The Wheatstone Inn, Barnwood

Visited last week. Mainly a food pub, varied menu and prices not too bad! Good choice of wines too at a resonable price. Great service-really impresssed with both the attitude of the staff and the speed with which orders were taken and food delivered to the table particularly when they were so busy.

9 Oct 2006 19:13

The Night Jar, Ferndown

may have changed manager by now but we had a nightmare of a visit back in march. About ten of us went in for lunch, very little on the menu was available, the food took over an hour and fifteen mins to arrive and when we asked to speak to the manager the staff couldn't decide who the manager was --apparently three members of staff were sharing the responsibility!! Bizarre!
When one of the three came over (which took at least 15 mins because "they were busy") they refused to listen to our complaint. She refused to accept how long we had been waiting even though the time was printed on our receipt and was incredibly rude.
When the food finally arrived it was almost inedible.

In the end we walked out having paid for but barely eaten our meals and put the whole episode down to experience. The only reason we waited so long was because we were in a group and noone wanted to upset everyone else by being the one to complain. Never again!

3 Sep 2006 16:31

The Neptune, Boscombe

It often strikes me that this is a brewers fayre that the company have forgotten about.
Unfortunately have never really had a good visit here. Visited last week for the first time in a year or so, and the place does look a bit more "cared for" than on previous visits but having visited quite a few brewers fayre it always seems that this pub either does not attract or does not retain motivated staff.
On this occassion we checked before going in that the fun factory was still open and was advised it would be open for another hour, went in straight away with the children only to be told that the duty manager had changed his mind and it would be open for only another 20 mins. The kids went in and it was shut within 10mins!
Consistency is important--if asked a question by a customer its important that staff find out the correct answer!
To be fair the food was good (although standard brewers fayre grub)but it was unfortunate that a member of staff (possibly a manager) had to point out to his staff that we had been waiting longer than other customers for our food! After this was pointed out it was served quickly and with relatively positive staff!

3 Sep 2006 16:18