The Partridge

Our family had a lovely lunch in the Darwin room for our son’s birthday today. The food was great, and the lovely staff looking after us were happy to help with anything. Special mention to Olivia, who was five stars.

After a walk around Marbury Park, we had a lovely meal at The Partridge. The staff were friendly, attentive and welcoming, and made us feel relaxed bringing our three spaniels along. They fussed over the dogs and gave each one a biscuit, which made the visit feel inclusive. I’d definitely come back. The Partridge buddha bowl with added Halloumi was delicious, and I highly recommend it.

The food was great, but this visit was a letdown compared with the many times I’ve been here before. Service was okay, though it used to be much better. We had to order drinks at the bar several times, even though there’s usually table service, and take our glasses back ourselves. Nobody came by to clear the empties or see if we wanted another drink after the first round. We don’t mind calling someone over, but there weren’t enough staff circulating to check if we needed anything. No one mentioned desserts after our mains were cleared, either. The general impression was that the staff wanted to go home as soon as possible. It’s very different when the usual manager is there. He’s put so much time and effort into this business, and it’s a shame he has to be present to make sure it runs properly. He should be able to rely on the team, even on a quiet night.

We got our booking time wrong and turned up late on a really busy Sunday afternoon, but the team were understanding and found us a table. The service was brilliant: our drinks arrived within minutes, and our roast was piping hot and out of the kitchen within ten minutes of ordering. It was beautifully cooked. I’d have liked more gravy, but that’s just my preference. I highly recommend the partridge and will be back. Next time I’ll check the booking time twice.