Guide To The Samuel Barlow

Food is freshly made cobs, with a range of condiments available, plus the usual bar snacks. Beer was excellent, service was excellent too. Atmosphere very relaxed.

We must have experienced this place on a particularly off day. This was once a lovely, vibrant, well visited and friendly place. I held my 60th birthday party upstairs with amazing catering provided. Yesterday (Sunday afternoon, June 29 2025) just a few people outside despite the warm weather, no food, dreary atmosphere, disinterested staff, dirty and untidy surroundings, derelict boats and an untidy car park a fraction of it’s original size. Welcoming it is not! Disappointing deterioration of what was once a wonderful place.

This place has so much potential with the location on the marina. Very odd small bar for the size of the building. No food so just worth visiting for drinks by the canal on a sunny day.

Barman didn’t say a word just looked at you to take the order. I dont need a comedian but christ basic customer service skills such as a smile, hello and what can i get you would be nice.

Toilets were disgusting and dirty glasses left out after 4 rounds when it wasn’t that busy. So much potential with some easy fixes just very disappointing.

We visited on a bank holiday weekend afternoon, and we were not quite sure what we would find, as the information online is largely out of date. The Samuel Barlow is set in a very pleasing location on a delightful stretch of the canal, with a terrace overlooking Alvecote Marina. It could be a real destination dining location with some investment and dedicated management…. but for now, at best, this is only a traditional pub, and certainly not a restaurant. They have not had a permanent chef since lockdown, so they only serve rolls and pasties, which can be heated up if required. Seating outside is comfortable and there is a large canopy for shade. The small number of customers, despite it being a bank holiday weekend, is a good indication of what the pub is like. There were a couple of chaps playing bar billiards inside, and a few people outside, some with dogs. We had a pleasant time sitting in the sun and watching the boats. Bar service (one barman) was friendly and efficient. Parking is strange – part is for the pub and part for the moorings, but neither are well signposted and the pub parking area seems quite small. Sadly, it’s not our kind of place, but I hate marking things down, so I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt in case things improve, and I’m mainly dropping down to 4 because to get inside the pub you have to go past the toilets, and they were very smelly indeed (stale urine). Not a good first impression.

!!!! AVOID THIS PLACE !!!!

Poor service and disgusting food, cold and greasy, pig skin full with hair.

Food overpriced and after 1 hour and drinks after food, no cutlery available so we need to wait 10 more minutes after food arrived.