As a restaurant ...

I can't get enough of the food in this place. I keep convincing friends to try it and they are always instantly converted. The chef is a genius and changes the menu pretty much daily. Expect to pay more than in your avergae pub but it is absolutely worth it. The decor is very relaxed and comfortable and during the summer months they have a nice little beer garden. The waiting staff are usually pretty good. The guys behind the bar can be a bit moody but having been a regular visitor for about a yea rnow I think that's just their demeanour and its nothing personal

As a pub ...

Probably less interesting as a pub. The drinks are expensive and the choice isn't great. You really get the impression that they are mainly interested in food clients. A majority of the tables are laid out for food for instance. However, its not a bad place to meet someone after work. You could certainly do worse.

Food is consistently good and the menu changes every day.
Staff are friendly, always say hello and ask how you are (after seeing them a couple times).
Very relaxed atmosphere with great food at very reasonable prices with good sized servings, the Alma has got the Gastropub down pat.

The Alma is an enigma. The food is a hit and miss affair; I have eaten here on and off for the last year and find some nights it's great and other nights (usually busy ones) the portions small and the flavours lacking.

What lets the place down most is the staff. They are rude and quite often there is simply not enough of them. The Manager today just said to me "I'm going to have to move you". Hello? Where is the, "sorry, could I find you somewhere else to sit?" And this was at 6 in the evening, when they wanted to reserve the table for 7.30. Surely, they could have just said, we need to prepare this table, could we ask you to move for 5 minutes? Courtesy costs nothing!

In addition to this, they have a truly awful selection of draught beer (Guinness excepted).

The place could be great, but only with a serious shift in staff attitude and consistency in the food.

The Alma is a great place. I kept passing The Alma on my way home and didn't realise it had changed from the old boozer it used to be. But what a great change. Very chilled, really good food, and pleasant staff which makes a change. Sunday gets really packed so would suggest booking as they do a mean roast. You can also hire out one side of the bar for private parties. They have a cool sofa area and a really sweet garden at the back. Its definitely my local now.