Sadly the worst dining experience we've ever had last Sunday evening!! We stay in Southport every year at the Premier Inn...and last year we enjoyed a lovely home cooked meal at Roberto's Italian restaurant opposite... this year we wanted to repeat that dining experience. Arriving around 6pm.. the restaurant was half full...we hadn't booked a table but I asked the manageress (owner) if they could accommodate us?? She invited us to the bar while the student assistants cleared a small table for us. That was the first warning sign. Half the bar top was covered in dirty glasses and bottles. After 5 mins we were shown to the table and given a drinks menu... the first 2 standard wine choices were unavailable ... we settled on a bottle of Rioja. We waited...and waited and waited..the manageress kept walking past...saying..your order will be taken soon! Half an hour later...she took it. My husband ordered mussels for a starter and calzone for main and a side of chips. I ordered barbecue ribs then pasta meatballs. Again we waited...and waited and waited... my husband was beginning to lose his patience. We watched families walk out..their young children past their bedtimes still waiting for food. A young couple left most of their food and walk out too!? This is when we found out Roberto's was under new management. After another half an hour our starters arrived... mussels rather poor...barbecue ribs a bit tough. Another long wait... mains arrived... calzone burnt..watery..ingredients barely cooked. My pasta meatballs... pasta hot...meatballs tepid...chips didn't arrive until we had finished altogether!...I sent those back! Everything was no better than supermarket pre-cooked food warmed up!!! We were asked by the manageress our thoughts...and my husband gave it to her unapologetically. She Wasn't at all sincere in her apology.. asked why we didn't leave like everyone else was?! Anyone who stays in Southport knows Sunday evenings you need to decide on your preferred restaurant as they close early... you can't have a last minute change of mind and find somewhere else to eat...we only dine in NONE ultra processed food... home cooked restaurants. Roberto's is definitely NOT typical of fine Italian food...the students were working their best under shocking managerial circumstances... Next time we stay in lovely Southport..we'll be searching restaurants more thoroughly....