The Whitesmiths Arms — Restaurant in Wigan

We are four adults and a toddler. The male server (May be manager) asked if we would like to have drinks only or meals. We told him we would like to have lunch. And he just point us to the table just next to main entrance. At that moment, there was just one table of two adults and a kid having meal in the half way. So we have settled ourselves at the pointed table (a table for four people) and waiting the server taking us a toddler seat. When we were deciding what to eat for lunch (it’s after 13:00, should be a late lunch.), the lady had been asking what we would like to drink……. Like we must order drinks before we order food. I personally replied twice that we want to order food first. At the same time, I asked what is the meaning of two courses Sunday lunch 14.99 means. I was told except the 24.99£ main course, we could have it a main and a starter as a two course Sunday lunch. (To make it clear, I have taken steak and wings as example… while the lady said yes we could.) after we finalised what we would like to eat, we place the order with the male server (maybe the manager). And he said no except pizza and pasta with chicken / beef/ meat. Therefore, we order a rib eye, a sea beam, a fish and chips, a spaghetti busara and a soup of the day ( for the first order). And the server(manager) has reconfirmed our order. In the meantime, we decided our drinks, so we order drinks after we order food. When the food arrived, we were given fish finger and chips as the manager told me this is fish and chips. I wonder five fish fingers and chips would costs 11.xx£. So I asked for the menu to clarify this issue. The manager gave us the menu and said he think I ordered fish finger and chips for my toddler. And I have told him I order fish and chips which the fish fingers is not the thing I want. He just apologise BUT without any intention to give us the right thing- fish and chips. As we have three mains and a kid’s fish finger, we have to order one more dish. We ordered salmon 15.xx£ while the manager reinforced us to have the salmon of the day. He said it’s just a few more pennies for half kilo of salmon. I asked how much means a few more pennies. He said 29.xx£.

We were amazed by the food quality. The food is very good (as a random restaurant we went). However, the service would be remarkable. When the time we pay for our bill, the bill was originally charging me fish and chips‼️. Therefore, we could only asked for the male server to amend a correct bill for us. The lady came and asked how do we feel on our experience. I have told what had happened on the overall included the food and the service. We were told it’s just communication issues.

‼️I have pointed to the menu to specifically order what I would like to have. The server has reconfirmed the orders! However, wrong ordering and I was told because the server think what my toddler should eat…while I could not refuse… and they would charge me the original meal I ordered but not given.‼️

‼️I have asked what is two course Sunday Lunch. And making examples while the lady say yes and the male server say no. It’s a internal communications error instead of my fault. But they would just say it’s my understanding issue.‼️

For the shop owner, If you are the male server/ manger, I would like to told you not to be racist. It’s year 2022 🙂

If you are not there on 30October late lunch, please do think of getting a better male server / manager. No one could bare to order any items without a price on the menu. It’s winter coming. How can a drinking menu come with hot drinks without prices. He can’t manage the restaurant with his service / organisation skill.

Rest of the teams are good. They are really good. Thank you chefs.

Btw, though I order spaghetti busara and soups of the day. Nothing could fall into two course Sunday lunch. I paid for the full price on everything included the fish fingers and chips. What an experience...

Awful since the new owners have taken over. Don't waste your money! The Royal Oak is just across the road and it has amazing food and so many great vegan options!

We were warned that food would take a while but didn't realise how long. Went on Saturday 7th January 2023 @ 7pm. 6 of us. We waited half an hour for our order to be taken, 40 minutes after that starters arrived and 40 minutes after that, mains arrived.

My husband and I ordered the 'Vegan Burger' and one of our friends ordered the 'Vegetarian Burger'. The 'Vegan Burger' was described as 'Mushroom patty, with lettuce, tomato and red onion (with or without vegan cheese) served on a toasted bun with roast potatoes'. The 'Vegetarian Burger' was described similarly. Well, the burgers arrived and it was a mushroom on a bun! With cold, unseasoned and somehow wet potatoes. Why can't they serve a burger with chips like every other pub or restaurant that offers a vegan burger? I asked the waitress if the burgers were correct because the menu described a 'mushroom patty' not a mushroom on a bun. She advised that it was correct. Turns out The Whitesmiths have lied on the menu so please don't be fooled by them. I told them I can't justify paying £9.95 for a mushroom on a bun. How embarrassing that the 'chef' and owners thought that that is an acceptable thing to serve, expecially when lieing on the menu and tricking customers into thinking that they will get a patty, an actual burger. After I complained, they were quick to offer me and alternative meal and take the meal off the bill, which I reluctantly accepted as I didn't really want to wait any longer to eat. I was told it would only take 5 minutes for them to make me a vegan pizza instead (it took close to 20 minutes and the rest of my table had finished by the time my food arrived). The pizza arrived and although it matched the description on the menu, it was very poorly presented. The toppings were minimal and the base was either too thin or undercooked as it was sloppy in the middle. The chef took no care in presentation. Even slicing the olives would have made the pizza look so much better and more full but they were thrown on whole. Not really worth £10.95 but I didn't complain and I ate the pizza. It was OK but nowhere near as good as the one I made from scratch the night before and nowhere near as well presented. My husband and friend were also extremely disappointed with their mushroom on a bun and another friend paid £24.95 for 'The Whitesmiths Stacker Burger' - he couldn't eat the burger pattys as they were so overcooked, they were like bricks and he struggled to even cut them with a knife.

On a slightly more positive note, the starters were nice enough but all served with salad that you buy in a bag from a supermarket. Would expect a restaurant to be able to chop up a lettuce and make a more appetising side salad. This would also be much cheaper for the restaurant so not sure why they opt for unappealing bags of supermarket salad.

Awful experience. Why aren't The Whitesmiths using decent vegan alternatives like the previous owners and rival pubs/restaurants? Awful menu, badly cooked food and terribly presented. Please don't waste your money here. Like I said, The Royal Oak is just across the road and has an excellent vegan menu, well cooked food and lots of lovely meals for both vegans...

Visited On Christmas Eve

Never Leave Bad Reviews However It Wasn’t The Best

We Looked On The Menu Online Fully Well Knowing What We Going Too Order And Roughly How Much It Would Cost

And We Were Told When We Got There That All They Did Was The Christmas Menu And We Had No Knowledge Of This And No Indication Of This Menu Online

Even Worse Seeing The Prices Shocked Us This Was More Than The Menu We Thought We’d Order From…

We Still Tried Too Order Of This Menu However We We’re Told That They We’re Saving Basically All Of This Christmas Menu For Christmas Day Which Left Us With No Choice With Limited Food

We Just Ordered Drinks And Alone It Costed 10.90 Overall For 2 Soft Drinks And A Pint? Seriously? The Staff Weren’t Too Happy Either Very Dismissive And Quite Rude And Overall We Got The Feeling Of Bad Customer Service

It Seemed That The Restaurant Was Prioritising Profit Over The Customer Care And Staff Weren’t The Best And We Had An Awful Experience Overall

I Don’t Think We Will Be Coming Back And It Almost Ruined Are Christmas Eve However It...