The Woodman, Woodmansterne

I'm smiling as I type, but I wasn't the one wearing the lipstick! :0)

Yes, I agree that lipstick can be hard to shift in a glasswasher. However, and I speak from experience as I used to have a restaurant a little while back, the issue is about providing a standard and a level of service. Therefore you check your glasses and everything else pertaining to dining when they are put back on shelves.

In the nicest possible way, perhaps someone brave could contact the TV production company representing a Mr. G Ramsay for a little help? ;0)

Honestly. I hope things turn around, I really do. As a soon-to-be local, I'd like this to be my really lovely local, and one that I'm proud to support.

25 Jun 2008 22:25

The Woodman, Woodmansterne

Apologies in advance, but I'm afraid to say that I have to agree with the reviewer below regarding service! We popped in for lunch a couple of weeks ago as we're new to the area. I agree that the pub is in a lovely location, and it's great that children are allowed actually (yes - parents do have a social life!) so we were pleased to know that The Woodman was around the corner.

However, the service was very slow. The food on that day seemed good, honest pub grub and we were pleased with the dishes. I wasn't too impressed with the overall cleanliness of the place to be honest. Tables were dirty and sticky, and the condiment trays were very unhygienic. I've been in some real spit and sawdust places, so I'm not too prissy, but I thought it was obvious that the staff were struggling even though the place wasn't too busy at about 3pm on a reasonably sunny day. Plates were just left to pile up on tables indoor and out, and with leftover scraps and flies buzzing about inside the pub it was a bit unpleasant. I had a glass of wine that wasn't the best (that'll teach me!) and I was further unimpressed that the glass was filthy and that there were lipstick marks (ack!). On returning the drink, the staff were apologetic but clearly thought that "just water marks" on the glass were accceptable. The wine was promptly tipped into another glass, when I would have expected a fresh glass of wine to have been poured. At this point, I gave up.

I wouldn't be one for having sterile wine-bar type pubs in the village; I think it's important for a country village pub to have a bit of character. However, I don't think we'll be frequent visitors until the place improves to a better standard. At the moment, it isn't somewhere that I would want to take family and friends for lunch when they come and visit.

On the whole, it's a shame that the place is an uninspiring, uninviting place in its current state. That said, if folks are trying to turn it around and there is a definite improvement, I'll give it another try some day!

12 Jun 2008 17:36