The Carpenters Arms in Rochford

Don't waste your time!!Go to the Hungry Horse down the road instead, we certainly will be in future.The garden is a mess, car park is full of holes, seating is old and tatty.The menu is a typed piece of paper, most of which is out of stock!!!!No gluten free available, the pasta wasn't in stock and the bread had been thrown away.Told as the food bought to table that the chips were cooked in same oil as everything else..a huge no no for gluten free diets!!The one star I have given is for the poor staff who work there!!

Booked a table at the Carpenters Arms last night on very late notice. They arranged a table for my family of 4 with no issues at all. A member of our family is Vegan and when we got there we asked what would be appropriate for her to be able to eat. The staff were brilliant they chatted with the chef and made a bespoke vegan meal off menu just for her! Lovely, friendly staff extremely accommodating and the food was great. Highly recommended

Having visited the Carpenters on numerous occasions before lockdown, we decide to dine here again.A very disappointing evening meal with friends. This was a Friday evening, and several drinks (no lemonade, basic spirits) and meal options were already unavailable. Coffee was from a tin! The service was poor nobody checking if food was ok or even offering more drinks. Over pricedWas expecting some kind of home cook meal, but the food was substandard and looked like no effort had been put into the meals.Vegetable look frozen, salad was poor quality, and mash (lumpy) and sautéed potatoes must have come from a packet!I could have cooked a nicer meal!The inside needs updating and there is no lighting outside by the entrance steps, was very dark when we left and a bit dangerous!The front glass door was broken and several light bulbs were out in the restaurant.Will not be returning and do not recommend this food outlet, was very expensive for the quality of food and a disappointing evening. Service and quality needs to be seriously improved.

We went for the Sunday roast,  with high expectations given the reviews. Unfortunately it was by far the worse roast dinner I have ever experienced. All the food was cold, beef like leather with stewed parsnips, the cauliflower cheese was some chemical waste truly not intended to be eaten. We weren't the only people complaining.

Very unprofessional. Booked through the app for last night friends come from Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea and Rayleigh get to the pub to find a note on the door saying its shut and sorry for the inconvenience. Would have been useful to have been contacted and told this. Birthday dinner ruined. Get your IT sorted we were not the only ones who turned up after booking through the app.

Was sat down and waited over 10 minutes for someone to take drinks order. Gave up and left after that.One of the chairs at our table was broken so we had to find a new chair.Kids were running around. Which wasn't restaurants fault.Menus just printed on A4 paper. Which was fine during the height of COVID but not now. Felt a bit souless.Felt like there was very very little choice for foodWas also cold inside. I put my coat back on after a few minutes.All in all felt disappointing. My wife and I looked at each other and jointly agreed to just go somewhere else. We did... No one stopped us as we left to ask why we was leaving.It was not busy at all.

Nice restaurant, pleasant staff who were very helpful. Food was OK but not fantastic. We was in a large party and food delivery to the table was a bit hit and miss with a few mix ups with the roast dinners. Its a shame as I did visit this restaurant a few years ago and had a much better meal.

What a shambles, Saturday evening I asked for 3 items from the menu, only to be told they were off, and not bad for a 7.30 table...wife asked for a Martini and got a Gin, waitress had not a clue about waitering.This place has gone so far down hill in recent years its unbelievable.Lastly, have plenty of money if you dine there......

Despite ordering 4 starters eventually told that only had one prawn starter so something else ordered. Then when 3 starters were served to be told sorry there's no whitebait. Surely they knew this when originally ordered and should've informed us at the time not when other starters were served.Also the eggs served with ham and chips were rock hard.Overall absolutely disgusted and will not return.Also restaurant wasn't heated.

Always love a trip to the carpenters arms. We hadn't reserved a table but we're lucky they were able to squeeze us in. We were thrilled to find Thai food on the menu. It was delicious. Best Thai of had in some time we hope that it becomes a permanent fixture on the menu. The chicken curry and the pad thai were both brilliant.