Dockray Hall - Historic inn — Restaurant in England

I've thought long and hard about what to say in this review; should it be the whole 'I said, 'she said, 'manager said', 'husband said'....that kind of thing 🤔 Or should I just cut to the chase? I have attempted to keep it short.

In all my years on both this side of the bar and the other I have never encountered such appalling customer service as I did on Thursday 28/10. When a customer returns a drink for whatever the reason it kind of makes sense just to replace it because the alternative is to cause a scene in front of customers and create an unnecessary atmosphere. My husband ordered a glass of sauvignon blanc for me. The barmaid then proceeded to 'warn' my husband (her words not mine) that pinot grigio was drier. My husband knowing my preference for a glass of dry bought himself a pint and a glass of sauvignon blanc. It was yellow in colour and it had little bubbles. It didn't taste right and for a dry wine it was decidedly sweet. So my husband returned it. Up came the barmaid with a glass of pinot grigio. And a card payment machine. 'That'll be £6' she said. No please. No thank you. My husband, somewhat puzzled, explained that he'd already paid for it. 'Oh, that was for the other one. The £6 is for this one'.

I tried to explain about the other wine but she wasn't interested. She had tried to 'warn' my husband she said. The inference being that as her warning hadn't been heeded it was somehow our fault we'd ended up with a bad glass of wine. Needless to say we weren't going to pay for it. We were happy to take our business elsewhere

Unbelievably she said 'well I can't serve you that glass of wine because that would be technically theft'. That's right lass call a couple of pensioners thieves.

The landlord was called but by that time I'd had enough and we put on our coats to leave. We'd called in for a quiet drink to be confronted with that attitude and be embarrassed in front of other customers. When I said I would be posting a review the barmaid said 'yeah well right back atcha...I'll say what happened'. Fair enough.

The landlord arrived. My husband explained. Eventually he said 'well I was going to let you have it but I can see you've made your mind up'. Absolutely right. How on earth he thought we would be happy to stay after that encounter I've no idea.

I'm not a tourist. I'm local. I have family and friends in the town. It's up to them where they eat and drink of course but Penrith isn't short on pubs or places to get good food, or receive better service than we experienced. I suspect they may have lost a bit more than the price of a glass of wine that night. Which is a shame because it used be a...

Went for Sunday dinner today was shown a table. Server came and took our order for drinks & food. Starter came within a couple of minutes then waited for 1 hr before our main meal to be served after asking our server several times what the hold up was with service of meals. From where I sat I could see our server stood talking to other's after I had spoken to her about time waited for our meals. After making my way to bar, I asked our server again what the holdup was for our meals and she tutted at me & walked away. Meals came a little later cold, & incomplete. Order a dessert & coffee received coffee but when dessert come it was cold. When complained again server just looked at me and tutted to herself & walked away. Asked for our bill and Alice came with it promptly, we asked what the problem was today with slow service and rude staff. Excuse made was had a large party of 20 in and could not cope with walking in customers. Surley walk in customers are mainly what this pub relies on for income. Appuling service today, and rude server. Have been to this pub on many occasions and had great meals,&great servers who know how to treat their customers. Staff need to be trained to be able to serve customers correctly & sort out any issues that arise. Would not vist...

Stumbled across this gem on a lazy Sunday and decided to roll the dice on dinner. Best gamble I’ve made in a long time. We were seated straight away and went in hard on two roast beef dinners. They landed looking like a Sunday roast should: piled high, cooked with care, and crowned with a proper homemade Yorkshire pudding that meant business. Every trimming was present and correct. Not a scrap was left—yes, even the cabbage and the cauliflower cheese, which I usually treat as edible punishment. And then there was the carrot. Sweet, soft, and without question the best carrot I’ve ever eaten. If they sold them by the pint, I’d order two.

The pub itself? The kind of place that hasn’t been ruined by “quirky” refurbishments—just solid, classic decor with centuries of history still humming through the beams. King Richard III even lived here briefly, which makes sense: if the roast was half this good back then, no wonder he hung around. Staff were friendly without hovering, drinks list more than up to scratch. Honestly, one of the best Sunday roasts I’ve had in ages. Plenty of choice, plenty of food, zero regrets. And yes, I’m still thinking about...