Guest User
September 26, 2023
We recently stayed at The Gateway Inn on our way up to Scotland. On checking in, we were asked if we would like to book a table for dinner, as long as it was an early booking, as they were busy that evening. This we happily accepted, as we preferred to eat early. Off we went for the afternoon to Windermere, passing many eating places, but rushed back to the Inn deliberately, in time for our reservation. On presenting ourselves for dinner, we were bluntly told there was no table booked in, but we could have a table much later. We explained that we had booked a table on arrival that afternoon, having been asked if we would like to eat in their restaurant, and were actually given menus to take up to our room earlier to help us pre decide. We also explained that we only wanted one course for dinner (the sunday roast) and wouldn't be in the restaurant very long. The member of staff said he would go and ask the chef, but returned immediately saying the answer was a resounding 'no'. No consideration was given to the fact that we had prebooked and no apology offered. The only choice was a late table ( not acceptable, as I cannot eat late, due to a medical condition) and as new visitors to The Lake Distirict, we were forced to make our way out again into the wet windy Sunday evening to find dinner. I wouldn'thave minded but we had already been out previously and would have found a restaurant earlier. Would we revisit the Gateway Inn...no. Would we book a table, if asked by the staff if we wanted a reservation? ....definateley not, not unless you triple checked your booking and then triple checked it again!!