Watergate Toll, Bolton, United Kingdom: Rare Meat, Poor Customer Service, and Utter Disappointment

The Watergate Toll Toby Carvery

421 Watergate Toll 

Bolton BL5 1BU United Kingdom

Phone number: +44 1204 650955

Website: Toby-Carvery.co.uk

Prices: €€€€

Utterly disappointing is the best I can say. I made the mistake of talking our friends into going here because we had a positive experience at a Toby Carvery in Gravesend a few years back,

First, they stuck us in the back corner of the back room, furthest from the buffet and too close to the table next to us.

Second, when we went to the buffet, the scruffy guy with tattoos and a beard serving us was extremely rude. He refused to listen, tossing Yorkshire pudding and sausages on the plate without my input. I asked him for some well-cooked roast beef, an end maybe, because I do not like rare meat, but he just started slicing the red meat and throwing it on my plate. I told him Ï don't like rare beef¨ several times, but he kept insisting that it was not rare as if I could not see the red meat with my own eyes.

Third, I contacted the manager, but she only placated me despite my complaints. That is no way to talk to or treat a customer who is unhappy with something or someone. It was obvious she could not care less.

Fourth, all of the meat was very dry, the mashed potatoes far too dry and tasteless, and the stuffing equally as bland.

Finally, our server was the only positive experience during our meal. She was very kind and attentive. Her manager could take some pointers from her on how to treat customers.

CombatCritic Gives The Watergate Toll Toby Carvery 2 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Two Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Tits Up"

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Title: Watergate Toll, Bolton, United Kingdom: Rare Meat, Poor Customer Service, and Utter Disappointment

Key Words: Watergate Toll, Bolton, United Kingdom, England, Toby Carvery, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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London Gatwick Airport, England: Premier Inn = Weak

Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport A23 Hotel 

Longbridge Way

Horley RH6 0NX

United Kingdom

Phone number +44 871 527 8406

Website: premierinn.com/en/gatwicka23
Prices: ££££

This will not take long because we were not there long and I was not impressed, even for the price. They did not even bother putting the cushions on the bed, they sat atop the wardrobe when we arrived.

Like the Premier Inn in Nuneaton, my only other Premier Inn stay, I found the stay inadequate. Arriving after 11PM for a 05:20 departure the next morning, I got about 2 hours sleep thanks to the noisy neighbor upstairs that I could hear walking around all night long (I am a light sleeper) and a cold. What a miserable night.

As was the case at the Nuneaton location, Wi-Fi was slow and nearly useless. This room was much bigger, but there were two single beds we did not need and one print adorned the walls, otherwise, they were bare. The TV remote did not work and there was mold in the grout on the bathroom walls. I have heard rumours (rumors for the Yanks) that they will refund your rate if you do not get a good night's sleep, but I saw nothing advertized and really do not care at this point. After two horrible experiences at Premier Inns, we will not be staying with them again.

They try to sell you breakfast at £9 ($12.50) a pop or a two course dinner and breakfast for £24.99 ($35) ... REALLY? There is also a £3 per person charge to drive you less than 1,000 feet to the North Terminal (via a 15-minute drive to the Marriott and South Terminal), so you obviously get nothin' for nothin' at Premier Inns. The room price was right at just £50 ($70) for an airport hotel, but they dime you to death for everything and the negatives far outweighed the positives, hence my rating ...

CombatCritic Gives Premier Inn Gatwick A23 Hotel 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

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Title: London Gatwick Airport, England: Premier Inn = Weak

Key Words: London, Gatwick, airport, England, Premier Inn, premier, inn, United Kingdom, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, review, Yelp, Google, Facebook

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Rochester, England: GRRRRRRRRRROWL ... Golden Lion Big On Value, But Not On Ambiance

Golden Lion

147-149 High Street

Rochester ME1 1EL

United Kingdom

Phone number +44 1634 880521

Website: jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/rochester

Prices: ££££

Another JD Wetherspoon, while very short on charm and ambiance, it has, like the others, reasonable prices and consistency not found in every pub.

They overcharged me by a few quid for my wife's shandy (which was refunded), but the British Beef and Doom Bar Ale Pie (£6.39) was pretty good and a decent value. I just hope the Brits sorted out that Mad Cow thing if you know what I mean. 

The beers are relatively cheap (£1.99 and up) with a nice variety of hand-pulled, room temperature ales. Not charming and with a 2 Bomb deduction for overcharging me, JD's is still a good TravelValue ... HOOAH!

CombatCritic Gives The Golden Lion 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

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Title: Rochester, England: GRRRRRRRRRROWL ... Golden Lion Big On Value, But Not On Ambiance

Key Words: Rochester, England, Golden Lion, golden, lion, United Kingdom, pub, food, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Gravesend, England: The Three Daws Get Four Bombs

The Three Daws Public House

Gastropubs

6 Town Pier

Gravesend DA11 0BJ, United Kingdom

Phone number: +44 (147) 456-6869

Website: threedaws.co.uk

Prices: ££££

The online menu looked eclectic and inspiring, and the reviews good, so I thought this 500+ year old pub had real potential. I was wrong and disappointed.

Having lived in England for three years (RAF Alconbury - 1995-1998), I have had some great pub food. So after almost 20 years away, I was looking forward to a nice, room temperature hand-pulled pint of ale and a good meal. The ale was brilliant and the service friendly and efficient, but the food, unfortunately, left something to be desired.

My wife had the Squash Risotto (£8.75), if you could call it that, supposedly made with arborio rice, leek, cream, squash, and pecorino cheese. The rice did not look like arborio, the squash, leek and cream were nearly nonexistent, and whomever prepared it obviously had no knowledge of how to make a proper risotto. The rice was extremely dry and tasteless, not patiently hand-stirred and creamy, piled on the plate with a smattering of salad without any dressing on the side.

I saw the server delivering the Wild Stroganoff (£9.75) as we were walking in and it looked great, so I ordered it with the chips ("fries" for the Yanks). The alleged "steak" strips seemed more like stewing beef and the "mixed wild mushrooms" were indistinguishable from the stringy beef. There were paprika and cream in the sauce, but the brandy was imperceptible and the sauce had little flavor. My wife's best friend had the same thing, with rice instead of chips, having concurred with my evaluation. 

Her boyfriend had the Harvel Farm (£9.25), which is apparently "exclusive harvel farm beef and horseradish sausages", coming with mashed potatoes and brown gravy and otherwise known as "Bangers and Mash". Being the only Brit at the table (beside the two Italians and one Yank), he seemed pleased with his choice, stating that it was "pretty good".

The place is charming, very old (reportedly 1501), wooden and white on the outside with wonky floors and several small rooms off of the main bar inside, sitting on the southern shore of the River Thames. We were there at night, so we did not get to enjoy the view, but I am sure it can be quite nice in the daylight.

CombatCritic Gives The Three Daws 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

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Read Chris S.'s review of Three Daws on Yelp

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Title: Gravesend, England: The Three Daws Get Four Bombs

Key Words: Gravesend, England, The Three Daws, public house, three, daws, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, United Kingdom, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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