The Apothecary.

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
I think lots of people are looking forward to the opening of this new venue.

It's in a great location and a good addition to the town centre.

A friend of mine said that her daughter (aged 35) went into town on Saturday on a girlie night out. They started at the Swan then tried to get in at Revolution but there was a 45 min wait on the door so they went back to the Swan.
They had a lovely evening but they did comment that there were not enough up market places in Stafford for a group of ladies to go to.

I'm sure that the apothecary will fit the bill and I wish them all the best.

Can someone link their menu on here?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Can someone link their menu on here?
..via @Wormella's earlier post.

15289066_1424445494521426_7388967091927729866_o.jpg
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
A welcome addition, really good range of pubs and bars in the town that looks like it will be growing.
 

Nooshi

Active Member
OK, so here is my review as promised!

I went here last night with my daughter. We had a table booked for 8pm, and we were shown to our table immediately by a not particularly friendly and unsmiling waitress.

We ordered our food and cocktails, and it was brought out fairly quickly. The food was really good but some of the stuff is brought out on oversized bread boards and was quite difficult to fit on the table. We had warm bread with butter and oil/balsamic vinegar to start, followed by a flatbread each and shared some chips. All was good until we wanted to order dessert. Our waitress seemed to have vanished off the face of the planet and the others just ignored us. In the end we gave up trying to order dessert and asked for the bill as we wanted to go upstairs to the cocktail bar.

15 minutes later we were still waiting to pay, and the waitresses didn't seem to know where the card machine was! Another 10 minutes passed and I just stood up to leave - the waitress apologised and I said we wanted to go upstairs so she said she'd come and find us. We went to the cocktail lounge and she found us a couple of minutes later, so my daughter had to go downstiars again to pay!!

The cocktail lounge is lovely, nice and chilled, but there was quite a queue at the bar. The age range was fairly mixed, but it seems that the 30 plus crowd favour this part and the youngsters stay downstairs, which is fine by me!

The DJ was playing a kind of 80s/90s soul/funk vibe and his sidekick plays along on the saxophone. The atmosphere is great and it certainly beats that sh!thole Casa hands down in every aspect. It's nice to have somewhere upmarket for older people to enjoy and not have to listen to todays crap music. I would definitely go again.
 

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
After going to the Swan yesterday and finding they only do brunch and teas on a Sunday afternoon we ended up in the Apochery.

We got off to a bad start as they didn't have any bitter or pale ale. Whilst at the bar another customer asked for a VAT receipt and they had to hand right one which seemed a little odd to me.

Anyway we ordered two starters and a seafood sharing platter.

After about 20 minutes a waitress came over and said they didn't have any pate so my friend chose something else. The second choice was cheaper but no refund was offered.

The main course came over 30 minutes after the starters had been cleared away. Unfortunately the scallops has grown feathers and turned into sweet chilli chicken and the whitebait had grown udders and turned into beef.

Fed up of waiting we went to the bar and got a full refund eventually after they tried to add the original amount on to my card again.

The place was filthy with dirty glasses and plates left on tables with no interest in clearing them. The carpets were stained with various debris laying around.

I wouldn't recommend setting foot in this place in its present condition and staff lethargy.

Ended up in the Sun and had a lovely Sunday lunch instead.
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
After going to the Swan yesterday and finding they only do brunch and teas on a Sunday afternoon we ended up in the Apochery.

We got off to a bad start as they didn't have any bitter or pale ale. Whilst at the bar another customer asked for a VAT receipt and they had to hand right one which seemed a little odd to me.

Anyway we ordered two starters and a seafood sharing platter.

After about 20 minutes a waitress came over and said they didn't have any pate so my friend chose something else. The second choice was cheaper but no refund was offered.

The main course came over 30 minutes after the starters had been cleared away. Unfortunately the scallops has grown feathers and turned into sweet chilli chicken and the whitebait had grown udders and turned into beef.

Fed up of waiting we went to the bar and got a full refund eventually after they tried to add the original amount on to my card again.

The place was filthy with dirty glasses and plates left on tables with no interest in clearing them. The carpets were stained with various debris laying around.

I wouldn't recommend setting foot in this place in its present condition and staff lethargy.

Ended up in the Sun and had a lovely Sunday lunch instead.


Thank you for reminding me of my first visit to Watford Gap services

One of those days in England
 

The Notorious A.N.T.

Well-Known Forumite
Yes, Apothecary appears to be no more. I have walked past there the last couple of days around lunchtime & the gates have been locked. Looking at Trip Advisor it would appear to have been on its arse for the last month or so. Lots of people complaining about poor Christmas nights out/meals etc.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It occurred to me today that it could well resurrect with another name.

I only hope they don't look at the history of the building and decide to call it The Sheridan this time - some of us would be confused for evermore by that...
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Some odd goings on with the ownership of the the business on companies house.

The only director of west midlands pubs ltd challenged on termination earlier in the year before being dissolved in December.

I thought the company that ran the apothecary were bigger with other establishments under them, it seems it may not be the case.

This venue needs something branded behind it as I do not think it fully recovered from the issues of previous running and issues with people having booked events and struggling to get cash back.
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Via the .stoke sentinel:

A Stafford town centre venue has closed its doors after just 12 months under a new name.

The Apothecary, which includes a cocktail restaurant and bar as well as offering all-day dining, is believed to be closed - just days after hosting a Boxing Day cocktail party and New Year’s Eve party.


William Read posted on the Friends of Stafford Facebook page: “I have just walked past this evening, Thursday at 2100hrs, and it is closed. Surprisingly there is no announcement on the main entrance gate explaining the situation.”

The Newsletter attempted to contact The Apothecary by phone yesterday but received no response.

The online reservation service on the venue’s website indicated yesterday that the restaurant was “offline”.

At 1pm today The Apothecary remained closed.

The Apothecary opened in December 2016, under the management of West Midlands Pub Company Ltd in the town’s former Post Office in Greengate Street. The historic building, named Chetwynd House, hosted former Stafford MP and celebrated playwright Richard Brinsley Sheriden more than 200 years ago.

In 2011 it was re-developed by the Foster family into award-winning bar and venue The Post House, It was taken on in 2016 by the owners of Casa Stafford, Nick Wilks and Andy Wheeler, but closed suddenly in July of that year, before being reopened the following month by owners David and Angela Peak of Eccleshall.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Via the .stoke sentinel:

A Stafford town centre venue has closed its doors after just 12 months under a new name.

The Apothecary, which includes a cocktail restaurant and bar as well as offering all-day dining, is believed to be closed - just days after hosting a Boxing Day cocktail party and New Year’s Eve party.


William Read posted on the Friends of Stafford Facebook page: “I have just walked past this evening, Thursday at 2100hrs, and it is closed. Surprisingly there is no announcement on the main entrance gate explaining the situation.”

The Newsletter attempted to contact The Apothecary by phone yesterday but received no response.

The online reservation service on the venue’s website indicated yesterday that the restaurant was “offline”.

At 1pm today The Apothecary remained closed.

The Apothecary opened in December 2016, under the management of West Midlands Pub Company Ltd in the town’s former Post Office in Greengate Street. The historic building, named Chetwynd House, hosted former Stafford MP and celebrated playwright Richard Brinsley Sheriden more than 200 years ago.

In 2011 it was re-developed by the Foster family into award-winning bar and venue The Post House, It was taken on in 2016 by the owners of Casa Stafford, Nick Wilks and Andy Wheeler, but closed suddenly in July of that year, before being reopened the following month by owners David and Angela Peak of Eccleshall.
Proper, in-depth journalism.
 
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