To preface the review, from a general perspective, I appreciate the importance to be aware that poor service in busy times is more a reflection of management and establishment hiring policies rather than a staff-level issue.

tl;dr the food is average at best, and the service is poor. We arrived 30min before our dinner booking, and it took staff a disproportionate amount of time to approach us, and then a further period before we could be shown to a table (since we were early we asked if there were any tables at the bar if no dinner tables were available, or if it would be better for us to return later, but it took a long time to get a response).

Table service was delayed - we ordered drinks to the table and while the bar staff prepared them, they were skmomy waiting at the bar to be delivered to the table. We noticed them in passing and brought them to our table ourselves. To underscore, we didnt particularly mind if we had to go up to the bar to order drinks, but there was meant to be table service except that it was hilariously delayed.

The food was average. It was not bad, but considering the prices (~£170 for a table of 5, no starters one drink each, 3 deserts to share) it really was not what we were hoping for. I personally had the burger and it was cold and extremely dry. The other food was average, but in all honesty the burger was pretty poor.

Finally, when we received our bill we noticed that it had been marked as none of us having allergies. None of us did have any allergies, but we were never asked if we did. For there to be an assumption that we had no allergies is an extremely worrying symptom of the overworked and understaffed atmosphere of The Botanist.

I will say that the overall atmosphere of the pub was amazing. The ambience as an isolated experience is a full 5 star experience.