The Woodberry Inn — Restaurant in England

Very disappointed with the restaurant although I believe they are having staffing problems. I've stayed here on four occasions and used the restaurant for family meals on five, and would normally rate very highly. Nine of us arrived for a family dinner on Saturday 19 July 2025. Our order was taken at 6pm with the waitress telling us what was NOT available and that there was only one sirloin steak remaining - not a problem for us and we were happy with the alternatives. At 6.45pm we were approached and told that only 1 out of 3 steak and ale pies could be served - again not a problem and we ordered Hunter's Chicken. By 7.15pm we still had no food and approached the bar to be told the delay was due to a "new chef". We accepted that and food began to arrive by 7.25pm.

Unfortunately it appeared that some of our meals had been left under heater lamps or microwaved to bring them up to temperature. Both lasagne were nuclear hot, mainly cheese sauce, and the garlic bread was brick hard and inedible. The steak and ale pie was very salty and was served with chips instead of the mash we ordered, and the mushy peas were dried out - we didn't complain as we were hungry and didn't want any more delay. The Chicken Shawarma flatbread dishes were very poor as well. Conversely the burger, child's sausage and chips, and the Hunter's Chicken (2) were very good. At no time were we approached to ask how the food was, and weren't offered any further drinks or puddings. Our bill included a £3.50 cost for a portion of chunky chips which were never delivered. We said nothing as we just wanted to pay up and leave.

Did I leave a tip? ... actually I did as the original drinks delivery and about 50% of the meals were fine. Additionally, I didn't blame the bar staff for the kitchen chaos.

It'll be a long time, if ever, before we use this...

This is a copy of an email sent 48 hours ago after a disappointing evening. As I have not received a reply, I now feel it is appropriate to post on this forum for others to see......

I am extremely disappointed at the service we received tonight at your establishment for several reasons.

Firstly, 2 diners from a booking of 6, who ordered pie of the day, received their food and the pie was only lukewarm. When mentioned to the waitress, they were swiftly removed and we waited for fresh ones to be prepared. The other 4 diners carried on with their meals. When our new meals were brought out, the man serving them apologised and said he had suitably chastised the kitchen. We were not offered another drink or anything whilst we were waiting.

Secondly, when my mum went to pay the bill, there was no reduction for our inconvenience.

Thirdly, when I asked a gentleman if he was the boss, and explained my dissatisfaction about the events of the evening, he said he would get the manager to come and speak to me.

Next thing I knew, the same gentleman returned with a card for me to email or phone next time I came in and they would sort something out. I asked where the manager was to be told he was too busy to come and speak to me. I replied that as I wouldn't be returning, it was pointless giving me the business card for a deal on my next visit.

How disappointing that no-one from management was available to speak to me. Surely a manager should be available to deal with customer queries and/or complaints?

It is too late to offer any form of apology or reduction now, the moment has passed. But surfice to say we will not be returning and will not be recommending our friends and family.

Oh and an aside, the fire exit in the restaurant is blocked by a table, I am sure that is...

Three of us called here for lunch on a Saturday recently. We were shown to our table by a pleasant lad and he took our drinks order. He later returned and took our lunch order without a note pad. We ordered rump steak, sausage chips and beans and fish and chips. We waited well over 30 mins even though it was quiet in Restaurant. Eventually the sausage and fish and chip order arrived. A little while later dishes started being presented to the Diner without a meal! None of which she had ordered. Then a fillet steak was put in front of her. We pointed out a rump was ordered not fillet so they took it back to the kitchen. Then she was left with no further explanation. When we asked what was happening she was told the Chef was cooking another meal for her. It eventually arrived as the other two Diners had almost finished. They confirmed they would not charge for the meal. It is just odd that they wasted a fillet at nearly £30 AND a rump at around £23.. I asked the Waitress why it would not have been better to have offered her the fillet at a rump price and the difference would have been a loss to them of £10? but she looked perplexed! To be fair the food was ok, the décor was lovely and the setting. It would appear that maybe more staff training and management presence would be advisable. Sadly I do not think we will...