The Gate, Ifield

Family pub, very clean, quiet atmosphere, rural location. Selection of 3 Ales, all of which were served too cold. We had to wait for 1 hour to be seated having already booked a table for 7:30pm. Starters arrived quickly, however the Tomato and Basil soup was a Heinz tinned soup with added Basil. The Main courses were dreadful. 1)Fish and Chips - really oily fish. 2) Garlic Chicken - chicken was processed and overcooked. 3) Sausage and Mash - Sausage was revolting. On complaining to the landlady, she said she "didn't have time for this" and walked away. Her husband then came and took the meals away. The landlady then came over to the table and said "no-one has ever complained about the fish before" and walked away again. When the bill arrived the meals had been deducted from the bill, however the landlady then came over to us, placed a hand on the shoulder of my girlfriend and told her "the likes of you come in here looking for a free meal and that is exactly what you got" when we very politely told here that she can't speak to us like that, she shouted at us "you're barred" and asked her husband to show us out!! I have never been thrown out of a pub or restaurant in my life and can not believe we got barred for complaining about the quality of the food. Needless to say we will not be going back!

4 May 2006 13:38