The Coopers Arms — Restaurant in Wales

First time visit since the new owners took over a few months back and to be brutally honest it was a bit disappointing.

I’m an experienced restauranteur so probably a little bit more picky than most but I’ve tried to stick to my main observations as feedback not criticism.

First impressions on arrival is it’s way too crowded with tables. I get you’re trying to keep the pub and restaurant separate but it clearly isn’t working and going by past reviews nothing has changed.

I’m surprised a fresh coat of paint wasn’t done as part of the makeover. It’s looking very tired and almost dirty in places. For the sake of £30 tub of paint and a few hours I don’t understand why you wouldn’t. I couldn’t help notice the plastic cable ducting is all looking broken and tired. Again a very simple and cheap fix but makes A HUGE difference to the aesthetics of a room.

The service was polite enough but could be so much better with a few minor changes for example where possible greet your customers rather than let them stand there scratching their heads trying to work out who they’re meant to speak to. Maybe even show them to their table rather than pointing and saying “it’s that one” while pointing at a room full of tables. Be attentive.

Number your tables, even if you don’t want to physically do it. At least have a floor plan with table numbers on them so all the staff, servers and cooks know whose order is what. Everything runs far more smoothly and efficiently. That way you don’t accidentally give a tables food out to the wrong table resulting in over an hour wait for the poor customers who ordered first. Made even worse when it’s a table that had literally ordered 5 mins prior. Sunday roasts should fly out the kitchen if proper prep is done.

Mistakes happen all the time, we’re only human. But own the mistake and apologise. A drink on the house as a gesture of goodwill goes a very long way. Especially if they’re drinking soft drinks, the cost of these verses the cost of great customer experience is nothing.

When taking orders for meals with options (mash or pots for example), go the extra mile and ask what option the customer would like. You wouldn’t take an order of steak without asking how would you like it cooked or automatically serve it with a new pots without asking.

The food itself was a let down too when it finally arrived. Roasties were almost cold and chewy. The turkey tasted microwaved to hell and back, just not good tasting. Yorkshire were nice, don’t change those what ever you do lol.

My son went for the choc fudge cake with custard. The custard was stone cold I’m not even exaggerating, even the little jug it came in was cold. How the hell did the server not notice or maybe she just didn’t give a damn??

The servers could work a lot smarter too, never walk past empty plates when you’re walking back to the kitchen, it’s insane, you’re literally making more work for yourselves but it also isn’t very good customer service.

I dont know if the prices had been increased for Mothers Day but it was over priced for what we had.

I would give them another try, see what their main menu is like but if no improvements are made they won’t get a 3rd visit or good...

Family Xmas meal. Where do I start. Booking was for 12 so was expecting to be on one table but was split into 2 tables away from eachother and this meal was pre booked and paid for. Starters came, but the tastless pate was served with limp unappealing salad and half a slice of white bread which was advertised as a baguette. The rubbery prawns on the prawn cocktail were sparingly sprinkled on top of a tall glass of lettuce again poor. The soup was OK but very small portions. Main course we was informed they had run out of potatoes so some people would have mash? Again this meal was pre booked weeks ago. The beef was very very dry and even with loads of gravy was very tough, most got left, the chicken and the gammon was fine but small portioned. The veg was carrots, overcooked peas and sprouts. I will say the stuffing was lovely as was the gravy hence the 2 stars. Desert or lack of, we were informed they had run out of Xmas pudding and the chocolate fudge cake which again was pre booked. Refunds were given for desert as we didn't fancy any of the other options which is why we pre booked. It turns out the Coopers had been taking in walk ins plus had over booked another party which is why they run out. Unfortunately that's no our fault and having pre booked should have received what we ordered. In all very very poor. You won't see...

My wife and I joined 4 friends there last night for a meal and drinks. Our table was booked for 7-7.30, upon arrival the 'waitress' fumbled through the book to find the only booking in there which was ours, unfortunately no one had bothered to check this and actually reserve a table. Red faced she started to ask groups of people that were out for a drink to move, lots refused, all looked at us like it was our fault.

By 7.55 we hadn't yet ordered our food and was told to hurry as last orders were 8.15. So we quickly ordered 6 meals, 3 of which were mixed grills. There were no other diners there!! An hour later 2 of the 6 meals were brought out with no sign of the rest of the meals. By 9.15 the two that had meals had just about finished with still no sign of the rest of the table. My wife and I decided to cancel our order and was told by Ann Ennis (landlady) that it was our fault for ordering 3 mixed grills as they only have a small grill and for that reason she refused to give my money back. Unbelievable! It must be carnage when there are several tables on order.

The meals eventually arrived (prob 9.30) and was cold. Needless to say I did not eat it and we left refusing to spend another penny in there....