tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post3163278744635386088..comments2024-02-08T15:14:11.323+00:00Comments on The Secret Diner: Wynyard Hall (Wellington Restaurant)The Secret Dinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03234142113837499731noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-71891382222519635672015-10-25T17:52:27.137+00:002015-10-25T17:52:27.137+00:00I live in a modest home Wynyard Village and have d...I live in a modest home Wynyard Village and have done since the development was created so I am keen to support any services in the area.<br />Last week I was invited to join a birthday party for an American visitor to our neighbourhood.I accepted despite my limited budget and reservations regarding the cost f £30 plus drinks for a Tuesday evening.<br />When we arrived as a party of ten at 7.40 p.m , staff were fussing and confused with no clear responses and there was only one more party of four dining in the austere,cold stuffy Wellington Restaurant.By 9.10p.m we still had no drinks,not even tap water.Eventually the wine waiter arrived only to inform us that the wine requested was not in stock ,however we could have a slightly more expensive alternative at the price of our original order.At 9.15 p.m. our first course arrived.Interesting,creative ,la de da ,perhaps,nevertheless dissatisfying.........long wait...freezing...then the main course arrived ditto.The extra vegetables did not arrive.The ready to be opened wine stood on the radiator!<br />I am 64 years of age and have eaten in many beautiful restaurants in locations as far as Penang..I felt embarasesd for my neighbour who simply wanted to show her American guest a good example of a Stately English home with at the least competent service.O dear a memorable evening for all the wrong reasons.<br />To sum up'Fur coat no knickers,talking the talk ,but not walking the walk!'<br />Please train your staff Wynyard hall .There is no excuse for this .what's the use of a good knowledgeable chef without well trained adequate staff who can deliver the goods.<br />At this moment I should be knitting my Grandson a sweater ,but I am so anxious that Wynyard suceeds I have taken time to write this tedious ,totally warrented complaint.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Eleanor Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-72960439798189706122014-12-11T20:25:31.174+00:002014-12-11T20:25:31.174+00:00"Well said " I agree 100% ."Well said " I agree 100% .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-68416777482924942952013-10-10T16:18:08.417+01:002013-10-10T16:18:08.417+01:00What a scornful, bitter little imp you are Sir!
I...What a scornful, bitter little imp you are Sir!<br /><br />I couldn't actually believe it when I read this review! Clearly a political angle at play here...<br /><br />I always found the staff to be very friendly and extremely well trained, and even if I did notice a wine glass was not on the correct side I would just put it down to a harmless human error and not be so much of a fastidious git as to make it a factor in my review - nor would act badly done to that I was seated near a 'closed piano'; you're acting like they led you to the gents and sat you straight on the loo! Actually, maybe they should have as you're clearly full of you know what...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-22885668433977963352013-10-07T12:30:01.006+01:002013-10-07T12:30:01.006+01:00You are right, I am certainly not an antique deale...You are right, I am certainly not an antique dealer. But I have been a private collector for more than 20 years, particularly of Georgian and early Victorian furniture. I never write about what I don't understand. <br /><br />I also know quite a bit about service. This was very poor indeed (and, judging by the tweets, emails and posts I've received, not an isolated incident - the comment posted above is from a director of a substantial international company who has recently switched her entertainment of major clients from Wynyard to Rockliffe). <br /><br />I always reflect my postbag fairly in the Journal (other than Anonymous posts). Curiously, yours is the first positive comment about Wynyard Hall since my review, which has surprised both me and my editor. If you care to identify yourself, I shall certainly include your views in a future edition. I can keep your name anonymous in the newspaper, but you need to identify yourself to my team to ensure we aren't dealing with the restaurant's press office.The Secret Dinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234142113837499731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-44784957080501817612013-10-07T10:48:15.197+01:002013-10-07T10:48:15.197+01:00Dear Secret Diner,
Is your review an egotistical ...Dear Secret Diner,<br /><br />Is your review an egotistical attempt at self promotion or a genuine food review?<br />I write this as a regular visitor of Wynyard Hall, Jesmond Dene, Close House and also Rockliffe and I must say that I believe your review is wide of the mark both on a factual basis but also in terms of the realms of criticism as a journalist. Are you qualified to talk about furniture or food? Surely such a proud wealthy family would buy real furniture and not cheap immitation to grace such an amazing room, I apologise if you are in fact an antique dealer!<br />The service is second to none at all venues mentioned by myself and never have we been welcomed by a dis-interested member of staff at Wynyard, Rockliffe, Jesmond Dene in fact any restaurant in recent memory. The staff at Wynyard know their menus, wine lists and cheeses inside out which is not the case at Cafe 21 where I ate on last week based on your recommendation...! In fact when I asked what the wine by the glass was I got the answer its 'white wine'!!? Is that good service?<br />By insulting the AA aren't you criticising an internationally acclaimed association who employ a great deal of experience? As an ex hotelier myself I had to pass over 400 seperate service points alone to achieve the score of 85%+ in order to achieve Red Star status, funnily enough your review mentions just 3. <br />Are you insulting the regular group of diners and our palates by criticising our choice in venues? I ate at one of your recommended venues last week as previously mentioned and this was below average. I don't claim to be the oracle on food I just know what I like.<br />I follow you on twitter, I also follow Wynyard Hall and Alan Okane and a few of their staff and I must congratulate them on not reacting to your obvious bating by including @wynyardhall and @alanokane in your tweets in what looked a shameful attempt to increase your average following numbers. I did however tweet @wynyardhall and recieved a professional response declining their opportunity to retweet along with many other disgruntled readers of your review. I also noticed you interacting with Kenny Atkinson who suprisingly didnt mention that he is currently working at Wynyard Hall in a part time capacity under Alan Okane?<br />It seems to me that there is an underlying hatred for the AA and Country style hotels outside of Newcastle. As a regular paying guest Jesmond Dene is in no way 'up there' compared to the Orangery at Rockliffe, Wynyard Hall or even Doxford or Judges!?<br />There is one point in your review that I would agree with and that is the improvement at Wynyard Hall is noticable both food but also in my opinion service in the past 2-3 years.<br />This comment in reply is of course my opinion as I respect you also have an opinion just as the Tripadvisor opinions that all these venues excel at. I don't believe you will publish a reply critical of your review which in many ways is unfair on the venues you have openly pulled apart in your review and tweets... such a shame.<br />I will continue to buy the journal and also continue to read your reviews but I enjoy reading about the food more than the venues themselves.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723901521102060136.post-85806030178626925382013-09-30T14:09:31.875+01:002013-09-30T14:09:31.875+01:00I've just received this email from Grace, from...I've just received this email from Grace, from Billingham:<br /><br />Dear Secret Diner,<br /> <br />I’ve just read your review on Wynyard Hall and whole heartily agree with your comments.<br /> <br />I persevered with Wynyard Hall for several months in the hope that it would get its act together and start offering the type of service required for business lunches and dinners.<br /> <br />Alas, after one particularly frustrating experience, when despite ordering ahead, a business lunch took over 2 hrs and 25 minutes to serve three courses, I gave up and took our business elsewhere.<br /> <br />With its close proximity to Teesside and grand surroundings I really wanted Wynyard Hall to work but the owners need to engage some professional help to assist with instilling some genuine customer service, particularly within the dining room.<br /> The Secret Dinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234142113837499731noreply@blogger.com