The Windmill Hotel - Public House & Restaurant — Restaurant in West Lancashire

Having not visited The Windmill since its major refurbishment, we decided to give it a try based on the positive reviews. Credit where it’s due, the downstairs bar looks great, with a lovely atmosphere. The toilets, décor, and upstairs dining area are all finished to a high standard, giving the place a very smart feel. The open kitchen pass adds a nice touch, with food kept warm under heat lamps ready for service.

On arrival, we enjoyed a drink downstairs where the two young bar staff were friendly and helpful, explaining the difference between the upstairs and downstairs menus. We chose to dine upstairs and were seated quickly by attentive and professional staff. We skipped starters and ordered from the daily specials, a Pork Chop with honey sauce (swapping mash for sweet potato fries, not a problem) and the “Special” Thick-Cut Sirloin Steak with parmesan fries and pepper sauce, cooked medium to rare. We also ordered a small plate of squid to share.

Food arrived within 20 minutes, but the pork came with mash instead of fries (quickly noticed by our waitress) who said that she would bring a portion over. The steak, however, was disappointing, far from “thick cut” at only about 12mm, over-charred to the point of being tough, and cooked well-done instead of to order. The waitress happily listened and took the steak back to the kitchen, and said another was on its way. We waited only around 8 minutes, but the replacement was unfortunately no better: no char, under-seasoned, cooked under a salamander medium to well done, and lacking flavour. The pepper sauce was thin and bland, and the fries had no trace of parmesan. The pork was fine, though the fat could have been crisper. However, the sweet potato fries didn't arrive until after we had both finished.....which we didn't eat.

Manager Chloe came over during the meal to apologise, a nice touch, and kindly removed the drinks from our bill. Staff were all pleasant, professional, and clearly trying hard, but the cooking just didn’t match the standard of the setting.

At £21 for the pork and £26 for the sirloin, we would expect far better quality. Would I return? Yes, for a drink in a smart, comfortable pub with friendly staff. For the...

My daughter and I went for our Xmas lunch celebration on the 23rd December and so booked a table 2 weeks in advance. Table for 2 on our favourite table in front of the fire. We were really looking forward to our meal. I checked with the pub at least 3 times, ensuring our booking was secured. Today we turned up only to find our table had been given to someone else! When shown the booking form our details had deliberately been altered. The pub was empty. The ladies who took our table could have been offered multiple options. Disgusting!!!!

In response to Manager:

Edmund, my daughter and I have met you many times and you have always been welcoming. Just to confirm my original post.

•I did state the 23rd. •If you were present in the pub at the time, we certainly did not see you. •At no time were we ever told the booking may be moved to another table. As I mentioned I checked our details were correct more than once. Never was this mentioned. •As the pub was empty excluding a table of 8 who arrived just before us and the two old ladies who had been given our booking, the pub was completely empty. As such I do not see any justification for changing our booking.

Thank you for the offer of a drink, however I’m not sure when we...

Don't expect to be served quickly here unless you have booked a table! Went today and was told there would be a wait. Ok. But then people who'd ordered after us started getting their food before us. Mum had ordered Sunday roast lunch and I had gammon and egg with a side of onion rings. All was great except my hand cut chips which looked like they were the last few left in the fryer! Not very fat, quite brown in places and lots of curly crispy bits. Not good. Other plates I saw had oodles of lovely fat golden chips. I certainly wouldn't have given a customer the ones I had. The line and soda was not mixed. It was a layer of cordial topped with soda. Had to stir it myself with a straw. When I asked about the reason for the long wait, when we got our bill, I was told it was because they serve people who've booked a table first. When I asked about the chips she said that it wasn't done on purpose! I should hope not, but if I was the chef I wouldn't have let them go out to a customer. I did receive an apology but that's not really the point is it. But the surroundings were very pleasant, lovely artwork on the walls, an open fire, outside seating and near the canal if you fancy a stroll...