Burley Manor - New Forest

We went for an afternoon meal to celebrate our friend’s impending wedding. What a beautiful setting, the hotel was cosy and the fire was roaring. We watched the deer from our window and it was all rather enchanting. Until we waited roughly an hour for food we were the only people in the restaurant. The food arrived and quite frankly was completely inedible for everyone. Pretty much everything went back to the kitchen and some of it totally untouched. I don’t know quite what’s going on in the kitchen but I won’t be returning to find out. None of us have the money to throw away and this was supposed to be a treat. We paid up in hindsight we shouldn’t. I guess the disappointment was enough. The man at the bar was extremely rude on taking money (no cash allowed, no you can’t split the bill etc) We should have told him to do one but again just wanted out. So, dear Burley Hotel if you want to get yourselves through this cost of living crisis can I suggest you sort out your kitchen and the man at the bar. What a totally underwhelming experience. Thank you to the deer for being the highlight.

Beautiful setting aside, this restaurant needs massive improvement from the service to the food. When we arrived we were the only ones there and still the service was very very slow. Sparkling water flat. Hot food was served cold. Steak tough, tapas order nothing as expected (not sure it was even tapas? and tinned salmon in the bagels. No personal service by one waiter even though it was a quiet. We were served drinks by one, order taken by another and food delivered by another. Then another popped up to ask once in two hours if we wanted another drink. They all looked nervous as they were very aware that everything they were delivering was second rate. Not once were we asked if our meal was ok. When we went to the bar to pay we were then told they didn’t take cash and we could only split the bill in half and not in 4. Overall lunch with friends at Burley Manor was an absolute disaster apart from seeing the beautiful deer in the grounds.

Booked tapas afternoon tea which was advertised as tapas and sweet things (i.e. cakes etc) but instead we got sandwiches and tapas. I did not complain at the time as I thought I may have misread the description on their website. I checked the website when I got home and I was correct. I sent an email complaining and received one back saying ‘I will inform the manager of your comments’. I have not heard any thing more from them despite sending another email but I have noticed the tapas afternoon tea has disappeared from their website. Extremely disappointed with the afternoon tea and also their response.

Was a lovely evening and partook of our aperitifs outside. We were offered for our order to be taken and informed when meal available.....never appeared so we finally took our table as booked. Even though we were the only customers in the restaurant at that time (1915) it took 15min for order to be taken and at least 30min before the meal arrived. When meal arrived was obvious cooked fresh and of a very high standard. Unfortunately a side dish was overlooked. Sadly tho' only veg, it was a good 15min before served.....almost too late. I think some recompense should have been included in the bill but, sadly not

Verry slow service, disinterested staff, poor seating for eating (seats to low). Top heavy on sweet and lacking in savoury. I had to find staff to top up the tea pot and that is all they did topped up with water only. Fell short for the cost