XII - Twelve — Restaurant in North West Leicestershire

Went on a Saturday for a hen do. We were booked in for the champagne breakfast. It was not a smooth breakfast at all. At 10 there was only our table of 7 and a smaller table of 3. It took the waiter originally ages to take our drinks order and then we we finally asked to order our food (after waiting at least 40 minutes) we were told she was going to take another tables order first and then come back. When the starter of the breakfast came out (1 hour after sitting down) The fruit had to be returned as it was all apple. The granola and yoghurt was warm. We also had to ask for spoons which were plonked on the table in front of one of the party. The table wasn’t cleared and we waited another 20 minutes before this was all taken away. We moved them to the end of the table. Then we asked if we could order our food (by this point most people has been and gone). She said that it wouldn’t take long but we still had to wait. Breakfast quality was fab though and really enjoyed the food. When we asked for our hot drinks the tea came with a teabag in (no teapot) half full we had to ask for them all to be topped up!! Oh and also no tea spoons which we had to ask for again! Then when the table was cleared the waiter seemed to be disinterested in letting us have our pastries (which are a part of the package) and said if we was full we could leave them - even though we wanted them as we was paying for them. Part of the hen party then had to leave because their parking had ran out. So the group was then split. When we came to pay. They tried to charge us for the hot drinks which were included in the price. Whilst I was paying the staff were clearing away our tables. No one offered to take a photo for us. And overall felt like after all that we weren’t welcome any longer. By this point the bar was empty as they were starting lunch service. It took just over 2 hours in the end. For a champagne breakfast. Service was incredibly poor and didn’t start the hen party off on a great note.

Won’t go back for a champagne breakfast unfortunately. I will go to another local...

I recently visited for lunch and had an enjoyable experience, overall. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with enthusiasm and warmth, which made for a firm first impression. The decor is stylish and inviting, creating a wonderful atmosphere for dining.

I ordered a small (175ml) glass of wine and a Caesar Salad from the lunch menu. The service was truly brilliant; the staff were attentive, engaging, and made me feel very welcome. My glass of wine was served in an elegant, oversized glass. However, I felt that the measure might have been a bit short, as the glasses did not have measure markers... at £6.90 for a 'small glass' of wine, I asked for reassurance that this was indeed a 175ml (not a 125ml), which was confirmed.

The Caesar Salad was fresh and well-presented. The portion size was generous and the amount of chicken, bacon, dressing and giant croutons were perfect! However, I was a bit disappointed to find that the 'soft boiled egg' advertised on the menu was over-boiled, with the yolk having a greenish tinge (suggestive of prior refregeration). Despite this, I appreciated the overall quality of the salad, and would order again (perhaps with a freshly poached egg?).

I provided my feedback to the staff, who were gracious and thanked me for my comments. This level of professionalism and receptiveness to feedback is commendable and leaves me hopeful for future visits.

Overall, while there were a couple of minor issues, the excellent service and charming ambiance make a place worth trying. I’m looking forward to giving it another shot soon... the Sunday Lunch...

We visited Twelve today after hearing it was one of the best places to eat in Ashby, but unfortunately our experience was very disappointing.

Despite booking a table in the restaurant, we were told on arrival that we would have to sit in the bar as they had rearranged the restaurant for large bookings. The bar area was extremely noisy – so much so that my wife and I could barely hear each other speak – and the chairs were incredibly uncomfortable.

Service was very slow, and when our server finally arrived, she casually mentioned, “sorry, I didn’t even know you were here,” which didn’t inspire much confidence.

As for the food, it was far from what we expected from a restaurant of this reputation and price point. I ordered the belly pork, which was unfortunately undercooked, chewy, and lacking the crispy, salty texture you would expect. It was served with nothing but plain ricand a small pot of soy sauce, which made for a very dull dish. My wife chose the “special” curried lamb pie, which was also bland and uninspired.

I asked twice for a replacement napkin after using mine to mop up a spilled drink – once when ordering and once when the server checked on us – and it never arrived.

Overall, for such a high-end and expensive restaurant, we left very disappointed. The combination of slow service, uncomfortable seating, poor acoustics, and underwhelming food means we won’t be rushing back. There are many other places to eat in Ashby that offer better food, better service, and a better...