Willen Dragon Brewers Fayre — Restaurant in Campbell Park

Partner called at booked a table for 5 (one being a high chair) we also instructed that we have a birthday cake as it was my daughters birthday meal out. We arrived for our booking at 6pm, the host wasn’t very friendly, knowledgeable or polite. He took us to our table where 2 staff members pushed passed the children and myself as they wanted to walk passed to be seated at a table that only seated 4 people, then when we asked where the high chair would go he pointed at a gap that the table next to us would need to use to get out.

His only option was to put us in the bar area, which we had no choice of even though we booked a table. Once seated the host made sure he left as quickly as possible not informing us what we have to do, no menus for the kids, not informing us of the ordering process…. Nothing. My partner went and got the menu’s and all that information from him, to save time you have to order at the bar no matter what anyway. It’s like everyone should know this.

After a 15 minute queue to order food from staff who don’t know what they are doing we realised the offer of half price burgers that’s heavily advertised on the website and even on their own FB page wasn’t given. After speaking to the manager who happily refunded this he explained that it doesn’t include this establishment due to it being new. Maybe your head office or whoever running the FB page should know this.

We were already informed that a wait of 45 minutes for food so waited patiently. The kids had starters, they came out separately but around 10 minutes after the first came out. Then 5 minutes after another starter came out, I questioned this as we had both already. As the starter had the same items as an extra on the mains I asked if this was part of the mains, she said did you want the main, when I said if they are ready, yes. 10 minutes later another waitress came over, who asked about tidying the plates up. We said yes, she went to take the plate with food on away, I explained that we were told that it was part of the kids main, she checked then proceeded to inform us of the order of food that comes out. Starter always is first, she said, then the mains…. At that point I lost braincells listening, but luckily my partner told her that we are fully aware of how it works. Then after explaining it again to her that we were told it’s part of the mains she proceeded to try and take it away.

45 minutes after ordering our mains came, well the adults mains came. Nearly 10 minutes after the kids came out. Probably best to bring the kids food out first or even better at the same time.

After this a lovely lady came over asking how the food was. Now, I don’t want to be picky, the burger bun shouldn’t crumble like it’s been outside for a few days. The chips, come on, they were refried chips. They were warm at best. It doesn’t take long to cook them fresh! To be fair the beef patty’s were tasty and juicy. Fully let down by the week old bun it was in. Kids meals were ok, nothing special but came with the same refried chips. The lady we told this to asked if we wanted another and because of the wait we had I said no.

As with a lot of families, the adults finish before the kids. Another staff member came over and asked about clearing the plates, we said the kids are eating still but you can take ours. He then asked what we wanted him to do with the kids plates… again we told him they are still eating.

We couldn’t get out of that place fast enough, didn’t bother with the birthday cake and did this at home.

Overall I think a lot of staff need a lot of training, it’s understandable with being new you may not of gotten the training done. Communication is not there, how starters come out so far apart (by the way the extra dish that came out that we thought was for the main…. Wasn’t it was another starter) and mains coming out so far apart is not right. Chefs and waiting staff need to talk to each other better. Host needs to own that area, needs to be 100% focused on the customer, be approachable.

Hopefully we come back soon and...

Visited here one evening with my partner and our young daughter seemed to be quite busy, two queues out the door and not very clear on who was queueing for what, after some time we managed to get seated to find out we would then have to join the back of the second queue to order our food at the bar. The second queue which seemed to moving considerably slower than the first and also required us to queue through what seemed to be the main through way to get to either side of the restaurant, causing staff and other customers to cut through the queue and making it quite the uncomfortable experience. Ordering our food was quite easy, the person serving me seemed to be experienced and was quick with the till system even offering me options to upgrade certain items and specials which I didn't see on the menu. My regret was ordering Coca-Cola, which I was then handed two glasses and was told upon ordering was refillable and supplied from a machine just a few feet away from the till. Excellent so far, until I reached the machine only to find out the only options supplied were diet coke and other brands but all sugar-free. I enquired with a passing waiter who was polite but unsure and tried to assist me by asking his manager, who informed him that I would could only get original coke from the bar. This in turn required me to join a third queue which I was not happy about to say the least after my current queue time in the previous two queues and having to leave my partner and our daughter at the table all this time. However, I did decide to explain my situation to another member of staff who went and filled both my glasses without me needing to queue again. Relieved by this I returned to our table, I did expect the food to take a little while judging by the queue time so far and by how busy it was but to my surprise the food came quite quickly. That is until my partner noticed her meal was missing items, which in turn made me check mine, which also was missing two items stated on the menu. Calling the waitress back she informed us that one of the items from my partners meal was out of stock but she would go and get the rest, she also said that she would go and collect the two items missing from mine. At no point was it ever mentioned that any of the food items were out of stock, and missing approx 5 items from two meals doesn't give a...

Willen Dragon has a fantastic location right next to Willen Lake. With three hours of free parking, you can grab breakfast, and then you can walk it off around the lake. We normally go as a group for breakfast with six adults and five kids. We book in advance, and it is a great place to meet up and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. There is also the added bonus that kids eat free, and they also take Blue Light Card. What I like about this Premier Inn is that they have not stuck with the Covid format like some Premier Inns. You can actually go up to the hot counter and help yourself to hot food. They also have meat options first, then vegetarian. You can also order from the team vegetarian sausage and vegetarian bacon. They normally have two fruit juices to choose from. I mistakenly poured an orange juice without checking, and it was actually tropical juice containing pineapple. Silly mistake spotted quickly as we had someone with allergy to pineapples. Coffee is a machine and a miss the Costa coffee that some Premier Inns serve, but to be honest, it was OK coffee. Our last visit, the coffee, did taste a bit weaker, but for the price, I can't really complain. They have two of the rolling toasters, so generally, in peak times, not much of a queue to get your bread toasted. All set, so it has a good flow. Toast section with pastries and jams, etc. Then, the hot plate section with cereal, fruit, and yoghurt opposite. The team there are friendly and so helpful. We turned up one week with only four of us as the rest had to pull out at the last minute due to illnesses, etc. No judgement, no trouble, they fully understood. This is a good place to meet for families for breakfast, and I would highly...