The Boatyard Dedham — Restaurant in Colchester

If I could have given this place a 0 star review would have been best… attended the place on Father’s Day, pre booked a month in advance, asked for a menu on many occasions and finally the day before decided to call to be rudely spoken to by a waitress after speaking with the chef we finally got a menu sent with very minimal food and very dearly priced, the chef went above and beyond and added steak as requested, I was called to ask if I could move my table time from 3:15 to 2:15 as the kitchen closes at 4, after waiting so long for a menu I thought was a little rude considering I would have to rearrange 12 guests!!!!!

When we finally arrived early at there request I was given a table that was not set and dirty I of course asked to move and the waitress was not happy and decided to tell me at 2:15 that I need to hurry our order before I even had the chance to sit down as kitchen closes at 4, I replied with enough is enough I will not rush my table when it is only 2:15, the waitress walked off and no one came back to take a drink order for 30 mins when the drinks arrived most were incorrect again the waitress very rude and stated that they have been very busy and everyone is tired… not really what I want to hear when about to spend £28.00 on a steak !!! 45 mins later after ordering food it arrived and much to our surprise it was all incorrect the steak was so small and thin all side wrong, with this happening the new male owner decides on Father’s Day to come to my table and state we asked you to come early we don’t take 3:15 bookings even though I had confirmation on my phone I asked to speak to him away from the table as was very embarrassing, I explained the food is incorrect and everything that had gone on and was told there was nothing he could do and to salvage what we could and not to worry we won’t pay I explained that’s not our aim we just want nice food and a good atmosphere how it used to be he carried on being very sarcastic to which point the chef came out and managed to lighten the load he asked me to write all food down and he would cook it, while it was being done our waitress continued to let us know how poor the place had become and that a lot of staff are leaving and some crying in the back office again not what you want to hear at a family dinner !! They need experienced front of house staff and for the restaurant to have a uplift some table cloths and a more welcoming environment, the menu needs to be more catered to all not just the upper class…. We ended up paying for the drinks and tipping the chef so all in all still paid £80 even though the chef insisted not to as I stated we were not looking for freebies just good food… bring back the Sunday roasts and and some pleasant non confrontational staff members , I would so love to come in and manage this place along side the owners to actually help them as no one wants to see a...

My wife and I arrived at the restaurant to order a meal, and were upset to discover very limited vegetarian options available on the menu for that day. We ordered two of the only suitable meals we could see - tomato and hulloumi baps. We were going to eat and then enjoy the boatride for our anniversary. We waited for an hour outside with a number sign on our table and watching people who arrived and ordered after us receiving their full meals! Eventually, I went inside to enquire about our food; two buns with tomatoes and hulloumi!! Not only were the staff confused and non responsive, the manager and all staff failed to explain why the food was taking long which forced me to stand awkwardly at the counter and finally ask for a refund as I was being ignored while I felt the rush of the kitchen staff throwing together the food. We were extremely disappointed and after receiving a refund, I approached the staff again to request the manager as my wife had been so upset by the incident ruining our anniversary. The manager did offer an apology to my wife and I and we received the baps for free whilst waiting in the line for the boat - another hour wait!

The boat ride was worth it, but they should consider making clear lanes for people to paddle in or limiting the number of boats allowed out at once as some people cannot handle a row boat which causes you to steer into a low hanging tree or rivers edge to avoid bumping into each other.

Not sure if the experience was worthwhile...

A 2-hour drive from north Norfolk brought me on my birthday to The Boatyard just after 9am, in good time, to book the rowing boats, coffees, and lunch, for my family and friends who would soon arrive. Familiar pathways to the boats via the toilets had been blocked off, and customers were now all directed through the restaurant, where there was a queue. A request to use the toilets was denied three times, each time I was asked, and confirmed, that I was arriving as a customer, although use of the bathroom was still denied. I was forced to leave and find facilities elsewhere. Had it not been for the family wanting to use the hire boats, we would have taken our business elsewhere, but we had coffees while waiting for others to arrive. What came next I couldn't believe. My two friends were not allowed entry past the restaurant check point, because our table was considered full. Phoning me from outside I saw the stupidity of the situation and went to get them. We were all comfortably accommodated at our table and ordered drinks, before taking two rowing boats and had further drinks on return. Because of the way we were treated, we took our food business elsewhere and just spent £70 at The Boathouse instead of the £270 it would have been with food. The one shining light was our waitress who benefitted from a large tip. The restaurant owners get a big...