The City Arms — Restaurant in Wells

Awful Experience at the City Arms

We made the mistake of visiting the City Arms yesterday afternoon hoping to have a pleasant Sunday pub dinner with our two little girls. Informed there was no food, we bought a round of drinks for ourselves and juices for our daughters. My husband then went to fetch our car leaving me with the children. Having come straight from watching Inside Out 2 at the Wells Cinema, the kids were understandably not keen on sitting for half an hour making small talk like adults.

I suggested we go inside and quietly play hide and seek in the near empty pub. We went into a side room so as not to disturb the few patrons next door and I told my girls to stay in "sight" (as in not go into any other rooms) and not to be noisy. They hid once and as we walked out again a very unfriendly man basically told me off saying "it wasn't soft play" and I shouldn't use them as a "day care centre."

Now, I understand that noone wants feral children running riot around a pub when you're having a quiet drink. I always make sure my children are well behaved and respectful of adults around and had he asked me politely to keep the kids outside I would not written this review.

I was shocked and appalled by how this man - I understood him to be the manager of the City Arms or in some position of leadership - thought he had the right to give me a dressing down in front of my own children, the other patrons and all his staff. He could have pulled me asked quietly but he made a point of addressing the room and I was really taken aback and felt extremely rattled afterwards.

The patrons outside were outraged on my behalf too so I do not feel alone in my reaction to this extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable...

The location is in the middle of town with access to all the attractions.||||Reception was dreadful. This was at the bar and the member of staff could not answer any questions, notably those concerning parking. Her more experienced colleague tried to help and gave us the address of a carpark which would have required more driving in narrow and one way streets. As it was, we were parked in a Waitrose carpark and further enquires from Waitrose staff made it clear that it was best to leave it there overnight.||||Although the City Arms ran a restaurant, breakfast was not provided. For the price we paid another chain hotel would have thrown in the breakfast as part of the deal and the bed would have been more comfortable. Old pubs like the City Arms have got to up their game if they are to compete with the chains. Two cafes were recommended for breakfast but they had that 'greasy spoon' look. We found a very good café ('21') near the cathedral.||||Our twin bedded room was clean but the mattresses were too soft. The basin and shower left much to be desired. The temperature of the shower was too hot and could not be adjusted.||||The restaurant menu did not inspire (the sheer number of dishes were a sign that many of the meals must have been pre- prepared as no chef in a pub could cook them all). We went elsewhere for fresh food cooked from scratch.||||Finally, there was no checkout. We were told to simply leave the keys in the room. Far from being a friendly pub/hotel, this was an impersonal experience. A couple could do much better for £75 a...

Went for lunch Hslf term Monday. Such a shame was looking forward to eating out locally for the first time in ages. We were welcomed nicely by a warm, friendly, professional approach initially from behind the bar but unfortunately the young waitress we were allocated (didn't get her name, dark hair and face visor, youngest employee on shift that day) TOTALLY ruined my experience! Whilst in Covid times I was utterly shocked that this waitress whist taking our order was Constantly touching her nose and mouth and lift up her face shield visor. She was talking to me whilst lifting the visor and certainly not 2mrs (or even 1mtr +) away when taking our order. It made me feel really unsafe and uneasy in Covid times and i found it very unhygienic to be serving customers like this, especially with the % of transmission in the younger generation at a higher rate right now, if this is how they act in the presence of others its no surprise. When our meal arrived this waitress practically threw it infront of me, I had the chilli and the rice was rubbery although I ate it. The rest of my family said their meal was OK... I didn't want to complain as the less interaction I had with this waitress the better. City Arms Jail inn Please for the sake of your business retrain this member of staff of how to service people especially with covid-19 procedures; She IS damaging your business acting in such a manner! We Will NOT be returning and we frequent your...