Turf Tavern — Restaurant in Carlisle

I went with friends to get a cuppa after shopping as we had parked close by. I was reading the information signs and a member of staff went out of their way to avoid my existence. You know the obvious deliberate attempt to not acknowledge someone. Deliberately unfriendly. So we sat outside and waited for table service as it would seem that that was what were expected to do. Something sticky was on the chair I had sat on and I peeled myself off and as no one was even acknowledging that we were there. I went inside to enquire. I waited at the please wait here sign. There was a guy at the bar doing nothing! and when he noticed me looking at him he ducked down behind another part of the bar. The original staff member and another repeated the blanking process. Eventually the original member of staff came to see me and acted like she had never seen me before and spoke to me in a condescending manner. Told me to download an app as they weren't doing table service outside. I informed her that I did not want the app on my phone! She then said that would come and take my order. like she was doing me a favour!

Just bad and unfriendly! I walked out in my sticky trousers and we left! She did try and following asking what the problem was. If she didn't understand where she went wrong ignoring me and speaking to me in that manner was going to irritate, I was not going to explain this to her!

We had had a nice day out in Carlisle shopping and lunch etc and this would have soured it had we not gone into Morrisons for a cuppa.

And they...

Agree with Dennis Noble's review already posted....we were a party of 6 old school pals who meet up twice a year with our wives but we chose a different venue each year - this year we chose The Turf. How is wish we could turn the clock back and change our decision. It was dreadful !!! The worst Christmas dinner i have ever had/tasted. My wife and myself opted for the "traditional" Xmas dinner after having had the starter of a prawn cocktail. Let's start with the prawn cocktail - 3 iceberg lettuce leaves and a " sprinkling " of prawns with a dribble of marie rose sauce...but the "traditional" Christmas dinner was something else. The presentation looked like it had been stopped on to the plate...very rubbery poor quality chicken sliced from a roll...hard veg and 3 small roast potatoes that were from a batch of a deep frozen bag. Two of our party had travelled up from the south coast...we had a dessert of " traditional " Christmas pudding that had a spoonful of custard again dribbled round the bowl. We asked for extra portions of custard which staff were delighted to provide. I rated the experience ONE STAR if I could have scored less I would. It was very very poor. I very rarely give such a score on reviews of this nature but on this occasion I felt I had to let others know of my/our experience so you don't make the same mistake. Sorry Turf...this has got to improve in saying that I hope you do, and wish you still Very...

The food at Hungry Horse is great and the place itself is very cosy and welcoming. It's always very busy as well. Few times we sat at the table that was reserved from certain time but it was still plenty time for us to enjoy our food. We normally go for something with BBQ sauce and have never been disappointed. Portions are generous and look tasty. This was the 5* bit.

Now is the part that made us change the venue few weeks ago and reduce my rating.

The cleanliness of the place is sadly a big disappointment. We have visited Hungry Horse 5 times and every time we had to ask a member of staff to wipe our table as it was still dirty after the previous guests so whoever took the dirty plates back never cleand the table. They will always clean the table no problem but then comes the surprise... they will wipe it GENEROUSLY wet and leave it like this with your family sitting at the table so you have to wait for the table to dry out(???) must be short on dry clothes. Every time menus were covered with food and were very sticky. Knifes and forks we were given each time had spots and didn't look appealing. And finally the male toilets - need serious attention. Bad smell and a blocked urinal on 3 out of 5 visits. This is lack of maintenance and proper cleaning. My 7 year old son didn't want to use it again.

Please Hungry Horse get on top of this as it's spoiling you otherwise...