Square Chapel Arts Centre — Attraction in Calderdale

I visited the café on Friday 15th Feb 2019 with my mother and grandmother, we did not use any other service, this review is purely for the café. The venue is lovely, looks very nice and comfortable, unfortunately, that is about where it ends. When I went to the counter to order food, the gentleman behind the counter who served me was very rude, I was making idle chitchat to which the response was 'whatever' which I did not expect from a grown man, and certainly not from a person who has chosen a job being customer facing. Anyway, I started to order the food, 2 of us were having 2 courses and 1 person having just a single course, as I started to reel off the order, the same guy serving me interrupted and asked if any were 2 or 3 courses, to which I replied yes, and then he instructed me (after a few huffs and puffs) to start stating my order again, but this time each set of deals, which I did. The bill for 1 starter and 2 mains and 2 deserts (as set out in the 2 course deal) and 3 soft drinks came to just under £40. We waited a very long time before our food arrived, however, we did get an apology for the wait to be fair. The food looked nice, but again, that's where it ended, the starter which was pate with chutney, had a small pot of pate with all of the chutney dumped on top (it literally looked like someone had thrown it on), the salad looked and tasted like it had plain veg oil drizzled over it and when it came to tasting the pate, it was disgusting, it tasted like plain mashed up liver - no seasoning, no other taste or texture and it looked awful and quite sloppy (we soon realised why the chutney had been dumped on top!!). The other 2 dishes, which were fish were ok, however, there was too much sauce, it was very runny and lots of it, it made it one big sloppy mess - none of the 3 of us finished our food. We had pre-ordered desserts, our hopes were still holding out for something decent, but sadly, the desserts were worse! It didn't help that we had to yet again wait a very long time between courses and had to enquire as to where the desserts were, to which we were informed that they would be 1 minute, about 10 minutes later, still no dessert. When they finally came, there was no apology for the delay. My grandmother had the trifle, which was very cream heavy and had literally chunks of blood orange shoved randomly in it, no nice segments, lovingly prepared and mixed into the dessert, literally a blood orange cut in half and both halves being wedged in - no finesse, no real preparation or thought, it was ridiculous and very off putting! I had ordered the shortbread - it was more like a brick, I struggled to cut it up (it was a very large piece) and when I finally did, it sent bits flying everywhere. The biscuit was as hard as a brick and I actually picked it up and was able to bang it on the table without it breaking or crumbling....in the end I scrapped off and ate the chocolate on top and left the rest. Overall, the food was disgusting, the service wasn't much better and it most definitely was not worth the money! I have family and friends who have been before and have had a similar experience (namely the Moroccan themed dishes) but didn't know if it was a one off, I think it is safe to say, it is not a one off. I think it is also safe to say that a new chef and service staff are required! We will not be visiting again and we definitely do not recommend it to anyone. It is a shame as the venue is beautiful, it has so much potential. A huge...

The Square Chapel was fantastic a few years ago. I saw gigs there, immersive theatre, Independent Venue Week events and blockbuster films alongside documentaries and foreign movies. I saw Metropolis with live piano accompaniment. I saw a storyteller telling Shakespeare and a Tibetan music demonstration. You could take beers in the cinema and there was always a good range. It was always busy.

I've just been in for the first time since moving back to Halifax. It's Saturday afternoon before a big name gig at the Piece Hall next door. There is not a single customer in the Square Chapel. There isn't even anyone working on the box office. The slim offering of leaflets advertise some events that aren't even taking place in Halifax. It doesn't seem that there are any films being shown. All the beers are by one brewery. The acts they have lined up are largely tribute acts.

This is such a shame. I understand an organisation from outside the area is running the Square Chapel and it really shows. They clearly do not care about the venue and the potential it has to offer our community. They should either sort it out or pass it on because if you can't draw people in on a summer's Saturday afternoon before a major event, your days are (fortunately, for the...

Two Stars simply because you have no facility to pay legal tender. A few weeks ago I attended the ACDC experience with a friend. We were looking forward to this and having a few drinks. I ordered two drinks and offered the payment in cash and it was refused! I stated that it was legal tender and both of us had bought cash out so we did not overspent. NOT MUCH CHANCE OF THAT. Our cash was refused the beers were thrown away and I had to go to different bar. Loss of sales, loss of custom. How do you expect to continue if you cannot pay in legal currency? I did complain that if my older relatives had come then they would not be allowed food or drink because they have no smart phone or cards to pay on. How is this acceptable to today's society? Also, the girl on the box office was made to make excuses in that the venue could not afford the insurance for money on the premises. Rubbish. I work in insurance so you were telling a fairy tale to someone who has an idea about this topic. Just be honest and say that you cannot be bothered and...