The Star Inn, Lingfield

SAVE YOURSELF TIME AND MONEY.
I like to think of myself as a relaxed and laid back person, who always write a good review, credit where credits due, but my god did I get the shock of my life today at The Star Inn, Lingfield!
Got there at 1:45, asked for 2 sandwiches, were told there was a 30 min wait. I said that's fine, we went outside as it was a beautiful day, the pub was pretty quiet, I would say 1/4 full, but understood that they may have had orders in front of ours. The bar manager popped out and said they didn't have what I had asked for (a Brie sandwich?????) so offered cheddar instead, which I said ok too, but said would it be the same £8/10 price for a cheddar sandwich and he replied "yeah why wouldn't it be" and turned around and went back inside! Was a little upset by this as I could have made a cheddar sandwich at home for 20p or gone to coop and got one for £1.20!
Anyway, At 2:30 we came inside as it was cold and we thought they may have forgotten about us as it had been 45 mins by this point, as for 2 sandwiches that's a stretch!
So kindly asked when we could expect out food, we were one of 3 or 4 people asking the same question.
The girl said she would go check, no apology, no offer if a complimentary drink whilst we waited, then came out and said "not sure" and then served someone else!
The manager was having an argument with a gentleman who had asked the same but had been there an hour and wanted to know what was going in and the manager said "we are so busy the kitchen was back logged" to which the man and I said there is hardly anyone here. The manager said "well there was earlier"
So another 30 mins go by and the gentleman from before still hadn't got his food neither had we, (I mean come in how long does it take to make 2 sandwiches, no cooking involved)said to the manager they are cancelling their order and leaving, the manager said" it's bring cooked so I'll have to charge you for it." This did not go down well with the gentleman and he said why should we pay for food we haven't had, the manager said "well if you'll just wait it will be with you and then your not paying for nothing" I literally gasped and as I did the manager looked at me and said "you'll have to wait too, we are busy and there is nothing that we can do!!" I said "how about an apology and a complimentary drink or at least act like you give a damn" the manager just walked off. The bar staff also chose to ignore it.
So it's now 3:15, still no food for us or complimentary drinks. The bar staff were avoiding eye contact and ignoring us completely.
So we got up and said we are leaving, cancel our order. The bar women said "wait I'll check with the kitchen" to which my partner said "No, we've waited long enough, please can you just cancel our order and close our tab?" She walked off with the tab fob (our card had been placed in a slot behind the bar ad we were given a fob to then get our card back and pay, so my partner said "can I have my card back or the fob before you leave with it?" She just ignored him, so we walked round the bar to follow her as she held my boyfriends debit card in her hand and was moaning about us to the manager obviously thinking we couldn't hear and the manager said AND I QUOTE "for f%$ks sake, what is wrong with them?" To which my boyfriend said "our problem is that we have been here 2 hours, we have ordered 2 sandwiches, a few drinks, asked politely where our food was after waiting patiently for 45mins, then a member of your team has walked off with my debit card and you are saying for f*$ks sake in front of us, whilst eating a meal!!!!!" The manager was sat down with 2 bar staff eating meals (not just a sandwich or wrap but full blown meals) whilst we were still waiting for 2 POXY sandwiches!
He stood up, took the debit card out if the bar staffs hand, went to he till with it, printed off out tab for our 4 drinks and put the card in the card machine before we had even looked at the bill! I said "excuse me, you can not do that, you need to show us the bill before presuming we are happy to pay" he said "what do you want then?" I said calmly " 2 and a half hours ago I wanted a sandwich, now I want to leave this pub with an apology from you and your staff, 1 for your attitude, 2 for the Lack of service, 3 for the lack if food, 4 for swearing at us and 5 my card back!" He said we owed him for 4 drinks. So I reluctantly paid him £10 for the 4 drinks (2 diet cokes and 2 largers!!!!!!!) and left, to the sound of about 2 or 3 other couples saying the same and asking for their money back or to just cancel their orders!

As it was gone 3 on a bank holiday Monday, it was too late to go anywhere else plus I was close to tears as it had got me so upset and I was absolutely dumbfounded by the whole thing. So we went to Waitrose, bought a baguette, pate, some olive, sundries tomatoes and nibbles coming to a total of £9.67 and within 6 mins we were eating this in our own garden!
What a waste of time and money! We have read reviews saying that this place has delivered its fair share of appalling service, FOOD POISONING, bad manners an long waits. How it's still open and has customers I DO NOT know!
I just want to forewarn anyone who doesn't like their weekend ruined to avoid at all costs!

I will be writing a letter to the chain management (not that it will do any good, also from reading other reviews now, a couple complained and were told to basically stick it and they didn't give two hoots!

Please go to the plough or even Waitrose!!!!

6 May 2014 00:13