Sausage, Chips And Peas
The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn

61-63 High Street, Aylesford ME20 7AY, United Kingdom, Tonbridge and Malling

Pub • Wine • Terrace • Bar-lounge


"We were really looking forward to a Sunday roast lunch at the Chequers Inn and upon arrival we were quickly seated at our table, which was lovely and cosy. We were asked what drinks we would like, and asked for a wine list, to be told they had red, white, or rose. After asking what wines they had, we opted for a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, as they only had a Merlot or Pinot Noir available as red wine. After a short while our waiter returned to say that they did not have a full bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, so we changed our order. (Having subsequently found their wine menu on line I guess they had also run out of Malbec, Rioja and Shiraz, which is why I had to opt for the Pinot Noir from Romania). After a long wait our drinks of one glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, one glass of Pinot Noir, two large glasses of lime and soda and one small glass of lime and soda were served and we placed our lunch order, having been told there were no burger buns not a problem as all five of us wanted a roast lunch. For starters we ordered a ‘selection of warm bread with butter, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and tapenade’ and deep fried whitebait. After a very long wait the ‘selection’ of bread arrived. This consisted of a sliced overcooked baguette, with the tiniest drizzle of balsamic vinegar at the bottom of the olive oil and the tapenade had been replaced with finely chopped tomatoes and onions. The exceedingly overdone whitebait turned up after a further long wait. Then one of the roast beef main course turned up, which looked lovely, followed by the roast belly of pork with hardly any gravy so we had to order additional gravy (at a cost of £1 for a very, very tiny pot). The two roast turkey dinners and children’s portion of roast beef turned up after about a further 5 minute wait. The additional gravy followed 5 minutes after that. Despite numerous front of house staff walking past our table it was exceedingly difficult to attract anyone’s attention to ask for more drinks. Whilst we were eating our main course we could overhear the front of house staff laughingly updating each other with what was not available on the menu. Whilst we were waiting to place our dessert order another family came in, but on being told the lengthy list of items which were not available on the menu, they got up and left. When it came to dessert our granddaughter wanted sticky toffee pudding. We were told they had the pudding but no sauce. We asked for floater coffees and were initially told they did not have the cream for floater coffees. We were subsequently told they had the cream, so order a decaf Tia Maria coffee, a normal floater coffee and a rum floater coffee, and another lime and soda. After an exceedingly long wait, (we thought they had forgotten the order), our floater coffees turned up but not what we ordered. The decaf Tia Maria coffee was caffeinated coffee, when we were told this we asked for a replacement and were told they had no more Tia Maria. Great shame as this is a lovely venue, but we will not be coming back, or recommending it to anyone as the service is so slow and the selection of what is available is not what is advertised."

The Vanbrugh

The Vanbrugh

91 Colomb Street Greenwich London, SE10 9EZ, United Kingdom

Pubs • Meat • Beer • Cheese


"they enter the pub and so we stood at the bar and waited to be recognized. employees get drinks for customers at the bar and not even a simple “Hello” or reinsurance that they knew we were waiting. after almost minutes I asked. the barmann when we waited at the right place for the restaurant. he suddenly said, “Have you booked?” I confirmed that I and the time. we went to us and then went away. Paper menus on the table, no drinks menu at all. menus were left on the table, maybe this is a Kovid measure and they intend to throw away the paper menu, seemed just strange and no explanation given. kellnerin appeared a short time later asked what we wanted to order. I've seen it in a hurry to ask to shoot. drinks arrived, a drink was wrong, no big thing, it changed without problems. we all had the chicken roast and the meat was really delicious, no problems there. the veg consisted of less than one tablespoon of cauliflower, a single carrot strip and two small discs of papageiens. very small bratkartoffels and were tante bessies ofen ready to sort or similar certainly not a cooking quality or homemade frying. the gravure was well flavored and delicious. after the meal was laid on the table, the waitress disappeared permanently. the water that had been demanded for the table did not arrive. the waitress was not near enough to ask at any point. halfway through the meal, from us our drinks had ended and looked around again and again to order another, but no incident. No one came and asked how the meal was or whether we needed anything. who I think was the manager or owner was very attentive for two ladies sitting a few tables away and seemed to impress them. they did not seem to be aware of any other guests in the opposite and had their flashers fixed. the table next to us was a group of people, the limited space made it very loud (not really someone to blame), but it was difficult for us to talk to each other on the table when we were in the competition to hear. we finished our meals and sat for about minutes waiting for the staff to notice. the waitress catches the place of my boring expression over the room and came by and asked if we were done. at this point more drinks were offered, which we rejected. we had also removed the idea of dessert and so ordered only a child with us. ordered a cappuccino, that came and the barman asked who ordered it. when the person laid his hand, the barman leaned over the table, whereby a second person had to move her chair back, on the one hand, because it was so rude to lean so tightly and on the other hand over someone because there was the danger of having a hot drink over the head. to move the table to the person that is served, seems not to have been taught to the staff. two packs of white sugar were sat casually on the table. the drink was lukewarm and badly made. brown sugar was demanded when the dessert of the child arrived and that was given. the dessert was brought to the child (alter with the instruction “not touching the plate it is really hot” I moved the plate for him and it was tasty hot after having been whipped around in the microwave to warm the brownie I suspect. fortunately, he is a child who is not impulsive and has no special needs and therefore would not attack a plate, but much more thoughts should be given to safety, in particular safety of children. change the plate would have taken seconds before serving a child. the waitress then disappeared again and we looked at how he had to stand up and go on looking for waiting staff. we were finally asked if we wanted something else and politely said that the bill would be enough. a service fee has been added to the bill. after the discussion, we decided (for the first time in my case) to draw the complaint from the bill. I said the waitress that politely and said that unfortunately this evening did not go well. her answer was: “OK, thank you” took the payment and went away. there was no attempt to apologize or ask what made us feel like that. then we put on our hands and made us to the door. ignored by the waitress who either do not check whether we go or not interested. the manager/owner was right at the exit and did not try to say goodbye or even thank her for her need. really is a scandal and in the right hands could visit and enjoy a wonderful place."