Fir Tree Hotel, Milton Keynes

Official site of Fir Tree Hotel - www.firtreewoburnsands.co.uk

A prominent, street corner pub on the main road through Woburn Stands, this has never looked very inviting on the numerous occasions when I have driven past previously, but has now undergone something of a refurbishment and looks all together more appealing. As it’s name suggests, accommodation is offered, but it’s not by any means a hotel in the regular sense of the word, but first and foremost a pub. The main bar at the front is an L-shape room and has quite a contemporary appearance, with wooden boards on the floor painted in a shade of duck egg blue, cream wood panelling on the lower part of the walls and a pale khaki green paint above. Seating is a mixture of padded stools at small circular tables, and a bench along the bay window that was liberally scattered with cushions. A few small black and white photographs of the local area were on the walls. A smaller, carpeted room at the rear is more geared up for dining. Food wise, the menu offered a decent enough election of pub grub dishes such as chilli con carne, ham & eggs, scampi & chips, bangers & mash, etc., and these were mostly priced around the £8/£9 mark. In addition to this there was a choice of around ten pizzas. I went for the Thai Green Chicken Curry but this was really quite disappointing. It was about 90% rice with a very runny sauce poured over it and a few small bits of chicken. Going on the presentation of the pub I had expected something a little better and it was certainly not worth £8.95. Beers on tap were Eagle IPA and Bombardier Burning Gold, whilst a third pump appeared unused. The solitary cider was Strongbow, unfortunately. All in all this is a decent enough attempt at reinvigorating something that was quite run down, and the staff were all pleasant and friendly, but it is perhaps a bit too contemporary for those with more traditional tastes and the food was a let-down.

Official site of Fir Tree Hotel - www.firtreewoburnsands.co.uk