Newnham Court Inn — Restaurant in Maidstone

Worst Christmas dinner we’ve ever had. On the way in, we met a family who were just leaving complaining it was awful. I thought they were exaggerating. 2 hours worth of travel & £350 bill, I couldn’t have been more disappointed. First the wrong starters were brought out. When our starters were finally out, although looked lovely, they were cold. Mains were brought out - we all opted for the Christmas dinner (it was Christmas Day after all). Each plate was different so we ended up having to share sprouts etc. Potatoes were so pale I thought they were still frozen. Completely inedible. Yorkshire pudding was like elastic! Couldn’t cut through it. I couldn’t eat the veg it tasted like the whole thing had been microwaved or reheated many times. My mother was burnt TWICE by the lady bringing the food. Not even so much as an apology. Wrong desserts then brought out. I had a brownie with freezing cold custard in a pot next to it. The table next to us was already complaining about theirs being cold. I ate the brownie and just left the custard. The rest of the table had the Christmas pudding, which was a slither no bigger or thicker than my phone, with a white watery liquid in a pot next to it. Although the food was such a let down, our server was absolutely lovely I felt so sorry for her having to deal with everyone’s moaning. She did offer us a drink as an apology bless her, no one was drinking alcohol so a free coke didn’t really feel equal to spending £350 on inedible food, considering we had to order a pizza on the drive home on Christmas Day too.

The place itself was nice though, and staff were...

I booked online for the Xmas Fayre meal several weeks in advance so should have qualified for the free bottle of wine offered. On arrival the pub was freezing, decor shoddy & menus dirty. I was told that we had not been booked for the Xmas Fayre & though we asked if they could still provide this they couldn't & the waitress said I was at fault for not mentioning on the booking form I wanted the Xmas meal, but it did not state I had to do that so how was I to know? I couldn't believe they were unable to rustle something up. We had visited this pub as a special treat for my youngest brother who has Downs Syndrome, my Mum who was his carer very sadly passed away 3 months ago & we wanted to cheer him up & he had looked forward to the trip so much. We chose this pub as it is right next to a garden centre that does a great Xmas display & we had intended to visit that afterwards. He was so upset we couln't have the Christmas dinner & they didn't care, even when I explained that all of us had taken the day off work & one of us travelled all the way from Whiststable by train just for this. I asked to see the manager but they didn't bother coming over. To add insult to injury as we left a man behind the bar shouted out sarcastically ' Yeah mate service with a smile!' I really couln't believe it! Luckily we managed to find another pub online, the Tudor Rose & they kindly managed to squeeze us in to their carvery & it was wonderful, and saved the day. I will never go back to the Newnham...

Very disappointed with todays meal. Booked table for 5. Childs meal arrived too hot and our meals arrived cold. Beef was like leather even the cutlery struggled with it. Yorkshires under cooked and looked like had been sat on. Veg was cold limp and watery, all topped with of course cold gravy! Was told it could have been returned and warmed probably in microwave - somehow doubt that would have improved what was already on the plate. All in all a very poor and sorry excuse for a roast dinner. Standards have fallen greatly and shall not chance booking there again on the off chance it was a one off. What should have been a treat turned out to be an expensive regrettable disappointment. PS. After receiving response to the above from the owner ; Appreciating honest review, they set themselves a high standard & were disappointed to hear our experience was not a positive one. Hmmm, well ....Like their meal this reply was somewhat lacking. Call me old fashioned, but I expect a company to provide high standards - Roles reversed it's what I'd strive to offer my clients. However it seems I'm a tad too old fashioned as I'd without doubt begin my response to an upset client with an apology and sympathetic understanding of their feelings - this would be done regardless of personal thoughts - why? Because that is how to treat clients and customers and how you gain loyalty - Anyway - enough of my rambling, enough said. At least my comment/review was acknowledged, so thank...