The Hatters Inn - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in Arun

Very impressed with their recent covid management implementation. The screens actually make it a much better pub and reduce the general raw of noise that this pub has. Hope they keep the screens when the need goes away because it makes it easier to have a private conversation too.

Food. Two stars, they really do need to overhaul the kitchen. Food consistently comes out over cooker or under cooked or swimming in fat. Not always making it likely whoever is on duty, Probably not the cooks fault they just have no training or aptitude for cooking. Cooking by colours on the packet and matching that to the microwave setting isn't ideal. We sent a meal back four times and eventually when it came right it was delivered by the manager saying he'd cooked it. Come on it's a burger, not the most complicated meal to cook. Chips are often soggy as they cook to many in a batch and leave them sitting about. Curry night can be great if the right cook is on duty or a total disaster. Again swimming in oil , over microwaved etc.

Beer seems to be well looked after, it would be nice it they knew which beer went with which glass. Serving a larger in a Stella glass changes the perceived taste, it's science they don't understand. Serving a bitter in a straight glass does the same. Sometimes we've needed to pick them up on their spirit measurements, some of the bar staff hold the measure at an angle which short changes the measure.

If you order a pint of cordial and water without ice, they always leave room for the ice and don't fill the glass up. Come on that's free why are you short changing on water?

This sounds like a bad review, it's not meant to be. It's actually a nice pub with just a few easy to solve problems so hopefully it's seen as constructive suggestion to put a few bad points right.

Update June 2023;

It's a spoons, not much more to say. Standards do rollacoast depending on who is in the kitchen.

The bar staff are always friendly.

The food can be as good as any spoons or just dia, it depends on who is in the kitchen.

When it's bad, plates are cold. Food on plate will be missing parts and need to be asked for e.g. beans on the breakfast or chilli when asking for chilli just the rice and salad comes out.

Chips bulk cooked and go soggy. Smaller batches to preserve the standard would be better.

Popadoms are dripping in oil or bread is hard as nails.

But when the right person is in the kitchen they really do care about doing their best and everything arrives on hot plates, complete , fresh , etc.

So the standard can be variable.

Another thing is the garden, sadly the patrons do not observe the no smoking areas and the staff do nothing about it spoiling it for the non smokers.

This they really should get on top of, the no smoking area is right outside the rear door and when people smoke in this area and the breeze is right it blows smoke back into the pub, letting smokers do as they like and not observing the no smoking rules teaches the smokers they do not have to be considerate and spoil it for all.

It is technically illegal for someone to smoke outside a designated smoking area on business premises so you have the law on your side and an obligation to enforce it. So why are you turning a blind eye to this...

Went on holiday with my partners family and stopped here for a drink in their garden. We went to the empty side of the bar away from the customers and waited to be served. By the time the bartender got round to serving us we had people surrounding us so he asked "who was here first?" before I could answer the person beside me responded and pointed towards us... The bartender then goes on to ask the person on the other side of us "were you here first?" to which the person responds "no, that couple is" and points again at us. After that I say to the man "can we order yet?" and he walks off to the other end of the bar and orders somebody else's meal! A good few minutes later he comes back and we order our food and drink "full English brunch, NO Beans please" (food arrives covered in beans and the bacon was rock hard and rubbery) "extra bowl of fries" (which never arrived?) and "a glass of long island ice tea" (the guy gives me a pitcher!). After receiving every item wrong I went to the guy and explained what had happened and that I wanted it changed and he huffs, rolls his eyes and says "nothing I can do now" and walked off! I'm so disgusted by this behaviour and will steer clear. Besides the horrible customer service the restaurant itself wasnt sanitary. Every table was covered in sticky sauces and...

Visited here on the 5th July, in order for my mum to meet with her family following her birthday and my uncle coming to the end of some medical treatment. It was great to spend time in a relaxed atmosphere, despite the bar being busy at times, we still did not have long to wait to be served. Some of us chose to eat and there was a great selection on offer of pub food along with healthier options and small plates for the kids and those with smaller appetites. Apologies to the staff as not being a regular visitor here, so not knowing names to thank individually, but their attention, intentions and service were great on the day and when next in Bognor will be sure to pop by. Most meals came with a beverage, either alcoholic or non-alcoholic, so be sure to order your food when you need a top-up. There is parking available nearby for designated drivers. Free refills on teas and coffees. The spend per person marked includes food, but for someone having a small plate and a tea/coffee or soft drink is/could work out a bit cheaper. Street level entry and...