Where not to go South Coast

[fabian]

As the new season approaches, I think forumites should flex their collective economic muscles,use their breadth of knowledge/ experience and produce the definitive list of where not to go on the South Coast.

Max 2 no go restaurants + brief, e.g. one line reason for staying away.

 

[ChrisE]

I have this fiendish plan to list all of my favourite restaurants in Lymington as rubbish to keep visiting boaties away.....

 

[jhr]

OK; I'll bite (so to speak).

Bayard's Cove Hotel Coffee House in Dartmouth. Almost empty, but we were ignored by the staff for fifteen minutes while they chatted to each other. The food, when it arrived, was expensive and mediocre. We won't be back.

I hate to go on and on about the Master Builder Pub at Buckler's Hard but it is still the greatest missed opportunity in the Solent. Beautiful surroundings, sluggish service and distinctly average food. It could be so much more. Nearest pub to the boat, however, so we'll still go there.

The Bugle in Yarmouth used to be on my personal List of Shame, merely because the food was so disgusting, but a recent post implied that it has improved; not difficult because the only way was up, imho.

It's traditional to mention the Spinnaker at Chichester in posts such as this, but now that Mr Grumpy has gone, can things ever be the same again? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bugger; that's four places. Sorry!

 

[xcw]

Easy: The Master Builder and The Bugle - avoid!

 

[theforeman]

fabian`s place. the red herrings are overdone /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[dom]

Master Builders is definitely shyte. But of course that is pretty predictable. Less obvious as a disaster is perhaps Sian Ellens in Yarmouth.

 

[arfa]

The master builder gets my vote too. After a long day single handing over from Chichester this Summer I wandered in there 20 minutes before last food orders and was told no more food would be served as they couldn't cope. No amount of begging would even get them to dish me out a pork pie leaving me the culinary delights of crisps, nuts and a grot noodle back on the boat. Not impressed.

 

[doug748]

The shabby boozer at Helford Passage. Maplins Holiday Camp style, doing you a great favour to produce food, would not serve my Mackerel hot (Health and Safety), pitiful plate of food when it came.

 

[A_7]

The Master Buiders is OK for a couple of pints but don't ever eat there! The main restaurant is alright though. Last time I was there Salman Rushdie was at the next table. He didn't half jump when someone dropped something in the kitchen!

 

[jhr]

As far as I know, Sian-Elins is no more. It now has a different name and lots of nasty pub-type dodgers tied to the railings of the roof terrace to make it look thoroughly chavvy. What it is like as an eaterie, I do not know, and I'd be interested to hear any comments.

I only ate there a couple of times and although it wasn't cheap, the food was good. I gather the proprietor could be a bit of a challenge at times, but I never had dealings with him.

 

[ChrisE]

I can only assume that you guys that get bad service at the Master Builder are some kind of chavvy people that the staff shun /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Seriously, I know that in the past the service and the food were both truly dreadful but the last couple of times I went in there in August and October last year I had good beer, good food and good service.....

 

[jhr]

Nothing seems to work for me. I've even tried going in there with a sink-plunger stuck to my head, but it doesn't seem to help....

Haven't been in there for anything but a drink since early last summer, so I'll have to give it another chance.

 

[arfa]

Can't really comment on other people's perceptions but having bothered to shower and put on clean clothes i don't think i was too out of place there ;-) The real problem with it is if they stuff up your plans there is no plan B and given their ability to do this, it is high on my list of places to avoid

 

[StugeronSteve]

Chris,

I agree, things were certainly better in the latter part of last year. They seemed to have a young guy running the bar, who was interested in his job, and actually engaged with the customers. The wattage of the light bulbs looked to have been lifted and the place cleaned up, just a shame they can't stop the tables feeling so sticky! The pub food has always been expensive and edible, but not particularly suited to the requirements of hungry boat crews.

Jhr is bang on about the missed opportunity though, they only need to sort out a few basics and the place would be a real money magnet, with a consequent benefit to the marina revenue through increaed visitor numbers.

 

[ccscott49]

Was there a couple of weeks ago, food was fine, not fantastic, but fine, service was good and it was busy, lunchtime.

 

[mikejames]

The Master builders is a strange hybrid of the not so good Yachtsman's Bar and the Master Builder Hotel restaurant itself. In the hotel restaurant it was excellent and expensive and in the Yachtsman's Bar its just another pub.