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Hours
Sun
11:30 - 18:00
Wed
12:00 - 22:00
Thu
12:00 - 22:00
Fri
12:00 - 22:30
Sat
11:30 - 22:30
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
Bar, British, Contemporary, Pub, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
features
Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?
Details
About
A contemporary country pub with restaurant and beer garden in the heart of Mentmore, Buckinghamshire.
CUISINES
Bar, British, Contemporary, Pub, Gastropub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Family style
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4.5
144 reviews
Excellent
114
Very good
10
Average
10
Poor
4
Terrible
6
Alan-J-P
Leighton Buzzard265 contributions
Aug 2024 • couples
We have been looking for a classy restaurant close to Leighton Buzzard, and we weren't disappointed. The Stag is a lovely historic building in a beautiful country setting. The food was all very tasty, with a good choice of wines by the bottle and glass. Service was friendly and efficient without being annoying. The price was moderate and includes a 10% service charge, but was reasonable for the quality and service. We will be back :-)
Written 31 August 2024
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for your lovely review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed your experience at The Stag nestled in the beautiful countryside near Leighton Buzzard. It’s wonderful to hear that our historic setting, delicious food, and curated wine selection made your visit memorable. We pride ourselves on offering friendly, efficient service at a reasonable price, and we're glad it hit the mark for you. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!
Written 1 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
carrie_a_t79
16 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
The Stag get everything right!
The staff couldn’t be anymore lovely. You can tell that they take pride in good customer service.
The garden is beautiful, the bar and restaurant areas all comfortable and welcoming.
The food was not only great value for money but there is a varied menu which seems to refresh often and what we ordered was clearly made with fresh ingredients and a lot of thought to the flavour.
Written 7 July 2024
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you so much for your glowing review of The Stag! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with us.
Our team takes great pride in providing excellent customer service, and it’s wonderful to know that this came through during your visit. We’re also delighted that you enjoyed our beautiful garden and found our bar and restaurant areas comfortable and welcoming.
It’s fantastic to hear that you appreciated our varied menu and the quality of our food. We strive to use fresh ingredients and put a lot of thought into our flavours, so your feedback means a lot to us.
We look forward to welcoming you back to The Stag soon!
Written 14 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelly J
9 contributions
Oct 2022 • friends
Had a lovely visit here on a weekday lunchtime for a birthday treat and a catch up with my sister. Plenty of choices on a seasonal menu, including clearly labelled allergens which being gluten free was helpful. Food was delicious, especially the desert, would re visit again just for this! A couple of niggles that could easily be remedied, and the reason not given 5 stars. Firstly, wasn’t offered a drinks menu so just went with a house wine, would have expected somewhere with an extensive drinks selection and large bar to offer this. No napkin given when table laid, had to ask and wasn’t asked if we want any condiments, Inc salt/pepper (not that I would have wanted to spoil the food, perhaps this was on purpose for this reason), and lastly, which spoilt the visit a little, we felt quite rushed at the end. Bill was given before we were finished so they could cash up, staff were carrying mops etc past us, music was turned off and staff talking about what time they finish. We had booked a 1.30 lunch and could have happily spent a little longer with another drink (left by 3pm, not by choice) but didn’t get the chance. I feel the service at the end wasn’t quite what I was expecting from this type of establishment and given that prices are on the higher side (and worthy of it for the quality of food) left a little disappointed.
Saying that, the food was excellent, staff were polite when serving and I would visit again but maybe checking service times as this wasn’t explained upon booking.
Written 5 October 2022
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.
The Stag at Mentmore
Thank you for your honest feedback. We thrive on this detail to help us continually improve our offering and guest experience. Clearly something wasn't quite right this time and we have already reviewed and put revised process in place to ensure this doesn't re-occur. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 8 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emblebee
7 contributions
Sept 2023 • friends
Was really excited to go here after reading the menu but unfortunately it didn’t live up to expectations. The staff member who greeted us on arrival was alarmed we were 2 minutes early for our lunch booking and asked us to wait - which I would always consider totally fine but then sat us at a table that had been empty the whole time. The food sounded and looked incredible but really lacked any taste the steak can only be cocked medium rare (again totally fine but mine was still breathing). Some of the food combinations are a bit bizarre, I really wanted to like them but struggled. On a positive note some of the younger staff members were incredibly attentive and offered great service throughout our meal.
Written 1 October 2023
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We appreciate your positive comments about the attentive and excellent service. We will take your comments regarding the food on board to help us improve future offerings. Thank you for your visit, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon to try our new seasonal menus, which recently launched.
Written 12 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DJ LAMA D
Leighton Buzzard2 contributions
Jun 2023 • friends
Yesterday I decided to go to the Stag at Mentmore with a friend for lunch. A group of us used to go there quite often when Denise and Simon used to run it, Happy Days! Well, today was very different, although the staff were very welcoming and friendly, there actually seemed to be more staff than diners when we arrived. We both decided to order the fish and chips, and at £19.00 a head we expected something special. Well, to say we were disappointed is an understatement when it arrived on what can only be described as a child-like plate (obviously makes the fish look bigger) it looked as though it had come out of a Captain Birdseye packet! It was very small which I commented on to the young server and the batter wasn't crispy but quite soggy, and whatever happened to mushy peas, what we received on our plate was a runny green sauce, not very nice!
We made our comments to the young lad who served us when he asked if everything was ok, and he offered us a free drink, in hindsight, we should have asked for a full refund on the food because we had to leave most of it!
When the bill arrived it included a 10% discretionary tip, which incidentally we did pay because we felt the young lad Joe was very helpful and did try his best.
But as I said at the beginning we haven't been to the Stag for a number of years, and it will probably be a few more before I come again!
Written 29 June 2023
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
It’s disappointing to hear that you feel we didn’t live up to the high standards we set for our guest experience and that our guests have come to expect.
As a small, independent, and community-owned venture operating during unprecedented economic pressures within the hospitality industry, we wish all our guests to be delighted in every aspect of their visit. Our mission is to ensure that ALL our guests leave delighted, having enjoyed their time with us, and this is at the core of how our team is trained and operates. If any of our guests are dissatisfied with any aspect of their visit, the team are empowered to do absolutely everything they can to make it right.
Having investigated the points you’ve raised with the team member who served you, we note that you were offered a replacement meal. However, this was refused, and a free drink was then offered instead.
We have taken your feedback on board and will use it to further improve our guest experience.
We wish you well and hope to see you at The Stag again soon.
Written 30 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BucksTraveller99
159 contributions
May 2024 • couples
I went to The Stag for their Pie and a Pint offering which is available every Wednesday night, and can only describe the experience as mixed.
The food was excellent with a great selection of beer, and the welcome and service were first class. It was very reasonably priced too, but the fly in the ointment was the piped music, from which there was no escape and which relentlessly played throughout. Even worse, the choice of music was incredibly dreary, so that I was glad to leave even thought as mentioned the food, drink, welcome and value were great. I doubt I’ll be back unless and until I hear of a change to the piped music being inflicted on everyone.
Written 16 May 2024
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at The Stag.
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Pie and a Pint offering, as well as our selection of beer, and that you found our service to be first class and welcoming.
However, we’re genuinely sorry to learn that the music was not to your personal taste and detracted from your enjoyment. We value your feedback as we continually seek to improve our guest experience.
We hope to welcome you back again soon.
Written 17 May 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Daphnée P
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • family
Worst service I’ve ever had. I booked over the phone for 8 people plus 2 children and when we got there there was only a table for 6. The waiter was extremely rude, repeating that I made the booking wrong. He did not apologise for their mistake. He then proceeded to give us the chef’s special menu but when it came to the order said it was too late for ordering from this menu. We got there at 7 and the specials finished at 7 so why giving it in the first place?? It was 7:30 when we ordered. Surely the risotto did not vanish from the kitchen and he could have at least try to find out if they could serve one more considering it was the only other vegetarian option… The food was extremely average considering the price (lack of taste and quantity: only one piece of bread with the soup!) Overall the waiter did a terrible job: my partners burger was way over cooked since the waiter did not ask him how he liked his meat cooked. He did not ask if we wanted any sauce with the chips, he did not pick up dirty napkins and cutlery before serving desert and even proceeded to put new cutlery on top of dirty napkins!! The restaurant was nowhere near busy but I still had to wait 45 minutes for a glass of water. Will definitely not recommend and go back since they did not do anything when we gave feedback at payment.
Written 8 June 2023
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
It’s disappointing to hear that you feel we didn’t live up to the high standards we set for our guest experience and that our guests have come to expect.
As a small, independent, and community-owned venture operating during unprecedented economic pressures within the hospitality industry, we wish all our guests to be delighted in every aspect of their visit.
Having investigated the points you’ve raised with the team members who served you, and whilst we take all constructive feedback very seriously and use it to continually improve our offering, on this occasion, the comments are extremely surprising, as the two members of staff in question are consistently called out for their excellent and attentive personal service.
Our mission is to ensure that ALL our guests leave delighted, having enjoyed their time with us, and this is at the core of how our team is trained and operates. If any of our guests are dissatisfied with any aspect of their visit, and let us know in the moment, the team are empowered to do absolutely everything they can to make it right.
It’s incredibly difficult to respond to this type of retrospective, negative public review rather than raising the problem in the moment and allowing the team to make things right. Even more so on this occasion, as the team has stipulated that other than offering you an alternative table without fuss upon arrival, there was no other in-the-moment feedback given, and your comments are at complete odds with the majority of our reviews that talk about our fantastic service and excellent food and drink offering.
Hopefully, you will decide to return to The Stag.
Written 12 June 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Corina P
Watford13 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
Having been there before for a drink, we decided to get some Sunday lunch. The food is very good, but having ordered a beef roast, not impressed with missing yorkshire pudding and no gravy. The portions are very small for £23.00, 2 slices of beef and a few veggies. Surely you can offer some extras for this price, can't be that expensive to prepare. The pork belly was very good. Deserts are ok, but expected more. The fig panacotta was quite hard, didn't seem to be fresh. Service as very good. We expected more for the money we paid, over £150.00 for Sunday roast and a bottle of £28.00 wine. Not left very satisfied.
Written 4 August 2024
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback following your recent visit to The Stag. We are pleased to hear that you found both our food and service to be very good.
At The Stag, we aim to delight our guests with a variety of menus that showcase the best seasonal produce available.
Following guest feedback, we introduced our lighter, fresher “Taste of Summer” Sunday roasts menu for the warmer months this year. These feature crispy crushed new potatoes dressed in wholegrain mustard, sautéed greens and charred corn, garlic-roasted Mediterranean vegetables, and sautéed tenderstem broccoli. Instead of traditional gravy, we offer a salsa verde sauce, though gravy is always available upon request for those who prefer it.
We are sorry to hear that our popular summer-style Sunday roast did not meet your expectations on this occasion. However, our menus are updated seasonally, and our more traditional Sunday roast menu will return in the autumn.
Our puddings are handmade daily and kept chilled during the warmer months to ensure their freshness. We are sorry to hear that the fig panna cotta did not meet your expectations. If you had mentioned this to your server, our team would have been more than happy to address the issue immediately to avoid disappointment. We strive to ensure that all our guests leave The Stag satisfied.
Thank you once again for your constructive feedback. We hope to welcome you back again soon, giving us another opportunity to provide you with a more satisfying dining experience.
Written 7 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Denise C
United Kingdom2 contributions
Apr 2023 • friends
Marsworth WI chose The Stag for their April Supper club. What a great choice. We were met with friendly smiles, always nice to start off with a nice greeting. From start to finish they could not do enough for us. The food was excellent and the chef went out of his way to provide a dish for us that fitted every one's budget.
We could not have asked for anything more or anything any better. A big thank you from all of us.
Written 13 April 2023
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for your review. We're delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your recent visit to The Stag, and we look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 16 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa C
Leighton Buzzard1 contribution
Jan 2023 • family
Just wow! Fantastic service.
We visited today for a birthday lunch for my 22yr old niece. Unfortunately 3 of the party have severe allergies.
In other establishments this would normally cause some sort of discussion from staff, being made to feel somewhat of an inconvenience and a feeling of embarrassment.
NOT HERE, I can not convey how well we have been looked after. The chef had prepared food the previous night, as an option, therefore being able to offer us something that was not on the menu knowing we’d be able to eat it, worry free.
The manager had a sheet of paper on which he had all the info of which of us had which allergy. We were informed what we could eat, as opposed to being told options were limited- which is how people work allergies are often treated.
It is so lovely to be able to enjoy a nice meal and know that there will be no reason to worry and no issues with allergic reactions.
On top of all this, the staff were very genuine, friendly and kind and clearly went above and way beyond.
Don’t think twice before you book here. You will not be disappointed in any way.
My parents travelled from Suffolk and they remarked ‘we wish we lived closer we would come more regular’
To all at The Stag (Dom, Jo and all) the most sincere thankyou to you all. We WILL be back.
Written 26 January 2023
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.
The Stag at Mentmore
Thank you for your feedback, we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your visit. We take great pride in our guest experience. Our mission is simple, we want all our guests to have a wonderful time at The Stag and leave having created great memories with us. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 27 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jonbecker
London216 contributions
Feb 2023 • family
Firstly I must say All the staff were absolutely brilliant in every possible way. Best customer service I have experienced for some time and the whole place was spotlessly clean . We came for a Sunday Lunch and the food was very nice however I must say I feel bigger plates would present the food in such a better way as it unfortunately was piled high on top of each other and didn’t look that attractive and was covered in gravy so a little difficult to keep on the plate . Gravy served in a shared small Gravy boat would give the customer the choice of how much they would want on the plate. Were not all Northerners remember 😜
The only other thing I will say and I know it’s a country pub but would prefer dogs were not permitted in all parts of the restaurant as drooling dogs can be extremely off putting when eating but overall a very nice pub
Written 13 February 2023
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.
The Stag at Mentmore
Thank you for your review and for your suggestions, which we will take on board as we continue to evolve and improve our guest offering. With respect to our policy on 4 legged friends, we welcome dogs in our bar and snug areas, and not in our restaurant area. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 16 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sally031
London43 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
I have recently moved to the area, and discovered this pub. I have now been 10 times, because its simply wonderful. The food is exceptional for a pub. The Sunday roasts are particularly wonderful and stand out from any I have tried anywhere in the area. The chef cares about the food he/she is putting on your plate and its shows. Alongside this, the staff are just amazing! From the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave, the staff are friendly, and more importantly personal. They really care about customer service. Last but by no means least, the venue, oh what a venue. Gorgeous from the outside in and the garden is stunning.
I have tried every pub in the area, and this is by far a truly stand out experience.
Written 8 February 2025
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you so much for such a heartfelt and thoughtful review!
We’re absolutely delighted that you’ve enjoyed your visits to The Stag and that our food, especially our Sunday roasts, stood out for you. Our chefs take great pride in every dish, so it’s wonderful to hear that their dedication shines through.
We’re also thrilled that our staff made you feel so welcomed and looked after. We always strive to create a warm, personal experience, and hearing that you’ve consistently experienced this means the world to us.
Thank you for making us a regular part of your dining adventures. We look forward to welcoming you back again, many more times.
Written 8 February 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dontfloweritup
Milton Keynes128 contributions
Dec 2022 • couples
I'llkeep this simple. You walk in and if its not very busy you will be greeted like you own the place. Fantastic. Who does that these days. You are taken to your table and told who will be looking g after you. Nice touch. Your server will run through the menu, know what's on the specials, and will treat you like a valued patron. And then when you are feeling like you have gone back in time to the days when customer experience was an actual thing, your meals arrive and quite frankly you will think your in a dream. Excellent service in a beautiful establishment having food that shakes snd wakes all your senses. Amazing. Best find in years. The only down side to leaving a review is I don't want to reduce my chances of booking a table.
But seriously, incredible and all the staff should be recognised for making sn evening out a night to remember. Pleeeease don't change anything.
Written 25 January 2023
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.
The Stag at Mentmore
Thank you for your review of The Stag, we are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your visit, and that our guest experience and our food were the best you've experienced in years! We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 27 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crooner1950
Solihull26 contributions
Mar 2023 • couples
My wife took me to The Stag for an evening meal for my birthday on March 30th 2023. We were warmly welcomed on our arrival and shown to our table for two in the lovely dining room. Our drinks order was taken and we were shown menus to make our food choices. The waitress was very knowledgeable regarding the menu and helped us to make our decision. I had the prawn bruschetta starter, which was delicious. For mains, my wife chose the pork fillet and I had the Flat Iron Steak, which was a revelation! The food was up to the standard of fine dining and faultless. The chef even decorated my dessert with “Happy Birthday”.
The whole experience was excellent and we will definitely return, as we cannot recommend The Stag highly enough.
Thank you to the friendly and attentive staff.
Written 9 April 2023
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.
The Stag At Mentmore
Thank you for your review, we're so pleased to hear you enjoyed your Birthday meal with us at The Stag. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 10 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ZebulonQ
179 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
This is a lovely country pub with a really nice beer garden. Staff are very friendly and I really enjoy frequenting this pub. The food is excellent and the attentive service makes you feel very special.
Written 8 December 2022
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.
The Stag at Mentmore
Thank you for your review. We are so pleased to hear that you are enjoying frequenting The Stag and that our food and service makes you feel special. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
Written 10 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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