The Sandbank Pub & Restaurant — Restaurant in Colchester

First time I've been here, and won't be going back in a hurry. Got there just after 11am, intending to have brunch, only to be told they had stopped doing breakfasts at 11am, and that the lunch menu isn't available until noon. Grrr. But OK, fine. Had a coffee instead (from a machine but pretty good, regardless) and, as the kids were happy playing in the adjoining playground, we decided to hang around and have lunch there. I've had worse burgers, but then again I've had much better. It was all a bit "meh". The kids' menu was OK, a bit unimaginative but that's not unusual to be honest. The price of the kids' meals includes a dessert so we ordered that together with everything else. By the time we finished our main courses, the pub was starting to fill up so the service times were obviously slowing down, given that they had the same number of staff (2) now it was busy as when we first arrived. We had been waiting half an hour for our plates to be cleared away and the dessert brought out, so I decided to go inside to check everything was OK and that we hadn't been forgotten. My request that our plates be cleared and dessert be brought out was met with a very abrupt response by the senior member of staff, that they would get to us when they get to us. No apology and certainly no intention shown to do anything to improve our experience. As I am not really one for confrontation, I said OK, but please at least may we have the ice cream asap? Same response. Ugh. I gave them five more minutes before giving up and leaving, promising the kids an ice cream from...

31/08/23 - Went to the restaurant and was served by a lovely young lady today who was very welcoming, polite and friendly. Managed to get in early today so we could try breakfast. Impressed with the breakfast as not really greasy which is how I like it. Around £45 to feed 4 so pretty average prices. Toilets have been restocked with toilet role but still no soap.

30/08/23 - Thought I would try breakfast today, it's not always breakfast. Sat for 10 mins looking at the menu to then be told breakfast finishes at 11am. I asked for lunch menu to be told it's not till 12 so no food for the next hour.

Thought I would mention the men's has run out of soap, especially as it's a restaurant. 2 and a half hours later still no soap when I went back to the restaurant loos.

29/08/23 - Only had a few drinks no food.

Staff very polite and helpful, nice weather so lots of seating in and out.

The restaurant looks lovely and clean and will try food on another visit.

Toilets are very clean and clean toilets are always a...

Went to the restaurant 2nd September 2023 The food was absolutely disgusting. When you pay £8 for a sandwich you expect it to be fresh and not ready mixed filling. With added Sweetcorn that wasn't mentioned on the menu. Asked for another Tuna and Mayo Sandwich without Sweetcorn, and was told it couldn't be done as it was premade filling. I then said would it be possible to have a Cheese and Onion Sandwich instead. Only to be to they hadn't got any Onions, so I said, I'll have cheese without the onion. The young girl swiftly returned with a rubbery Cheese Sandwich without butter . I honestly couldn't believe they would serve such muck. There was 7 of us and none of us were impressed at all at what had been served. Such a shame they have a lazy chef as it's a nice clean establishment and the server was very pleasant and apologetic. Sadly I can't post the...