The Goldengrove, Stratford

The service is very poor, slow and reluctant although some staff are better than others. The attitude of some of the staff is really appalling and as someone who used to run pubs and bars, based upon my experience here I would never employ anyone who'd worked at Wetherspoons - it would be quicker to train someone from scratch than change so many bad habits. By early evening the toilets are stinking, often blocked or just not working at all. The little garden at the back is a lovely mature garden and gets plenty of sun. I considered it a haven (being a smoker) until, the other day, when over a period of a few hours I saw a huge rat making several journeys along the wall towards the kitchen. The garden doesn't seem so heavenly now and I won't be eating there again, not that I'm a fan of their food anyway. This Wetherspoons has the usual advantage of cheap beer but all the disadvantages of the chain (impersonal, sloppy service, poor quality food etc.) seem to be magnified in this particular bar.

18 Oct 2011 18:07