I've just been into the hare and hounds for a meal with my mum, my brother, my 3 year old, and 1 year old. We ordered 3 adult carverys, and one child carvery, with a view that my one year old would share the child portion with my 3 year old, as my one year old wouldn't eat very much. (I mentioned this when ordering, to make sure it was ok).
When I went up to the carvery, the chef was very pleasant, and gave me the child plate first with the chosen meat, which I then, as you do with carverys, filled the plate with the vegetables on offer.
My brother ran the plate back to my mum, who started to chop the food for my daughter, whilst I sorted my plate at the carvery.
Whilst I was still at the carvery, the manageress was speaking very loudly to her staff, specifically so my mum could hear, questioning how much she should charge for the plate of food I had given my child, as it was far too much for her to eat! She repeatedly discussed the fact that we had put far too much food on this CHILD PLATE, and that we should be charged extra for it!!
The whole idea of a carvery is that you are allowed to put as much food as you can fit on the plate you are given!
(As it goes, my daughter ate all but about 4 mouthfuls of what was on the plate!)
This rudeness from the manageress made us feel quite uncomfortable throughout our meal, as we felt we were being watched the whole time.
As for the food itself....
We were amongst the first few people to come up to the carvery within minutes of it being declared 'ready'
The roast potatoes were clearly old potatoes that had been reheated (possibly even several times they were that bad!) as they were soggy and discoloured. The puréed carrot was extremely sloppy and full of water. The gravy was like water, and the Yorkshire puddings were ready made ones, which quite frankly is pretty embarrassing for a carvery roast!
When I came to pay at the end, the bar staff served 2 other people that had arrived at the bar after me (clearly locals that the staff knew....) before the manageress then served me. I paid with my card quickly and left.
When I got home, I worked out the bill, and they had charged us for 4 adult meals!!!!
As it goes, I'm actually from Riccall, but live elsewhere now. This pub seems to have a different management team each time I have come back and ventured in. The last time before this accasion, the food and service was excellent. This time (April 2014) the food and especially the service was appalling!
I think that the fact it was Easter Sunday, and there were only about 4 other tables occupied speaks for itself really!
I will wait until the management changes before I go back! read more