The Sandbrook — Restaurant in Rochdale

Last visited when this location was a Crown Carvery (shows how long ago it was) and we weren't at all impressed then. The only positive on this occasion was that we were asked about allergies when ordering the meal, which was dealt with correctly. Having ordered one carvery and one carvery with bottomless ice cream, together with a free soda and a blackcurrant cordial, I commented that the total bill was remarkably cheap. Having been presented with just one meal ticket the reason became apparent. I was then unable to redeem the Meerkat discount when paying for the additional meal as it had already been used, so ended up paying full price (not that it's unreasonable) for the second meal. There was no gammon available, and we were advised that there would be a fifteen-minute wait. Rather than do so we opted for the other two meats - just as well that we did as the gammon still hadn't arrived by the time we finished! Having been promised gluten-free gravy and a separate bowl of steamed cauliflower (the carver asked if we'd mentioned our dietary constraints when ordering) we were kept waiting - eventually the person looking after the pizza oven went into the kitchen to bring them out, having stood around the serving area for a while (the carver had disappeared back into the kitchen) - they had been left in there. The ice cream machine was working but the sauces in the metal containers with plungers weren't working correctly - other guests had been lifting the lids off and letting the sauces drip off the plunger onto their ice cream - not very hygienic! Tables weren't being cleared after guests had departed - we observed several people arriving and having to clear their own tables before they could sit down. In summary - not customer focused, poor food availability, miserable-looking staff. Pity as other Stonehouse establishments knock the spots off this one! Would we return? ...

Shocking service. Been here before and wasn’t much better however thought we would give benefit of doubt. Arrived on time to our booking with my parents and siblings, went to order our carvery at tills and requested a run down of what my coeliac sister could/couldn’t eat from the carvery. Passed between at least 3 members of staff nobody knew what they were doing or how to use the tablet. Staff were un-cooperative and dumb founded and looked at us as if we were aliens speaking a foreign language. Failed to produce an allergens booklet, and then was told that ultimately she could only have the gravy (?) they decided to not eat there as wasn’t happy with service or the way the multiple members of staff had just spoken to them. Unfortunately me and my partner already ordered and from what we gathered, there is no sense of food hygiene in this place, staff are double dipping their own utensils to dish up what I can only assume their own boxes along with flys actually in the cranberry sauce. Fresh Turkey was brought out just before I was served, there was 2 people ahead of me when it had come out however I was given the cold scraps from what I can presume was the previous Turkey. Stuffed half of the scraps inside the new Turkey to warm up (I think) and put rest on my plate which was disgusting. No sense of cross contamination or allergen awareness across the team. I witnessed myself the chef using the same utensils to pick up the Yorkshire puddings to dish up, as they did the sausages and pigs in blankets. This place is nothing compared to the likes of ‘Waterfold’ in bury it is just unfortunate we wasn’t able to get booked in. 0/10 do not recommend avoid at all costs especially if you have an allergy. Disgusting attitude from the staff, and appalling knowledge of such a basic factor of food hygiene and...

Never been before and told the lady at till as much. Ordered food at till, pizza, fish and chips and a kids carvery. Went to get kids carvery and were told to wait, nobody else there. Five minutes later we were served and returned to table. Pizza arrived five minutes later, no mention of fish n chips. Waited another 10 minutes, still no fish and chips. Went back to front to ask about whereabouts of food, was told he would find out. Three minutes later a young man arrived with food, no explanation for delay and a sarcastic "enjoy your food" as he turned and walked away.

Food was OK, child enjoyed carvery, fish n chips was small portion of heat and eat variety, the pizza was nice dough but overpowered with tomato puree.

Then I noticed on the menu that the children's carvery was 2 courses for the price I had already paid and went to the till to enquire about this, and order a sweet for myself. Got to the till, a queue had formed for drinks and food orders and one young lady was covering both the bar and till. This was Friday evening! Ten minutes later I got to the front and enquired about the second course with the child's carvery and was told I should have ordered this at the same time as I ordered the meal and that if I wanted it now it would be an extra £2.50. I reminded her that I had told her that I had never been before and that there was no mention of this stipulation on the menu. "Sorry" was the reply but nothing further. I then tried to order my sweet and was told it would a twenty minute wait. I declined and we left. If like reasonably priced adequate food, with no expectation of good customer service, coupled with a flawed and delayed ordering service, then this definitely the place for you. ...