The Marlborough, Richmond

It�s a real shame, because the Marlborough, Richmond Hill has been a great venue for a Sunday lunch and a family friendly pub (almost to a fault) with a great garden, but the whole food experience is now pretty lousy. I only ever tend to go on a Sunday, so know what to expect in terms of waiting times for beer, tables, and then the long, but understandable (noting the size of the kitchen) wait for food, but the last few times I�ve been, it has been getting worse on several counts. I�m guess that at any other time in the week, the pub could still be a cracking local (and probably is) but needs a LOT of work on a Sunday. And a polite manager - if you can�t stay polite when you�re busy and making most of your week�s money, change jobs, fella.

I can easily understand that the staff may get grief as the wait from the kitchen is long on a Sunday, and when people are hungry and paying a reasonable amount for food, they tend to get a little fidgety. However, when it arrives, the food is poor quality, even the roasts at �13.50 where you would expect them to take a little bit of care � under and overcooked veg, poor portions, cold plates. Don�t go near the sweet potato curry, unless you want hard sweet potato, and a kids portion (�12.50 for an undercooked, veggie ready meal size / quality option). The Steak and Ale Pie -anaemic pastry, very average pub grub at best - and it used to be good.

The manager came over to the table and was rude in front of my guests and the rest of the tables around. I may be wrong, but I think a manager especially should really be trying to look after four customers who are spending approximately �100 with tip (bar staff were fine). If the manager is rude, it sets a poor example to the rest of the waiting staff.

I understand times are tough, VAT�s going up, it�s a recession blah, blah, and it�s difficult to keep a business going, but how about trying to offer a menu viewed as even vaguely approaching value / quality, and being polite to your customers, and then you may keep some of them or even grow a business. If you�re given a decent pub like this by Youngs, you must have done or be doing something right once at least. I�m disappointed, mostly because I�ve used to look forward to coming here for a Sunday lunch, and was giving it one more chance. You could always try a quiz night on a Wednesday or a Tuesday or whatever.

4 Jan 2011 08:56