Border Gate Beefeater — Restaurant in England

I would have given 5 stars if it hadn't been for the attitude of our waitress when we came to pay, so 4 stars is based on the food but otherwise it would have been one. I have not eaten in a Beefeater since I went vegan which is over 35 years ago but they now have vegan options on the menu and we were staying at the Premier Inn next door so it was handy. To complicate matters I have allergies but checked the online allergen information and spoke with the Manager to discuss who was very helpful. We ordered a selection of dishes which for me were side dishes as the mains nearly all contained soya, but at least I was getting fed. Must admit the food was fine, very tasty and we left clean plates. When we asked to pay the waitress was belittling and condescending towards my husband when he was using the card reader. For some strange reason it would only accept contactless payments up to £45 not £100 like everywhere else. She seemed unable to grasp that the machine told my husband to use contactless even though our bill was more than £45. She got exceedingly excited and would not let him explain what the machine was telling him, she talked over him raising her voice as she did. All he was trying to do was explain what he, as a customer, was seeing on the screen, but she would have none of it. Worse the couple on the table next to us wanted to pay and she brought them into the belittling of my husband, as their bill was less than £45. It was totally embarrassing. To cap it all, when the couple left and she back to the table to clear it, she again kept banging on about how she knew better than the machine and him. I told her she needed to go outside, calm down and give us a break. She would have got a tip but for her attitude.

What a shame such a lovely evening was spoiled by the attitude of our waitress, it left a nasty taste. Maybe she should concentrate on honing her customer service and people skills rather than her exotic eye make up and the look she was trying to achieve. It is not cool to argue...

Having eaten here on a regular basis for about 10 years last night was the final straw. Pre booked our table, arrived 5 minutes early, left standing at the desk for over 10 minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. On being seated (by a rather abrasive senior member of staff who clearly didn't want to be there) we were asked what we wanted to drink, (stupidly in hindsight) we said we needed to look at the wine menu - 20 minutes later a charming young lady came to take our order and also took our drinks order (she let slip that the senior member of staff who had seated us had gone for a break and left the place in chaos!) Came back 5 minutes later as two of the dishes were no longer available. Pinot Grigio ordered (one we knew) was not the one delivered - they sent the new more expensive one (not a problem as it turned out but disingenuous not to mention it until AFTER it had been opened and therefore we had to accept it. Starters came within 20 minutes and were fine, if rather lacklustre nachos on this occasion) - people next to us had to send both of their steaks back as they were basically raw and they wanted well done!! After 55 minute wait our mains arrived - my Cobb salad was superb but my husband's medium-rare steak was burnt to a crisp - we mentioned it to the server (who said "shall I take it away and get it cooked some more!!) but couldn't wait another hour for a replacement meal - in the meantime the people the other side had their main courses delivered BEFORE their starters had arrived - taken away and another 20 minute wait for their starters! One of our servers was an absolute star but clearly trying to do everything with minimal help from a fairly useless senior member of staff and I'm guessing someone fairly new who had little idea of what to do. So sad that what has always been a good place for a quick, good meal has ended like this - clearly through lack of staff and poor leadership...

The food was fine, plenty of space for us to get a table. We were asked upon being seated if we would like a drink so we both ordered one each. 5 mins later we were asked again if we wanted any drinks while we were looking at the menu....when we told the server that we were already waiting for them he said that they hadn't shown up on the system!...A bit of concern considering some of the reviews we had read....anyways, we got our drinks and after about 20 minutes we were served our steaks...we had asked for a side of onion rings, which when they didn't arrive with the meal we reminded the server, who promptly went to get them alongside the condiments we had asked for. Just salt, vinegar and mustard. 5 mins later they arrived with an explanation that they had to make a fresh batch of onion rings.....I presume that means they forgot otherwise it would've come out with the meals!!. I then queried why the steaks hadn't come with the advertised mushrooms, tomato and lettuce....we actually got peas instead, the server said he had ordered the cheaper option steaks from the summer menu as it was cheaper for us. Now, I am all for saving a few pounds and it was thoughtful (didn't realise I looked so hard up for cash!) For him to do the cheaper option, but I quite like mushrooms with my steak, so maybe it would've been more prudent to ask which option we would like?...all in all an ok visit. Food was hot, staff were pleasent, just some attention to detail would make all the difference in making an ok visit into something that would make you want to revisit... especially as it...