Bistro @ The Pocket — Restaurant in Barnsley

TLDR; couldn't comment on the food, but based on the attitude of the owners I would give this place a wide berth if you value customer service or any form of warm welcome for your hard earned cash!

Bit if a long one, but here goes...

Would have loved to have called in for Sunday lunch, but based on the service I received trying I think I've dodged a bullet!

Called today at around 14.10 to make a booking for a single diner for Sunday lunch 'this afternoon'.

The gentleman confirmed it was just one diner, and said no problem, come anytime.

I finished my walk and travelled around an hour to get there, arriving around 15:30 only to be told by a rather confused waitress that they wouldn't be able to seat me as Sunday lunch finished at three!

After thanking her for wasting my time(!), I made my way to leave.

A lady shouted me back, claiming to be the wife of the gentleman I spoke to and accused me of being late as apparently I said on the phone I'd be 15-20 mins!

Clearly this is not the case, as I was around an hour away when I called!

I made my way back to my bike, to be disturbed on my exit yet again by a gentleman who claimed to be the one who took the phone call.

He again accused me of being late, despite never taking a time from me on the phone

He continued to put the blame on me, making such ludicrous statements as 'How am I supposed to know when you're going to turn up? What if you came at.midnjght, am I still supposed to seat you then?!?'.

Of course I wouldn't turn up at midnight after making an enquiry for Sunday lunch 'that afternoon'. I assumed based on the telephone conversation that anytime until 4/5pm would be reasonable. I suggested that he could have explained on the phone that they stop serving at 3, in which case I would not have wasted my time.

I thought this was a reasonable statement, but he still seemed to Iike he wanted to continue in an argument.

Only when I mounted my motorcycle in an effort to leave after dealing with his unique brand of hospitality for longer than I cared to, did he say he 'only came out to apologise'.

He's got a funny way...

Probably one of the weirdest places I've ever been.

Staff don't seem to know fully what to do, and just make half of it up. I've been twice in one week and been charged two different prices to play pool with the same amount of people. I was told they don't do tabs, despite having a tab 4 days earlier. Staff don't seem to know if you can have food in the pool hall, even snacks like chips etc despite there being salt and vinegar on the serving hatch to the bar, or if they're even serving food tonight. They also make strange decisions, like ask to serve you at the bar through the dingy hatch if you're playing pool, despite the bistro being empty. The reason they want to serve you there is that's where 'the book' is that they write down your payment on. Clearly at some point a manager has said "serve people playing pool through this hatch" and the staff have took it literally with no exceptions.

The contrast between 'Bistro' and the pool hall is bizarre. The pool hall is cold, dark, not been hoovered in six months, full of cobwebs, bad paint work, cue cabinets hanging off the wall. The Bistro is modern, cosy, warm, stylish, clean and generally looks a nice place to have a meal. And yet this contrast is literally the other side of a double door into the bar area. However this weird contrast extends into other areas like the loos. They have lovely white tiles in the gents that feels clean, yet the doors on the cubicles have no lock and look like something you'd find on the caretakers broom cupboard of a nineteen fifties school. As well, a lovely sink to wash your hands in, yet its mounted on a board of cheap MDF. (and no, it's not the popular industrial look they've gone for before you ask)

It's only saving grace is the fact it has reasonably priced pool prices on reasonable tables. Maybe once I've eaten I will change my review - I hear the food...

Went here for a Father's Day meal. We both had the Sunday Roast, one chicken and one pork, and opted for an extra yorkshire pudding each. The meals were quick to come out, and I was worried that they would be pre-prepared microwaved meals but they weren't. Both meals were delicious, and while some elements of the meal seemed pre-prepared the majority seemed cooked to order and was delicious. I regret (not really) ordering the extra yorkshire pudding as they were huge and not the small yorkshire puddings most places serve. The meal was finished off with a pudding each (because the pudding stomach always remains empty for this reason!). A Jam Roly Poly with custard and a Brownie with berries and Vanilla Ice cream. Both of these were enjoyed as well. The price was fairly decent, came to just less than £45 for two Sunday roasts each, and two puddings with a pint of soft drink each. I like the decor of the place too. Sturdy tables, comfortable seats and the place is very clean. I would definitely...