The Potting Shed — Restaurant in England

Used to visit frequently when we lived closer and always enjoyed the food and atmosphere. We came for an early Mother’s Day bite to eat with two children and a baby. Staff were very attentive and seated us immediately. They helped manoeuvre the pram around and it was only after a few minutes we realised we’d been seated directly in front of the speakers for the live music that was about to start. I have no issue with the music as he was lovely but it did seem an odd time as it seemed most people around were wanting to watch the rugby or talk but it was ok and actually the baby wasn’t phased and the gent was very talented. We ordered two sharers at around £9 each and 3 of the light bites for £15.95 along with a round of drinks taking the bulk to arbour £49. A table were moved to sit behind us and had clearly been drinking all day, I have no issue with this but the noise from the women was horrendous. The screeching, the hysterical laughter and screaming was insufferable and only got worse. At 7pm I’d understand I shouldnt be complaining but this was 1630. Bearing in mind we’re in front of guitar amps and the baby was sitting happily, the moment these guests began screaming it was apparent we weren’t the only ones irritated but I appreciate this isn’t the potting sheds fault. We hoped to leave as soon as our food was finished and so when it arrived that’s when I felt really disappointed. Considering the price I felt it was very poor. The nacho sharer looked like it was a few tortilla chips chucked on a plate, spoonful of salsa, a small ration of cheese and shoved in the microwave. Sour cream blobbed on top and put it came, for £9 it is daylight robbery and there wasn’t much sharing involved. The halloumi fries although soggy, rubbery and and Luke warm were ok. The peri chicken strips were quite nice but the chicken pieces although nice the size was shocking, essentially one chicken nugget size portion chopped into 6 or 7 pieces. The sharing fries were meant to be bacon and cheese and first had just coddled together on a plate. They looked brown burnt and soggy and very sad. I struggled to find the bacon but again assumed it was the cheese and the microwave to melt it and out they came. Very unappealing especially for the cost which is a shame as having been frequently before we’ve always enjoyed this type of food with the children as a treat saving money from larger meals. I had to move our table to sit in front of the toilet to escape the screaming guests directly behind us and the staff were very he loudly in doing this. As soon as we finished we left because every time the screeching started the baby was upset. Bearing in mind again we’d say by speakers so that hadn’t been an issue as she was happily watching the performance until then. The noise and language from the guests was just ridiculous and I didn’t want to add further with upset children. The staff again were lovely and hardworking but the atmosphere was sadly ruined by the guests and the food. Probably wouldn’t visit again unless it was...

Went as a group of 9 with a table booked yesterday - to start on a positive, I did really enjoy the burger I had and the staff were friendly. But good lord the waiting, and waiting and waiting. Got in at 14:00, waited about 10 minutes to be seen by anyone to get the table we booked. A further 10 minutes of waiting for someone taking orders (we were unsure if it was order at bar or at table). We asked a staff member next how we ordered, and she said she'd send someone over to us, 10 minutes after this there was still no one, so a few of us went to the bar to order and hopefully speed things up. 10 minutes later again the rest of us had all decided it was clear no one was coming to take orders, so we went to the bar. Whilst queuing for the bar, a staff member told us she would take orders at the table now, which we did. Everyone had one course and a beer, ordered 30 minutes after being in. All of the food and drinks came at completely different times for everyone on the table - not a couple of minutes but more like 20 minutes difference. Some people had their food and drink come at 14:35, some people didn't even have anything by 15:05. I had my main course come around 14:50 and then my drink came at 15:05 after I'd already finished the food? One person ordered a pizza which came last, after everyone else had totally finished and was ready to go. When we questioned bits, a male staff member told us it was because we'd all ordered at different times? Not exactly our fault when there was no indication of how to order, no one coming to take orders, slow bar service anyway and an app that wasn't working for all 9 of us.

It wasn't a totally unpleasant experience, staff were nice and the food and beer were honestly pretty good. But it had a few of us on the edge of walking out when we'd not even been seen in the first 30 minutes, although we couldn't leave when some of us had managed to order and were eating and others basically...

We tried to visit the Potting Shed for some food mid-afternoon, there was no greeting by staff upon entry or clear signage, so we assumed it must be a case of seat ourselves and order at the bar. We sat outside and there was no menu on our table, every other table was occupied so we couldn't grab one from elsewhere. I attempted to find a member of staff to ask for some menus. One young lady was wandering around aimlessly, and when I asked her if we could please have a high chair, and some menus? She replied with "ermmmm yeah ill just see if I can find some" and acted as if it was an imposition. We waited a good 10 minutes for menus and a high chair, neither came, nor did any members of staff. I decided to queue at the bar to ask for menus, and there was only one member of staff at the bar, despite it being busy and there was quite a queue stacking up. I waited patiently in the queue, attempting to catch the eye of a staff member so we could at least get some flipping menus(?!). I waited for another 10 minutes and attempted to flag down a further two members of staff, as the queue at the bar wasn't going down as the ladies at the front seemed to be ordering drink after drink with no regard to the rest of the queue, still only 1 member of bar staff. I eventually managed to find a polite young man who told me he'd be "right over" with our menus and high chair so I headed back to our table. A further 15 minutes pass, and no menus or high chair. We ended up leaving and eating somewhere else.

To summarise, we were in the building a good half hour, and didn't even manage to get to see a menu. Most certainly not for lack of trying. Super disappointed and will not...