This weekend we had lunch with a large group of friends at the New Old Inn. On being sat for the meal no one asked us if we wanted drinks - not then or at any time during our meal. Water was provided. During the meal we weren't asked, as is customary, if everything was OK with our food or if there was anything else we needed. Most odd. In fact, those waiting on us, especially the 2 gentlemen, seemed unhappy to be there and were, when passing behind diners chairs or reaching across the table, quite unmannerly and also particularly noisy, banging crockery on the table at the rear of the dining room. Onto the meal - 2 pieces of bread cut in half (for 4 people) on a plate but no side plates and no butter knives so we used our starter knives and ate bread from the tablecloth. The prawn cocktail starter was ordinary but passable. I was really looking forward to the main course - the menu read, 'Gloucester Old Spot Pork, Crispy Crackling, Bramley Apple Puree, served with Roast Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables' - sounds good! In reality I had 2 slices of pork, both with generous layers of fat and wet, floppy skin. Not the crispy crackling advertised. I politely asked the waitress if she could bring some crackling. She returned to tell me that they didn't have any crackling and that the pork was all gone. Apple sauce came but no serving spoon so we used our main course knives. The roasties (plural) consisted of 2 small potatoes. Descriptively correct, though a little mean, but overshadowed by the 'seasonal vegetables' which consisted of a slice of carrot and one broccoli spear. Again, not a lie as it was more than one vegetable, but they couldn't have economised more, except by serving individual peas! I know portion sizes have shrunk in our current economy but this is taking it to a new level. The desert was apple crumble which would have felt at home in any school canteen. And the price of this gourmet fayre? £56 for 2 people. Please find an alternative if you are contemplating booking, especially if it's for an occasion. We couldn't recommend this hotel and will never return, which is a shame as we regularly visit family living just 20 minutes away and are always looking for great eateries, We won't forget it, though, so we've put it in the 'making memories' pile.
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