Bryson's of Keswick — Restaurant in England

This is a review of Bryson's customer service only as I didn't even get the opportunity to sample the quality of their products. I have never been before yet have walked past many times.

I've heard many rave reviews about this place so thought we'd try a takeaway coffee before they closed, it was before 16:45 and the outside seating was still packed. We stood behind a family currently getting served (at an appropriate social distance of course) who were taking their time asking about scones and cakes and chatting and at one point sent a member of their family on an errand to ask uncle Billy if he wanted a cream cake. When the server finally finished their two trays worth of cakes, coffees and pastries at a cost of £26, she met us next in the queue and bellowed "NO MORE TEAS OR COFFEES!". It was 16:55, there was ample time to make two takeaway coffees.

We had stood there around 10 minutes, arrived well before closing time, there were still loads of customers outside and it wasn't yet 5pm. This was disappointing and poor customer service. There's no reason the server couldn't have shouted over and said there wouldn't be time to serve us because of the snails in front and we didn't have to stand there like a pair of idiots. We could've bought from the cafe opposite instead.

My advice to Bryson's would be to please ensure you serve people who arrive before your closing time - it was quite rude to allow us to stand there all that time and then refuse to serve us. I will...

As a visitor yesterday to Keswick, I thought Brysons in Keswick high street looked from the outside like a lovely place to stop for a coffee and snack. How wrong was I !!! Once inside I pointed to a £1.10 cheese scone and said I wanted that with just butter plus a £3.80 cup of cappuccino, and i confirmed I wanted to eat inside. First of all the cashier tried to charge me over £9 as payment for these 2 items. I was shocked and I commented that this price must be wrong ! Her demeanour and response was completely “off” but it was only because I continued to complain that she reluctantly change the price stating the excuse that she had charged me twice for one of the items!! She then quoted me a total price of £7.05 !!! Again I questioned what their percentage mark up was for eating in and her continued “off” response was that she didn’t know and that she had no control over how much the mark up was !!! I am horrified at the total lack of respect, knowledge, politeness or care of the staff in Brysons to adequately respond to either my question or complaint and I therefore intend to follow up this complaint with Brysons head office. Needless to say I will not use Brysons anywhere, ever again and will encourage others to steer well clear...

Probably the worst management and policies of anywhere I have visited in many years of visiting the lakes. Hopelessly unaccommodating, a deep seated ‘can’t do’ attitude from the staff and no reasonable reason offered for any of the delays. Even when we offered to go and get our own additional sandwich from the deli downstairs we were told that’s not how it works, we offered to pay extra, even pay the restaurant and the deli for the same sandwich, still no. You desperately need someone, anyone, with an ounce of initiative to have some hands-on control of this establishment. Seemingly there was no manager working today. That is very apparent. Pt. 2 Having complained about the apparent lack of service available, the food we had ordered arrived and the gluten free scone was mouldy. We challenged the waitress and she apologised as it was ‘one from the display’ rather than a fresh one. What on earth are your staff and management playing at? I’m sure your staff may not enjoy fielding customers complaints but a venue that allows this kind of retaliation against perfectly reasonable requests from customers should be considered...