Easter Tea with the family!? :/

So, my dad decides as I am visiting Shropshire for Easter, we should all go for a meal in The Gingerbread Man, Market Drayton.  Not averse to a nice family meal we decided to book a table (there were going to be 9 adults and 3 children so best to be prepared).

We arrived a few minutes before the table was booked and went inside.  The staff looked terrified of the large group of people who had just entered their pub and were not expecting us at all.  The Manager came over and said that as soon as there was a table for us we could have it.  Erm, we've booked.  Why is the table not ready for us already?  45 minutes later, no table, no attempt to arrange a table, new people arriving and being seated all the time - my step mother snapped and we started looking for our own damn table.

We found ourselves a corner where there was a large table for about 8 and a smaller table for 4 next to each other, so we grabbed them.  The Manager came over again to apologise and to offer us free sweets and coffee.  Apparently the booking had not been written in the diary and so they were not aware we were coming.  Fine.  Not an issue.  Why not tell us that 45 minutes ago?  Why not be a little more pro-active and find/create a space for us ... there were plenty of tables empty that could have easily been moved together.

The kids were hungry and fed up and so were us adults so we quickly chose what we wanted to eat and sent Doozr to order it.  They had a special Easter menu and we all wanted the mixed grill - 2 main meals for £15 ... bargain.  Sadly, the special offer mixed grill was out - apparently we could have the normal mixed grill (which cost £13 each) instead.  Erm, no!!  Doozr insisted we have the mixed grill at the Easter menu price and, not wanting to annoy us any further, the manager agreed.

The meal itself was very nice, steak was even cooked perfectly which usually never happens on a mixed grill.  The complimentary sweets and coffee were a lovely treat that would have probably been missed under normal circumstances.

Everyone left the pub, very full and very content.  The mess up with the booking had been all but forgotten.   All in all, it was an interesting experience.  I am not sure it was a good experience, but the reduced cost main meal, free pudding and free coffee certainly helped sweeten it a lot! Where can a party of 9 adults and 3 kids eat a 2 course meal with drinks and coffee for £123??  :D