The Sandrock Hotel, Shirley

Bad, Bad, unwelcoming, unfriendly with very rude staff.

This has got to be the worst pub I have ever had the displeasure of visiting. We were greeted by two very rude, surely and unpleasant waiters � who clearly were most displeased that we were joined by our 2 year old son. My friends had called ahead with the booked and requested a high chair. The �restaurant� only supplies two high chairs, which were both in use. As such, keeping a toddler seated is nigh on impossible. So rather than leave I shadowed him at arms length as he wondered quietly and slowly to have a look around whilst waiting for our food. I was rudely ordered �to keep my kid seated at all times�!!! A complete lack of customer from this man, who was happy to take our money, for what was in fact a mediocre meal. He even snickered when telling us that they were out of a desert that we all requested. What?! Not even the client facing skills to apologies politely. If his delivery were a little better I could have accepted what he said. However, they knew whom our party consisted of when the reservation was mad. If you are unable to cater for the party that be clear from the start, rather that putting paying customers through such an ordeal

We live over 2 hours away and were visiting family friends who wanted to take us for a cosy Sunday lunch near to them. I had high expectations as our friends have impeccable taste and told us that the food was locally sourced and meat was of high quality, generated via Smithfields. After a long journey we were ready to be welcomed, watered and fed. However, what I experienced was highly unpleasant and most disappointing
.
As it happens, my husband is a journalist for The Publican and will be paying this establishment a visit in his professional capacity. They would do well to remember the importance of reputation, referral and recommendation as by the looks of some of the previous reviews things are consistently bad.

18 May 2010 17:11