Lunch at Debenham’s

roast turkey and all the trimmings

Once again turkey. I looked Tuesday, it was turkey. Every time I have looked it has been turkey.

Debenham’s used to serve excellent roast pork, even worth a visit to Debenham’s. But now all they serve is turkey.

It is bad enough Christmas when all they serve is turkey.

It is like the Monty Python sketch, spam, spam, spam, only in Debenham’s, it is turkey, turkey, turkey.

What is the use of customer service if no one is listening?

Not the fault of the staff, the fault lies with head office who issue diktats on what must be served.

This is appalling bad management, someone at head office trying to justify their own worthless existence.

Unless the local store is doing something wrong, let locally decide what is served, they know their customers, head office does not.

It was raining, turkey it was.

The vegetables were stone cold. The kitchen, kindly hotted up, but now not fit to eat. The turkey was awful. I left the meal half eaten.

I regretted not eating elsewhere, and would have done but for the rain.

A pot of tea and a cake.  Few places in Guildford serve decent cakes. Debenham’s is one of those rare places.

cheesecake and a pot of tea

Lunch at Debenhams

River Wey from Debenhams

roast pork and all the trimmings

I walked from Guildford Station along the River Wey to Debenhams.

Last week Debenhams was busy, no food left. This week empty, plenty of food left.

As it was raining and as there was roast pork, I decided to stay.

The chef told me they had cooked extra pork. I asked were the vegetables hot. He said yes.

Roast pork excellent, vegetables would have  been excellent too, if not cold.

Generous portion size.

Tables dirty, piled up with dirty dishes. Place all but deserted, and yet they cannot be bothered to clear and clean the tables

Heavy rain. I stayed and had raspberry cheesecake and a pot of tea.

Pleasant view overlooking the River Wey.

All but empty, and yet three people having the entire restaurant to choose from, sit almost on top of me. Then have  a noisy conversation.

Cue to leave.

Lunch at Debenham’s

Milmead view of River Wey whilst eating lunch

Debenham’s can do an excellent roast dinner, though it is very variable, usually let down by their vegetables.

roast pork and vegetables

Today it was roast pork, which is usually excellent. Today was excellent, though the crackling was not crisp.

The vegetables though were stone cold. And why no roast potatoes? Or at the very least, new potatoes?

Wifi did not work, Or rather the wifi did work, it was a good signal and fast speed, it was not connecting to anything.

I tried opening a web browser, as sometimes a log in is required (though this should be automatic), nada.

I spoke with a helpful Filipino lady. She said open web browser and log in. I did and it said welcome  Keith.

You are already logged in she said.

Still no connection.

chocolate cheesecake

I was going to have a cake elsewhere but their cheesecake looked good and so I stopped and had chocolate cheesecake and  a pot of tea.

I told the lady the vegetables were cold. She said I should have told her earlier.

As I was leaving I could hear data connecting.

I stopped and checked, yes I was now connected.

The restaurant overlooks the river, and as it was  a pleasant day, I sat outside.

As I was beside the river, I decided to take a walk along the River Wey to St Catherine’s Lock.

Afternoon in Guildford

Milmead

A very pleasant sunny afternoon.

Where for lunch?

Guildford Institute is now out as the lady who prepared the excellent vegetarian meals has left. The Royal Oak, I fancy their kebabs but has the chef left, I have tried twice and no luck. The Keystone is out, the chef has left and the food gone rapidly downhill, as has the pub. Roast dinner at Debenham’s?

Debenham’s can, when they try, do an excellent roast dinner, but it is very variable. Last few times I have looked it has been turkey. Today was roast pork. The pork was excellent (and usually is), although the crackling was not crisp, the vegetables were stone cold. The wifi was not working, or rather it was but not connecting to anything. Cheesecake was excellent.

It was then a long walk along the River Wey to St Catherine’s Lock.

It was go to the market, then go for a walk, or walk then market.

I went for a walk, never made it to the market, nor the other things I meant to do.

I made the train with ten seconds to spare.

Afternoon tea at Debenhams

Debenhams afternoon tea

I had eaten Sunday roast at The Keystone. A big mistake as it was disgusting. I was now in Debenhams for afternoon tea as hungry.

Service in Debenhams is appalling at the best of times, and today was no exception. There was few customers, and yet still the service was bad.

I do not know what the cake was, a strange cross between Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding, erring on the side of Christmas Pudding. I was tempted to ask for cream. Washed down with a pot of tea.

I had a seat overlooking the River Wey.

Debenhams restaurant overlooking River Wey

Lunch at Debenhams

lunch at Debenhams

To say lunch at Debenhams was disgusting would be an understatement. A pity as it is usually very good.

I looked in on my way to the farmers market in the High Street in Guildford. Only turkey. I was looking forward to the roast pork I had last week. I hope it is not going to be turkey every day until Christmas.

I returned later, but wished I had not. I should have gone to the Thai restaurant top of the High Street in Jeffies Passage or carried on over the Bridge and to the Keystone behind St Nicolas Church.

No turkey left, only a scraggly bit of chicken. They tried to charge me for a roast dinner. I said no way. They knocked a pound off.

It was then find a clean table. The restaurant was all but deserted, and yet empty tables were piled up with dirty dishes, the few tables that were not, were dirty, food on the floor. Eventually I settled for the least dirty table. Other customers were having to clear away the dirty dishes.

I contrast this with last week. Very busy, only one lady clearing the tables, and yet, no sooner was a table vacated she was over, clearing it and cleaning it. I complimented her on a job well done.

The chicken had seen better days, the carrots were cold, the other vegetables barely warm.

I should have asked for the store manager. I regret I did not.

Lunch at Debenhams

roast pork and all the trimmings

Debenhams is not somewhere one would think of for lunch, or at least not as a first choice, and yet it is very popular. Today it was packed.

It is easy to see why it is popular as the food is good. The service though is not very good, and today abysmal.

Since I was last here, they have revamped the restaurant.

This time last year it was a choice of turkey or turkey, through to and beyond Christmas. Whilst I have no probably with turkey occasionally, I do have a problem with turkey week after week.

Today it was turkey, but I am pleased there was also roast pork. This is new, as usually not a choice.

I chose roast pork with all the trimmings. The roast pork was excellent, tasy and succulent.

If Debenhams in Guildford can produce good food, why can not Morrisons in Aldershot. There can be absolutely no excuse for the disgusting food Morrisons dish out in Aldershot.

I was lucky to get a table as someone left at just the right moment.

I was curious as to why it was so busy. I asked. It was as I thought, a special offer, 10% off, though I did not notice 10% off my dinner.

Only one lady cleaning the tables, and to her credit she was working very hard, I have never seen anyone work so hard. To his credit, her manager showed willing and did occasionally walk over and wipe a table.

Walking to Debenhams, the River Wey was very high, though not as high or fast flowing as last Friday. Had I walked along it yesterday I would have found it very high. It drops quite quickly.

Crossing the River Blackwater today, it was already lower than yesterday.

Leaving Debenhams, I spotted Top Shop. Seeing Top Shop reminded me Top Shop and Debnenhams are part of Arcadia Group owned by tax dodger Sir Philip Green. Hmm, maybe I should not be eating in Debenhams.

Lunch at Debenhams

roast pork with the full trimmings

Debenhams is not somewhere one would think of for lunch, and yet the restaurant in Debenhams in Guildford is quite popular.

I was on my way to eat at the Guildford Institute, which is always good on a Friday, but thought I would take a look in Debenhams.

It was roast pork, with all the trimmings.

The pork was slightly overdone, which meant it was slightly dry, but the crackling was lovely and crisp, the carrots slightly underdone, the roast potatoes a little over done. Nevertheless it was a good meal and they are not stingy with the portions. At a little over £7, reasonable value for money.

The restaurant overlooks the River Wey.

view of River Wey from restaurant

It was a miserable day, raining all day. Whilst in Debenhams it poured, and so I was stuck there for a while.

When it eased off, I decided to walk up to the Guildford Institute. They have lovely desserts. I was though too late, the lady serving was leaving early as she was catching a train to Bristol. I did though manage to get a cake a pot of tea, which at £1-70 very good value.

It was a miserable cold wet day and I would not have been out at all, but that evening I was at the E-debate at the Electric Theatre, one of the events of the Guildford Book Festival, therefore it was hang around Guildford all afternoon. I did though manage to pick up 2001: A Space Odyssey from Ben’s Records. It was then dinner at The Keystone, where the food is always good, then to the Electric Theatre a few minutes walk away.