The Green Man, Horsted Keynes

Disappointed in this pub.

I booked this as we were going on the Bluebell Line and thought it would be nice to stop for lunch as it was a treat for my partners father. I had seen on the Horsted Keynes website that there are lots of railway memorabilia in the pub which appealed as my partners father is really into railways and trains and as The Green Man don't have a website I went by this comment that had been left in August 2011.

I rang and booked the table for 13 chairs (11 adults and 2 children) plus 2 highchairs. I felt I had made myself clear as you can see it clearly states 13 chairs and 2 highchairs. This was booked, agreed and we looked forward to it.

I rang the day before we were due there to confirm that we had our booking of 13 chairs (11 adults and 2 children) plus 2 highchairs and again they agreed this was fine. I wanted to double check the highchairs as one of the babies in particular is too fidgety to be fed without one. All confirmed and all great.

We got off the train at Horsted Keynes and made the 25 minute walk from the station - not leisurely and 2 very big hills! Think before walking it with elderly and very young children. Phewy!!

But we made it up the hill and were delighted to see the pub which looked nice. from the outside. We walked in and were greeted by a modern pub - a bit like a chain pub with only one piece of train memorabilia - a lamp on the wall. How incredibly disappointing. We went to our table and found there was only 1 highchair. When I checked with the guy behind the bar and said I'd ordered 2 he said they have only ever had the 1 and that 1 they had only bought recently so he was confused why I had been confirmed twice as 2 highchairs. Clearly whoever I spoke to on those 2 occasions didn't feel it was important to have the highchairs.

One of our babies had to be fed on her fathers lap, not ideal.

There were also not enough chairs and I was crammed onto the end and I overheard this same guy saying to a member of my group that 'well only 11 people were booked'. Excuse me!? I was very clear so do not blame the customer!!!

I was told I would be given cutlery which I wasn't and had to then ask again when my food arrived. I had ordered the large (main) risotto but was told they didn't have enough so I couldn't have that. I had to settle for something I didn't really want.

Food was ok but not the service I am used to.

20 Sep 2011 14:19