Blackboys Inn, Blackboys

Stressful‎
Chose to have Sunday lunch at the Blackboys for my daughter's 19th birthday today. Booked a table for 4 in advance so were disappointed to be seated at a small table that would only sit 2 comfortably right by the gangway for the waiting staff who were hurrying back and forth beside and behind us for the entire time. Added to this was a large family party with 3 tables joned together on the other side of us. We could hardly hear each other on our cramped table with all the noise around. I ordered the splendid crab salad which came with a finger bowl but with all the meals plus this and the side dishes there was not enough room on the table so we had to pile side dishes etc on top of each other. The waitress took the bread away before we had finished, one of the side orders was forgotten and then the waitress returned to clear up before I had finished eating. She said I must have finished as my knife and fork had been placed together! Fankly there was not enough room to offer the conventional signal of having them at an angle either side of the plate. All this conspired to ruin my enjoyment of what may well have been a jolly good meal.
When the big party left it became quieter and I hoped we could at least have dessert, coffee and liquers in a more relaxed atmosphere. The waitress assured me that the tables would not be moved around until we had finished eating. No sooner had she said this than somebody else started dragging the tables around and sweeping tables in such a way that my blood pressure went through the roof. The waitress who had given the assurance said, 'I can't help it if we have to set up for other customers!' Feeling that we were more of an inconvenience than welcome guests, I told my husband to forget about my dessert as it was too noisy and that I would sit outside and wait for them.
The waitress asked my husband why I had gone causing further embarrassment so that my daughter left in tears and my husband asking for the bill before any dessert was ordered.
I do not understand why we were not offered a suitable table when there were others vacant. We were quite put off asking when another customer got a frankly abrupt to the point of rudeness response from the woman behind the bar when he asked for a table.
This lack of customer care is unforgiveable. It will take a change of management before we spend our money at the Blackboys again.

20 Jun 2010 23:53