Il Blandford`s

I can 't even rate this experience as there wasn 't one! 8th March 1st contacted the owner to book a large table for 15 Clinical Directors, GPs and staff after a training session we were attending. Said she could accommodate us. Then no further replies to my emails or phone calls. Red flag there already. When I eventually got through I was met with an aggressive, argumentative lady telling me 'she is too busy to reply to my emails, and that I shouldn 't be bothering her with my requests as she is not good with computers or phones '. Shocked that she was so unaccommodating about a large corporate team coming to spend money in her restaurant that I said not to worry I will go to another restaurant and was met with the reply 'good ' and the phone was put down on me. 5 minutes after I had the phone put down on me, she called me back to apologise and understanding the error of her ways 'really wanted us all to come to her restaurant and experience her passion and how good the food was '. I accepted her apology and the offer of her fixed price menu and agreed that we would go and I would arrange for the team to choose their meals before hand to 'help the chef '. It was also agreed that because it was a large table and would take up the majority of the restaurant that we would get there for 5pm and be given an aperitif, and then leave by 8pm so that other diners had the chance to eat there. I accumulated everyone 's choices and sent them to her with the addition of 2 further guests. Nothing.. i resent it, and got 'fine '. I had further queries and tried to contact by phone and email, nothing. Not even in peak times did anyone answer the restaurant phone. The phone automatically diverts to her mobile, nothing. I left it a while and 2 days before hand still had had no luck getting through. Now its seems like I 'm a lunatic by calling but when arranging these corporate dinners everything has to be just so, and changes can occur. I had some changes that I needed to update her with and I needed to make sure that we were on track and she had everything from me and if a deposit should be required. Nothing. The day of my booking (I should have just booked somewhere else beforehand, I know) I called the restaurant, nothing, mobile, nothing. I then receive and automated text 'Can 't talk now ' to which my reply was, I need to talk to you about my booking ' I had to leave the office for our training when I looked at my emails and saw an email from her ' Dear Emmie , the chef had a stroke and I’m alone so I can only do a reduce menu d for you. It’s happen just today and it’s a disaster Can I call you in one hour ' She didn 't call me at all. I then rushed to book another restaurant for 17 people. No phone call to date. This is obviously a sad situation and I wish the chef well. However, the weeks leading up to the dinner to have no correspondence at all, leads me to believe that she can 't cope with large bookings or run her business to a standard she professes on her website. Sad, as a company we often support our local businesses with our team dinners and drinks but this is a place I would hugely avoid. Poor customer services and we didn 't even get to eat there!

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I strongly recommend this resturant, who welcomed me like an old friend (I had eaten there 5 years previously! , and making me feel like part of their family.....though still allowing me my space. I had the lasagne, and it was delicious.

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Very good food, but service can get a little slow when very busy proof of how popular this local gem is we love it

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Wasn’t even open and seemed to blame us for booking and that open table shouldn’t have allowed us to book!

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Lovely experience as always! Thank you Jessica!

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