The Inn at Fossebridge, Fossebridge

Without doubt the worst eating out experience I have ever had!!

The location is fantastic, the gardens are superb and the interior of this inn immaculate - a really cosy feel.

However seriously let down by the owners and management. I am unable to comment on the food as it never came. We were looked after by the so called manager. From the very beginning his surly and drab manner was really off putting pushing the art of sarcasm to the very limits before becoming rude and offensive. His wine pouring skills were awful with numerous spillages on the table, this can be foregiven I suppose, afterall we were in a pub not a michelin starred restaurant.

The main grievance was with the order process. The manager came over and took the order and unfortunately there were only two portions of the haddock dish left. Not a problem one of the party changed their order.

Again all through the ordering process the manager really did not seem to be with it.

The order taken, we waited and waited and waited. After 35 minutes the barman looked at our table and realised we had had no starters. He went away and the next thing we see is the manager frantically entering an order on to the computer. Having been in the restaurant industry all my life, I realised immediately that the order being put through, was in fact ours. I said to the group that I bet the manager will come over and tell us that he had no more haddock. Sure enough he came over and said there had been a "balls up in the kitchen." We said that we had just seen him putting the order through and that was the reason why there had been no haddock left. He proceeded to get on the offensive at which point we had had enough and did not relish the prospect of waiting longer for food and certainly did not relish the opportunity of being looked after further by this manager.

We went to pay for the drinks that we had consumed. The manager even tried to charge us for the second bottle of wine that we had not even touched. He proceeded to get offensive and argue with us and our experience at this inn finsihed very abruptly when we were told that the manager did not understand our problem and that he was having a f******g busy day!!

When we complained to the owners the following day, who incidentally actually stood in the bar and watched the manager in action and did not step in to calm the situation. The reply was very simply to offer us a bottle of wine the next time we visit as the wait for starters was rather excessive.

These operators make Basil Fawlty look quite fantastic.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL BE TAKING HIM UP ON THE OFFER.

5 Aug 2008 14:12