The Devonshire Arms

I stumbled upon this pub after collecting my tickets for the theatre across the road and myself and friends were looking for somewhere reasonably priced to eat. We were drawn in by the traditional English menu and seemingly fairprices. Oh how we were fooled.

It was very smokey and unfriendly instantly, the bar staff spoke between themselves in another language I did not recognise which I found very rude whilst trying to place an order. My friend requested half a pint of lager and we were given a pint and then told it was basically tough as they could not put it as wastage. Hoping things would imporved we went up to the dining room. We had ordered 2 x steak and Ale pie and one Scampi and looking forward to recieving them. It soon got busy as more theatre goers stumbled upon it in the same manner. People who ordered sandwiches were served before us and I was shocked to see both of these seperate customers send them back. One got refund and left and the other excepted a replacement.

When our meals arrived they were cold. It felt like they had been left out on the side for ages after being heated up in a microwave. The pie had been drowned in hot gravy to try and digiuse this but it did not work. The pie was so hard no one could cut through it. I hate complaining and this is the only time in my life I have asked for a refund and left.

The bar lady screamed down the stairs at what I can only presume was the chef and said I would need to go and wait downstairs for a refund. I sent my friends along to get a table at Harry Ramsdens. The senior bar lady downstairs said I would have to wait for her manager. I waited. I waited. She stood around for about 10 minutes and then seemingly changed her mind about the manager thing. She gave me a refund and literally slammed the money into my hand after asking why I was not willing to wait for it to be re-heated! I left feeling so angry and would never go back to this so called establishment.
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Overall rating
Food 0 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Friday, October 13, 2006