Bull and Barrel Pub in Barrie

****EDITED**** I used to visit the Bull & Barrel frequently (I live around the corner) and it used to be my go-to pub. The food is excellent, and the service used to be superb. And then.... The last two times I attempted to patronize this pub (accompanied by my fiancee), there were issues. Both times, almost a month and a half apart (and on a Saturday night), we were turned away. The first time, there was a private function (which wasnt advertised on their website or social media), and the staff were not apologetic at all. Having to walk home and grab my car to change plans on the fly almost ruined our evening. The second time, just last week, we arrived at the Bull & Barrel to find that there were two private parties going on, but we could cram in over at the bar between a throng of people. I mentioned that this was the second time, and there was no mention on the website or social media, and we were dismissed with a shrug. I am just shocked at how the staff dont seem to care anymore, and how a once great pub has now lost me as a customer. The most convenient, friendly pub is now inconvenient and not very friendly. We are very, very disappointed in the Bull & Barrel.

Nice to have a local pub still that keeps things simple and maintains some tradition without the corporate feel. Good friendly service. Good food. Ample parking.

Good food, good staff cant complain

Just had the Friday special, which was Guinness steak pie. It was excellent.

I have been coming for years. I dont drink, i come for the food. They do the best darn steak and kidney pie anywhere! Food

I love this place! Great service and great food

Nice pub vibe... relaxed. Good pub grub. Friendly staff (Tara and Alexis)...they take care of you.

Excellent take out service! Staff packed up an order for my husband to bring home to Midland, and I was very impressed! Thanks!

This is a great place. We have been here several times, they have a great menu especially for lunch.

Nice quiet location, good food, good size portions for reasonable price. Accommodating waiters. Not the fastest kitchen, but the food is worth the wait. Will be back.

Great British pub food. Awesome staff and sports on TV. They have live entertainment. Great spot to spend a Saturday night.

Wonderful place to stop in

First time visiting. Really enjoyed the pub atmosphere, friendly and efficient service and food was great.

Great time, staff were more than accommodating. Very friendly. The sampler was tasty, If not maybe a little cluttered but overall expected pub grub. Ate pub grub and enjoyed it. All around a good experience.

Have eaten dinner here dozens of times never had a bad meal the specials are always great the services is amazing and the beer on tap is always perfect highly recommend!

The pub had a nice atmosphere, and the staff were friendly and polite. I had a burger and a Greek salad, and they were really tasty. The place was clean and cozy, and I recommend trying a meal here!

Authentic and a menu that truly reflects a traditional pub. Staff and owners are first class

Great English Food.

Rude person talked over the phone. I had called asking for drink options for RUM, but they blatantly denied answering my questions and disconnected the call, twice. Congratulations on losing a customer.

Food and service are consistently good. Pub atmosphere and pub style food. I will definitely be back.

Overall a good place. Seems odd to be in the back of an industrial strip plaza overlooking the HWY 400?!?

Our local go to pub. Always great service with a nice atmosphere. Food has improved a great deal over the years. Very accommodating with food intolerance.

Good was amazing and waitress was nice and welcoming. Will definitely be back!

You get an actual pound of chicken wings, Usually 12! Blue cheese is the best I have found with huge chunks of cheese! The staff is fantastic! Highly recommend

Food was just so much better than I originally expected. Caesar Salad and Reuben were both outstanding. Served quickly by very nice waitress.

We have been there twice. First time was Jan 12th, service and food was perfect! We went again March 22nd, service was bad!! Server didnt come to us to ask about drinks for about 20-25 minutes. When we did get to order, my friend made a joke that I was getting green because I was so hungry. The server looked at us and said its not my fault, its busy tonight. It took about 10-15 mins to get drinks. Than our friend ordered the same meal as I did (fish and chips) and he got a handful of fries (like 20). We asked the server if he could get more fries because he didnt get much and she said they come preportioned. She also said she could order more for $. I spoke up and said I have the same meal and I got more fries than he did. Server didnt look impressed and came back with a small bowl of fries. We are going to go back again this week and hope we do not get the same server. If we do, we will not be going back. Also, fries are the cheapest thing to sell. Doesnt break the bank to give more.

Service was very slow. Not sure if it was a training issue or short staffing. Portion of meatloaf was underwhelming, quality & preparation of food was good.

Wonderful food and staff.

Ive been here 3 times (based on other people arranging the work day lunch). The food is nothing special (bland and boring - I can cook a better meal at home), the service comes with attitude (and inattention to detail - e.g. my order was wrong and I was given the wrong bill) and the atmosphere is dark and dated. If youre just going for a beer and chat with the guys, its fine. I would not return - plenty of other restaurants who want business and work harder to get it.

Liver and onions was delicious! Service was great!

Was a good experience.

The prime rib is to die for!

wow what a gem! smells like a pub should, lit like a pub should be, service is straight to the point and friendly without be over bearing, wonderful and cozy.

The Bull & Barrel has always been a relaxing place . Good food and company. Its definitely not a place if you are a rowdy type. Addendum I still love this place. Nice to see them open on labour day Monday. Sad to see business down due to construction . It used to be 2 seasons. Construction and winter Now its down to one season CONSTRUCTION ! Sad to see a great place not up to its usual capacity. Today Jan.06/24 had a spill over from our regular haunt. Everyone especially people that have never been there before loved the food ! Made FRESH not from bags of frozen food . You know the Chef Mike aka Chef microwave oven. Want real food try it and evaluate the quality. Then you decide. Sorry they dont serve Happy meals. Kid-friendliness: Rug rats are made to feel welcome. Wheelchair accessibility: All flat no problems for those that cant walk the last mile

Wonderful little pub and friendly staff. Great fish and chips

Food was delicious, the staff very friendly.

What a great find! Love the atmosphere in the Bull and Barrell Pub. If youve never been in a pub, this place will show you what a good one is all about. Great food, prepared perfectly, tastes and aromas that tell you its made like homemade. Was particularly impressed with the taste and ingredients in the house side salad. Delicious. Friendly servers, excellent bartenders, if the traffic has you down on the way home, its not far off the highway to the Bull and Barrell. Nice selection of draft beers, Steak and Mushroom Pie, Classic Cottage pie, perfect wings, if you have never had a plate of Irish nachos, make sure you try them here first.

Great neighbourhood sports Pub Cozy atmosphere, a real British authentic atmosphere Great wings too Well be back for sure

Its a fantastic local pub. Food is solid. Beer selection is solid. Its a great place to get simple pub food and enjoy the simple pub atmosphere. Nothing too complicated at the Bull and I find that refreshing.

We loved our visit to the pub today. Alexis was truly amazing! She was kind and funny and anticipated our needs before we even knew what we needed. The food was so delicious and great portions. We had a great birthday celebration. Thank you all so much.

Good hearty food.

Great pub with decent food

Long wait for food

Service is great food very good atmosphere really nice

Fantastic food with great prices.

Great food, great service!

Quality pub atmosphere and food. Meat pies are made fresh for you from scratch. Cottage pie, steak and mushroom pie are on the menu. I had the Coronation special, steak and kidney pie, on my most recent visit.

Love this pub! Great food, staff and events :)

Great food and good atmosphere

Bad service and bad food

Always a wonderful place to go to - our own personal Cheers

Average food, overpriced!

Tara is amazing. Food always great. The Trivia night is full for a reason beyond Brenda and Ron - its a great pub! Food : 5/5

Always great service and delicious food! I had the beef dip with fries with a caesar I appreciate their covid care too, from the table with sanitizer and tracing sheet everyone fills out right by the front door, to friendly staff who greets you with a gentle reminder. Definitely going back!! The kinda place you can frequent often

I generally only review places that I have more than 1 experience with and the Bull and Barrel falls well into that category. Great, consistent service from all staff and especially Jennifer(manager). They know my name and my preferences. Have taken my staff here for a group outing and even with 12 people we got the same level of service. Keep up the great work!!

Great food and atmosphere. First time going and definitely will be back !

Great place for food and drink.

Its okay, says its a British style pub....not a British beer on sale though. Decent enough pint of Guinness and friendly staff.

Fantastic pie and relatively cheap beer. Really highly recommended will come back for sure.

This was a delightful surprise, the food was excellent and atmosphere was great. Did not expect this from the exterior and location. The wings where a surprise and are very good. The pub fair food was wholesome and filling, very kid friendly.

Love the place very quiet and friend staff and patrons

What a great little spot for a pint. The best thing about this place is it aint donaleighs.

This little gem was amazing. Home cooking was delicious and so reasonably priced! We had bangers and mash and roast beef special. My husband was so impressed because he was offered horseradish to go with his beef! Highly recommend and we will definitely be back!

Everything was fine until one guy at the bar started singing and whistling all by himself, then started yelling a conversation across the room. Restaurant has a regular group of customers apparently. A nice English style pub with a variety of food to sit everyones liking.

It was a quiet evening but the staff and kitchen make me know Ill be heading back again soon.

Great food, great service

Nice cozy corner, great place to visit.

Our server was a lovely lady and nothing was too much for her Were going next Friday again to see our good friend Bill Nadeau perform Food

Great place to eat. Good choice of menu. Helpful friendly service with good atmosphere.

The food was good and the service was awesome. Definitely worth a try!

Good food. Tara is an top notch server. Makes you feel like family. Now its better. Food : 5/5

Great service, jacket potato skins were really good, nachos ....not so much

First time there. Took friends that were looking for a British pub. We all loved it. Food was great as were the staff. Definitely going again.

Absolutely love this restaurant. When I think of a pub, I think of this place. Always great service and food and I ll be honest, I come here for the wings!! Love them.

The Bull and Barrel is not as easy to find than other spots with all of the construction on cedar point, however the extra hassle to get there is well worth it. Today my large family was accommodated after a funeral service and the wait staff was absolutely amazing. Truely some of the best service ive had throughout my life. The food was better than I expected it to be, i expected some 20 something year old rushing out mediocre food without a care in the world but i could not have been more surprised. The food was excellent, everyones food looked great with clear attention to detail. I personally had the Halibut and Chips and it did not disappoint. It was crispy and flavorful, the fries were unexpectedly great as well. Between our party of 20 i did not hear a single complaint. Obviously a lot of care goes into both the front and back of house operations and both should be applauded. I dont give out high praise like this lightly, this place was above and beyond with prices anyone can afford. Anyone who works here should be proud of themselves, and management should reward such amazing staff members for doing such an amazing job. Well done.

The way a pub should be. A real pub experience with authentic pub food to be enjoyed by all.

Food is great..prices reasonable..staff awesome !! We will be going back again soon..

This pub has been a local favourite for many years. Good food, great selection of beverages and comfortable atmosphere. Mobility impaired accessible. Typically an older crowd here. Reservations are recommended on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Always well plated and delicious. Good service and not too noisy.

Surprisingly great meal and even better entertainment. A great night all around

My wife and I have enjoyed many a wonderful dinner here and will continue to frequent, in fact we will be visiting again tomorrow. the Food first class, a great selection of drinks and a very friendly staff, what more could you ask for? the best pub in Barrie by far

A great venue for a private party, with friendly service and a welcoming atmosphere. Perhaps more craft beer options would be an area for improvement.

Came to this gem hidden away behind construction to a great meal and awesome service. We both had a starter, I had the fish and chips and have to say, this was the best I have ever had! Hubby had the wings and was far from disappointed!! We had 4 beers between us and the bill was under $100. We travelled from Alliston and will definitely be a return customer! I highly recommend Bull and Barrell if you are looking for a relaxing night out with excellent food and an amazing atmosphere! Thank you Tara, Jen and Liz for making us feel welcome. Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Great food, great drinks, great staff. The food is a little on the spendy side, but very, very good. The menu selection is huge, theres something for everyone

The Bull has been my local for more than 20 years and it never disappoints. Chef Michael prepared a special menu for our Christmas party and it was delicious.

Their gravy is to die for! The club sandwich was so fresh! Meatloaf is YUMMY! Wait staff act like theyve known you for years. The live music on Saturdays is an added bonus to visit.

Great Barrie gem! Hands down the most authentic Irish pub in the city. They do a small selection of pub food favorites really well. Most importantly they know how to pour a Gunness correctly, none of that priests collar garbage(if you dont know what Im talking about, go to the Bull and Barrel and get educated).

I went last night 29 December ,Im from England and took my three friends who are Canadian who have never been here before , the food and the service was outstanding thankyou very much .... Happy new year

Very nice atmosphere. Staff are friendly and attentive

Love this place. Great food and friendly staff. So glad theyre back!

Great food and service ... As always!

Cold beer good food. Say no more. Still a great plase. Good covid practice. Very tasty sandwich!

Waitress was a bit hard of hearing and brought 2 wrong orders and also got our drinks wrong. Food was ok. Very loud.

Will never return

Horrible service waited forever to get our food

Good food, good beer and friendly staff. Its a hidden gem.

Michael, the chef did the pub proud. St. Georges menu was awesome. Great job by all.

Traditional pub. Good service and reasonable prices for good food

Excellent food and great atmosphere. Reminds me of Pubs in England.

Fries all around were sub par, the burger for the price I would of expected it to be a fresh patty, not a frozen or fresh to frozen patty, the fish was soggy, the chicken fingers were an embarrassment in size and in cook as way overcooked. The caesar salad was edible. As for the side of gravy I ordered, I have no idea what it was but smelled like liquified stuffing, definitely was not anything that could be called gravy. It was a disappointment because when I walked in to get the order I was actually impressed by the establishment and the service as it seemed higher class for a pub and service was very positive.

Really friendly & great service.Love going there.

Nice place to hangout after a long week . Staff is friendly and the beer is great

Great experience. Food and nightlife was okay, but one of the staff members there was exceptional. Young Indian bloke by the name of Yaz Patel. He made the experience exceptional. He opened the door for me at the bathrooms, and handed me napkins. I felt like a King, like I was at home.

As sad as it was they didnt have Tenants on tap, its still a real nice to go for a pub night out..

Always a great meal, portions and service.

So this review is based off the food and service we received Our table still had crumbs on it and so did the seats Service was great Food was okay Onion rings & the fish its self was great Fries were alright Tartar sauce was not for us. Ranch was a good substitute

Good food, good service. Impossible to talk once the trivia night started. We will avoid TN in the future.

We came here on a Wednesday which is trivia night, never done one of these the energy was infectious we got wrapped up in it all super quicky, patrons and staff were friendly interacting with each other alot. The food was good and always has been when we come, I hope to be back soon .

Good food great atmosphere

Amazing little pub, food is great and comes out fast, great selection of drinks and the staff or A+++++

First time going there. Was fantastic. Very friendly and food was great! Thank you, it was worth trying

Onion soup and fish and chips. I had more food than I could eat and it was wonderful. Good presentation and extremely tasty Pure pub food but very well done.

Good food, cold drinks, relaxing atmosphere.

Since new to the business area, I thought I d give this place a try 4 times actually, before writing this review. While the ladies in there are fine, the cook is not so much. Could also be the owners being frugal, I ve tried the Caesar wraps, the chicken club, chicken fingers and now the burger . All were disappointing. I actually threw my burger out cause the bun was grossly soggy.

Great experience during first visit with family in tow. Even the musician became a fam-favorite! Laid back atmosphere with good vibes.

Food was great and price excellent. Lindsay was awesome!! Thanks ! Ill be back.

£55 top notch across the pond kinda deal... Cheers, where everyone might get to know your name, if you come to check the Bull & Barrel out. what a real pub definitely should be like bullandbarrel.ca You are treated like Hollywood royalty, Met with courteous smiles Live entertainment Family friendly Blue collar pitstop on the way home, please drink responsibly though Affordable date nights... hopefully Top notch Bar keep that can proficiently manage indoor/outdoor, circulation... however, though she wishes she could, doesnt have the time to cook though... Conveniently located off the highway before you hit Bayfield street... Come on in and leave with a smile, experiencing a wee bit of heaven on Earth

Good food, not super expensive, just give you a good sized serving of what you order so you re not stuffed when you leave, and most plates are 8-15$. I spent 25$ there and I got a poutine and 3 drinks, not bad, also service was good.

The service and food is always consistently good! Love the atmosphere and friendly vibe from staff and patrons. My go to place when I am in Barrie.

Great English pub food and more. Try this place in Barrie Its what a true pub is supposed to be Cedar Pointe plaza off Dunlop and easy access. Great food, great beer and fantastic service. One of Barries great eateries.

Really good food and beer selection is ok. Friendly service.

Good service. Nice pub atmosphere. Good was good.

The atmosphere was great and chill the stuff was wonderful

Bar in Barrie serving British pub fare. Went there at lunch time on a weekday so it was pretty quiet. I got the chefs special: beef madras. Service was quick and our waitress was super nice.

Great food, friendly staff.

Good sever Lynne. Food was good but serving seemed small or perhaps it was the bowl.

Great time here! Great pub vibe and our server was efficient and friendly.

I miss half-price wings but I understand our current climate. Thanks for all the great memories!

Dropped in for dinner and experienced the Burgers of The World menu, a selection of burgers named after different countries in the World Cup. We both had the Canada burger and in a few words the best burger we have had in a long time! This was a winner!

Food was good with cheerful service. It would be nice to see a selection of the many excellent local craft beers on offer.

The food is always great and its the closest thing to a real British pub you will find. My only complaint was that it took about an hour to get our meal. To be fair it was a Sunday evening and perhaps they didnt have enough staff that day.

I always love it here! The food and staff are great. I recommend having a reservation on the busier nights like Friday .

Always great food/service!

Great food and service.

The Bull have always been fantastic with my family. My husband is a local, and visits frequently to enjoy a nice cold pint. Recently he lost his brother (Stef) from England (who also loved the Bull). On Wednesday we reserved as a family at the Bull to have a drink in honour of Stef, and the Bull management were so accommodating, and amazing. The had a gift for Paul, and Jenn and Tara were very accommodating. Thanks so much for making a hard day, a glimpse of special -The Swietlinski Family

Best pub in Barrie!

Awesome place Great service

Good food friendly

Super Friendly staff and great food!

Awesome

Had lunch there today with my wife. Service was superb. Waitress knew the menu and specials. Was a delight to deal with. The homemade soup was excellent. The best Reuben I have had in a restaurant. The chicken on the club was real chicken breast. Asked for fries to be cooked extra well done. They were served crispy! The only way my wife can eat them. Excellent choice. Good prices. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Super service, cold beer.

The food is soooo good! Scratch made and delicious. The soups are homemade and the fries are hand cut. It is consistently good. Whether you grab take out or dine in or enjoy the patio. The staff is second to none! Enjoy all your English favourites like Cottage Pie or Fish and Chips with a pint of Guinness! Don t forget the bread pudding!

Great food, fantastic staff!!

A surprise visit by 9 adults. Handled without a hitch. Thnx.

Great lunch spot.

Great specials and staff friendly

Great place. Stopped in for breakfast. Easy menu and all the choices were delicious

Great Trivia night. Excellent service. Good drinks. Fair price. Just go there, youd like it.

Great pub and I would give it another chance - but we had lunch and the portions were small and the quality not great. I had chicken curry and overall the meal was too dry because the curry had very little sauce. But overall their menu is good British style fare and Ill give something else a try!!

When ever we come to Barrie we try and have a meal and drink here

Great experience all round.

Friendly staff and great food. The Cottage Pie was excellent and the two in our group who ordered Liver & Onions said it was the best.

Service was good wait wasnt long

Great pub grub in a relaxed atmosphere.

Nice ambiance, good service and good food

Awesome Fish and Chips! Very friendly staff and great service! Definitely coming back!

Good price and a decent meal but you will want a snack later

Ashley was awesome

Great locally owned business! Go here for lunch and have clients meetings

Great food and great staff!!!

Food is always amazing. But last night was even more so. We all placed our order for our meals. I ordered a prime rib steak, medium rare. Everyone got theirs except for me. Then the hostess came over and explained why. She didnt like the way my steak looked. She didnt feel that it was medium rare like I had ordered so she sent it back to the kitchen and made them make a new one for me. I was truly impressed that she caught this even before it came to the table.

An ok place. Had two different servers in the time there - the second server was much more courteous than the first.