No. 5 Gaol Mews

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Right, been in for a meal tonight. A few points:

Pro
Friendly staff mostly.
Never eaten pheasant, so something different.
Very nice atmosphere.

Cons
Very poor drinks selection compared to the food (budget end cider/lager).
Same veg regardless of meal, needs some pairing.
Expensive for the quality.

I'd never eaten here so was a nice experience, but in all honesty I've had better for cheaper. I'm not saying it wasn't good, it was, but I enjoyed the lamb rump* at the Spittal Brook on Wednesday more. Difficult to call, not saying I won't go again but not saying I'll rush back either. In Stafford we're not that well catered for so can see its attraction, but as an example the penhelig arms in Aberdovey beats this hands down.

* perfectly cooked, and the veg was cabbage mixed with smoked bacon and black pudding :love:
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
Right, been in for a meal tonight. A few points:

Pro
Friendly staff mostly.
Never eaten pheasant, so something different.
Very nice atmosphere.

Cons
Very poor drinks selection compared to the food (budget end cider/lager).
Same veg regardless of meal, needs some pairing.
Expensive for the quality.

I'd never eaten here so was a nice experience, but in all honesty I've had better for cheaper. I'm not saying it wasn't good, it was, but I enjoyed the lamb rump* at the Spittal Brook on Wednesday more. Difficult to call, not saying I won't go again but not saying I'll rush back either. In Stafford we're not that well catered for so can see its attraction, but as an example the penhelig arms in Aberdovey beats this hands down.

* perfectly cooked, and the veg was cabbage mixed with smoked bacon and black pudding :love:

Cabbage, Bacon and black pudding ! That is accompaniment heaven !.....
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
I've heard good things but it opens at strange times and we've never got out heads around it's hours - last time I looked at the menu waiting for my hairdresser - who is opposite - I noticed a squashed dead spider on the window - it looked like it had been there a while - enough to out me off,
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
It seems to do rather well, it was full after all, I'm just not sure its any better than other places I have visited. On the drinks front they had:

Cider - Magners or Stella
Lager - Carlsburg or Budweiser

I'm guessing they focus on the wine, but to me none of those are good quality. I ended up on JD and coke instead as it was a safe bet. It was the veg that really got me. I'm used to decent places specifically pairing certain veg that goes with the meat. As an example the Penhelig Arms in Aberdovey (you may get the picture that I like that place!) always at least tailors the potatoes to the main dish, but No. 5 just had a plate of seasonal veg to share irrespective of what you ate. Plus we were told it came with roast potatoes, it came with new ones plus mash.

Now when we visited the Spittal Brook last week they said they served home made chips and that the ham was hand carved, they were frozen chips and the ham was from a packet, but those meals were under a tenner each. In fact we spent as much on 2 people in No. 5 than we did on 5 people. Don't get me wrong, like I said No.5 has a very nice atmosphere and the meals will have been better than most of what was at the Spittal Brook, I'm just not sure spending over £70 for 2 people was worth what we received.

But then where do you go for a good English meal around Stafford? I've been told that the Lewis Partnership places are all running pretty much the same menu nowadays, is this true? And I've heard reports that the Hollybush at Salt has gone downhill too.
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
We were going to take a look at the Hollybush the other weekend but was told not to bother

We went last summer and i wouldn't go again.

Very basic menu and the whole place needs a good clean/refurb.

The carpet was filthy.

Mind you the place was full so they probably dont think that they need to alter anything at all.
 
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proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
But then where do you go for a good English meal around Stafford? I've been told that the Lewis Partnership places are all running pretty much the same menu nowadays, is this true? And I've heard reports that the Hollybush at Salt has gone downhill too.

My two faves are The Swan and the Dog & Double. Excellent, day in day out. (Swan Menu, D&D Menu).

A little further afield would be the Red Lion at Longdon Green or The Fox at Newport but they're not easy to get to if you don't drive.

Went to the The Hollybush at Salt a couple of times in the Autumn. The first occasion was a good as ever, on the second we were very disappointed. So much so that I'm reluctant to go back.

If you don't mind taking the bus, then there's The Barns at Huntington on the way to Cannock which was great when I last went there early December.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
My two faves are The Swan and the Dog & Double. Excellent, day in day out. (Swan Menu, D&D Menu).

From the swan:
Pheasant
£14.95
Breast of pheasant, confit leg, glazed parsnips, creamed cabbage, squash jam, thyme jus

I had pheasant at No. 5, it came in a red wine and mushroom sauce which was fine, but this shows that at the Swan they have made a point that the dish is the entire thing not just the meat. If this said pheasant with new potatoes, mash, cauliflower cheese and sugarsnap peas you'd be thinking hang on a sec!


Pork
£13.50
Slow roasted pork belly, black pudding, grain mustard mash, leeks, bacon apple compote, cider jus

I'm a sucker for anything with black pudding in! But again you have mustard mash, leeks, everything is designed to complement the chosen meat. This is what a good meal is to me, shared veg is what you expect at places like Pastiche. Not knocking pastiche BTW, I rather like it there, but you expect different things at different price points.
 

Dawz

Well-Known Forumite
Well, after all the hype I've heard about this place over the years, I finally went... I thought it was very average, went as part of a 3 course party booking. Steak overdone, desert too sweet. And i cant even remember what I had for starter it was that memorable?

The food was by no means bad, I just expected more. Was just like eating in a sizzler although I've had better steak their.
 

flossietoo

Well-Known Forumite
I'm supposed you've heard hype. I definitely wouldn't recommend it. Locally, I've had much better food and LOT better service in The Swan.
 

Steve_b

Well-Known Forumite
Is No5 restaurant still open at Unit 5 Gaol Mews Gaol Road Stafford?









Moved to existing thread.
 
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tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Was up for sale when I wrote my review, maybe prospective owners ate there first and decided there were better things to spend their money on?
 
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