The Pump House — Restaurant in Bristol

Simply put. Farcical. Visited this place on a day when they had a live musical event outside. Whilst I enjoyed the music trying to simply buy a pint turned into what I can only describe as a shambolic experience. On entering the establishment the I was met with a sign on the spacious bar advising that they did not serve from the bar and was ushered to a ever growing, slowly moving line of people intermixed with other who looked as though they were losing the will to live. Joined the slow moving que of people to eventually be greeted by somebody with a Ipad who took my name and then my order of a pint of expensive for bristol cider.. I then joined the others who were stood to one side waiting for what seemed like a eternity for their drinks. In the mean time a few others stood at the bar and after time it must have been agreed to open the bar and serve those stood there. I counted at least 5 or 6 of these people get served before my name was called and my pint was handed to me. What a absolute joke. Wanting to carry on enjoying the day I actually walked a short distance to another pub where I was served with drinks and used the loo and walked back in less time than I spent buying a drink in this place. This is not a "pub" and should not claim to be such. Its a pretencious over priced place on the docks that has forgotten what it once was. If it wasnt for the fact I had travelled to enjoy a day out and the fact there was free entertainment outside I wouldnt have stayed as long as I did.

Across the bridge is a real pub, with friendly staff and a bar you actually get served a drink at.

The pump house really need to review the chaotic shambles it has become, or it deserves to lose custom and fail.

I will not be returning...

Turned up at 1300 on a Sunday. The restaurant was busy, bot not overflowing and there were free tables. I asked if they were serving at the bar, and was told yes - but I should check with the waiting staff.

Checked with a very nice waiter, who confirmed we were fine, gave us a lovely table and some menus....the prices were high, especially for a pub, but seemed reasonable so long as the food was nice and the service good. Unfortunately we only got a chance to test the latter, and that was not a great success....

5 minutes later, he returned to ask if we'd mind moving as there was a family with a buggy coming in. This seemed sensible so off we went to another table.

Unfortunately that was the last time we saw any waiting staff, despite various prompts.

After about 30 minutes I spoke to the lady who seemed to be in charge, who said we could not place our order for at least 20 minutes as they had become extremely busy in the last 10. When pointed out we had been there for over 30, she was civil, but seemed to think it was the bar staffs fault, or ours.

When asked, she was happy to refund our 2 drinks, and suggested if we ever wanted to return we should phone in advance. Given the experience, I doubt that is likely to be an issue....

I'd like to put this experience down to a bad day and stressed staff, but exactly the same thing happened last time we visited....so it seems to be a pattern :-(

Ended up in a place down by the harbour that was much busier, much quicker, much cheaper, and with really...

Not a great place to go for a roast dinner. We were a large group of 11 people. We paid a deposit for 10 but the table we were given was not big enough for 10 people but as we had added on we just got on with it.

The service is the worst I have had for a long time.

The gentleman serving us was very stressed and did little to hide it. After asking us "would anybody like a starter" then proceeding to just walk off and speak to someone else, returning to then just walk off again whilst we were speaking to him to deal with something else outside. When he eventually came back he decided that taking everyone's order by reading out the menu (the mains) and then us showing by putting our hands up to order it was his best option.

"Can we order some starters?" We asked.

"NO! You said you didn't want starters" was the response.

So we just had a roast dinner....... The food was mostly good. The veg was cooked well and I enjoyed my pork. But good food can't make up for bad service.

We were only asked if we wanted drinks when we arrived but that was it. When we asked the waitress to order some more she just disappeared and never came back.

The business missed out on a round (or 2) plus starters that most of the table wanted which for 11 people is a good hundred+ pounds.

My advice to the business is they need to get their front of house in order and the gentleman that served us needs some lessons in grace and decorum.

My advice to anyone wanting a good roast dinner on the waterfront would be to go...