Barley Mow — Restaurant in Stafford

Unfortunately i had the worst experience here earlier today, been eating there for many years, we left incredibly disappointed! walked in around 5pm, very quiet. The lady was sat down (fair enough, they were very quiet, just not very profesional to be seen by customers), she clearly had some sort of managerial role, cant imagine how as when me and my partner approached, she looked us up and down, had a very weird look on her face! asked if she has a table for two, she took us around the corner and placed us exactly next to the only other table around!!! SOO AWKWARD! we felt awkward, the other couple did too, when she arrived with our drinks, i asked politely if we can be moved somewhere else for some more privacy, she didn’t seem very happy but took us in another section and it just felt like she shoved us in the corner in an already empty section? i asked if we can have somewhere else as the windows were very awkward and letting in a lot of light and sun, she kinda snapped back and said ‘i don’t have a lot of options’… while the whole pub was empty, i couldn’t believe she would say something like that when we were surrounded by DOZENS of empty tables!! i pointed at a random table that seemed more convenient and she said ‘that’s fine’, in a very annoyed tone. took our order, had the hunters chicken and my partner ordered fish and chips, a very lovely young waitress came out with the fish and chips and a lasagna, we said it’s a mistake and she was ever so apologetic and took it back and said it must of been ‘put through’ wrong, she was very kind to bring us our cheesy garlic bread to nibble on while we wait for our mains. after about 10!minutes, the other lady is bringing out our mains and blames it on the kitchen and ‘not knowing where their heads are at’, we totally didn’t mind and understood that mistakes happen, but please get your story straight lol! she puts the food in front of us and just walked off saying ‘enjoy’, didn’t even bother to ask if we would like another drink or clean the garlic bread plate or the empty glasses off the table. me and my partner looked at our plates and we weren’t too impressed by the presentation, the peas STONE COLD and the chips looked very overcooked. i’m trying the chicken and it just didn’t taste right, there was this juice leaking from it, my partner tried it and agreed! the chicken was undercooked!!! i was incredibly put off and disappointed as ive been looking forward all today to a hunter chicken from there, that ive had for years and always loved, but again, we understood mistakes happen. The whole environment was very hostile, which made our experience even worst! we tried waving at the lady and saying ‘excuse me’, but she seemed very occupied gossiping while her back was turned to the whole pub! at that point we both had enough of waiting to be acknowledged and just stood up and went up to the bar to her and expressed how we’re really not enjoying our meals, to which she said ‘ohhhh okay’, my partner paid for our cokes and we left! went next door and they saved the day hehe! But yeah, terrible service and hospitality today, don’t think we will be back again :/ years and years of lovely meals there, spoiled by a very...

Unbelievably disappointed.

I booked a table here for this evening. I chose to come here because I have NEVER had a bad experience here across the 10 years I have visited.

I booked online and the system requested my email address and phone number before confirmation. I was then sent an email informing me that I had “requested” a table, and that this was not confirmation of booking. This is perfect, this is a brilliant system, it factors in variables; The probability of change.

This morning I received an email informing me that my booking was now confirmed. 8:15pm booking for 2 people. Brilliant.

I live 30 minutes away, but the food is great and the views are decent as well, and it’s also not a bad drive through Cannock Chase (if you go that way of course)

I arrived 15 minutes early.

I wait at the front as requested by the signage, before I am greeted.

“Table for two?”

I’ve actually booked;

“Oh 8:15 was it?”

Excellent, this lady is aware of her diary and upcoming events. This is all great customer service!

I was then informed; “It was a little quiet today so the chefs have “Just been sent home, so we’re not serving food”

That in itself is in no way an issue, I’m a fairly astute businessman, I understand how it may financially benefit a business, that has managed to make it this far during a terrible pandemic in which it was required to close, to effectively manage their staffing levels according to requirement.

But you had my email address and my contact number. CONTACT ME! Tell me, let me make other plans! Save me a 30 minute drive! Save me the phone calls trying to then find an establishment that IS serving food! At 8:15 at night! This is beyond TERRIBLE service. This is DIRE service! And if they were JUST sent home, why didn’t they JUST wait for the last booking! This is absolutely ridiculous.

I not only an astute businessman, I’m also just astute, I’m fairly confident in my assessment of the two gentlemen sat to the side of the front doors, being said chefs! As they looked rather awkward BEFORE I was welcomed!

Considering you are now allowed to open, I cannot fathom why you would close and then disappoint potential customers upon arrival.

A simple phone call would have sufficed, and also would have been greatly welcomed and appreciated.

Bitterly disappointed in how this...

we booked for 16 people for 1 pm for Sunday 23rd April All was well and good to start off with - we were actually allocated 2 tables one behind the other, so the children could all sit together and the adults sat on the other table We ordered drinks from a very friendly young lady who served us with a smile. But the drinks took ages to arrive. Then things went a bit downhill. 2 of the children's meals were wrong ( One had a nugget missing and the other wasn't what was ordered. then lo and behold all the meals were out and were hot . The meals were roast beef, salmon and veg, lamb shanks, roast chicken . The plates were warm. Then to my astonishment and surprise I picked up the bottle of mustard and it was absolutely filthy - as was the mayonnaise. The duty manager just said ' oh well its because they have been upside down in the holder ' Excuse me obviously the holders should be cleaned ??? Also there was no indication of when the bottles had been opened. We have actually been in establishments where to open date and throw away date are clearly marked. My friend then went to the bar to order a couple of glasses of wine as we did not want it adding on the the bill. To say we were ignored was an understatement - in fact we did say to one of the staff are we in the wrong place - the answer was a flat 'no' no eye contact and no - im sorry I will be with you as soon as I have finished this order - he was busy doing coffees I think Customer service is just as important as the food quality ! Then the children went into the Wacky warehouse where the member of staff definitely needs some training on Customer Service, and I know that one of our party has written a letter of complaint too All in all the meal was ok for a very busy Sunday, but you need to train the staff better. Our waitress was spot on, she served us when we came for Boxing Day lunch and there were no problems. Also perhaps when taking food orders for a large party and when its busy, the order for sauces could be taken at the same time as the order for meals - having to wait for 10 minutes for horseradish sauce isn't on really is it I will also be putting this on...