ON ENTERING THE ESTABLISHMENT ON SUNDAY 27-04-08 AT APPROX. 2.30PM MY PARTNER AND I FOUND THE GREETING DESK UNMANNED (QUITE NORMAL IN OUR EXPERIENCE AS REGULAR DINERS. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF VACANT TABLES ALBEIT THAT THEY WERE YET TO BE CLEARED OF PREVIOUS DINERS DEBRIS. WE SAT OURSELVES AT SUCH A TABLE AND WAITED. AFTER A PERIOD IN EXCESS OF 10 MINS WE NOTICED A MEMBER OF STAFF CLEARING ANOTHER TABLE AND WHEN SHE HAD COMPLETED HER TASK WE RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED THAT OUR TABLE BE CLEARED SO THAT WE MAY PLACE OUR ORDER. THE STAFF MEMBER DULY REMOVED TWO PLATES FROM A HEAVILY LADEN TABLE AND WHEN SHE RETURNED SHE, RATHER STRANGELY, ENQUIRED WHETHER OR NOT THE TABLE HAD BEEN CLEARED BEFORE WE SAT DOWN. ALTHOUGH RATHER OBVIOUSLY A RIDICUOLOUS QUESTION MY PARTNER RESPONDED "NO". THE YOUNG LADY THEN LEFT AND SOME 5-6 MINS LATER REAPPERED FROM THE KITCHEN AND PROCEEDED TO COMMENCE CLEARING ANOTHE TABLE WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO OURSELVES. SHE KEPT LOOKING OVER HER SHOULDER TOWARDS US BUT DESPITE PASSING US TWICE FURTHER DID NOTHING. IT WAS AT THAT TIME APPROX. 2.55PM WE DECIDED THAT WE HAD NO INTENTION OF DINING IN AN ESTABLISHMENT THAT OPENLY DISPLAYED UTTER DISDAIN FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS. NOT ONLY WILL WE NO LONGER FREQUENT THE PARC-Y-PRIOR ON A WEEKLY (SOMETIMES MORE) BASIS BUT WE WILL BOTH ENDEAVOUR TO RELATE OUR APPALLING TREATMENT TO FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND OBVIOUSLY FAMILY MEMBERS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PASS ON Y E-MAIL DETAILS TO THE ACTUAL OWNERS OF THE SO CALLED BUSINESS NOT THE OPERATORS AS THEY OBVIOUSLY CONDONE SUCH BEHAVIOUR BY ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
P.S. WE DID DINE TODAY BY TRAVELLING A FEW MILES AND QUITE HAPPILY PAID A THIRD MORE FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING ACKNOWLEDGED, FED AND TREATED AS A VALUED CUSTOMER - AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THE SERVICE SECTOR WAS ALL ABOUT.
