"On this occasion, a mixed experience. Met friends at 5pm for drinks. Table already booked for 8pm to dine. Bar busy, tables full of dirty glasses. We were invited to share a long table with another party. I made two trips to the bar with about sixteen empty glasses to make space for new drinks. Great to see the place so busy as it's our only local. My husband and his mates are regulars every Friday night, often on other days too. Unfortunately on this particular visit there was no draught beer or cold white wine. The reason for no hand-pulled beer was “The manager is cleaning the lines”. Yes really!!! Tea-time on December 29th whilst the pub and restaurant were heaving… It gets better!!! “The manager was still cleaning the lines over one hour later”. My husband and his friends drank Guinness, not their drink of choice but they are forgiving chaps. Apparently Howard who had arrived before us ordered a pint of cask beer and when he expressed his dismay at the timing of the line-cleaning was told, “if you don’t like it you can go somewhere else”. When I found my Chardonnay to be quite warm, I went to the bar and asked the barman if there was any “cold” white wine, he mauled my glass and said “it’s been in the fridge”, I replied “but it’s not cold”, he offered to put some ice in it. I didn’t want ice in my wine, it’s supposed to be served nicely chilled without the need for ice to water it down. To my surprise the barman offered to sell me a whole bottle of wine (presumably with a bucket of ice). I opted for ice and a dash of soda in my warm wine. Thinking ahead I asked if there were any other bottles of Chardonnay in the fridge so that I might have a glass of my favourite wine with a meal later on. The barman could offer no assurance, to be fair he seemed a little out of his depth, some further training will resolve this in the future. I attempted to discuss my experience with Johnny the restaurant manager when he came to our table later in the evening, he was uninterested, unapologetic and simply said, “We’ve been busy”. The food was ok, not fine dining but enjoyable and served to a good standard as we’ve come to expect from the Broughton Inn. I still feel disappointed by the shoddy attitude of certain staff members that evening. In the absence of an alternative within walking distance from our homes we will continue to spend our money there but with less enthusiasm than before. My current opinion of the management remains low."
Tomato Pasta
