Platform Three - Solihull

Decent little bar off the main road into Solihull TC ..food was quite decent service quick from the bar

Only pop in here on odd occasions, always busy with good atmosphere

I just took my 93 year old Mum here for Sunday lunch. She probably doesn 't have many years left, so me and my Sister are trying to take her out for posh treats whenever we can. The food was delicious above average traditional English roast. Not quite haute cuisine, but above average. I had the braised belly pork which was fine, my Mum had the roast beef, which was not fine. Sadly, the beef was exceptionally tough, quite gristly, and not very well carved either: closer to thick slabs than finely carved roast slices. My Mum is of that war generation that don 't like to make a fuss so she laboured away hacking and sawing at her beef. Eventually on the edge of tears she was persuaded to hand over her plate to me to cut up her meat poignant mother son role reversal), and even *I* struggled! She ate as much as she could remember: war generation, rationed meat, never let anything go to waste) but gave up, declaring: well, I 've had enough, I don 't *need* any more and I can 't face any more chewing . I 'm not one to complain remember, my pork was fine but I drew the waitress 's attention to the problem and she said she 'd talk to the chef. She returned insisting that she couldn 't offer us a discount NOTE: I didn 't *ask* for a discount) but she could offer us a free dessert. We politely declined, mainly because that wasn 't the point. The point was that the food wasn 't good and the chef needs to know that. We left, not feeling at all that our message had been heard: there was a problem with the beef, and it doesn 't matter how many discounts or free desserts you give people, if the meat is impossibly tough people aren 't going to come back. My Mother 's final word on our lunch outing: Disastrous . I tipped the waitress who had been very attentive, but we won 't be going back because it was expensive £72 for 2 x 2 course meals) and the chef can 't cook.

This is really near the train station so I popped in for a beer as the weather was good and it was a Friday afternoon. The staff initially were really nice and professional and the place itself is beautiful (Kudos to the owner/designer) Anyway, I thought I 'd pay a compliment to the (other) member of bar staff, the beer is really nice and I said; It 's a nice pint here to which she said; Oh yeah, I brewed it myself! I just kind of laughed but realised she wasn 't joking . I was only giving a huge thumbs up, I was thinking of holding a small family celebration there if that is an option? (I hadn 't approached them about this yet) Overall, a really nice place, beautiful decor and ambience, spoiled by a strange comment. I won 't be back.

Thanks to all the staff who made a sad occasion a celebration. Gathering for a wake, the whole afternoon was seamless, with the complete attention of the staff without being noticed or in any way imposing on the grief that was being felt. Impeccable service and a selection of food, second to none, ti's establishment is a must for happier gatherings. If you need relaxation and an unrushed time with service to be bottled, this venue a must.