Is the NEW Cherry Tree open?

[foxgirl]

Is the NEW Cherry Tree open? Seems plenty of lights on but no customers. Have you been in recently? What?s it like?

[keilo]

I went for the first time the other week for an evening drink with a girlfriend. I was pleasantly surprised, the decor is nicer but most importantly the staff were really friendly (unlike the old Vale). Went back for lunch on Friday and the food was really good pub grub standard. It wasn't busy and I worry they will suffer for people not realizing how much it's changed. Hope people support the new management who are obviously making a real effort. Good quality friendly chilled out locals are worth supporting!

[KatDew]

I've been in a few times since it re-opened. Generally it's been ok but it varies every time.

The first time the drinks were very over priced but had come down in price the next time I went in.

Had one fairly reasonable meal evening meal.

One sunday lunch that was very good.

Went in this sunday though and it was very disappointing. The food was cold and the roast beef was like over cooked dry leather. And the place was freezing.

It has been pretty quiet every time I've been in though which does make me wonder how long it will last.

[Alan Medic]

I don't know where you've been keilo but not reading the forum it would seem.

[Cora]

I think you'll find the 'new' Cherry Tree is just the Old Vale........

[keilo]

Not sure what you mean Alan Medic, but I'm just saying I had a nice experience there the two times I've been there. No agenda, just supporting local businesses that make an effort. Lived in Ed for 12 years so seen many come and go.

[edcam]

Oh gawd. Here we go again!

[keilo]

Edcam, if you mean why does every Ed forum post degenerate into debate, them I'm with you. I really wish this was a forum for local people to chat and share stuff.

[DulwichFox]

How disputes used to be resolved. and with Goose Green on our doorstep... why not now.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FNqmkVSVhp4/T9jrlVlToEI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Irc_5S7EZq8/s1600/duel.jpg

Fox...

[Sue]

foxgirl Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is the NEW Cherry Tree open? Seems plenty of

> lights on but no customers. Have you been in

> recently? What?s it like?

xxxxxxxx

Try doing a forum search on "New Management - The Cherry Tree" ......

Other than that, my mouth is sealed with gaffer tape.

BTW keilo, definition of forum: "A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged"

[Cedges]

Don't care how nice it is, don't care how great the food is, don't care how nice the staff are this week, not all businesses deserve to be supported and until there is published documentary evidence that the place has been sold to entirely new owners,I will not step foot in the place. And I'm not the only one - thats why its empty.

[KidKruger]

"....my mouth is sealed with gaffer tape"

SO kinky...

[Sue]

KidKruger Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> "....my mouth is sealed with gaffer tape"

>

> SO kinky...

xxxxxx

:)) :)) :))

[edcam]

keilo Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Edcam, if you mean why does every Ed forum post

> degenerate into debate, them I'm with you. I

> really wish this was a forum for local people to

> chat and share stuff.

Oh I like a good debate (as long as it doesn't degenerate into a scrap) but I am referring to the exhaustive discussion of this ill-fated establishment which seemed to have gone away.

[keilo]

Cedges Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Don't care how nice it is, don't care how great

> the food is, don't care how nice the staff are

> this week, not all businesses deserve to be

> supported and until there is published documentary

> evidence that the place has been sold to entirely

> new owners,I will not step foot in the place. And

> I'm not the only one - thats why its empty.

Ok Cedges, point taken. What would you like to be done with the site? What would make you step foot into the place?

[foxgirl]

-- moved topic --

[mooseymoose]

we had a great meal in there on tuesday night there was a young girl chef who was helpful, as we had waited at the bar for 10 minutes to order but no one served us. It was quite busy and they seemed to only have 1 chef and 1 barman on, the food was nice, service not so great.

[Cedges]

keilo Wrote:

> Ok Cedges, point taken. What would you like to be

> done with the site? What would make you step foot

> into the place?

Nothing even needs to change assuming that the food etc is good, just needs to be owned by someone with a much better rep, someone whose pockets deserve lining and supporting. No desire to see anything other than an independent pub with good food, good ambience and good music!

[Bobbaz]

How disappointing. I've always thought that the Vale/Cherry Tree has the potential to be a really great venue, but failed. I went back after when they re-opened after becoming the Cherry Tree and was under the impression it had new management and was actually impressed with what I saw, good staff, good food cooked by a decent chef. I was taken by my family for the ?17.99 mothers day special and was gutted to see the same grumpy interfering manager there as used to run the Vale and feel like I was totally ripped off with sub-standard food.

To start I had battered prawns, which were actually pretty nice, even if the salad garnish had clearly been sat there for some time with dried up cucumber slices. The rib-eye steak that was supposed to be medium-rare was more than well done and turned out to be the most gristly bit of meat I've eaten in a long time and the champ was an incredibly salty (and I love salty potato but this was ridiculous) with the odd spring onion slice in. This was then topped off with cheesecake that was clearly a frozen job and tasted like that really cheap artificial whipped cream stuff, I've had better for ?1 from Iceland and this was priced at ?4.95 per slice! It was supposed to also come with cream but they must have run out (we were the 1st to be served incidentally).

My kids were supposed to have chicken nuggets but they were rather bizarre battered bits of chicken. My hunch is that the chef got confused with the only other kids option and thought he was frying fish fingers? The chips were the highlight of everyones meal and the rubbish cheap block of ice-cream they got for desert also screamed of poor low-quality food (served with a slice of lime which was also quite random?)

The waitress tried her best but was simply pulled in too many directions as they didn't have enough staff.

I wouldn't mind so much if they didn't price and market themselves as something that could compete with the rest of ED, but the price I paid for really poor quality food is appalling. ED has so many alternatives it's no surprise they don't succeed. I know I won't be going back in there again to eat.

[Sue]

Bobbaz, for a (very short, sadly) while it was an absolutely excellent place to eat and drink.

Yes they had excellent new management and a brilliant chef. Now they have different new management and from the sounds of it a less than brilliant chef.

This ten-page thread may explain your recent poor experience:

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?30,987030,page=1

[wonker]

Cheers Sue, that thread made my afternoon :)

I have given up the place now, for many of the reasons in the thread mentioned.

But make your own mind up, were all different.