Judges Bakery Tenterden — Restaurant in Ashford

This little bakery has been apart of this town for as long as I have been around and longer. It is an iconic little place to stop for some goodies.

However, I feel slightly disappointed and ashamed that it is no longer what it used to be.

I popped in at the weekend to grab a bite to eat for breakfast as I was working early that morning. Waiting for them to open at 8:30.

It was lovely to see so early in the morning that there was a que, this is a good sign the business is thriving. However, when the counter staff were given a few brief moments of idle, because they were waiting for another customer to select a drink, I made the suggestion that because I was next and I was going to have a bacon roll, that she could pop some bacon while we waited for the customer to select his drink.

She looked at me, barely nodded and then proceeded to stare at the customer selecting his drink. Now me having done over a decade in hospitality understands if you're busy and you get a few seconds to at least cut some time off in others places of waiting then you do it.

Either way based upon her utter disregard for my suggestion, and me as a customer, as a person, feeling deeply offended that I deserved be brushed aside (I'm assuming she thought I was jumping que - still doesn't justify the ignorance). I outburst that she was an amature, granted I should have probably kept that bit to myself, but regardless. She didn't take that as as frustration of me trying to help, so she could serve more people more efficiently, saving everyone's time - not just mine.

She then proceeded to slow down when it was my turn to be served. I looked behind me and saw there were still customers waiting, the other lady much much better at her job was busy, clearly carrying the weight of the lack of care from the other. So she wasn't able to serve the next customer.

I would like to thank the more professional of the two, because she did the right thing. She apologised for the wait, which then opened up dialog a better way to discover the problem, unlike the one that blatantly ignored my suggestion of help. (I'm experienced in this service).

Anyway, I decided to carry on with my day even though it definitely didn't feel good.

I popped in the very next day, again because I was working and needed to wait for you to open. This time there was no que, there was one customer server visible and she was making bacon rolls as well as cleaning the counter chillers - great! - I dont mind waiting, but what i am concerned about is her entire back of flesh was on display (I get its hot weather, but skin is continuously renewing - 80% of dust particles are dead skin cells, that is why hygiene needs to be adhered to when working with other people's food), slightly disgusting. That also didn't bother me too much, the bit that bothered me is for 3 minutes I was stood in her view, not once did she acknowledge i was there (no hello, no be with you shortly, there wasn't anything).

So I took my money to the bakery just opposite. They aren't much better at the weekends but they were much better than you.

The lady who is fantastic at her job always cheerful, always talkative, and just a very bubbly joy to be served by, was working both days. You need to get her to train the others up.

I hate writing reviews like this, but I just want the same type of service I...

This was supposed to be a pleasant coffee and cake having done our chores in Tenterden. We thought we would try here as they have a garden. We have purchased cake/bread from here before and found it to be stale but we thought we would give it another chance. Shame we never read TripAdvisor or Google first the latter reviews include ‘The croissant always tastes dry and old - even when you check it’s made that day.’ My croissant was stale and my partners scone was not much better. (Lots of tables with uncleared cups/plates etc. Never where cleared while we were there). The was no question about it being stale. We have a house in France and the locals patisseries would have laughed at this one. I could not pull it apart and tried to cut it using a knife. It would not cut the bottom which was like cardboard. I took it back and advised it was stale. The woman (Manager?) was rude and arrogant raising her voice presumably to try and make me feel embarrassed in front of the other customers. She made a great show of throwing it in the bin saying ‘it is not stale as I can say hand on my heart that it was baked this morning’. Over our coffee my partner advised she had been refused a refund of £3.75. During this time I overheard the same woman saying to another customer (again in a very loud voice) “it is not stale as I can say hand on my heart that it was baked this morning”! On leaving I asked if she was going to refund us or not and she said no. (This I believe is illegal under The Sale of Goods Act 1979). I explained to her that I was not going to get into a conversation as to whether it was stale or inedible and surely it is better to have a satisfied customer than a customer who you will never see again for the sake of £3.75. Just an unbelievable attitude which she eventually relented on but never apologised. I asked her why if it was not stale did another customer make the same complaint after me ~ no response. I see lots of complaint about this in these reviews now and in their other branches. The whole experienced ruined our morning and we will be taking the matter up with...

The manager’s is very loud, unprofessional towards customers. Clearly stated i would have my toastie at the premises when ordering . Got it in a paper bag then when asked for a plate was told that cannot sit in as I got it as a takeaway but suggested i can have it in the park. Absurd! Also there seem to be a lot of uncleaned tables everywhere could not sit down even if allowed to. Beautiful window and good food let down by subpar service....