Black Horse, Pluckley

Stay away unless you like a fight to round off your visit to a pub!

Stopped here for lunch last week and would never go back after the shocking service we received.

It was a lovely Sunday afternoon and the pub was just not geared up for it. The bar staff were doing their best but it appeared that there were just 3 people serving drinks, taking food orders and waiting on tables.

Our food was ordered at 1:40 and we went to the large beer garden. On the way there, we were told to pick up some cutlery but the there was none left. We asked if there was any more and were told someone would bring it to us. After waiting for 1 hour, I went to the bar and was told the food was literally just being done so went back to the garden and waited again. Another half hour passed with no food and no cutlery brought out! I asked again where the food was and once again the food was on it's way! I told the bar staff that this wait was a bit long and someone should have informed us it would be this long and was told to tell Julie.

FInally, after an hour and 40 minutes the food came out and some was brought by Julie. She asked if we'd like to see the proprietor which we said we would. We ate our food which was lovely although there wasn't much veg and 6 roast potatoes served up for 4 people!

Just like the cutlery, the proprietor never came out to us! We went into the bar to see why no one had come out to us and Julie went to get him. I don't know what had been said to him or what he'd been drinking or more likely taking but the owner came down and he had the shakes.

We were told we hadn't been waiting for that long even though I showed him my receipt with the time on it and were then told we had been rude to the staff. Not sure how as they were too busy to even talk to.

We didn't get an apology, just an argument and having been told that we were liars (with black and white proof that we weren't) were offered a fight and told to go.

As we left, the proprietor then made a scene at the front of the pub for everyone to see still calling us liars. Finally, one of the regulars who appeared to be drunk then offered another fight!

Needless to say, we won't be going back!

17 May 2009 08:42