Sacred Orchard — Restaurant in England

Edit..... following owner feedback, it is important that I point out that this was two separate team members, one with the plates and one with the wine glass. Then there was the girl who I assume was the duty manager (in a jacket), that stormed around slamming all of the windows closed so that it was sweltering! She was also very sturn with all customers. No smile, no please or thank you. Worst restaurant experience in many, many years.

The food was excellent, we couldn't fault the food at all. The restaurant was also lovely and clean.

We are unsure if we would return however, as we value the experience as highly as the food. Unfortunately, we were rushed several times. During our meal, whilst actively eating, we were approached 3 times and asked if we had finished yet so they could take our plates. Then, when my husband and son had finished, a member of staff virtually ran to our table to take the plates, whilst my son was just putting his knife and fork down and I was only half way through my meal! It's very bad manners to take plates, until EVERYONE on a table has finished. It's the marker of a bad restaurant and the reason we would rather food that isn't as good elsewhere, but where we get respect as paying customers.

Then, as we had wine left, we asked if we could take it outside. The lady said yes and we headed outside. We had been out there for roughly 2 minutes, when a member of staff came out and took my husbands glass (with a mouthful of wine left in the glass) and headed inside. I was glad I still had hold of mine!

We are an extremely quiet family; we are well used to eating out and our son is well mannered. It was only 7pm so I have no idea why we were rushed. My husband and I would like a refund to be honest, as it was a meal after some bad news and we just wanted a relaxed meal. They clearly wanted to get rid of people so they could go home early!

Really disgusted to be treated like we were being done some sort of favour...we were paying customers and regular customers at that...

Table for 2 at 7.30pm booked until 9pm, but it was a good job we didn't have to leave at nine because we were still eating! On arriving the welcomer looked like a customer, as she was at the bar chatting to the barman (back to the door) but did give us a good welcome, showed us to the table, took our drinks order and gave us the menus. The shorter waiter took our order, and when I asked about a little extra tartar sauce, did inform me that the establishment charged a small amount for the extra, which I agreed to pay. The food arrived and was very good, but upon finishing we asked this waiter for a dessert menu and waited, waited and waited (over 20 minutes) until I caught the eye of the taller waiter (later found to be Lucas) who apologised, then brought us the dessert menu straight away and advised on alcohol level in some of the desserts, as I don't drink. He took over to take our dessert order and chased mine when it failed to arrive. My friend's expresso coffee arrived looking lost in a cappuccino cup with an apology from the girl delivering it that there were no suitable cups, and went cold a lot quicker, but my dessert was lovely. We were surprised on receiving the bill that the charge for the teaspoon of extra tartar sauce was 75p which seems a bit steep. The food and Lucas' prompt action saved this night out from being seen as a complete flop, but we didn't leave until 9.45pm when we'd expected to be out by 9pm, yet the place hadn't been full and was 95% empty when we got the desserts. All your staff were friendly and I'm not making a complaint, but the poor service levels are going to ruin...

I have just been out for the first time since lockdown to the Sacred Orchard. What an agonising experience the staff were all very pleasant but the service was a nightmare . It felt like they were all new staff and hadn't learnt to look after customers and sell up we used to be in the trade and feel sorry for what's happened over the last year but feel the time in lock down before opening this pub would of been better dealt with having some training, it's like all the staff just walk past you until you have to get up and ask them for service . We had to ask to have our order taken,then wait for drinks then wait for onion rings. Then our glasses were empty a chance to upsell another round but no we had to wait and wait and wait until we had to get up and ask for service again. After our mains were cleared we had to wait and wait until we got up to ask for a dessert . It wasnt over we then had to wait again and gave up and asked for the bill. Marstons must of lost a lot of money because a few of us had to go to the bar which had a notice no one was allowed to do ,but if the service had been a little more switched on and the staff had direction it might have been better. I would recommend a little training before you lose a lot of customers cause it's a lovely pub but an absolute nightmare for customers. I was really looking forward to this tonight it's a shame about the poor service it could be a great pub. Marstons you need to send a mystery customer into this...