Marco Pierre White Restaurants
View company profile →
Very Disappointing
Very Disappointing I have read many reviews about Rudloe Arms and looked forward to having a meal and overnight stay. We saw this Wowcher deal and it look great at an excellent price, I should have realised you get what you pay for. Please don’t do as I did and download the menu from their website as it was not what we were given. I just don’t know if I was at the same hotel as some of those writing the reviews! I asked for two rooms next to each other as my elderly uncle struggled to walk, I was told this would be arranged but on arrival I found our rooms were on different corridors on the ground floor. This was not the start I hoped for but the building was beautiful as were the grounds so I let that go. Once I got to my room I was horrified to see Sex Pistol pictures all over the wall with F**~ and Bol*#@~s, not what I wanted to wake up too. There was no mirror on the dresser and while there was a hair dryer the mirror in the bathroom was too far away to use. When I asked about my room, I was told there wasn’t another one available. The complimentary cocktail was not nice so we ordered some proper drinks but at £19 a shot of whisky I was shocked to find all drink orders came with an additional 10% service charge. At dinner there was a set menu specially for residents and the selection was limited, this was not the menu I downloaded from their website. We started with the beetroot and curd cheese which was not really very flavoursome but maybe the mains were better. My uncle and I chose to pay an additional £30 supplement to have the steak. As the waiter started to walk away, I asked if it came with veg and was told no. I cannot imagine anyone just eating a steak so I suggested maybe he should have pointed that out. His replied floored me, he said extra’s are indicated on the menu if you wanted something else you should have asked, I requested some chips. Two bottles of wine at £54 and £64 respectfully both came with a 10% service charge on top. While I don’t mind paying extra for the wine but charging £12 to bring it to my table seems all wrong. The ladies ordered Fishcake and Lamb Ragu and neither of them could eat the food, the Ragu was like a mush of minced lamb and gnocchi while the fishcake had way to much salt. Next day we decided to get an early breakfast and leave as we had not been very impressed with this 3* hotel, which must have been given for the eclectic décor in the lounges and the building itself, certainly not for the food. I picked up the breakfast menu in front of me to find it had marmalade down one side, I pointed this out to the waiter, he gave me an extra napkin to wipe my hand and apologised. The floor around the table had food from the previous night which I had accidentally stepped in, again I pointed this out to the waiter and again received an apology. The breakfast was more edible however the full English had an additional supplement as did the Eggs Benidict and a small side of beans was £4, once more there was the 10% service charge to be added to the invoice. After breakfast we packed our things and I paid the bill without complaint, I choose the supplements the wine etc. my disappointment wasn’t the bill but what I received. On this occasion was not great, I went there to share a special day and felt so let down by my experience. After paying my bill I felt I needed to share my disappointment and concerns but received defensive excuses and little sympathy for my genuine concerns. I mentioned the Ragu and salty fishcake to be told that’s how the chef believes it should be done, I pointed out you can always add salt later if required. She apologised for the dirty dining area but reiterated the separate rooms were justified as they were on the same floor, no comment on my insulting wall decoration. On the positive side I have to say the surrounding grounds were beautiful and the building quite stunning, the mixed collection of items in the lounges were fascinating and worth a look around. I guess some people reading this may believe this is from a habitual complainer but I don’t complain, I rarely write reviews but can be absolutely honest when I say I was so looking forward to this overnight stay at the Rudloe Arms hotel and feel deeply let down.