The Pepper Mill is a new addition to the Marston's chain that has been open a couple of months and we have heard very mixed reviews from friends and family, so my wife (Camilla) and I decided to go for a Sunday carvery with our 15 month old son (Jacob).
We arrived to see a busy car park which filled me with promise thinking that it must be good for this many people to be there. We parked the car and walked in where we we greeted by a woman looking flustered who asked us if we wanted a table. Camilla informed her that we needed a table for two with a high chair and the woman told us she will take our name and we would have to wait at the bar but were not given any idea how long the wait would be. I wasn't really comfortable standing at the bar with a baby but I did notice that tables were being cleared quickly and thought it wouldn't be long until we were seated.
We stood for a few minutes while we got a drink and decided to play on the quiz machine by the bar whilst we waited to be called. After a few games and about 20 minutes of waiting, we still had no table so stood to one side looking bored. At this point the lady came to us and said she was at the other side of the bar calling us. Surely it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if someone isn't there you go to the other side to look.
We were shown to our table where a small girl was sitting and someone on another table said that someone was already there. This was clearly a sign that nobody knew that you needed to wait to be seated. We were then shown to another table that was not set up with no cutlery laid out (we had to get our own). The woman who had shown us to the table said she will go and get a high chair and walked off in the opposite direction to where they were. We waited a minute for her to return but never saw her again so had to ask someone else to get one for us.
We sat for a moment looking at the menu to see what to get for Jacob and decided on a children's carvery. Camilla went up first and got a carvery for herself and Jacob. When she returned we couldn't help but notice that the size difference between the plates was minimal, approximately 1/4 inch all around for half the price. I went up and got my meal and had a bit of every meat (pork, gammon, turkey and beef). I have never been to a carvery before where they have weighed each piece of meat before giving it to you. When looking at the carvery, it was very small and not a good lay out where you have to cross the path of people walking past to get to the gravy and sauces. The choice of accompaniments was not vast with a lack of broccoli, mashed potato and the apple and cranberry sauce had mixed to make two bowls of 'pink' sauce.
This so far bad experience of our visit was not going to get me down and I was determined to enjoy the food. This frame of mind was short lived when I found that the roast potatoes that just came out were cold and there was no flavour in any of the meat with the exception of a very salty gammon and a piece of pork that had more fat than meat on it.
We decided not to have a dessert as we had been disappointed enough for one day.
Upon returning home we wanted to see what the website shows to bring people in and I noticed an advertisement for a free bottle of house wine when you spend £15 or more on food, there is no mention of terms and conditions or that you needed to take a voucher. This offer was not known to us and was not honoured as promised. Camilla has sent an email to them asking why they have not delivered what is advertised and we are still awaiting a response.
We most likely would have complained about the experience there and then if someone had actually asked us how our meal was, but there was no interaction from any staff and when you have a baby who wants to go home, the last thing you want to do is stay longer.
Overall, a very disappointing Sunday lunch and not a place I would want to visit again anytime soon.
