Eagle & Sun, Droitwich

Old canal-side pub with a refurbished general seating area at the front, a modern dining room extension to the rear (with picture windows overlooking the water) and a patio beer garden beyond. Unusually, it offers carvery meals every day of the week. With two of the three handpumps in use, I found Doom Bar and TT Knowle Spring (£4.40) being poured, and noted a reversed Bewdley Worcestershire Way clip on the other.

It has a lot going for it this pub. Great location by an attractive stretch of the Birmingham and Worcester canal with a large conservatory overlooking the water, comfortable, clean and light interior, welcoming, very friendly and efficient landlord and landlady and a carvery which looks and smells delicious as well as offering good value. The drawback is that there isn't any real ale so we settled for Stella and Banks Bitter on keg which was ok for a quick one at lunchtime. Fine for a quick stop but how much better could it be with just one or two handpumps serving well kept beer?

Situated besides the Worcester and Birmingham Canal and very close to the junction with the newly restored Droitwich Canal,the pub has been extended by a large conservatory and there is garden seating outside.The main entrance is from the car park and immediately on the left is the large carvery which is the pub's raison d'etre.All the tables are laid for dining,we were offered bar stools if we just wanted to drink although the friendly landlady said we could sit at a dining table to sup as long as we agreed to move if it was later required by diners. The carvery pricing was at the value end of the spectrum and meat filled baps could be had for £3.50. We were made to feel welcome,but sadly there was no real ale and we had to contend with keg Banks's Bitter which didn't taste much difference from cask. A place to eat rather than drink,this place is missing a trick given the interesting location.

What a disappointment!!! Beautiful & interesting seting and by modern standards an acceptable refurb inside. The carvery - much vaunted if you believe their blurb (I dont't) - was ordinary to put it kindly. My beef had obviously been hacked off the main lump quite much earlier- doubtless in anticipation of the inrush of customers that didn't materialise. Why not? Well I am not a pub/restaurant owner/manager but could it have something to do with the fact that by 9.30 you made extremely uncomfortable beng there and before 10.00 were told "we're shutting now". I have no doubt that they have the right to shut any time they like but I think that if the hours are unusual - surely most people would expect to be there until 11.00 without