Just the average pub food and grub. Usually just head up for a few beers and some chips.

Solid pub type food and service; the Porterhouse Steak was nicely cooked, and well presented and priced.

The wine list contains reasonable choice, in terms of variety and price (per bottle and per glass).

I made a booking on a Wednesday night so I could also see the filming of the Back Benches TV show – when making the booking I was told that I could not be guaranteed a table in the front of the bar (where the show is filmed), but was pleasantly surprised to find on arrival that the lady I had spoken to when booking had been able to reserve a table for me in this section.

Overall, a good ‘pub grub’ restaurant with service and prices to match – no complaints from me, but at the same time, no ‘x’ factor.

Popped in for lunch on a Friday, although busy there was no wait for a table. Our drinks order was quickly taken, and came within a short time. The menu gives a good choice of foods, and when ours came (it probably took 10-15 minutes, I wasn’t really keeping watch of the time) it was cooked superbly and well presented. Our waitress was polite, friendly and gave excellent service, even quickly addressing me having misread the menu without any fuss. The only downside with the Backbencher is that although there is a wide choice of beer, none of them are really anything special- there was no craft beer on tap at all. Fair prices, good atmosphere, great service and food.

We arrived at 6.45 pm on Saturday evening 30 March. Service quite good; girls very pleasant. We ordered the turkey schnitzel and the Scotch fillet. Both were supposed to come with pancetta-wrapped beans. Not! All we got was some nicely cooked meat (steak done medium-rare to perfection) and masses of fairly dry potato! No sign of any pancetta or beans. We complained; they said they had run out! No attempt to compensate, or adjust the bill, either. We expected better.

Pub grub but nicely presented and great service, well we had an excellent, friendly, attentive waiter.

We went on a Saturday for lunch at 12.30pm during the Easter break. Yes, they were open.

The food was nice, but very fatty choices (ie, eggs, bacon buttie, black pudding, french toast, hot chips etc).

Good place to go to see all the political memorabilia and take your photo with a character.

Probably a good place to go for a drink, as the food can be pretty fatty.

No wonder politicians are chubby…

Fabulous menu with lots of choice. Cleverly tied in with recent politics.
Service was fast and friendly, food was great. Pleasant atmosphere. Unfortunately no room for dessert – maybe next time!!

I visited today for lunch with a group. The food was excellent but our overall experience was distinctly average because of the terrible service. I note that someone else has commented on pleasant, friendly service, so it may be just that we were unlucky to visit on a weekend.

Actually, our service was perfectly friendly, but also completely gormless. We waited far too long for our food, receiving it after two other tables which had ordered some time after us. We had made it clear from the start that we had limited time.

One of us was undercharged (we fessed up) and another overcharged by $10.

But the portions were very generous and all the vegetables beautifully cooked (I had poached eggs with field mushrooms & wilted spinach on delicious bread). I’d return, but would hope to encounter waiting and cooking staff with a few more wits between them.

Excellent food – the ravioli was superb and the pate was excellent. Pleasant, friendly service. We will definitely go back there.

went there for the first time and was pretty impressed. steak was great. plan to visit more often.