I used to visit this pub a lot as I worked locally - it was always a bit hit and miss, but not bad for post work drinks. After my recent experience, however, I won't be returning and nor will a lot of my friends/family.
I met a friend a couple of weeks ago for coffee. We were only there for about an hour, in which time I had 2 coffees and my friend had a soft drink - it was extremely quiet, almost ghostly, which it never used to be. A few days later I received a car parking ticket from eurocarparks- it seems the pub has decided to install a parking meter since I visited a few months ago. After reading a similar review to this from another customer and seeing a very polite reply advising the customer that if they had contacted the pub they would have cancelled the ticket for them, I decided it was worth getting in touch- after all, I was a genuine customer and it had been a genuine mistake.
I sent a couple of emails and tried to contact the pub via Facebook, but all communications were ignored. In the end I called to discuss it over the phone and advised I had emailed a few times but not heard back. Before I could finish my sentence the incredibly rude manager interrupted me and said: "can I just stop you there? Is this about car parking?". I explained that it was, to then be told the pub can't keep up with all the emails they receive about car parking and they don't reply to them!!!? Clearly I'm not the first to have experienced this! The rather obnoxious woman proceeded to tell me she was sick of having to continually tell customers that there are signs in the car park (obviously not very clear ones if she's always repeating herself!!) and that I would need to send in proof of purchase in order for them to cancel my parking ticket.
I only had a card transaction for one of the drinks as the rest were paid in cash and i didn't think I'd need to keep the receipts. I sent the card transaction over the proved I was a genuine customer of the pub, only to receive a reply abruptly advising that I did not spend the minimum threshold of £5. I had actually been due to meet a friend at the same pub for dinner the next evening and replied to the manager urging her to help and to hopefully see the value of my repeat custom. I was ignored again and when chased, told I had breached the terms and conditions and I would have to pay my fine. I had to pay £50 in the first 2 weeks or £85 thereafter.
Whilst I appreciate I was partly to blame for not noticing the signs, I found the service and demeanour utterly appalling and extremely short sighted! I obviously changed the pub I was meeting my friend in for dinner and we went to the Heron on the Lake instead - it's just round the corner and free parking! our bill came to over £100, so a total loss for The Oatsheaf.
Furthermore, the minimum ticket cost at The Oatsheaf is £2 for 2 hours, which is quite a lot for a pub to charge customers who are meeting for a quick drink and don't reach the minimum threshold. Maybe that explains why it was so quiet when I went - it's gone very downhill.
I strongly recommend those looking for a pub in fleet try the Heron on the Lake instead. The parking is free and you get treated like an actual customer, not a criminal. read more