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Merlins Cave, Chalfont St. Giles
Chalfont St. Giles
HP8 4QF
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Steve of N21 left this review about Merlins Cave
Driving home on a Sunday afternoon round the M25, only for it to be its usual clogged self, so took my usual alternative route through the Chalfont’s that takes me past this one and thought we would break the journey here and look the place up again, as we haven’t been here for many a year.
Wow ! Now that’s different. Still the same to look at externally, but internally it’s been transformed by the Youngs Makeover team into a swish gastro pub. The old two bar boring pub of my remembrances has been swept away and a smart and very modern gastro pub restaurant put in its place.
Normally I would decry a traditional pub being remodelled in a modern style but in this case it’s definitely an improvement.
From the front you enter into the main bar room with a very modern bar serving area facing you. This area either side of the central door is still set up as a lounge pub drinking area with plenty of comfortable seating by the front windows. Then behind the bar is now a big square open plan extension that functions as the restaurant section. This has large glass sliding doors which open onto an external patio area and the large grassed garden, which was always a feature of this one, is then beyond with plenty of modern garden furniture.
I think it was owned by Charles Wells before but is definitely in the Youngs Pub Co. stable now and the usual three ales you find of Youngs Ordinary and Special alongside St Austell Proper Job were prominent on the bar. I went for the Propper Job and it was in fine form.
Much better and will definitely look it up more frequently from now on. I think calling it the only pub in the village below is a bit demeaning to the Fox and Hounds a short walk away up Silver hill and definitely is not a true statement now that the Feathers opposite has reopened as a pub after spending a bit of a time as a restaurant.
On 11th July 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Merlins Cave
Good Beer Guide 2020 Tick.
Perfectly located on the village green in this pretty little town.
Although a smart gastropub, with excellent service - as a pub/drinking place - its instantly forgettable. I think you would have a very good idea of what to expect.
Three beers on - a Charles Wells own Pale Ale and my chosen, playing it safe St Austell Tribute.
Nothing wrong with the place and apart from having a unique hold on the village by virtue of being the only pub, nothing to make it a destination place to visit.
On 30th August 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve Broadhurst left this review about Merlins Cave
I went along with friends last Friday night and what a great night we had. We had some lovely food and excellent beers followed by a live band. The pub has been recently decorated and looks really nice and the outdoor area is just wonderful. I would reccommend this pub to anyone and strongly advise you give it a try. 5 STARS !!!
On 11th July 2012
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Merlins Cave
The Merlin's Cave benefits from a superb location overlooking the Green at Chalfont St Giles. The Mock Tudor exterior is welcoming but unfortunately the inside does not live up to the welcome. It is a fairly bland small, two bar pub internally. The saloon bar into which you enter is comfortable enough albeit with two large plasma screens which gives it a bit of a public bar feel, but then the public bar behind is no more than a room for a Pool table. But what saves this pub is what then lies behind this.
Step outside and you step onto a large decking area covered by two enormous gazebo type umbrellas, and equipped with a purpose build large BBQ cooking area. And then beyond this is a large garden area stretching down to the River Misbourne. The sun was out during our visit in early May and it was very pleasant to sit outside. And I imagine in high summer this is a fantastic spot for an outside pint. The beers at the time of my visit were GK IPA, Fullers London Pride and Guest Ale, which was unfortunately off. Not the best pint of pride I've ever had but passable all the same.
They do advertise it as having a riverside location, but don't get too excited by this as The River Misbourne is at best a small stream at this point and well hidden from view.
One tip is that there is an associated Barn the other side of the car park which houses Sunday LunchTime Jazz sessions featuring local Jazz artists. It will cost £5.00 to get in, but if you sit in the pub garden with a pint you can hear it perfectly well. So bit of a Brucey Bonus to go along with the beer.
On 10th June 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]