We have been eating at this place for a couple of years and service had always been good. But three…read morebig disappointments in the last four visits have prompted a prospective 5 review to 1.
1ST ISSUE.
I recommended to my partner (Now Fiancee) to have her birthday party for a dozen or so guests at this place, providing we can book the small private room next to the dining room. This was 9 MONTHS before the actual party. We were told yes, that's ok and that was that.
Come the party 9 months later, we all turn up and guess what, we had been put in the dining room with a lot of noisy people. They had given the private room to about 4 people with laptops. I think it was a freemasonry meeting which is quite a regular thing.
We were absolutely disgusted that people with money can be put in front of loyal long term customers especially when the venue had been booked so long ago.
My partner had called in the day before to make sure that everything was alright, nothing was said about this.
Absolutely terrible.
2ND ISSUE.
A friend recently gave us a £50 voucher to spend on food at the Castle as an engagement present.
We had our meal which came to £36.50, I went to pay, not expecting £13.50 in change but a credit voucher to spend next time we ate, l couldn't believe it, I was told quite bluntly that the whole £50 had to be spent on the night. I tried to argue nicely that we should have a credit voucher, but the waitress (who doesn't like us for some reason) wouldn't budge on this.
I was told to spend the rest on drinks, but I was driving so this was a stupid comment. In the end we took a bottle of wine and a couple of beers, but this was not what we wanted.
My Fiancee has in the past run pubs and restaurants, she would have never done this kind of thing. (And has never heard of this ridiculous rule).
We were going to have our wedding reception for 50 or 60 guests at the castle, but not now.
For the sake of a few pounds they have lost out on all extra business. I emailed Kirsty (The manageress) the above issues but no one had the decency to reply, so put the above issues on TripAdvisor.
3RD ISSUE.
The other night, 18th July we decided to give the castle another chance and called in for a couple of drinks. We were duly served by Kerry, a very nice waitress who has always been very attentive in the past.
The other waitress who doesn't like us gave my Fiancee a very nasty look, and went away. A few minutes later an upset Kerry returned and imformed us that the management has said that we are not welcome any more, have to drink up and leave the premises. WE WERE BARRED! This was because of the TripAdvisor review. I only told the truth, and not abusive or bad language etc. We couldn't believe it and absolutely shocked at this treatment, and my Fiancee was almost in tears.
Terrible treatment of loyal customers. Is everyone barred who leaves a bad review?
It is very cowardly of the management to make someone else do their dirty work.
The Haven Berwick holiday camp does a lot of business with the castle, as we are caravan owners, the management was not impressed with the treatment of it's customers regarding the above issues. As we have owned a caravan on the site for years the management is thinking about cutting business ties with the castle and going elsewhere.
That's true loyalty.
All in all, The castle hotel, a very poor show.
It could have been so good.