The Three Trees, Milton Keynes

My wife, Theresa, and I visited the Three Trees for the first time this evening and I just felt compelled to share the fact that it was the best 'meal out' we have had in a very long time :) We live a stones throw from a new pub called The Prince in Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes and we have had some nice meals there, but The Three Trees beats it hands down for atmosphere, surroundings, food quality, menu options and above all - customer service. I read the review below this one and couldn't believe they were talking about the same pub! Everything about The Three Trees is positive, friendly and satisfying and we want to say a BIG thank you to everybody who works there. Just one negative: The disabled toilet needs a grab handle, around waist height, on the inside of the door. This allows a person in a chair to pull the door closed without having to really stretch. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Regards, Duncan and Theresa - Tattenhoe, Milton Keynes :)

A very large, multi-roomed pub in the centre of Bletchley, it has the bland, identikit feel of many chain establishments and the focus here seems to be very much on bland, identikit food which is, I suppose, in keeping with the surroundings. That said, it’s a reasonably attractive building with plenty of flower filled hanging baskets and a garden area at the front, along with further outdoor seating on two sides. Some of this is reserved for diners though. The front of the pub has a wood strip floor with wood balustrade partitioning and this appears to be the restaurant area with the majority of tables filled with diners on a recent visit, and I got the impression that one ordered at the table if eating here. To the right was a large carvery counter and this seems to be a popular feature of their food offering. The bar area is around to the left, and this is slightly more convivial with carpeted flooring and the usual generic cream and pale brown paintwork. There are a few high bar stools and tables to sit out and this extends out in to a couple of conservatories at the side and the rear. I guess these could on occasions be used for eating as well, which may well leave limited room for drinkers. On a recent Tuesday evening visit though it was fine, with these two areas being almost empty. There were also a couple of Chesterfield sofa’s about and a bookcase with a selection of books to peruse. Various other miscellaneous junk was dotted around such as old tea pots and candelabra and a plasma showing a news channel was on the wall, although the sound was off so this was not too intrusive. Besides the carvery mentioned previously, the menu offered an extensive selection divided in to sections such as Pub Classics, Steaks, Burgers, Fish and Pies, with most of the mains being around the £7 - £8 mark. I think there may also have been various specials on different nights of the week. My Chicken Tikka Masala was an odd dish whose dominant flavour was tomato soup, and indeed it had a similar appearance and texture save for the few bits of chicken floating about in it. It’s often the case that if a pub meal is not particularly satisfactory it might be compared to a supermarket ready meal, but in this case I think that would be doing ready meals a disservice. And why on earth were the rice and curry served in two small separate bowls plonked on the plate? Who wants to try and eat their food like that, and even if you did the sloppy texture of the curry would have made it next to impossible to get out without a spoon. Beers on tap were Marston’s EPA, Hobgoblin and Doom Bar. Ciders were a somewhat uninspiring Strongbow and Magner’s Golden Draught. I was going to mark this pub a 5, but with the poor food it can only be a 4.

Official site of Tudor Pub at the Three Trees - www.threetreesbletchley.co.uk

Official site of Tudor Pub at the Three Trees - www.threetreesbletchley.co.uk

Very much an eating house with a carvery There were 3 ales on offer but the Doom Bar had run out.I had a Hobgoblin which was ok at £3,10. Its not really a pub, as the drinking area is confined to a small corner, next to the toilets from which a strong floral aroma was wafting.