The Catherine Wheel, Goring

We've been going to this pub fairly regularly over the last few years but after our last visit, will certainly not be going back again. My family was visiting for the weekend so we decided to meet at the Catherine Wheel for lunch and a few drinks.

We got there around 1:30 and at about 1:50 we went in to get menus and ask what time they were serving food until. They were very brisk and said we had to get our orders in immediately, which we did. As 3 of us are vegans, we discussed a change to a vegetarian dish with the chef before the 2 o'clock deadline, bought another round, then went to sit outside and wait for our food. About 15 minutes later, a waitress came out to say the chef was refusing to make the 3 vegan orders as they had been put in too late! The chef was still prepared to cook the remaining 5 meals, but understandably we said we'd either all eat, or cancel all of our orders. After another wait, the waitress returned with all of our money, saying the chef wasn't prepared to budge.

The attitude of everyone working at the pub was terrible, and we were embarrassed to have taken our family there. It was an extremely unpleasant experience and we will certainly not be returning.

13 Sep 2008 15:08