The Lion Hotel, Farningham

We went to the Lion Hotel on my birthday, at the end of June 2010 for a meal. I had been there less than a minute when I heard one of my fellow customers complaining about poor service, only to be meet with an indignant staff member who met the complaint with aggression. I waited at the bar for 15 minutes, only to be told I should join the queue for food. I advised the staff member that I didn't want food at that point and just wanted some drinks for my family and I, and that we were very thirsty! I was met with head-on sarcasm and unhelpful comments, and the staff member strolled off in a huff. Meanwhile, I had to queue for a further 15 minutes to get my drinks. Upon finally getting served, I was advised that if I wanted food, we would have to move tables since there was a staff shortage and food was not being served on the grass (the 'nice' area), but only on the concrete close to the road (the 'grotty' area). The food was excellent, but the portions meagre, and nowhere near enough bread to accompany the pate. The environment at this pub is excellent, and Farningham really is a delight. However, what lets this pub down is the appalling service, the rude and arrogant staff really couldn't care less about the clientele, and if there's a problem, it seems to be Lion Hotel policy to blame everyone but themselves. Shame, this could be an idyllic place with some retraining, and some additional staff who really care.

29 Jun 2010 13:05

Jim Thompson's, Chislehurst

Jim Thompson's has now gone. It has been replaced by 'Zizi's', an Italian-style restaurant.

18 May 2006 13:47

The Bird In Hand, Bromley

This is an ideal pub if you've got younger kids. The beer garden features a large wooden climbing frame, and there's plenty of room to run around. Sunday lunch is great value, and is very popular, so ensure you get there early. In the summer, you can eat outside, but beware the wasps! There's the occasional bird show in the garden, and these feature falconry etc. The beer selection isn't that bright, and they often only seem to have Tetley available on Sundays. Overall though, the service is good, friendly and attentive.

25 Feb 2005 14:03