The Weir Hotel, Walton on Thames

Usually okay service, today was nothing short of awful: An hour's wait for a meal when we had a 19mth old child with us. When the meal finally arrived, the majority of at least one meal was missing (and a good portion of two others) - the Waiter had unfortunately clashed with the door on his way out of the kitchen and decided to present us with what was left of our meals rather than return them to the kitchen, much to the amusement of another party and to the total disbelief of ours.
One of the steaks came with a steak knife, the other with a standard knife (it was replaced but only at our request). We received no other cutlery or condiments and had to leave the table to ask for knives and forks.
We received no table service for drinks either, despite having placed our food order at the table, and had to get our own at the bar (so did several other customers, I may add).
The missing part of the bacon burger meal arrived around five mins later (the bacon, bottom of the burger bun, most of the side salad...).
When I complained to the landlady, she didn't really seem all that bothered by the poor service and I overheard her speaking to a gentleman at the bar who quipped that we should have realised something was wrong much earlier as meals usually arrive at the table within 20mins (so much for patient customers like ourselves who were more than aware that it was a Bank Hol and the Pub was half full...).
The apology received from the landlady did not seem sincere, no apology was received from the waiter, no discount was offered despite this not being our first visit to the Pub (I've lived in Walton for four years and have visited it at least six times in the past month or so) and the landlady even joked - as she was processing my card - that it was clear I would not be leaving a tip on this occasion(!)
After paying the full amount of �51 (which would have been rather reasonable for 4 adult main courses, a child's meal, four soft drinks and a pint had the meals been complete and arrived without delay), I mentioned to her that I was surprised she had not even offered us a free drink. She said that the Pub was busy and that we should ask for one on our next visit.
Needless to say, after today I will not be visiting the Pub again.
If it has not been for the lovely, competent, barmaid who greeted us at the bar upon our arrival (just before 3pm, 14.04.06) and whose name escapes me (shoulder length dark hair, dark eyes, petite), I would have given this Pub a zero rating for today's diabolical service.

14 Apr 2006 22:55