I booked a function at this place, went into detail about the food etc. booked accommodation for the night, emailed the day before to confirm everything… was then called to say I had no booking, they didn’t know I still wanted to come, as I hadn’t been in contact for a few weeks…(who contacts somewhere when you think you are all booked in)
I was then told the bar and restaurant was closed anyway, and had been for weeks!

Was in absolute shock, instead of them apologising, I was told it was my fault. When I said numerous times if they had doubt in their mind that I was not coming, why did they not call me sooner? They should have contacted me! Would not recommend this place to anyone! The owner was so rude, and needs a jolly good lesson in customer service, manners, and how to run a business!

When my husband suggested we dine at the Grand Hotel out in Helensville, I believed it to be a cheap trick to visit his favorite old pub from his youth “glory days”. However, both me and my husband were more than pleasantly surprised to find the building had been resurrected beyond what I had thought possible!
The dining room was beautiful, white table cloths, red walls accompanied by beautiful art and a huge fireplace (can’t wait to revisit in winter to see it roaring). The food was amazing, the staff said there were new chefs and that this was a new menu. From complementary starter breads, entrees through to desserts the food amazed us! Even as we left we were offered Wethers Original’s instead of your standard yuck mints!!!
Top Food.
Top Setting.
Top Staff.

10/10

i visited about three times since they opening day.

first time, three of us had lunch/dinner all day price, the seafood chowder had too much pepper which made me headache and frozen seafood which doesn’t taste like fish. . however fish&chips was allright but we didn’t see the value for $24 (fish and chips $24) as lunch meal in Helensville.
but the South African style desserts and dining by fireplace is lovely

ive heard that they finally have new lower lunch price, but the food definitely need work.

A real disappointment – the restaurants site lulled us into the expectation of quality. Reality was a sad slightly tragic 80s farce- a pub trying to get flash and not pulling it off. we were presented with 3 different menus all on copy paper …yes 6 people x 3 floppy sheets of paper each that all looked exactly the same at first glance – confusing messy and kinda weird -Though the restaurant was empty – the wait for our table of 6 was the longest I have ever experienced – entire table found the garlic bread inedible for fear of losing teeth it was so hard – Wedges and bean mash were well done and presented – everything else was appalling TRULY – MacDonald type fries made up a third of main – salad was truly retro and the filo parcels were freezing cold in the middle …the poor waitress was scared ….the manager and woman on desk were either blank or dithered ….as we hardly saw the waitress – she seemed to hide …we had to go in search of someone to complain to…..so overpriced confused try hard and not worth it – I recommend they do pub fare and do it well – good honest food – not trying to get sophisticated and looking quite frankly like Fawlty Towers.Please don’t blame the staff or the chef blame the owners expectations of them

Located in sleepy Helensville , on the corner heading our of town. Refurbished Hotel and public bar. Ate a light meal of seafood chowder in a boule and BLT. The seafood chowder was pleasant enough, but not very big, and the BLT wasn’t toasted, but the ingredients were nice. Surroundings need abit of work, but I guess it’s a public BAR! Think it could offer slightly better value food, and some music. Staff were very nice and I might visit again, when they settle into their straps. There’s also a fine dining restaurant? next to the public bar, Auckland prices. didn’t eat there, but it looked very nice.