Hall & Woodhouse Reviews 30

My husband and I have just had lunch at The Quay in Poole. It was 1 of the nicest lunches that we have had for a long time. The service was fabulous and the food could not have been nicer. The staff made us very welcome. We will be coming back very soon.

I booked a table at H&W Lychett Minster as, a birthday treat for my husband & two close friends for dinner & was delightfully surprised by such a lovely venue coupled with a very large & superb beer garden.
However the meal was a huge disappointment to say the least, it needs to be said we had the pleasure of a lovely Italian waiter who was friendly & professional.
Two of the meals ordered were lamb rump which we had no complaint with But the vegetables were the scantyest I have ever seen, parsnip puree was exchanged for creamed potato, incredibly tiny portion, it would seem on reflection that vegetables would have to be paid for as an extra. all portions left a lot to be desired. Including the desserts, cherry pie had the texture of being reheated in the microwave as opposed to crisp pastry & accompanying ice ream was hardly scoop,
Very unfortunately I could not recommend this pub for evening meals & on that basis would not return.

Went into the new Hall and woodhouse the quay in poole, excellent food, arrived fresh and quickly out waitor Tom was outstanding he is a credit to the team we were made to feel so welcome will definitely come again 😁

Following the funeral of my late wife, I needed somewhere to host the family and friends for light refreshments. Hangleton Manor in Hove, Sussex were outstanding, providing a private room that was quiet and atmospheric and completely in tune with the occasion. The finger food supplied was really impressive, well presented and way beyond my expectations.
Many thanks for your great service at was, for me, a very difficult time.

Just wanted to say I was disappointed in our visit today . 12 of us came for my daughter birthday and the service was very slow and not as I would expect
The drinks took 20 minutes to take the order to be taken was ages
We were not asked if the food was ok at any point. The sweets you gave out on the bill were rock hard.
The lemonade was flat
The waitress spilt the drink over me at one point so all in all not great

If you have any 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀, be very cautious about dining at H&W. My recent experience highlighted a policy that, while likely intended for safety, comes across as 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 and, frankly, 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲.

After carefully discussing my allergies with a helpful waiter and narrowing down the menu, I chose the last remaining option: fish and chips. When informed that the tartar sauce, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘁, contained an allergen, I simply requested the meal to be served with the pot omitted. Easy, right?

Apparently not.

To my disbelief, the waiter returned with bad news. H&W policy dictated I could not be served the entire meal, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱, because the meal's full list of ingredients included one of my allergens.

The irony here is profound: a policy supposedly designed to protect customers actively prevented me from eating a meal that was 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, simply because a component 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 contained an allergen. As someone who has 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 managed my food allergies 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟲𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀, I felt completely 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 by this approach: H&W had apparently 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗻 with 𝗻𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆; I was allowed no say in the matter. This 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 left me feeling frustrated and angry and, as a result, I shall avoid returning to any H&W establishment. Further, it is my opinion that others with food allergies should similarly reconsider any intention of ordering food at an H&W restaurant; 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

The Holly Blue in Beggarwood need to sort themselves out! The last three visits have been poor, at best. Long queues to order at the bar, nonchalant waiting staff and dirty unemptied tables Each time I have been none of the beverages have been served in the correct glasses - a wine in a tumbler, a Moretti in an Out Mout cider glass and a spritzer in a gin glass and I could go on. The saving grace is the sunny patio but I would rather walk further to sit in an equally sunny garden of the Portsmouth Arms. Here the service is slick, the tables regularly cleared and the drinks (always served with a smile) are in the correct glasses. What a contrast in experiences. The experiences are so different I can’t believe both pubs are Hall and Woodhouse!

My family went for lunch here with another family on Easter Monday. We ordered at the table via the app - they ordered their food, and I ordered for my crowd. The wait was advertised as 45 mins - no problem, we know that it would be busy, and we were happy to sit and chat while we waited. We were there for the company and atmosphere. As both orders were from the same table number we naturally assumed that both families' food would arrive roughly at the same time so that we could then share the ritual of eating together. A foolish assumption. Theirs arrived after ~15 mins - lucky for them! (They quite liked their food, hence this is a 2* and not a 1* review). After 50mins we reminded the waitress that my family was also waiting for food; about 10 mins later she returned with our 3 mains. I then had to remind her that I had also ordered a starter, which she then brought out and I had to eat at the same time as the main.

Worst of all, however, was the steak that I ordered. Please check out the photo of the anaemic, overcooked, all-gristle-and-fat "sirloin" that arrived. I managed to make my way through about a third of it and then called it a day.

I mentioned the atmosphere... It was fine, but there was an awful lot of litter, napkins etc. on the floor, with the staff seemingly oblivious or unwilling to bother picking it up.

Of course, normally with this kind of service I wouldn't leave a tip (actually I'd send it back but it had taken so long I just wanted to leave) ... but the online ordering service asks for the tip when you order. I (foolishly) went at the upper end of the recommendations in the belief that it might ensure better service. Ha!

Reviews are useless without recommendations for the company (in case they read it). Here are 4:

1. When two different orders come in from the same table please use common sense and recognise that they should be served at the same time (as much as possible).
2. Find a new meat supplier, and invest some time in training your chef - specifically on what "rare" means.
3. Don't ask for a tip when ordering; it disincentivises the waiting staff to make an effort.
4. Have your staff keep an eye out for litter and pick it up. This is basic.

Overall this was definitely in my bottom quintile of pub lunch experiences. I might stop in for a beer on a sunny afternoon, but there's no way I'd eat there again. I recommend that others avoid risking it as well.

My daughter has tree nut and seed allergies, so we always take extra care when dining out. We pre-book, communicate her allergies clearly, and provide a chef card to ensure the kitchen staff is informed.

During our Mother's Day meal at Grasshopper, Parkstone, things took a turn for the worse. After we ordered, part of my daughter's meal was brought to the table, accompanied by a loud, unexpected announcement of "ALLERGIES?". The waitress, who seemed unfamiliar with our order, served her meal in separate bowls instead of a plate like everyone else. After waiting for over 10 minutes and asking about her meal twice, we were told the chefs refused to serve her the rest of the meal due to sunflower seeds being a potential risk—despite the manager telling us he had arranged an alternative meal to be made elsewhere in the kitchen. This left us all shocked, and my daughter was left anxious and upset. I'd like to add the resturant was not overly busy at this time of day.

Grasshopper was once one of the best places in the Bournemouth and Poole area for allergy-friendly dining, but this experience has now made it one of my worst.

I'm still waiting for a call from the manager to address the situation.

Such a disappointing way to treat customers, especially those with allergies. Terrible experience.

I called in with friends and had their bangers and mash. Sausages pretty tasteless, which made for an underwhelming lunch.

Sunday lunch at the Wheatsheaf in Woodford was one of the best meals we've had in England. We had dined there earlier in the week and found the staff were helpful, friendly and double checked health needs and orders, so decided to go back and were not disappointed. We saw the way they helped another customer who did have allergies, they spent time making sure she was given everything she needed to enjoy her meal.

There was almost nothing gluten free on the menu at Wichelstowe. My 6'2" husband was offered hamburger patties with no bun. These were served with a very small, stale salad and some fries. It was a child's portion and exceedingly embarrassing for our host who had invited us to a birthday celebration. Most confusingly, we were instructed to scan a QR code on the lunch menu for allergen info but this provided such unclear info that hubby went to the bar to inquire from a member of staff. He was offered the meal already described.

This is a very nice place but food and service not the best. We went for Sunday dinner with a family and my meal was cold, daughter never received icecream even I requested to bring strength away. The place we were sitting was so dirty and messed up with mayonnaise that some cloths needed washing after visit.

Good service and good food. Dined at the Taplow branch. Our server, Jamie, was on the ball, nothing was too much trouble. Food was good, best I've had out for a long time

Well, made a booking ok. Wanted to double the party size as we have more people coming. No way. The online tool allows me to put the names of all the guests, but add more and spend more money? No way. The message system is ignored, so I called. Got one of the worst chatbots I have experienced and I do it for a living. Tried to be a person, so was confused and when I treated it like a bot, it understood nothing. When it did understand, it transferred me to the pub that said they couldn't hear me and then hung up. Tried to cancel online and that failed. The pub in Crowthorne is fine if you go in, but customer service outside of the actual venue is hideous and needs to be reconsidered from the ground up.

If you are considering having a meal at any of this companies locations and have a food allergies then eat elsewhere
Company has strict policy of not making any modification to any dish of food if you have any allergies.
For example ordered a plain fish finger sandwich but waited 40 minutes to be served with a fish finger sandwich with salad and tartar sauce daubed all in the bread when I complained as my wife does not like Salad or tartar sauce I'm told it is the company policy you can't change how the food is constructed you have to have it as you get it..
This makes it pointless in having any preference may as well not buy anything cos you now know before you buy anything g in these resteraunt pubs if you have an allergy to anything you ain't getting what you ask for
The pub i visited was the Holly Blue in basingstoke

Wichelstow
Food was at best lukewarm warm limp warm half cooked chips ..cold filling in the clubhouse sandwich.stale bread
Unfortunately there are numerous better places to eat ..and warmer ..log burner was not lit properly
The staff were friendly
Never again eat food cooked by numpties!
Shame as my friends first visit now her last

Booked a table for six for family and friends for New Year’s Eve and I’ve been informed that they’ve canceled our booking because they screwed up. No real explanation no compensation and a whole evening ruined with friends who have come over from Ireland to spend the night with us. Not impressed.

After a rubbish Sunday Lunch at £18.95 I was offered another a few weeks later. This was even worse, had I paid for this I would have informed Trading Standards. I called the Brewery, heard nothing, called again a week later, I was told the Manager of the Grasshopper and Area Manager would be contacted.... another week gone by and still nothing.
Tells me nothing will be done so maybe I should call Trading Standards because this establishment is a rip off and they don't care....nor does the brewery it's all about money and profits. Stuff the customer service.

Just paid £21.60 for a pint of moretti and a double rhubarb gin and tonic!! Absolutely disgusting prices!! Shud be ashamed of yourselves. We're not short of money but I think this really does take the michael out of people. Especially when I've been told u don't have the drink I've asked for yet I could see 2+ bottles of it and had to tell you where they were as well....joke!!