The Old Piggery Farm Shop and Tearoom — Restaurant in Chichester

Turned up for an afternoon tea having driven especially from Southampton. Chose the piggery because the reviews and pictures looked good and it was dog friendly.

Waited to be greeted and seated at the entrance to the cafe part for about 5 minutes - clearly had been seen by the staff but just ignored. In the end my wife went across to speak to the waitress whilst I waited with the dog, only to be unseremoniously told that they were busy and the tables they had left were reserved and there wasn't anything to available.

Decided instead to get a takeaway crab brioche bun.

It was a big effort for the shop assistant to breakaway from replenishing stock to get me one - although to be fair it was very tasty.

The Facebook and other images really market the place very well, however the reality isn't quite as portrayed and more of a farm shop with cafe attached

Maybe we caught them on a bad day as the highly complimentary reviews were why we went there in the first place. That said, based on our experience and one time visit, I won't be making the effort to go back there any time soon.

And your response below absolutely confirms your attitude to customer service.

We came on Thursday lunchtime - you had 4 tables occupied the rest were empty and reserved. Not asking for you to be the Ivy, just maybe a 'hello, will be with you in a minute' or some kind of visual acknowledgement would have been more than adequate. Like I said - maybe caught you on a bad day. ..............

We needed to find somewhere else to eat. We tried Billy's in Bracklesham Bay - they were unfortunately busy, and couldn't fit us in until much later, but were so friendly and the food looked fantastic plus they overlook the sea so will be going back their soon.

We also found 'The Goat' just up the road - ideal for coffee and lovely home made cakes. Uber friendly, love dogs, and atttentative staff and great to support a new business following a tough start...

Picture this, you're on a lovely day out with the family, suns up, nice breeze, just done a lap of Pagham harbour and worked up a serious appetite for some local chow.

After following directions to this very farm shop we landed in and immediately everyone turned around and stopped talking. Weird. Maybe we're just hungry, lets sit down and look at the menu.

"Our famous crab sandwich"

"Wow" I thought.. "say no more, im having that!...£10? take my money." The expectations were sky high. I paid at the counter and we waited.

The food arrives, it looks good but - there's a smell, its a smell I'd smelt before and I knew right then and there but I didn't want to admit it. I was starving so I went straight in.

I took a bite of this sandwich and time stood still. I was chewing, tasting, trying to work out what was going on, but the sinking feeling of disappointment came over me all too quickly.

"How is it?" Asked my girlfriend. I couldn't even look her in the eyes.

Far from fresh, no taste and the bread was soggy. Worst of all, margarine.

Anyway, my infant daughter then chose to relieve herself quite suddenly and I had to change her in the bathroom with a cardboard cut-out of mick Jagger watching me.

Coffee was...

A real must and a brilliant discovery! I had a great lunch out with a girlfriend, I ordered a crab sandwich and she had a BLT and we both had a pot of loose leaf tea. Yummy! Our sandwiches were so tasty and the bread was amazing. The serving staff were so smiley and friendly and the tearooms have such a good atmosphere. It's a farm shop as well as a tea room with gifts and beautiful sheepskins as well as dog treats. I bought a couple of sheepskin rugs to lay out on my garden chairs and George my dog got a special chew. He was very happy indeed. We loved it so much we have decided to book a cream to for a few of the girls next week. You can even have a bottle of Prosecco with your cream tea. What's not to like? Thank you for looking after us, it's made us want to come back for more. Now we have discovered you, I think you will become a regular haunt. Great to be able to bring my dog in after a nice walk....