The Bletchingley Arms — Restaurant in Tandridge

Drinks, starters, service all went well. Then it all changed very quickly.

The waiter that brought the food to our table had a disgusting attitude. Upon putting the food on the table, he said we'd have to get up and help ourselves to cutlery and sauces from a cutlery tray on serving table. We questioned this, as other tables had been laid and it had been table service so far with the starters. Anyway, doing as we were told, other members of staff saw us getting cutlery at this table and told us to sit back down and that they would bring everything we needed over to us as we'd originally expected. When we informed them who told us to help ourselves, it was met with a bit of an eye roll - as though they were aware he's lazy and simply didn't couldn't be bothered to bring things to our table.

When you're asking good money under the assumption this is a quality pub, I don't expect to be wandering around like I'm in Nandos. The entire situation was embarrassing for us. It was not the case he was new and didn't know what he was doing, just lazy.

The guy that served us for the majority of the evening with the glasses was friendly and professional at all times and we couldn't fault him. He was then on the back foot trying to put things right after the other bloke's indifference towards us, which is completely unfair as he'd built a nice rapport with us.

Having worked in pubs when I was younger, there's no excuse for making customers do your job for you because "it's been a long day". I appreciate the hospitality sector has been hit massively and good staff are hard to come by at present. Nonetheless, if you're the manager of this pub and think his way of dealing with customers is acceptable, things are only going to get worse. I truly believe you're only as good as your worst person. It simply is not fair on the rest of your staff that worked hard and delivered a pleasant dining experience.

Two of our table of four had really enjoyed eating here on previous occasions, which makes our experience tonight even more...

We have been going to the Bletchingley for years most birthdays we catch up at the pub. The food has always been a bit more money but well worth it in portion size and amount. It has been great until this birthday. We all arrived and was shown to our table all good we sat for a while before asking can we order our drinks. Whole ordering drinks we asked was there a berries cider to which we was told yes we have that lovely. The drinks then come out all is good we start drinking to realise the ciders are alcohol free. We asked can we have alcohol ones please as we had ordered they had to go off to see if they had alcoholic cider. They come back and tell us all the light beers they have we said again no we would like cider but with alcohol In it. She said no problem and again goes off we then get a option of ciders and order what we had asked for in the end. But with all of this we was made to feel it was our fault for not asking for a alcoholic cider which I have never had to ask before. The ciders which we were given by mistake and told would come off the bill plus the one that was dropped whilst being brought to us was whipped away to be binned quicker than we could say what a waste. After still waiting for a food order we decided to get drinks, it's easier to go to the bar ourselves which we did. We finally got our food and it was good size portions perfect for the cold wet day. A few had dessert we sat around to have a chat and some more wine and was told the next booking had arrived and we needed to move to the bar again we felt like it was our fault it all took so long to get sorted. If it had all been quicker at the begining we may have been ready to go without being told. I have had it where people need to be moved to a bar to chat after a meal but never told to go there and not even shown to a table we could all sit at. It all just felt like here is your bill give us your cash and go. It was all very unorganised compared to...

Unhappy experience - Pub encourages young families as there is a playground outside in pub grounds but the SCREAMING NOISE from the numerous very young children was so intrusive if gave us headaches.

Parents seemed not to care that other diners were not best pleased. Perhaps not the Pubs fault but it's their offering to us.

Our mains were alright not fantastic - Salmon Fillet was cooked just right and appreciated but why serve on a bed of "roast new potatoes" (more deep fried) covered in garlic butter? The sprinkling of green beans were welcome. The advertised sauce (mustard & caper) was served in a pot at request. Suspicion was that it did not match the Salmon or the garlic roast potatoes proved a wise move as the sauce was tasteless to horrible. Why did it have cream in it and why was it separating? Ugh. Suggest avoid this one. £18.95 + service

The 8oz Sirloin fared better. Nicely cooked and medium as ordered. One mushroom top and tomato plus a big portion of chunky chips at £23.95 + service

Both meals were alright but at these prices we sort of expected better, more veg is easy to offer.

Rose wine Carafe of Zinfandel at £15.75 for 500ml is tops in price too.

Staff worked hard for us in a very busy pub which was noted. But the noise of the school dining room left our ears ringing and noted this was not the place for a good value adult lunch.

Only two ordinary commercial real ales on offer which for a busy boozer is not very good.

It is quite understood that the hospitality trade is struggling with operational costs and staffing recruitment but you have to provide better quality for these prices and make the visit & dining experience enjoyable for customers to feel they had value at these food & drink prices.

Sadly and with regret we will not return...