The Albion, Verwood

Oh dear. What a strange evening! We had a quiet dinner at this pub on Saturday - a very rare night off from the kids and we went round the corner to the Albion as family had told us it was good. Had to wait 10 mins to get a drink and get seated. We were given two menus and no explanation as to why, the owner's wife (I can only assume) spent most of her time barking orders at the waitresses in front of customers and clearly thought they were all thick. They kept asking us if everything was ok but never offered to see if we wanted anything else.

In the end after a very long meal which was ok (microwaved re-heated veg yuk) we finally got a bill but we weren't offered coffee, despite the tempting signs everywhere promising lattes etc. We asked for the receipt back when we paid as we wanted a proper VAT receipt and got back the handwritten one.

We then went through to the bar where a little girl was running around - the same age as my own daughter - very sweet but I wasn't interested in having chit chats with her in the loos - we grudgingly got served by a very stroppy woman who never said thank you. We sat outside where another table, who knew the pub owners well was conducting a farting contest but went after about 10 mins.

Then the worst bit - they shut all the doors and switched off all the lights so we sat in the dark in the beer garden. We finished our drinks, took the glasses back inside and barely got acknowledged.

So, new owners - if this is your idea of service, I'd hate to think what wasn't.

Top tip: why don't you thank your customers for their custom?

7 Aug 2006 13:57