Sir Winston Churchill, Loughton

Having enjoyed the Carvery on a previous occasion, I returned with my family the following weekend (a Saturday). As there are no other menus other than the carvery on display in the restaurant, I brought along some fruit, a yoghurt and a small sandwich for my two young children aged 2 and 3. I always do this as a back up, as it enables me (and other restaurant users) to eat in peace if they are hungry and there is no other alternatives available that they would eat. We had eaten like this on the previous visit and everything had been fine. This time I was approached by the waitress and asked not to use our food, as they had noticed we had done this previously - I asked if I could provide them some fruit and explained that they were eating bits from our plates that we had purchase, and similarly drinks for them from the bar. However, we felt uncomfortable eating our meals afterward and I asked to speak to the manager to explain. I explained we had previously enjoyed our food and attempted to say I felt embarrassed if there had been an issue the first time which hadn't been addressed. I explained that there wasn't other options available and the manager said there was a bar menu. I said that this was not displayed anywhere in the restaurant section, nor was I offered an alternative when asked not to provide my own food. I would have gladly ordered from this menu, had I been aware of it. At this point the manager said 'I can't be 'f***ed' talking to you' and walked away. I was very upset as I had been speaking calmly and politely and had actually enjoyed the food we had eaten! I asked the waitress if she would ask him to return, which he did after saying to the pub side of the bar 'it's sorted'. I tried to resume our conversation, but he walked away again saying 'speak to the manager' (which he is). Needless to say I was very disappointed with his attitude over what was simply an oversight that there were other options available. I have never been into the pub-side (due to the children) nor eaten there and I re-checked the carvery/restaurant menus and there is nothing to suggest other meals are available. An unfortunate end to a family meal.

4 Apr 2009 14:45