The White Hart — Restaurant in Staffordshire Moorlands

Nice, welcoming olde world pub with a great drinks selection. My family and I had booked in for a Thai, and it was amazing food! No complaints there. But unfortunately, the service was dreadful.

Even though we had pre-ordered our food it was an hour late coming out of the kitchen, for which the young lad waiting-on did apologise for. Fair enough, it was busy. But what was really disappointing though was that nobody asked us if we needed anything, or whether the food was alright, or whether we wanted more drinks.... so we were forced to go to get our own from the bar. All of our empty glasses, bottles and plates were left on the table, and they were still all there when we left. I've worked in catering before and one golden rule I was taught was: "Never go back to the kitchen empty handed!" Countless members of staff breezed past our rapidly filling table on many many occasions, and did absolutely nothing. Even when the waiter bought the mains we had to move our starter plates out the way so he could place the food down, but he didn't have the nous to pick them up and take them with him when he returned to the kitchen to fetch more mains. It's basic common sense really, and there's no excuse for it. One of our party spilt some curry on the table, and a couple of us attempted to clean it up with napkins. The waiter saw us but did nothing to help. And the pile of soiled napkins were still on the table when we left too. We had to go to the bar for the bill, and had to pay there too... also a bit annoying.

It's such a shame really, because the food was exceptional, better I'd say than the Thai restaurant in Uttoxeter, but there, their staff are so attentive and efficient.

So if it's a restaurant experience you're after then the White Hart may not be for you. But if it's a great meal in a busy pub with a "stack your own plates, wipe your own table, and get your own drinks" experience you crave, then go for it!

Also, it's well worth pointing out the price..... very moderately priced indeed, especially for the large portion size.

Would I go back there? Yes definitely... but I'd leave all thoughts of restaurant etiquette at home. And I'd take...

I booked to stay at White Hart Hotel via Booking.Com on the 20th July to stay August 5th-6th due to doing a double day at Alton Towers.||||This looked by far the best hotel in the area and I was instantly impressed by the restaurant and general atmosphere of the hotel.||||We arrived at the hotel just before 7pm after the park closed.||||The staff member who greeted us at reception asked for our reservation, and it was shortly announced after a brief search that our booking ‘didn’t exist’||||Looking at the monitor my name was indeed on the list, however it was only penciled in for just August 6th and not the original booking date of August 5th-August 6th||||Obviously my partner and I were shocked and proved to the staff member the booking confirmation for August 5th-August 6th on both email and Booking.com app - labelled in green as booking confirmed.||||Never the less the hotel was now fully booked and there was no room available for us, despite booking a room on July 20th.||||The staff at White Hart instantly pushed the blame to Booking.Com, telling us to take it up with them.||||Sitting in the hotel carpark on the phone to them, Booking.com confirmed that there was no issues on their end in regards to the booking.||||Myself and my partner’s plans were completely ruined by White Hart Hotel. We hope an explanation is given to us on why this error was made.||||This should have been done when we were in reception, instead of telling us it was a Booking.Com error and leaving us to find somewhere else to stay that evening.||||It’s fair to say I won’t be returning...

I booked to stay at White Hart Hotel via Booking.Com on the 20th July to stay August 5th-6th due to doing a double day at Alton Towers.||||This looked by far the best hotel in the area and I was instantly impressed by the restaurant and general atmosphere of the hotel.||||We arrived at the hotel just before 7pm after the park closed.||||The staff member who greeted us at reception asked for our reservation, and it was shortly announced after a brief search that our booking ‘didn’t exist’||||Looking at the monitor my name was indeed on the list, however it was only penciled in for just August 6th and not the original booking date of August 5th-August 6th||||Obviously my partner and I were shocked and proved to the staff member the booking confirmation for August 5th-August 6th on both email and Booking.com app - labelled in green as booking confirmed.||||Never the less the hotel was now fully booked and there was no room available for us, despite booking a room on July 20th.||||The staff at White Hart instantly pushed the blame to Booking.Com, telling us to take it up with them.||||Sitting in the hotel carpark on the phone to them, Booking.com confirmed that there was no issues on their end in regards to the booking.||||Myself and my partner’s plans were completely ruined by White Hart Hotel. We hope an explanation is given to us on why this error was made.||||This should have been done when we were in reception, instead of telling us it was a Booking.Com error and leaving us to find somewhere else to stay that evening.||||It’s fair to say I won’t be returning...