The Grenadier, Belgravia

Having discovered this pub in 2007 it became one of my favourite places to take family visiting from overseas. The land lady was always welcoming and shared the odd story or two about the 'ghost' of the pub and the story behind the money on the ceiling. I have been back 5 times subsequent and each time been more and more disappointed. After the lastest experience, I finally feel I need to post a review.

Last night was my fathers 60th, all my sisters had flown in from overseas as a surprise and emerged from the back area as the grand surprise! This was meant to be a really special night. We ordered champagne, only to have the incredibly sour barman trip over the bottle holder and spill an entire bottle. No apology or even acknowledgment he had done this was given, however he then actually opened a different type of champagne in a miniature bottle (?) and topped up our old champagne glasses with this new type of champagne!?? I of course questioned this bizarre behaviour and he replied, "oh it's fine to mix champagne as this is a better champagne"....We were the only guests in the side/back room at about 9pm, and my Dad made a quick call to his brother to say what a great surprise the whole night had been, this of course meant an argument erupted between Mr Rule Based barman and us, regarding the phone policy. I totally get the phone policy - there is nothing worse than someone loudly ranting on their phone, but when you are the only people in a room, and it's very quiet and quick and obviously a special night (or trying to be) I do think a level of understanding needs to be given. Then of course we moved onto the no photo policy - yes, we were advised we couldn't take a photo of this memory. After the �330 bill with a �40 'service' charge was paid, I quietly approached the land lord to express my disappointment of how a super little pub has gone down hill, and he informed me in a very aggressive tone, I know what you have been up to, talking on your phone and taking photos. We don't allow the paparazzi to take photos...OK so now I am paparazzi? Basically I was made to feel like a criminal. He also said that we were a huge inconvenience as we were half an hour late, when in reality, the surprise guests turned up early to get into hiding and Mum and Dad were 15 min "late" as this was being set up...

I would give this pub a good rating on food, but for service, it wouldn't even register a zero.

17 May 2010 12:26