The Polly Tea Rooms and restaurant — Restaurant in England

What has happened to this tearoom. I remember the days of great service and feeling a little special. So in returning we were all a little disappointed. After being shown to our table we waited 45 mins before a waitress came over to take our order, she started to ask what we would like for our food, we ordered and then I asked if we could order drinks. We ordered a mint tea which came in a filtered coffee pot with a tea pot lid which when poured fell off as it did not obviously belong on this pot, we had to ask again for the jug of water we ordered, and teaspoons which did not come with the tea. When the food arrived it was literally slamed on the table and when we asked for mayonnaise we were tutted at. We all felt embarrassed and very much in the way. Waited another 10 minutes before cutlery arrived which again we had to wait for. On a positive the food was pretty good. Then we decided to order cake, 😌 the waiter that took over our table was our saving grace, he was brilliant and pointed out to him that he was very much welcome as the service up to then was absolutely awful. He apologised which was really not up to him to. On observing other tables we could see similar service and can only put it down to bad management. Our cakes arrived which again were lovely except the red velvet cake was very stale and we had to return it. I have been front of house for years and it doesn't matter how busy you are you always acknowledge your customers. If you are busy just eye contact your customer and let them know they will be served as soon as they can. On asking for the bill it is quickly given with no explanation that you have to go to the counter to pay, I actually told the adjacent table that is what they had to do as they were sat for ages waiting. An older couple also were told the same after waiting for some time. Yes you were busy yesterday and we would of not minded waiting, lots of people waiting with no acknowledgement it wasn't just us. A one hour wait for the drinks to arrive, I don't expect a quick service if busy but good service is all about eye contact, letting your customers know they are not forgotten and not made to feel they are an inconvenience. I am sure I will not be the only one writing a bad review. Polly tea rooms has lost its charm and hospitality and we will never return. The one star is for Jamie who turned it around for the last 15 mins...

I really dislike leaving negative reviews but this place used to be really really good. Having not been for several years, I was in Marlborough and decided to stop in for a full English breakfast. What an odd experience.

The food was served approximately 5 minutes after ordering which immediately made me think it wasn’t cooked fresh. The beans were cold and had a slightly acidic aftertaste. Almost like too much vinegar but it wasn’t that flavour profile. Strange

The mushrooms were rubbery and frankly inedible

The bacon looked anemic, very fatty and wasn’t warm.

Eggs and toast were fine but it’s fried eggs and toast, not sure how far you could mess that up.

The hash brown was the standout issue for me, and I noticed the lady a few tables away had left hers entirely. It had almost a fragrant taste to it, like it had been sprayed with a perfume. It was so over powering I tasted it and immediately put it back on the plate.

Zero atmosphere, no background music.

In the toilets the ivy plant was obviously homesick as it was growing through the open window.

The server was reasonably attentive, pleasant but didn’t give me the option to leave her a tip which I would have if offered.

Overall a negative experience. Ownership must have changed since I was in there last as this was a world away from the home cooked quality food I had previously. The cakes selection looked good so perhaps it was just the morning kitchen staff that is the issue. It’s a real shame. As I’ve written this review it reminds me of the kind of experience one would have from visiting a motorway service station. You feel somewhat made a fool out for overpaying for an underwhelming experience. Questionable cooking, minimum spend on facilities maintenance. For over £20 for a breakfast and drink for 1 person I would not recommend making the trip there

I really hope the owners see this and have a good internal look at their operation, appreciate this is just my experience but that ivy hasn’t made the decision to become a house plant overnight. That’s weeks /months of neglect which has gone from an overlooked checklist item to a conscious decision to ignore a very obvious problem.

The breakfast here honestly used to be worth a 20 mile drive which we did regularly. It’s now on par with a little chef outside of smog filled...

Popped in today for the first time. Had our grandson with us. Ordered a bacon sandwich and orangina for the boy and for us a supposed home made steak pie and a Wiltshire ham egg and chips with tea for 2.

Well.. I wanted to send the food back when it was delivered,especially the ham egg and chips! ..but partner said you know what .. I will never come back again....

Food delivered to the table. We then waited for cutlery , condiments and the extra requested mustard and ketchup to be delivered in 3 , yes 3 executions of service ( we were table 1 right by the service area! ) Meal 1; The ham was in such sparse supply that the 2 eggs were not only bigger.. but totally covered the see through thin 2 small slices of ham ! £10.95 for a handful of chips, 2 Eggs and awful quality of ham. Meal 2; Bacon sandwich had more bacon in than the Ham meal. Unfortunately it clearly had been cooked ages beforehand, left to dry out and served in a sandwich to a child. He left half of it . £6.95 for a bad bacon sandwich! Meal 3; Homemade??? Pie. Frankly if it hadnt been for the instant gravy it would of been very dry. Small pot of peas. Ample chips.. much more than what was on the first meal. Thinking the pie had been microwaved then put in oven. Hence dryness and hard / soft pastry. £9.95.

Tea in a pot with 2 cups. Brown sugar supplied to partner. Tea weak. Certainly nothing special and certainly not at a cost of £7 !!! 1 pot of tea , 2 teabags , 2 cups .. £7 !!! Actually felt robbed!!

Partner ordered 2 slices of bread and butter with his meal 1. It was actually delivered on the same plate as his meal .. hence why he had so few chips! Do you not have side plates ?! Furthermore he didnt get 2 slices he got 2 half slices... and for that privilege they charged £1.75! Not a plate, added to main meal and a charge of £1.75 !!!

£40.35 for frankly , meals that were way below par ! Now I know why it wasnt very busy on a Saturday lunchtime!

I look forward to a response from this management team because the actual cakes looked wonderful. Is it just a tea and cake place ? Because hot meals are diabolical. And the tea at £7 for 2 needs to be improved greatly !

Seemed to be no management on the floor and frankly none overseeing meals...