The City Barge, Chiswick

I came to this pub a couple of weeks ago on a warm sunny Wednesday night and it was an absolute joke. Both the bars were heaving with people and there was just one member of staff serving behind the bar. The upstairs bar had a bell on it which stated ring for service. I rang this and received no service whatsoever. The lad behind the bar kept sporadically disappearing to take food out, interupting the already insanely slow service. On relocating to the bottom bar there were about 14 people waiting to be served. Glasses and plates were everywhere as there was nobody to clean them up. customers were so fed up with the mess they were bringing glasses and plates in themselves and piling them on the bar.
I don't know what the hell the people who run this place are thinking, understaffing was clear and the shambolic service reflected this. we shall not be returning here until the brewery take note and put some more staff on. One person is not able to cope with the numbers of punters who pass through the doors. A word to the wise- don't put a bell stating ring for service when there is nobody to come and serve you, it just irritates the customers who spend good money in your establishments. It's a pity as the location is great and the pub itself isn't a bad little place. But to stop this place going under it's time for the owner to invest in some staff- hardly rocket science is it???

17 Aug 2011 20:41