The Fishers Pond — Restaurant in Winchester

What a missed opportunity this place is. I had booked online a table for 3 with disabled access and dog friendly outside with a parasol. When I got there, after a 45 minute journey, the officious employee said 'we don't do bookings for outside'. I said it would have been helpful to have had a message telling me this. Maybe i.missed something on the booking page. It was a blazing hot day and only half of the tables outside had parasols. Therefore nobody was sitting at the tables without them. This pub is in a prime location next to a beautiful pond and only half the tables outside were useable. I was told we could sit inside if we liked. I discovered that there was an automatic awning that was closed and two tables beside it that were not being used. I asked if they could open the awning which they did. We occupied one table and somebody else immediately took up the other one. We ordered a shared starter and drinks and to be honest, the staff mostly seemed officious and stressed and not friendly at all apart from one man who was hilarious and posh and friendly and made jokes. He should be running the place. We decided not to stay for lunch. It seems absolutely non sensical to me that when pubs around the country are closing at a rate of 80 per week that this place isn't maximising on it's huge potential. Putting parasols at every table would have doubled the customers that day. Also, I would rather have been able to hear myself and my family speak than the terrible music that was being pumped out into the lovely tranquil setting of the pond. Why can't we just enjoy the sounds of the wildlife in this amazing setting?

In reply to your response (below) to my review, Your reply completely ignores most of the my complaint.

I did not complain about the wheelchair access, nor did I complain about not having or not having a dog friendly area. I complained that half your outside tables tables were unusable because it was a blazing hot day and NOBODY was sitting at your tables with no shade because they didn't want to sit in the blazing sun whilst eating. So yes, it did deter every single guest as none of the tables without shades had anybody sitting at them. I witnessed people walking in a then promptly leaving for this very reason. You missed out on approximately 50% of any outside business you could have got. It wasn't that there were no tables to sit at, it was that the tables you did have available were not being used as they had no shade and it was far too hot.

What was even more nonsensical was the awning that could have been providing more shade on two tables was closed. I had to plead for a member of staff to open it. As soon as they did people flocked to the tables.

Yes, people want to soak up the atmosphere, they also don't want to die of dehydration and heat stroke!

I don't consider asking for a parasol to be a 'special request.' just common sense!

I get the feeling that there are no owners working at this establishment, just employees with no investment in the business. Most of your staff seemed pretty stressed and not at all friendly.

The decor could have been more stylish (there was an SCS vibe about the place). And who is the music playing for? The staff or the clientele? It was unnecessary and intrusive.

If all you want to do is be defensive and point out all the things I missed and not admit to your misgivings then your business is not going to survive this hideous economic climate.

As I mentioned 80 pubs are closing a week in the UK at the moment.

This place could be so much better.

Please do me the courtesy of actually giving me your name rather than an anonymous...

Visited for a family Birthday. Booked for a Sunday in advance. The food was at best overpriced and average. We had to ask for menus after 10-15 minutes if being sat down. My partner a vegetarian asked for the vegetarian roast - told they didn't have any, then was told she could have the veg and veggie gravy but no veggie Yorkshire pudding, she asked for cauliflower cheese to bulk it out - when it came out, we were told there was no cauliflower cheese left. Then my son ( having a burger and chips) was told they hadn't had any ketchup since the day before. Both my kids didn't receive their veg sticks. I had the trio of roasts - supposed to come with crackling - the 10mm thick pork was surrounded by a 30mm cover of rubbery soft fat. The beef was 50% sinew and gristle - definitely not sirloin as described. And don't get me started on the roast potatoes - not ruffled not crispy and looked like they'd used the wrong type of spuds, come on, tiktok and YouTube are full of "the perfect" roast potatoes - these chefs obviously don't do WiFi...... My daughter ordered fries with her food but got chips and to top it offthey charged us for the cauliflower we didn't get, they then knocked it off the bill after adding the device charge so we paid 10% extra for something we didn't even get... Sadly for a lovely venue, we were very disappointed. We didn't want to make a fuss by complaining at it spoils the atmosphere when you have a big table for an 18th Birthday. We will be looking for new recommendations for our next family outing. I really don't like giving bad reviews but I feel others should be warned - a few of our party travelled quite a long way to eat here. We all agreed to not bother with deserts - for 11 people to agree that, I think it...

I never write a review on restaurants normally as its very much a personal taste on whether you like it or not but on this occasion, thought i would share our experience. Party of 7, we turned up dead on time thinking it was going to be busy, all good, really quiet, being really quiet, you would expect a fairly seamless service. Our Waitress did not arrive until 12.15, as she walked past to put her coat away, no apology, just said, i would be back in 5. Just gone 12.30, she came back and took the drinks order. Still very quiet in the pub, and had a fair few staff wandering around. 12.50 drinks arrive, why such the long wait? I booked this for the Office staff, being Christmas, opted for the Festive menu at the time of booking. Started to order, obviously everyone was wanting the Turkey or, Christmas styled lunch. No Turkey/Roast lunch available, this, we were told was reserved for larger parties. i explained that i wasn't asked to reserve, she went on to say "IT IS RESERVED FOR LARGER PARTIES!" so, without wanting to upset anyone further proceeded to order what was left on offer which, as we had the Festive menu, was either Korean chicken or vegetarian. The meal turned up approx 30mins later, Luke warm and fairly tasteless. Looking around again, the pub was still quiet, bearing in mind that it was getting close to 2pm and still no larger parties for the Turkey.

The waitress did start clearing the plates once we had finished, i say started, she did half the table and never returned.

It really was a shame as you were recommended, it looked great but quite frankly, the service was absolutely appalling, the waitress was rude and it just felt that we were just an...