The Robin Hood — Restaurant in Tonbridge and Malling

We went to the Robin Hood today for a special occasion, we had booked several days beforehand, I have been there lots of times over many years and never had a bad meal. I was surprised when I booked that they were running a full menu (which is extensive) as well as several roast options.

The roast dinners we had were lovely but it was clear that the staff were completely overwhelmed. We waited 45 minutes for our roast dinners but they were worth waiting for, lots of vegetables, yummy roast potatoes & lots of gravy.

We were given the dessert menu but nobody came back to take an order, it seemed like the staff only got as far as the first table in the restaurant each time they came in. My partner went to the bar to place our order but the bar by then was absolutely heaving so left it about 15 minutes to go back & place our order but was told it was a 45 minute wait for a dessert. We decided to just pay our bill and leave.

When I did pay there was a brief ‘sorry about the delay’ but it didn’t sound sincere at all. It did spoil our special occasion.

Back in the restaurant we had left behind a table nearby who had been waiting an hour and a half for their roasts, when they queried this with the lady who appeared to be in charge she said “I’m running this room, the bar and the other dining area at the back of the pub”, she did sound a bit stressed but there was no reason to be rude, the staffing issues are not the fault of the customers, especially when they were still taking orders for bar food and snacks and the person in charge by then was serving drinks behind the bar.

Whilst I was paying there was one person placing an order for 3 roasts and someone else ordering items for about 6 people off the main menu, burgers & chips etc. The restaurant seemed to have become a black hole, another table had been sitting with menus in front of them for at least 30 minutes, whilst those arriving ad hoc were placing orders at the bar. It was a lovely sunny day, I’m sure lots of walkers and cyclists called in.

It all seemed out of control, I guess the kitchen must have been a hellish place to be. I did notice that they have been advertising for staff, they can’t start soon enough.

The Robin Hood is a traditional English pub, very welcoming (lovely log fire) and I can see that after Covid it is great to see so many people providing trade and much needed revenue but today it was just chaotic. Hopefully things will be less...

Bad customer service the girl was very rude. Ordered steak the chef said they don't have any! Mid day Saturday.... The girl did not say sorry. They only had one steak so I had to have a burger it was pink inside and a hair on my chips. The place was empty so I know why.

Updated review...

Sorry I was in a rush writing my review.

Let's start again....

Walked in was asked TABLE NUMBER!

I said 45 NO THEY Don't GO THAT HIGH!

I tried to joke 54? This was met with the woman rushing outside to an empty garden!

I joked I'm sure your find us we are the only ones there! Still no laughter...

Round 2

Next I tried to order the halloumi.... I've never read a menu that tells you at the top that all the starter comes in a rap or a bap? But does not say this in the part of the food that you order. I guess you could say it's my fault for not reading the menu top to bottom.

Can I have the halloumi please?

RAP OR BAP WITH A BIG SIGH!

We was both taken back by the rage like I've upset her?

YES ITS ON THE MENU THEN POINTS TO MAKE IT CLEAR WE ARE BOTH STUPID!

Oh did not see that part!

I try to joke again does the steak come in a bap or rap?

Can I just have it on a plate or with the steak?

You only have one steak rib eye from memory? Most pubs have 3 or 5 types?

I guess putting cheese on a plate is harder than putting in a bap...?

I've really not got the time to give a word for word reply to my bad/rude service that I get the feeling you don't believe or understand...

I was very hungry and I eat very slow.

After eating slowing I eat around the burger so the middle is my last part and that had pink parts. I was not ill but did have bad wind!

As for the chip with a hair ask yourself this? Could it be my first chip or my last chip? Yes you guessed it it was my last chip! I don't check every chip for hairs before I start...

Gave my dog the pink bits and left the chip with the hair.

They say the customer is always right I get the feeling you think I'm wrong?

On the plus side the girl that checked if we had finished was very nice maybe swap her with the one taking the order....

I see no point calling you I will never come back. It's not hard to be nice and friendly happy and to say sorry...

Your only as strong as your...

700 years of history I've only been a part of that for 40 years. I keep getting drawn back to the old days when more often than not I drove to the Robin hood for a lunch and a few drinks..then had to get a cab home in the early hours. Ok I'm not sure if they still do the lock ins that I enjoyed when I was younger, but now married with 2 teens I'm not sure I'd be up to the challenge. I drove just over 500 miles for my last visit for a long weekend in Medway, 2 of the 4 days I visited this pub. The second time I walked from Rochester Maidstone road through the woods to the pub with my family and the dogs. Oh dogs are VERY WELCOME in 2 of the 4 rooms. I've seen a number of landlords over 40 years and every one of them I believe was chosen by the pub and not by thier desire to run a country pub and restaurant. The Robin Hood attracts owners and staff that the chains and high street Ex bank pubs could only dream of. The blue bell hill crematorium is just down the road so when I kick the bucket I'll drive by for the last time and I'm hoping the wake will get a lock in to raise a glass to me and my favourite place .

Oh and just a heads up when your drinking your first and choosing what you'd like from the menu try a pint of sratchings. Now thats a conversation piece. 2019.

Had a few hours before my flight back to my new home country, so obviously as I was visiting Brighton then Medway I swerved a meeting and made time for The Robin Hood .

With the way the world is just now I needed an environment where I always have and always will experience stability...... as always...