Lunch in the back courtyard and a rude waiter
Meeting a friend for coffee and lunch...I arrived at the front outside area to find all the tables taken. I hadn’t booked so I asked a waitress if there were any free tables at the back. She said ther... more
Meeting a friend for coffee and lunch...I arrived at the front outside area to find all the tables taken. I hadn’t booked so I asked a waitress if there were any free tables at the back. She said there was as and immediately escorted me through to that area and seated me on a small, low table for two. I explained I was waiting for my friend to arrive and requested if I could have a table in the sun should one become free.
Within minutes, an actual dining table became free and she said it was ok to move across as it was slightly sunnier but would keep an eye out for a better table. My friend still hadn’t arrived but was close I asked was it ok to wait until she arrived, the female waitress said that was fine.
After a few minutes a rather curt silver haired make waiter pounced on me asking me to order. I explained again my friend was parking and would join me in a few minutes. He said well you need to hurry up and order as he had people waiting for tables. I looked around and there wasn’t anyone around standing waiting for tables in sight.
In fact there was another table free and another two that were reserved for a time. I later became aware those reservations never showed but the tables were still held. My friend arrived and the waiter pounced again as we were saying hello to each other. He rudely pointed and said the menus are over there and make sure you both check into track and trace. I walked over to get two menus and he was back to take out order. I said we needed a couple of minutes to consider as we hadn’t even had chance to look yet. He literally gave us two minutes and came back. We were very rattled by this stage which was very upsetting as I hadn’t seen my friend for a very long time because of lockdown other than in February when I attended her husband’s funeral. I asked if they did a flat white coffee and he replied, I think you mean a regular coffee madam, we do tea or coffee, there isn’t a barista trained person here or a machine so which one did I want to chose. So rude! He brought our drinks and said he’d be back in two minutes to take our food order. For some reason at this point, I’m very happy pleased to say, he sent another waitress to take our order who gave the impression of being his supervisor or manager. This person was polite and took our order. Before this however, I had also asked a couple of times if he could move us to a table in the sun as as although it was a nice day, it was still only April so quite fresh in the shade as we were under a huge umbrella that really wasn’t necessary. He refused to move us but the very next people that came into the courtyard asked for a sunny table and a totally new table for two was fetched from somewhere and created in another open sunny space. I have no idea why this waiter took an instant huff with me the moment I arrived but he totally spoiled a lunch meeting with my friend who hadn’t been out since losing her husband. He was unnecessarily rude and offensive. We had our lunch and left as quickly as possible. I don’t be returning. Also the food was basic. less
Mark Santy, General Manager at Best Western Lichfield City Centre The George Hotel, responded to this review
Thank you for your review. I am extremely sorry that the service was not our usual high standard and it will be brought up immediately with our management team.