Church House Inn Holne — Restaurant in South Hams

Unfortunately had a really uncomfortable experience at the Church House Inn today. Very sad about it because we have been a couple of times before and had a nice time, but perhaps management has changed or something. We had a large booking for a group for lunch today. Many of us work in hospitality so we understand this can already be a stressful situation for a venue. We had a few extra people who decided to join for the meal last minute. We appreciate this can make things difficult for a venue, so we tried to call the pub to ask them if we could increase our booking size, but we rang and rang and no one answered. We arrived and luckily there were a few empty and unreserved tables, so we had high hopes that we could squeeze in the extra 3 of us. We sat at a walk-in table and moved it a little closer to the large table so we could be part of the conversation. Unfortunately, when we tried to go to the bar to order, we let the lady know there were a few extra of us and explained the situation and we were unfortunately met with very inhospitable behaviour. We understand that it was not good to arrive with too many people and that it was a busy time, so not ideal for the staff. We hoped it wouldn't be a problem as there were empty tables and we didnt want to cause a fuss so we decided not to order roast dinners, just a couple of drinks and a bowl of chips or something. The lady who served us was incredibly put-out by us and honestly quite rude, and she refused to serve us any food at all because we were over our booked number, even though we were sitting on a walk-in table. She even snapped at us for thinking we could have a bowl of chips, as she rather unkindly explained chips are only allowed to be on the side of a main. What an unnecessary rule... What sort of pub doesnt do a bowl of chips? We even explained that we were part of the original number who had booked, and she didnt care and told us to leave and go to the cafe next door instead if wanted food. If I hadn't mentioned we were part of the group, she would have had no problem with us at all, as we could have just been walk-ins. My mistake for trying to be honest I suppose. It was very awkward for everyone, because we obviously wanted to spend time with the people we had booked a meal with, but they had to sit and eat their meals while we sat with nothing. Our friends felt very guilty over it and it spoiled their time too. The pub could have easily accommodated us and made some money off us, but instead they decided to be unkind and difficult. Such a cloud over what could have been a...

Having found out that the inn was under new ownership, we gave it a go for Sunday lunch. Myself and my partner were seated in the far room away from the bar area with a lovely wood stove flickering away. I ordered the beef and my partner had the same. Plates were hot and service was prompt. The vegetables were spot on, with a delicious gravy and Yorkshire pud. The problem was the beef, far from being the centre of importance of the meal. It was gristly and chewy and neither of us were able to eat even half of it, which is a shame given that the rest of it was spot on. When coming to pay for the meal (£23 each), i was asked 'was everything to your liking?' To which i replied in a helpful manner about the beef being so gristly and chewy, but added that all else was good. The lady got immediately defensive about how their beef is roasted and the quality blah, blah .. I mean WHAT IS THE POINT OF ASKING IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN??. Heres the rub, i am a trained chef, having worked a good 15 years in the catering and running my own cafe. Having roasted hundreds of joints of beef i know that the joint is not made in a factory! and that sooner or later some of the slices are going to contain the more gristly/chewy meat- its a given- and a quirk of it coming from a living animal... When someone is unlucky enough to be served this and bothers to mention this to you, what ought to be your reaction?? Think on that for a moment. Good solid feedback ought to be listened to, believed and possibly even an apology may not be outside the realms of your capacity? We also sat in a small room with (i kid you not) 6 dogs, two of which kept on very suddenly barking loudly for no apparent reason, with another two arriving as we left! I have no problem with people bringing well behaved dogs into he pub, indeed i grew up around dogs being a part of the furniture in a pub! But this was totally unacceptable. It was not a relaxing atmosphere inductive of eating, it was over priced for what it was, the staff evidently get defensive at the slightest suggestion that something may not be done well, and it was like eating in a dog kennel. If you cant take constructive criticism from from someone who knows what they are on about then you ought to take a long look in the mirror, i would suggest. I'd go for a pint in there again, however i certainly wont be going back there for Sunday...

Have just visited and unfortunately I regret to say was not impressed, staff, owners very polite and attentive can’t fault that. However to start I appreciate a good ale and booked here because of that reason “ good selection of local sourced ales “ but there was only two brewery ales on pump, I was offered a can of ale which was excepted although very warm, though she did at request put more in the fridge. We then ordered food and said we would pay at the end only to be informed half hour later after not receiving food that it had not gone to the kitchen because we had not paid ? Food arrived lamb roast bit tough, veg on raw side not hot at all, veg wellington roast pastry was raw sent back only to be returned still raw ( only reheated ) changed for scampi and chips. There was no real apologies, no offer of discount, would not say it was overly busy at time of arrival and appreciate things don’t always go to plan but it how you deal with things when they go wrong makes the difference. One of the best pubs in Dartmoor bit...