Exchange — Restaurant in England

This pub was refurbished in Jan 2013 and by jeesh it needed it! It's been opened out and looks great - considerably better than it did before. The food is excellent - with a wide choice catering for veggies and carnivores alike. However, since re-opening the bar staff have become increasingly cold, unwelcoming and generally quite rude - almost as if they think they are doing you a favour by serving you. The last time I visited I felt like saying "it's still just a pub you are working in.......!!" I received no apology from them when my order for bread and oils went astray. I ended up waiting an hour and whilst the chef profusely apologised in person, there was not even an acknowledgement from the barman that took the order.

The drinks are overpriced compared to other pubs in the area, although the Happy Hour prices are great value (if you can cope with service without a smile).

The atmosphere is somewhat lacking - the same background music has been playing each time I've been there.

When The Exchange re-opened, it was advertised as "What Hove has been waiting for" but I am still trying to figure out exactly what that is. It's the same as other refurbished pubs in the area - bare floorboards and all open plan - so there is nothing to absorb the sound. Therefore it's dreadful when it's quiet and even worse when it's busy, as relaxed conversation is almost impossible. There are no baby changing facilities, so it's not as suitable for families with young children as other pubs in the proximity. It's not the sort of place to pop into for a quick pint after work (no bar stools at the bar – despite Happy Hour drinks prices and a menu offering bar snacks as well as mains) and it's not the place to while away an evening with a group of friends (I've tried a few times - there are only a few comfy/cushioned chairs - the rest are bum-numbing hard-backed wooden chairs or uncomfortable stumpy stools). Sports wise - sometimes they show football, sometimes they don't, and it's lost the atmosphere it used to have during the big matches. I can't comment on the atmosphere during rugby matches as I tend to watch elsewhere - IMO the poor service isn't worth paying non-Happy Hour prices for. The Exchange doesn't have the gastronomy of The Connaught or the Ginger Pig (or, fair enough, the cost). Purely because of the dreadful service I've received at The Exchange, when I'm in the mood for a pub meal I tend to go The Bell, The Foragers, The George Payne or The Slug & Lettuce - I've found the staff are always friendly, welcoming & helpful. The lavatories are a heck of a lot better in these places as well (The Exchange may have redecorated their loos, but the same old issues remain!)

This pub really needed a refurb, and I had high hopes that I would be a frequent visitor there. I've tried several items from the menu, and they've all been consistently good, so If I was rating the food alone, I'd give 8 out 10. Unfortunately, due to the persistently declining attitude of the staff, this rating...

Having thought I had found a really nice local pub sadly our experience last night has told me this is a place we won't be bothering with again. My son bought a pint of lager. He tried it and said it tasted awful and was flat. He asked two others in our group to try it and we agreed. He took the pint back explaining that the pint was flat and unpleasant. The barman was quick to say that there was nothing wrong with it and it most definitely was not flat. Even an onlooker agreed the pint was flat. The solution to this was for the barman to pour the pint into another glass and run his finger up down side of glass to induce a fizz. Can you actually believe it... needless to say he left it. To add fury insult to injury the assistant manager (why she had this title God alone knows as you normally need people skills) came to our table to inform us that the table was booked for 8.30 . We informed her that we knew this as there was a large blackboard sign on our table telling us so. She then proceeded to say they may even come in st 8.20. We said this was fine and she left us alone. We put the rather large board on the table next to us as it was in our way.. the table next to us was also reserved for the same person. The girl promptly returned to tell us we were not allowed to move the board as it was company policy. Once again we stated that we were quite clear about the bookOng and we would be leaving shortly. To this she stormed of to announce to all the bar staff we were nit to be served and continued to storm all around the pub like a mad woman. We left immediately and I can honestly say we will never return. Having read other rreviews it seems the bad pint situation is not a first. It is company policy to hand out bad pints take good money for it and insist that the poor punter take it. What an...

This is the first and last time I book a place at the Exchange. Honestly the most awful service I’ve had, and I’ve been to a lot of pubs! I had booked a table for the EUROS final quite well in advance. This was confirmed via email for two people. I then rang up the Sunday before the final to clarify and ask if I would be able to add two more people. The man on the phone said he had just been checking the tables for the final and said there were two stools available as will add two people on. Everything was sorted and my friends from London cancelled their bookings to watch with me and my partner in Hove. I THEN get an email this week with an awful lie of an apology saying ‘sorry this is embarrassing’ and they won’t be able to take us on for the final. They said the reason was because of a system error, and hadn’t been checking as they expect the system to do this for them. This is evidently a lie, as the man I had spoken to checked last Sunday and said was fine. Seriously what service is this?! I am honestly just in disgust by how a pub can do this to customers. You have actually ruined the euros final for us. You have messed up our plans. The pub seems to go on about aesthetics, but perhaps sort out your customer service first? On top of this, I had emailed back and of course they don’t reply. I am super disappointed and will spread the word about the utter disgrace of customer service...