Bootmaker — Restaurant in Chelmsford

The Bootmaker is a fairly new addition to the vibrant social scene in the capital of Essex, Chelmsford. A lot of money had obviously been spent on the place as it very nicely appointed inside, with the welcome addition of some seating and shelter out front. The brunch menu is fairly conventional, with Eggs Benedict being one of the offerings. The main menu, in contrast, is fairly unconvention in that The Bootmaker is trying to be one of the 'right on' places to go in Chelmsford. If you like mizo, chorizzo, , you might like it, but it's not my kind of food. In addition, they offer all sorts of drinks and coffees I have never heard of, let alone tasted. But that might say more about me, than The Bootmaker. It has to ne admitted that I have only frequented the place during the day, when it is almost empty. I understand it is much busier in the evening. The range of alcoholic drinks is very impressive and they stock a lot of beers and wines I have never heard of. They are definitely not cheap, though, so take a stocked up bank card with you, if you visit! I have been frequenting The Bootmaker for many weeks, since it first opened, in fact and have always found the staff efficient, well trained and polite. However, when I visited today, the last day of July 2018, I had drunk most of my pint whilst waiting for my daughter and two young grand-daughters to finish their shopping. The family arrived and showed me their sweets. Whilst eating them, a barman asked the girls to stop eating the chocolate because it was not bought in the pub! I noted that about four people, including the very same barman, were smoking cigarettes, and roll-ups, out front and they were not bought there either. I intend complaining to The Bootmaker management and will not go there again. You've list a...

I popped into The Bootmaker a number of weeks ago with friends and, as someone who’s spent years delivering First Class service at 35,000 feet, I notice when standards nosedive. Sadly, what I witnessed wasn’t just poor service, but an atmosphere dictated by the manager that left me genuinely uncomfortable.

The staff themselves, many of them young, were doing their best under pressure. But instead of support, they received a barrage of foul language and public dressing downs from the manager. It was the sort of thing you’d expect in a bad reality TV kitchen, not a city centre pub. Guests don’t need to hear the person in charge swearing across the bar or snapping at her own team, it sets the tone for the entire venue, and not in a good way.

I also noticed customers politely raising concerns, only to be dismissed or spoken to rudely. A good manager should de-escalate, not ignite. It left me wondering how many first-time visitors would bother coming back after being treated with such disdain.

In aviation, the golden rule is simple: you never let the cabin see you lose control. You remain calm, polished, and respectful, no matter the stress behind the curtain. Sadly, this manager seems to have missed that training memo.

Chelmsford deserves better: a pub where staff feel supported, customers feel valued, and management remembers that leadership is about lifting people up, not...

Extremely Disappointed – Bullying Management

I’ve been a loyal customer at The Bootmaker for years — regularly visiting with my family, my business partner, and even holding our company Christmas party here for 30 people three years running. Sadly, after what I witnessed last week, I will not be returning.

While being served by a polite young woman (short dark hair), a senior female staff member — who I believe is the manager — screamed across the bar at her, loudly enough for every customer to hear: “What is that? That’s a shit pint, what are you doing?” She went on to belittle her further, saying “That is shit and you are shit.” The poor employee was visibly shaken and close to tears. Another staff member even laughed along with the manager.

This is not the first time I’ve seen this manager behave aggressively — previously I witnessed her hit one male staff member on the back of the head and punch another in the chest. At first, I thought it might be a joke between them, but after last week it’s clear this is bullying, both verbal and physical.

The Bootmaker used to be a classy, welcoming place. Now, under this management, the atmosphere has declined sharply and the behaviour towards staff is appalling. Until this changes, I will be taking my business elsewhere — and I urge others to think twice before supporting a place that treats its...