Coach & Horses — Restaurant in Portsmouth

The worst Christmas day dinner experience ever at the Coach and Horses Portsmouth We booked a family Christmas day dinner early in September and fully paid for before December. The confirmed booking was for a family of eight for Christmas dinner at 2pm. We duly arrived ten minutes before our scheduled time and was informed that they were running slightly behind time but don't worry we will have your table ready in 5 minutes or so. And so we waited and waited and waited. There were no staff on the reception desk and when trying to approach member of staff, who all seemed to be in a state pf panic, for an update on our table, already now nearly an hour late, you just got a blank response as they ran off in an opposite direction. I eventually trapped a staff member to ask for the manager, now over an hour and no table ready, was told that the manager was effectively 'hiding' in the kitchen! By now as I waited by the reception desk trying like mad to get the attention of staff members a long queue of other very disgruntled customer was building up, some also were waiting for a pre-booked table, others there to complain about the very poor quality of the food, also others that had started their meals only to finish one course and then have to wait nearly an hour for the next course or desert. Well we arrived at before 2pm for our family Christmas meal and it was no 4pm. After threatening to enter the kitchen area to confront the manager, with other very unhappy customer customers, the supposed manager finally appeared. He offered no apologies as we all asked for an immediate refund which was arranged on the spot with all unhappy customers being handed cash. There was really nothing else we could do, the likely hood of ever getting a decent Christmas lunch diminished by the minute. The number of Complainants at the reception desk continued to build up as I collected our refund. I have never encountered such an appalling experience at a restaurant in my life. This was to be the highlight of Christmas with a family dinner with kids, grand kids and an elderly mother. Sadly we ended up with no family dinner with no alternative. We were offered no reasonably explanation or compensation. My view is that whoever organised this event completely overbooked the tables causing a massive backlog. This then spilled over to the food for people at table to arrive late, often cold and of very dubious quality. The manager should be sacked for not only allowing this situation to occur but for also no facing up to the customers and to try to manage and resolve the issue. He is clearly not up to the task. What else can I say, DO NOT even consider using this appalling place to eat. Not only is the service bad the quality of food, if you ever eventually get it, is somewhat dubious what a way to treat a family on...

Server ( Harrison) was extremely rude and tried to charge us for things we didn’t order.Came for Valentine’s day have been many times before and usually everything was fine. Partner and me decided to get a plate of picky bits and onion rings before we ordered mains. My partner went up to the bar ordered the hunters fries picky bits plate without sauce, we were sat waiting for a long time and then the hunters chicken skillet was bought out. My partner immediately went up and explained that’s not what we ordered so we would like to send it back. He was told he could not take it back as “it had already been bought out” which did not make sense, my partner reluctantly agreed and ordered what we originally asked for again. When I heard this I approached the bar and explained we wouldn’t be eating something we didn’t order due to the servers mistake. The server ( Harrison) was extremely dismissive, told us that that was “exactly” what he had asked for which was ludicrous. I explained it wasn’t and that my partner has specifically asked “ This is from the picky bits yes?” to which he replied he’d checked with his boss / manager. I explained we wouldn’t be paying x3 as much for something we didn’t order when we still had to order our mains and requested the manager be bought out. Immediately to this request he said no he was in the kitchen so he could pass it on, I told him no I want and need to speak to him directly. To this he immediately offered a refund so was clearly embarrassed by his rude behaviour and did not want it relayed back to management. Such a ridiculous thing to send out the wrong food, refuse to take it back or offer a refund until I ask to speak to management. The server was dismissive, rude and clearly believed we had to pay more than anyone to enjoy a simple night. The atmosphere from ALL staff towards us made the night horrible and we left after finishing the plate of chips they’d taken nearly an hour to bring out. Do not recommend coming here for dates or special occasions! I will be contacting the chain directly as well, absolutely appalled and took our business to Southsea where the service...

Went here for a 65th birthday meal and wished we hadn't. Waited an age for food that arrived either cold, overcooked or wrong. Our personal order included a starter which arrived after our main which was wrong and cold, sent main back and starter arrived then main again whilst eating our starter so sent that away. When we said we were ready for our main we waited an age again and when it finally turned up when everyone had nearly finished their mains it was wrong again and stone cold, greasy as well as overcooked steak again!!!! When I ordered our meals to begin with I was informed I'd got the last rib eye so I can only assume my steak had made the trip from kitchen to table numerous times. Needless to say we then returned to the bar with our meals to return them again and get a refund. A member of staff then asked us how we would have liked it cooked to which we replied hot for a start 🙄 to then be asked what do you want us to do with it. BIN IT!!!!!! Got a refund although not for the starter but did get a free drink WHOOP WHOOP. Went home hungry, disappointed and disgusted with the whole Coach and Horses experience. Although we were the only ones to complain due to the total shambles as stated which couldn't be kept quiet from the rest of the party as they saw it all, there were more issues with their meals that could and were kept quiet so my mother wouldn't get more upset than she already was due to the incompetence of the staff So I would like to thank the Coach and Horses for a wrecked...