The Withies Inn, Compton

A desperately pretentious place. On the plus side: stunning location, beautiful garden resturant setting, perfect for a romantic summer evening dinner or perhaps a Sunday lunch. Restaurant inside looks good too. On the minus side: clientele is dominated by faux-sloane, nouveau-riche types and their brattish teenage kids sitting outside. They behave boorishly as if they own the place, just because they are regulars (big deal!). In addition, there is little to eat apart from proper resturant food, which can only be eaten in the inside or outside restaurant sections. You are 'not allowed' to order from that menu and sit at any other free table (bizarre - their loss, anyway). The bar snacks menu is sandwiches and jacket potatoes - unsuitable for evening pub grub and unsuitable for children at any time of day. They need something in between, but I get the impression that if they don't know you already or it doesn't fit in with their rigid set-up, they couldn't give a monkey's.

19 May 2008 11:56