The White Horse

The one positive was the landlord, who seemed genuine and listened to my concerns after I couldn’t get a chance to speak to anyone else because they avoided us. For a joyful family occasion, though, this was a miserable experience. We were celebrating my grandparents’ diamond wedding. I arrived early with a few small decorations and asked to set the table, but was told I couldn’t until 2 pm because other guests were eating. I waited at the bar and assembled placemats, moving out of the way whenever someone came to pay. I’d have done it outside, but it was too windy. I also asked to put a small banner on the front door as a surprise, but was told only the table area was allowed, with no real explanation. I had a medium box with a balloon and asked staff to put it on the table before my grandparents arrived so I wouldn’t be setting things up in front of them. That also seemed too much to ask. At 2 pm they said the table needed cleaning before I could decorate. There weren’t enough chairs for our booking, so they pushed another table against ours, leaving some guests unable to talk to each other. If you can’t seat eight people and two kids around one table, maybe say so when it’s booked. We waited until 4 pm, two hours, for the main courses. Seven roasts arrived dry and cold. Only the fish and chips and burger were hot, and clearly hadn’t been sitting under a heat lamp. The roast potatoes were so dry they slid off my plate when I tried to cut them. Gravy took another ten minutes to reach the table. After all that I ordered fish and chips, despite having pre-ordered our meals, thinking it would be quick. Thirty minutes later I went to the bar to ask if it was coming. The chef was incredibly rude: “You’re not the only person in the restaurant.” When I explained we’d been there since 2 pm, he snapped, “Twenty past one actually, you coming here early stressed us all out.” That floored me. I’d only arrived early to decorate, not to demand food early. I’ve worked as a chef for 13 years in some of Cambridge’s busiest kitchens, and if a customer arriving early to decorate stresses you out, you’re in the wrong career. The waitress never checked on us, asked if things were okay or offered more drinks. She seemed annoyed and avoided our table. I can deal with slow service and lukewarm food, but being spoken to that way by a chef is unacceptable. We left with no hospitality at all on what should have been a lovely celebration. Avoid this place.