Leather's Smithy, Langley

We went to this pub after a lovely walk (despite the wind and snow). The Leather's Smithy Inn is not only on route as part of a walk but it claims to be "A popular haunt with walkers, fishermen and country lovers". In addition they state that "A warm inviting interior with real fires welcomes the visitor". With this information at hand, and with it being local to the family we were visiting (recently moved to the area), we thought it the perfect place to end our walk. How very wrong we were.
Two members of our party had met us there and had already got a drink, otherwise we would have left instantly, for only spotlessly clean and dry walkers are welcome. We may have been slightly windswept, but we were not muddy and as all polite patrons do had wiped our feet as we entered. However, the first of our party to enter were told very rudely that they could not enter part of the pub as they would 'ruin the furniture' and 'anyway, you're all only 14'. We had one under-16 with us (who I can only assume are another group not in the welcome list) but regardless, this comment was aimed at my sister who is 30, the rest of us are similar ages and upwards. Despite this rude welcome we were determined to have a nice drink so found a table and sat down - we then bought a large round of drinks, we were not merely there for a coffee or a glass of water, and potentially would have had Sunday lunch. Throughout our drinks we were subjected to constant 'evil' looks from the two women at the bar and in addition, when the waitress was passing there were no 'pleases' or 'excuse me' but 'I need to get passed' etc. Some of our party tried to make use of the warming fire but were instructed coldly to 'sit down so other people can benefit'. This was the last straw for us - we finished our drinks and left, not even waiting for our lift to get to the door, instead preferring to wait outside in the blizzard, frankly it was warmer!
It was not just us who were feeling unwelcomed, I must add. Others at the bar were told that they shouldn't be in certain areas, customers were harassed by the waitress when she was insistent that the two childs' portions of Sunday lunch were for them, despite them being far from children, and many commented on the unwelcoming attitude of the staff.
In sum then? We thought this pub would be a lovely local where we could frequent after family walks, go for lunch/dinner, pop into for an evening drink. However, we will never go there again as we were so offended.
My advice to others? If you are clean, dry, at no risk of being accused of being 14 (so at least 30+ ?) and do not mind being condescended by the staff, then it may be a great pub. For the rest of us, enter at your peril and for goodness sake, don't whatever you do try and benefit from the fire, it is far from welcoming!

20 Nov 2007 11:18