Harvester Beacon Birmingham — Restaurant in Sandwell

We chose this Harvester located right next to the Premier Inn to have breakfast instead of having the breakfast in the hotel because we thought it would have been cooked nicer, and there would be more options. I regret making that decision SO much. We were a bigger table unfortunately for the Staff, and it proved too much for them. All the breakfasts came late. They had "run out of scrambled egg" (At 10am on a Saturday morning, what poor planning?!) and so offered my friend poached or fried (is it that hard to scramble either of these themselves? Either way it's nice to know that the scrambled egg they provide is obviously from pre prepared bags, yum!). They forgot the eggs in one of the meals, and wouldn't have noticed had we not said...another meal they forgot the mushrooms. They completely forgot to provide the toast with all of the meals. And when we saw one of the waitresses she asked if we "still wanted them now?" They were suppose to be part of the breakfast we were paying for!!! Myself, my partner and another member of the tables breakfast were completely forgotten about despite multiple times asking for them. Most of the table had eaten some of their breakfast, said the general quality of the food was poor and left. A friend asked for the meal to be well done and it came as it came and she had to just put up with it. We had to keep reminding the staff to get some of the table's drinks that had not arrived since being seated at the table (about 20 minute wait). When they did arrive, they served my tea with dairy milk even though I asked for soya. And the waitress then said "we don't have any left, you can have normal milk?" I'm vegan and had ordered the vegan breakfast 🤦🏼‍♀️ She wouldn't have told me the milk was dairy unless I'd double checked !!! What if I'd have had a terrible allergy to it!? The hot chocolate that a friend ordered came unstirred and the powder was still dry at the bottom! 45 minutes later and our meals STILL had not arrived and we then opted to walk out. The people who were still at the table after we left said they didn't charge for some portion of the meals but I still find this horrendously unacceptable. I feel like no one should have paid for anything if I'm honest. I hate conflict, I'm not a confrontational person in any way shape or form and I really hate complaining. It takes a lot for me to get this mad about an experience, especially to write a review and I am usually very understanding. But mine and my partners food STILL had not arrived by the time we were walking out despite one of the waitresses saying "they were just plating it up now" (obviously a lie after a further 15 mins of waiting). I have never ever walked out of a restaurant in my life! If I had the chance, I'd have put 0 stars. Although we didn't pay for anything, we had our time wasted and left hungrier and far more annoyed than we entered. Not the experience anyone wanted when looking forward to a lovely hot breakfast with...

Came here Mother’s Day evening. Seated an told that Alisha was our waitress. She came straight over and asked us if she could get us anything drinks. This is where the good service ended. Wasn’t asked about allergies. Luckily I know the menu well. Wasn’t checked back on. So was unable to explain how poor the food was. No questions about the fact half the meals were left. 35 minutes after finishing food we finally managed to call a waitress over to order some deserts. Her name was Lucy. She took our order. 25 minutes later our desserts came. They hadn’t even been microwaved. Fridge cold custard and treacle sponge. Again was unable to get Alisha’s attention. So had to phone the restaurant as Lucy looked busy with her section and the other girl on shift was running up and down the restaurant with a tray in her hand shouting “nearly time to go home!”. “I can go home as soon as my section is done”. She ran past our table, and I mean ran, more than 5 times. After phoning the restaurant in order to get some service. Lucy was sent up to the table. This girl wasn’t even our waitress. I explained the desserts were cold. 10 minutes later Alisha approached our table asked if we were okay? We explained we had sent back our deserts back and was still waiting for them, she took the mayo from the table and walked away saying “okay”. I don’t think I’ve ever had met someone who delivers such poor service as this girl. She was rude, unwelcoming and looked like she’d rather be anywhere other than at our table… She had no other tables! Our table was at 20:45 I get it late but surely she’d want us out as soon as possible, not deliver us shocking service for 2 hours and 10 minutes. (With good service we could of been in and out in just over an hour) Most of our visit was spent waiting for Alisha to come over as I’m sure you’ve now gathered she rarely did. Ended up feeling sorry for Lucy by the looks of it the other girls on shift were making her do and deal with everything while they spoke about going home. Would like to thank Lucy as she wasn’t our set waitress and she tried her best to juggle us with her tables and apologised at the end of our visit. Would never return. Worst hospitality experience...

Terrible service from the entire staff at this Harvester. We was seated and left / ignored by all staff members for a total of 45 minutes before we got up and left.

The table who was seated behind us just minutes before we were had their order taken approx 5 minutes after being seated. They had their drinks and main meal food whilst me and my wife sat on our table with the menus still in front of us with no one even acknowledging us.

I got up and asked to speak to the manager (CHELSEA) who told us to give her 2 minutes and she will personally be over to take our order. 10 minutes had passed and she was seen walking around the salad bar area giving instructions out.

Absolutely disgusting service which should not be allowed. Very awkward and demeaning.

When we were leaving the manager told us on our way to the exit door ‘she apologies’ - very easy to throw 2 aimless words together after being this bad at their jobs. Yes the restaurant was busy, but should the above is acceptable? There was empty tables and the kitchen area had approx 15 plates ready to go which was just sitting there.

Extremely poorly managed and run.

AVOID

(The restaurant has asked for me to call them to discuss this review experience - what is there to discuss as the damage is already done....