephenmE5097OR

Monmouth64 contributions

New Year’s Eve dinner.

Dec 2019 • couples

New Year’s Eve dinner. We only booked during that afternoon but were able to reserve a table for 7.30pm. The salad was poor value at £8 as a shared starter. The fish gratin was very good but again £15 seemed a bit expensive.

Written 2 January 2020

Angharad L

London15 contributions

Poor social distancing measures

Aug 2020 • friends

We were a table of 7 eating dinner last night (26th Aug) for the eat out to help out scheme. The tables were not socially distanced and table service not available, therefore there were lots of people back and forth from the bar. One of the 3 starter options was not available, then the food took almost an hour to arrive with no apology. It was tasty, but we all felt uncomfortable with the tables so close together. There were no obvious signs saying "no cash" this was discovered when we tried to pay. All 7 of us had to go to the bar to pay by card when really the waiting staff should have come to the table. We were told the bill could only be split evenly, but after querying we were able to pay for our own meals. The screen at the bar is not suitable unless you are 6ft as it hangs down but there is a massive gap and most people would be underneath it, offering no protection at all.

Written 27 August 2020

kim f

Worcester68 contributions

Let down.

Aug 2020 • family

We visited on 26th August st 8pm having booked a couple of days earlier. When we were seated we were told everything on the menu was available, but when my husband went up to the bar to order only 2 options for starter were available.we couldn't have the camembert so only choice was soup or mozzarella with tomato. Could be that the camembert was the dearest and it was eat out help out night. For mains my husband ordered the wood pigeon and was very disappointed. It was very overdone as was the black pudding it came with and tasted more like liver. All it came with was a plate of Floret salad. The burgers with bacon myself and my son ordered had no bacon with as expected. Think it was mixed in with the mince. And mine was under cooked. My daughter in law's venison was a stew that had more pork in it. The meals also took ages to be served. When we told the waitress about the pigeon she brought out some raw pigeon to show how small the pigeon breasts are missing the point about them being over cooked. We also explained how disappointed we were to the head waiter who apologised and offered us a complimentary pallet cleanser. We declined as it was mow closing time, 10pm. I agree with other comments that the bar area was ridiculously over crowded and not at all socially distanced. We had to order drinks at the bar and the queue was not spaced out at all. I felt quite uncomfortable as there was not enough room between tables either. There was plenty of staff and orders should have been taken at the tables. Not the relaxing start to our holiday we'd hoped for.

Written 28 August 2020

Essexwelsh

Hornchurch4 contributions

£56 for a cheap bottle of red and two soups

Aug 2021 • none

My boyfriend and I attended the blue boar on our first night in Hay-On-Wye, we shared a bottle of red and both had the soup of the day to start. Service was sweet but slow. We waited an age for the mains to arrive and when they did, my £25 steak was chewier then a rubber welly and my boyfriends burger had no bottom bun due to it dissolving in the grease it was served in. We decided that the only option was to ask to talk to the manager to rectify the problem. The manager decided the only option was to delegate a member of the wait staff to solve it. After being told we were so nice for the 100th time we were proved correct when somehow we were backed into a corner and ended up having to pay for the £25 steak we hadn't eaten. Somehow, we had a £19 bottle of wine and two soups but paid £56. Horrendous. I can not recommend going elsewhere strongly enough. I wish we would have seen the other reviews beforehand.

Written 20 August 2021

Lindsey N

22 contributions

Breathtakingly rude!

Sept 2020 • couples

Staying on holiday in Powys we had a day trip to lovely Hay on Wye. We had a meal planned for the evening so only wanted a glass of wine and snack at lunchtime. We picked this pub as we were passing and it was clearly quiet. Going in the sign said to wait to be seated, after some time a young man asked us what wanted I explained we were only looking for a drink and maybe a snack. He said OK and told us to take a seat. We had plenty of choice as the pub as largely empty. I then ordered our drinks and asked for a couple of bowls of chips to nibble on with our drinks. The young man said if that was our order we would have to wait until everyone else in the pub had been served which would probably be 50 mins. He added we should go to the chippie down the road instead. I couldn't believe how rude this was and would have left but my husband had gone to the loo and I had drinks on order. He then said it was OK it may only be 20 mins. Later he plonked our drinks on the bar and shouted over "you will have to come and get them, we don't do table service you know". The wine was rough, the chips were standard frozen tasteless fare, the mayo was chucked on the table in a packet. The inside of the pub was tasteless, run down, dull and mostly empty- not hard to see why! Don't bother.

Written 10 September 2020

Liz A

Cardiff17 contributions

Small portions, big prices

Aug 2021 • family

The pub was busy at lunchtime, but we were given a table and it was waitress service from there, which was nice. The staff there are seriously overworked though, and even though they were all lovely, I felt a bit awkward asking for ketchup and more drinks etc. The meal came and it was nicely presented but a little measly, my daughter's £16 burger literally came with about 9 chips, which we didn't really feel able to ask for salt or sauce for. My other daughter had a bacon and brie bap, which was lovely, but again had one rasher of bacon in. The food was definitely on the nice side, but portion sizes were mean and the poor girls were worked to death!! A few more staff and a few more chips, and I'd definitely come back again.

Written 17 August 2021

Christopher D

Crosby36 contributions

Lovely pub, ok food, rude staff

Jan 2020 • family

Blue boar came well recommended. Looked like a nice menu. Not cheap but looked value for money because of the quality. Sat down and happily ordered a few light bites from the menu - 3 sandwhiches and a jacket potato. No mention of the kitchen running slow. No food appeared at all from the kitchen for over half an hour. Upon enquiring when the food would be ready as we'd been waiting that long for quite simple to prepare food, the answer that was given was "It's coming now. It's coming now". I was interrupted and no apology was given. When the food was then brought, I asked if the side order of chips was coming as well. This was answered with "I know. I know" On returning, the chips were slammed down in front of us by the same waitress. Again no apology for a 35 minute wait for was effectively light bites. It's a lovely pub, great for a drink but if you want food, from my experience leave a good while before eating and then don't hold your breath for any sort of good customer service during it.

Written 30 January 2020

Karen M

18 contributions

Afternoon snack

Oct 2021 • friends

Arrived at 2.55pm to be told we could eat . Ordered two burgers a glass of wine and a cranberry juice Over £40 . Food arrived half an hour later . Burgers were undercooked on a small plate with a few chips and some leaves and shop bought coleslaw. Whilst we were eating a party of elderly people left from the other end of the pub . The next thing the waitress came out and started sniffing the cushions where these people had left . The cushions were then removed and about about five minutes later a lady came out clutching a cushion with an apron on obviously from then kitchen saying” it’s not wet “ Then the Hoover came out and the sanitiser on the benches . When the waitress came to clear our plates I asked her “ What’s with the cushions? “ Her reply was “ Oh it was only a number one “ Yea accidents happen but be a bit more discreet when dealing with these incidents . Will not return . Overpriced pub grub and a five star food hygiene rating ? I don’t think so

Written 13 October 2021

mickdaley2

Liverpool20 contributions

Hugely disappointed.

Jan 2020 • none

Arrived. Pub half empty. Ordered baked potato, 2 Welsh Rarebits, 1 prawn sandwich, side of chips. Waited. And waited. And waited a bit more. Now 31 minutes after ordering. Asked at bar when it might be ready was told quite sharply " it's coming". It did so after about 5 more minutes. Enquired about the side order was told with acerbity " I know". Chips arrived and on a positive note, the container didn't break the table when it landed. It was a sturdy table. I believe the potato was quite good, the rarebits were perfectly ok, the prawns were ok, though the bap seemed to have been standing a while. The meal was somewhat overpriced, even given the inflated prices in Hay. The wait, without any apology or explanation, was unacceptable. The service was poor. The roaring fire was excellent. We chose this pub based upon many good reviews both on this platform and Google. Maybe we just caught them on a bad day. Let's hope so

Written 29 January 2020

Catrin L

Carmarthen9 contributions

Disappointing after several great visits

Sept 2021 • none

We had to change the time of our sitting which was no problem but that is where the positivity ends. Service was erratic, the meal arrived in good time but the salmon and broccoli tagliatelle was frankly disgusting... broccoli soup and hunt the salmon. We tried to get a server's attention and when we told the waiter - he said - I will tell the chef! So disappointed on all accounts..

Written 20 September 2021

Ann Onimous

Madrid17 contributions

Declining standards

Nov 2021 • none

We have been regular clients of the Blue Boar for 15 years, it used to be our favourite pub anywhere. Standards here have been steadily declining. Our last visit on a Saturday night was extremely disappointing. The quality of the meal could not be faulted, however the portions were very small and wow was it overpriced. Menu choices are restricted, only three desserts, delivered orally, no written dessert menu available. I have never seen the pub so empty on a weekend night, many others must share our views.

Written 20 November 2021

allinepopa

Bristol7 contributions

Good food not an excuse for rotten service by poor staffing and total lack of management

Jun 2021 • couples

Had a drink in the garden at lunchtime which was fine. My wife complained that toilet was a mess. Later, we dropped for an evening meal. We were shown to a tiny table in a hit airless corner and he said he would be over to take our order. He also said there would be a small delay with food. Fifteen minutes later we caught his attention and finally got a drink. He took our order. The table next door arrived after us and were served drinks straightaway and ordered food before us. Our food eventually arrived one hour and thirty five minutes later. This was after I had threatened to walk out twice. We were given another round of drinks which he said would not be charged - they were!! It as a total disaster. Tables were left uncleared and not wiped down. Two stacks of dirty dishes were on the corner of the bar when we srrived andwere there when we left. Lack of staff, poor staff, dead slow service and really little interest shown. The only saving grace was this, and I freely admit it, the food was excellent. However, never again unless I hear things have changed. The other tables were all kept waining the same time and I overheard several people paying,leaving and complaining loudly. Absolutely awful.

Written 22 July 2021

ChzGddrd

6 contributions

Amazing lunch!

Dec 2020 • none

Came down from Hay Bluff on a cold December Sunday and were welcomed into the pub despite being a bit muddy and with a dog! Service was spot on for us; welcoming, helpful and friendly without being over-familiar. Got a spot by the lovely fire. The room had a great Sunday atmosphere of families and friends enjoying themselves. The real treat was the food though. Served on piping hot plates our food stayed warm throughout and was simply delicious. There wasn't loads on the menu - but I tend to think that allows the chef time to focus more on a few dishes. All I know is that all four of our meals were incredible. Good portions, good quality ingredients, good sauces and gravy's and warming winter desserts! I couldn't recommend it more.

Written 7 December 2020

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