Billy Byrnes Gastro Bar & Venue — Restaurant in The Municipal District of Kilkenny City

I travelled to Kilkenny on Saturday for a short break. It was recommended to me by a friend. However when I booked the stay I was given a price of 160 euro per night. I then checked their website and found that Billy Byrnes bistro was advertising a room for 120 euro. I did not mention the price difference but thought I would query this point when I arrived on Saturday evening only to be told then that the price would be 180 euro. I was shown to my room by a very pleasant member of staff. The double room (8ft x 8ft) with ensuite (3ft x 3ft ) with no hot running water. The room had a double bed, no wardrobe, no chairs, a kettle that did not work however there was a stool. . My friend and I had a few drinks and an overpriced very nice meal but of (take away standard). The drinks we consumed were paid for as we went. Separately I was charged for the meal. I registered my visa card with the company by text 2 days before my arrival. However I was asked on 3 occasions to pay for my accommodation and I obliged as the member of staff was very pleasant and professional in her job at all times. The noise level I experienced in the room from the music downstairs kept me awake until 2am. I arrived down for breakfast Sunday morn at 8.57 am when i was met by a lady who informed me with a cold response and told me that breakfast did not start until 9am so i returned to my room. When i arrived back for breakfast I at this time tried to register my dissatisfaction but no one seemed to be interested. May I add that breakfast did not include cereal and a soft drink. The tea when it arrived was luke warm. The morning when I left the manager practically ignored me. If the situation as I see it as a customer does not change significantly then I will not be a return customer nor would i recommend the place to anyone else. Myself and my friend have been regular customers over the years but now feel very disappointed at the standards offered at such...

Absolutely terrible. Went in at 10 past 1 on a Friday and didnt get served until 25 past. We requested menus and never got any so one of us had to go locate a menu. 1 menu had to be shared amongst 3.

When we finally got served, it took 15 minutes for our water to come out. Along with 3 filthy glasses. Unbelievable, you could see finger marks and dirt on the glasses. Disgusting.

Our food didn't come out until 1:45. Keep in mind we were back to work at 2:00. 2 out of 3 people got their food. Vol au vant and beef burger. The veggie bap was never brought out. At 5 mins to 2, I cancelled the last part of the order as we were late back to work. While I was paying, which looking back now I feel I shouldn't have, a group of 4 was complaining they didnt get half of their food. From what I could make out, multiple other orders were cancelled too as they were taking too long.

The worst part? The only excuse given was that the kitchen was mixing up foods. Even tho I could see food sitting in the kitchen. Hell, one of the chefs even said theres food waiting to be taken out and was constantly ringing his bell. Where was the waitress? Hiding behind the bar. Highly unprofessional. There were 4 people standing there who could have moved the food but none of them did. Not one of them offered any compensation, maybe even half the cost off the food. Nothing.

I will never set foot back in Billy Byrnes, probably the worst service I've seen in a long time.

Oh and one last thing, having public toilets (that resemble wooden portaloos) that open up straight into an area where food is consumed is...

CULTURE DISCRIMINATION * I wouldn’t even give one star.. since that’s being too generous for what we had to witness this evening. To say I am APPALLED to see discrimination in this day and age . My family and I had just attended an anniversary mass this evening and decided to go into Billy Byrnes as it was just across the road. Myself and the rest of my family got served no problem for a drink… my relations partner decided to go to the bar and get a drink for herself …as we all already had been served .. as soon as the bar man seen her , she was instantly refused and was told it was “bookings only”…to buy a DRINK???This poor girl was denied a drink at the bar due to her being immediately judged based on her appearance/culture. She was so upset and humiliated that she left the pub straight away. I am disgusted that my relation’s partner had to witness us all get served and when she went to do the same .. she was refused. You should be ashamed of the way your staff conducted themselves!! Judging people by their culture in any way is disgraceful. I just can’t imagine how you as a business are okay with this behaviour. Before this we all sat there without any issue on getting served, completely isolating her. This shows that your employees not only have prejudice views but have no problem acting on their disgusting opinion, while working in your establishment. I hope you train your staff to respect others, discrimination is UNACCEPTABLE and should not be...