ACP        The Wheelhouse Wollaton and The Beechdale    (updated on Tue 10 January 2006)

I have just received a letter (Tue 10 Jan 2006) from Ms Amanda James, the Area Manager of Hardys & Hansons. regarding a complaint letter I wrote about the Wheelhouse.  The lady has informed me that the confusion about the number of meals ordered recently, was being addressed before I made the complaint.  I suggested to the Day Manager of the pub, that customers should receive a bit of paper that allows the customer to verify that the details entered into the till, agree with what the customer ordered.  If the customer is too lazy to read the ticket, then "tough", he gets what the counter staff thought that he wanted.

I am posting this essay in order to demonstrate that a reasonable complaint generally results in a reasonable response.  There are some people who will complain no matter how good the service; but they get short shrift from me!

An earlier posting in this space complained about the "Golden Years" and the "Value for Money"  menus.  It seems that I got the comparisons wrong.  Ms James explained about the difference between the menus, and I thank her for this.

Finally, The Wheelhouse in Wollaton is probably the best pub in the locality.  Service is sometimes a little slow when they are busy, but if the food is plumped on the table a couple of minutes after you order it, you ask yourself "how long has it been cooked?".  I like to praise good service and highlight bad service, in a fair and measured way.

On the subject of The Beechdale, I gave them a second try very recently (now is 11 Jan '06).  The pub is part of the same group as the Wheelhouse, but their prices are appreciably lower.  There are a number of factors that a business takes into account when setting their prices: the multitude of overheads, the local competition, and the judgement as to how high they can expect their clientele to tolerate..  If the overheads outweigh the price that the public will pay, the business shuts up shop.  All very simple in principle but a lot more difficult in practice.  What the details worked out at, I have no idea, but the grub was good and cheaper than the Wheelhouse.  Three lovely meals and three drinks came to just over twelve pounds fifty.  Being an ex-Londoner, I still am surprised at Nottingham prices, although I am always on the lookout to save money.  That's why I am not short of the odd copper.

Hardys & Hansons, keep up the good work, and I hope to remain a customer of yours for a long time yet.