The Plume Of Feathers

I have been here several times over the past few summers. It has a fabulous garden with lovely views and the inside is cosy and traditional-feeling. However, they are victims of their own popularity in that as soon as the garden gets crowded, as it always does on a sunny afternoon, the kitchen falls apart. One day we were told there was a wait of one and a half hours for service, which we actually did wait, only to be told they'd run out of food! Another day we waited over an hour and a half after ordering food because they were short of staff. Another day we were told they were not even taking any food orders because they could not cope. To be honest, when you do get the food it often isn't worth the money or the long wait. Today it was quiet (Germany v England on TV) so we got served quickly, but the Wensleydale, grape, honey and mint salad, which sounded gorgeous on a hot day, was just a joke. A pile of wilting leaves out of a salad bag, a few cubes of cheese and a handful of grapes. A drizzle of honey dressing, no sign of any mint. I felt gutted, even though the price was only about £6.95, because I could have thrown it together in 5 minutes for about a £1. The food here is always disappointing and does not live up to the glowing descriptions on the menu. The ice cream sundae described as Swiss chocolate blah blah blah is 3 scoops of choc and mint ice cream with chocolate sauce on top; no cream, no wafer, no extra bits and pieces to warrant the title of 'sundae'. In short - go there for a drink, but as for the food - don't bother.