Village pub's frustration after negative feedback through website

A West Norfolk pub has said a review website can "destroy small businesses" after they received negative feedback intended for another pub with the same name.

The Duck Inn at Stanhoe has received comments on online American travel company website Tripadvisor which falsely disparaged the pub.

One comment said: "What a waste of time and money...Ordered two burgers. Would of got better in McDonald's...Will never go back again."

Posting on social media, the pub said the awful review does not apply to them because they do not sell burgers.

The post added: "Something needs to be done, this vile website can destroy small businesses based on anonymous lies."

A spokesman for the pub said: "This happens all the time, not because of the name, mostly because Tripadvisor is anonymous and open to abuse. I do not know of a single pub or restaurant that doesn’t despise the website and how it operates."

Tripadvisor has been contacted for comment.

The Duck Inn cooked and delivered meals to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and emergency services during the pandemic lockdown as part of the Food4Heroes national scheme.

The Burnham Road site was also placed eighth in 'Big 7 Travel's list of The 50 Best Sunday Roasts In The UK' last year.

And food critic Giles Coren was full of praise for the pub this summer as he wrote a gleaming report of his trip to The Duck Inn for a review in national newspaper The Sunday Times.