BITE user comments - rubberduck2
Comments by rubberduck2
Further to my review dated 14 August 2014, I write two months off a year later to report that, unfortunately, nothing has improved and the situation has seemingly got worse with at least two members of Senior Management leaving the pub.
I telephoned Jackson's Boat at 6pm today and asked them what time they were serving food until, I was told 7pm. Sailing close to the wind, I telephoned them, around the corner from them at 6:50pm to see if I might put my order in to save time and pay when I got there - they would have been quite within their rights to have refused, I concede.
My gripe was that when I made my second telephone call, they told me that they had actually, again, stopped serving food early. By this point I had cycled 5 miles to visit. I had to turn around and come back. It wouldn't have mattered, seemingly, if I had of arrived earlier as the food service is as unpredictable as ever and they could not even maintain consistency for less than an hour. The left hand does not appear to know what the right is doing.
My second gripe is that it makes no logical sense whatsoever that Jackson's Boat should serve food during the day and not until later in the evening since the majority of people are at work during the day.
I had said that I would not re-visit the pub but I believed, once I had calmed down, that everybody deserves a second chance (in actual fact, this will be fourth instance of the same problem).
I was disappointed that, despite Jackson's Boat having the right of reply in respect of my last review, they have not bothered to exercise it. I feel that the staff are equally as disillusioned with the lack of customer care in this pub, largely it appears from the Management (if there is actually any left - please see below) and that they have all but given up on themselves.
The pub also appears to shut at a whim of an evening and as and when it suits rather than with any consistency, much in the same way as their entirely inconsistent food service.
I maintain that the pub has great potential and, by contrast the ale is excellent. It was unfortunate to note that they had ceased to offer Old Speckled Hen on tap (as of last year) although I am unsure as to whether they have reintroduced it as it was very popular - again, a sign that the Customers are not listened to (in that they stopped offering it in the first place) and the Managers do what suits themselves rather than their customers. They are not cheap either, for a pub that charges a premium on its' ales and food, one expects the customer care to go with it.
This pub comes, to and from me, as highly un-recommended.
12 Jun 2015 20:50
A tastefully decorated pub that, save for the Manager we had cause to unfortunately come into contact with, has otherwise welcoming, friendly and enthusiastic staff.
Having had a member of staff quite happy to serve us, The Manager came over and insisted on us providing ID. Looking all but too pleased, the Manager had to allow us to be served when we produced ID's but not before he had demanded my autistic brother recite his date of birth before he asked me.
Very humiliating. The barman poured a good pint of Hobgoblin - We got it in Bank's glasses and jugs were not readily available even though the staff member was kind enough to offer to investigate further.
Change was also in short supply adding tuppance to the pint cost.
15 Nov 2014 22:58
Not impressed - As far as I can see there is no advertisement of the pub around the local area and who the actual client base is is rather questionable. The pub has taken to closing early during quiet periods and being exceptionally unreliable in respect of buying food later in the day.
This pub was great, has great potential but has gone down hill, largely, I suspect, down to takings. If they actually advertised more then this might not be such an issue.
I don't think I will be bothering to come back as I have had enough of rocking up at a reasonable time (i.e 6:45 this evening - Thursday) to find they have already stopped doubg food.
From a common sense perspective, people get home from work, get changed and then go out - realistically they should be serving food in the evening rather than during the day if they are so short. Worse still, another day it was food until 7, another day earlier - they seem to just close up when it is quiet. No logic and hugely annoying when you pay a lot of money to travel over on public transport and go to the trouble. To top it off if you spend over £10.00 a card payment is free, as I could only buy a pint as they had stopped serving I had to pay £1.00 for the privilege of buying a pint or face a 30 minute walk to the local cashpoint.
Why oh why can the staff not serve the food themselves if it is so quiet. Being cheesed off, disappointed and upset is the understatement of the century.
14 Aug 2014 19:08
The British Lion, Folkestone
Hey Nick and gang!
Just to let you know I will be for my yearly jaunt again tomorrow night (travelling down from Manchester) and really looking forward to seeing you all.
Thanks as always for your hospitality , great service and great beer (hoping you have 49er on! but if you don't i'm sure you will have a lovely selection of real ales.
Beanie.
4 Mar 2019 16:47