The Hope, Wandsworth Common

This could be a fab pub - but the arrogance takes the edge off it.

Arrived for lunch on wet and windy Sunday at just before 12, walked in to an empty, but otherwise normal pub, only to be told by a bloke who had been hanging around outside the pub smoking moment earlier that the pub was not open for another 4 minutes (exact words) and that we must wait outside - in the rain.

Food itself was fine - nothing particularly special. There was a blackboard special offering mulled wine - but even 3 hours after opening they were unable to serve it because it "hadn't warmed up yet"

I think the whole staff attitude thing is nicely summed up by the leaflet describing the planned new years eve party. Apparently the bar will close at midnight for five minutes 'to allow the staff team to celebrate'. FFS.

Nice location & environment - but one to avoid until they get their act together. If only they had some decent local competition - then they'd soon wake up & smell the coffee.

31 Oct 2008 11:07

The Horniman at Hays, Southwark

Food was served cold-ish on a hot plate (obviously not reheated properly) - a relatively trivial issue that is easy to fix, you'd think. No.

Bar staff totally dis-interested in acknowledging the problem. Asked to see manager, still the staff made no effort. Eventually, after getting a bit antsy the manager finally makes an appearance - although I had to go to her, she couldn't manage to make it to the table. It soon became clear she also didn't care. Throughout all this, not once could someone manage an apology - which is all it would have taken to make things better.

In the meantime, someone at a neighbouring table accidentally smashed an empty pint glass on the floor. Staff members carefully picked their way round the debris rather than go to the effort of clearing it up; the shards remained there until closing time.

In summary - the staff clearly don't give a toss about their customers or the environment. Pretty pathetic. Given the location, this *could* be a fantastic pub. Unfortunately, it isn't.

P.

24 Oct 2005 16:22