Hangleton Manor — Restaurant in England

This was our annual Christmas Eve meal out, and the only time we get together as a family over the holiday. We pre-booked the 'Celebration Menu'. We enjoyed ourselves because we were together as a family. However. I had a few questions in advance, including re the kids pre-orders (I could not find a menu for them online). I left messages by phone, emailed and messaged via our booking portal but no one replied to me, so in the end I had to travel to HM on Christmas Eve morning to speak to someone in person. I was told then that the kids could order when we arrived later, from the normal menu. On arrival there were no crackers, hats, Christmassy napkins or anything 'celebratory' on the table - this has always been a nice touch at other places we have eaten on Christmas Eve in the past. We waited nearly 40 mins before going to find someone to ask if we could order drinks. I then asked if we could order the kids' food, we were told the adult starters were ready to be served, so the kids food would have to come out later. There were no starters available to the kids anyway. Most of the kids' main courses from the normal menu were sold out. They were not made to feel part of the Christmas dinner experience at all, as they have been elsewhere on previous years. The adult food we had pre-ordered was literally awful. In particular the Christmas turkey roast - the turkey was inedible (reminded me of processed school dinner turkey), two small and very dry potatoes, one shrivelled parsnip, two tiny shrivelled black carrots (looked like a hairpin on my plate), a very small portion of peas with cabbage, a small dried up yorkshire pudding. Watery gravy. No trimmings (stuffing, pigs in blankets etc) and no sauces (bread sauce, cranberry sauce etc). The presentation of all the food was awful, all just slapped on the plate or dumped in bowls. The main course portion sizes were smaller than the kids' meals. The hot food was all served cold. We all left hungry. No one wanted to ruin our family Christmas get together by complaining, or to cause problems for our young servers (who were all very sweet and doing their best), we all laughed and got on with it and paid our way at the end, and left our servers a nice Christmas tip. It was pretty gutting though, especially for me as the organiser. The food would have been an embarrassment on any day, let alone for a special Christmas meal. The only saving grace for this experience were the young kids serving us, who smiled and helped and did everything as well as they could (whilst rushed off their feet). So sad that this once-lovely place has gone so...

Reserved a table online, clearly stating that one of the three adults required electric wheelchair access. I also called three times but only reached an automated bot — there was no way to speak to a person. I left a message asking for confirmation about wheelchair access, as the website says the venue is accessible. No one called back.

We spent £40 on a wheelchair taxi to bring someone for lunch. When we arrived, it was clear there was no proper access. It took myself, my sister, and the taxi driver all working together to try to get the wheelchair across the shingle, where it became stuck. We had to actively go and find someone ourselves — no one offered — and we located a ramp usually used for stairs inside the building. It took another 15 minutes of hard effort to position it properly under the wheelchair. This was not handled or prepared by the venue in advance — we made it happen.

The staff who served us were warm, kind, and apologetic, and they deserve real credit. The venue is also attractive, with rich historic character. But the lack of communication, proper staffing, and basic access planning let it all down badly.

The food was probably the worst I’ve had in a long time at any pub claiming to be a restaurant. My dish — cauliflower with cumin and pickles — was soggy, lukewarm, and unpleasant. It tasted like it had been boiled until limp then sprinkled with cumin powder and served in a bowl of oily onions. We waited over 30 minutes, even though it was a standardised corporate menu. At around £16 it was appalling and I left half of it.

To advertise wheelchair access and then ignore a booking note, three phone messages, and the visible reality on the day is not only careless — it’s disrespectful to disabled customers and those who support them. We caused a scene just trying to get in, and for someone more sensitive about their disability, that could have been humiliating. A simple, low-cost solution — like laying down a boardwalk of lightweight planks from a DIY shop — could have solved the issue entirely. It’s short-sighted and shows poor attention to accessibility.

The franchisee needs to be far more proactive, and the franchisor needs to sort out communication and support for the few good staff they have. This could be a fantastic destination place — but for us, it was a sad, stressful lunch. It was only rescued by good company and by staff who did their best under the...

Well what can I say ! We arranged to go for lunch with my family Saturday 15th June to celebrate my husband's birthday and father's day 8 adults 5 children. We were shown to a large table out the back of the restaurant looks like were they put large groups. Almost immediately they wanted to take our food order . We ask for time only 5 mins we hadn't even sat down yet 🫣. We were not given children's menus when clearly had children age 5 to newborn. Once we had ordered I looked around 🫣 big mistake the place was obviously dirty all the panels on the walls had thick dirt/dust tables sticky and uncleaned properly chairs grubby all around the table legs base ect . Pot holding a bit of cutlery dirty clearly not cleaned for a prolonged period . My granddaughter needed the restroom and omgoodness it smelt like a stable. Painted toilet seats that have seen better days peeling and chipping and everything grubby. Food arrived in prolonged stages half had finished before the last meal (the birthday boy) which he couldn't eat as it was a chicken pie ice cold in the centre. Eggs on ham eggs not cooked so snotty on top and cold. Children's meals contain bigger portions than the adults . I had barley 10 chips. 3 members of staff 1 male 2 females wandering about but only 1 working by the looks of it (the male ) nobody checked our table to see if everything was ok or if we needed anything. So no drinks were had . We sat with plates of uneaten food for over 40 mins . Then my son had to approach the bar to ask about pudding were he was sent back with 3 types of ice-cream for the childrens meal (no adults were offered pudding) were he then had to go back to the bar with his ice-cream choice which he had to wait for and came back with 3 ice creams and spoons . I don't expect the Ritz we just wanted normal food and normal service. It seems such a waste of what could be a...