The Westbourne reviews
Of all the pubs I've visited in Notting Hill, this is the worst so far.
The guy who served me behind the bar had no concept of customer service and this seemed to run through the place. I ordered a roast and asked to swap the parsnips for any other vegetable - a fairly straightforward request when the kitchen is turning out £14 mains you'd think, but clearly not! My request was not even entertained, with the guy stating: "The kitchen has never and will never alter the dishes". Unbelievable attitude!
So I ordered the pork and lentils instead, which, for just under £14, was the worst £14 I have ever spent on food. On top of this, the beer on tap (Deuchers) tasted like dish water.
A thoroughly disappointing experience and I would strongly recommend you go to The Cow over the road instead, or any other pub in Notting Hill.
by rob44, 07 Sep 2009
The guy who served me behind the bar had no concept of customer service and this seemed to run through the place. I ordered a roast and asked to swap the parsnips for any other vegetable - a fairly straightforward request when the kitchen is turning out £14 mains you'd think, but clearly not! My request was not even entertained, with the guy stating: "The kitchen has never and will never alter the dishes". Unbelievable attitude!
So I ordered the pork and lentils instead, which, for just under £14, was the worst £14 I have ever spent on food. On top of this, the beer on tap (Deuchers) tasted like dish water.
A thoroughly disappointing experience and I would strongly recommend you go to The Cow over the road instead, or any other pub in Notting Hill.
by rob44, 07 Sep 2009
My friend and I went to this pub last Monday night (3/8/09) and encountered 3 staff standing huddled behind the bar talking with their backs to us. My friend and I waited patiently until one them finally huffed and turned around to serve us without any apology or even making eye contact. First and last visit for me I'm afraid, there are way too many other better pubs in the area without wasting time at this one.
by liz.mcfarline, 05 Aug 2009
by liz.mcfarline, 05 Aug 2009
Seeing lots of bad reviews about staff below... but it didn't seem bad to me at all. The guy who served me most of the time was pretty polite. Really hot too, which I admit might have clouded my opinion of the service! Still, it seemed good and quick. Never been before. Great food. Will definitely be back.
by juniorminister, 21 Jul 2009
by juniorminister, 21 Jul 2009
The sun comes out and you go to The Westbourne, it’s just what you do... but as the appearance of sunny days is so sporadic, you expect the bar staff/attitudes to have changed since your last visit, and for the past 8 years they haven’t.
It seems the owners of this establishment have a tendency to hire the rudest employees in London. Like, seriously, you’re a part-time bar man, get a grip and do what you're paid for - i.e. make people feel welcome. Every visit you're made to feel like you should be thankful to drink here; not, as it should be, the other way round. So, as always, one drink down and we go off to The Cow, and always have a great time.
After another such experience last week at the Westbourne, I am boycotting this place and advising all whom I see to do the same. Will anything ever change? Probably not, I just wanted to vent... and hopefully some of the bar staff will read this.
by david_r, 04 Jun 2009
It seems the owners of this establishment have a tendency to hire the rudest employees in London. Like, seriously, you’re a part-time bar man, get a grip and do what you're paid for - i.e. make people feel welcome. Every visit you're made to feel like you should be thankful to drink here; not, as it should be, the other way round. So, as always, one drink down and we go off to The Cow, and always have a great time.
After another such experience last week at the Westbourne, I am boycotting this place and advising all whom I see to do the same. Will anything ever change? Probably not, I just wanted to vent... and hopefully some of the bar staff will read this.
by david_r, 04 Jun 2009
Completely changed for the worse. Went back after a couple of years and almost could not recognise it. Long wait for the order even with very few customers. Small portions and average-quality food. Low hygiene (hair in a cake). Awful staff and pestering minicab drivers outside.
by GNESALB, 21 Apr 2009
by GNESALB, 21 Apr 2009
This place is popular for the crowd, rather than anything else. My latest (and last) experience was awful. And the service appalling. Sunday lunch - I ordered the roast pork and received a plate full of pork fat complete with side dishes. Since there was no meat, but fat only, I asked for it to be changed. At which point the waiter brought the same plate back to me and in a nearly threatening manner said that the fat was meat and they would not change it. Service at its worst.
by Eatingoutlover, 19 Jan 2009
by Eatingoutlover, 19 Jan 2009
Good food and good atmosphere, although a bit chaotic - meaning you have to shout to someone to draw attention. Waiting staff could do much better, the place feels understaffed and it takes ages to order. Last food order at 10pm a joke. Sounds familiar? Hey, welcome to London!
by Les_Grossman, 07 Oct 2008
by Les_Grossman, 07 Oct 2008
Zero stars. Having phoned to make a booking for two people for Sunday lunch at 1.30pm - not exactly an unreasonable time for Sunday lunch, you would imagine - and having been spoken to extremely rudely and curtly throughout the conversation, I was then asked "Do you not want to come earlier? That's our latest booking and there are only two of you". When I said that no, I didn't want to come earlier, and that I felt from the entire tone of the conversation that they didn't really want to take my booking, they hung up on me. Nice. Not what you'd expect from a pub that's supposed to be so highly regarded.
by Leanne305, 01 Oct 2008
by Leanne305, 01 Oct 2008
I love the staff (one in particular!) I do not live in London but I stop there every time I'm in town.
by supertabs, 13 Nov 2007
by supertabs, 13 Nov 2007
I used to love this pub. Food is always great and they serve Breton cider. But last night was a complete disappointment. Someone was selling pirate copies of DVDs by shoving them in your face while you were eating. I thought I'd quietly mention it to the staff but the barman simply said "Well it's not bothering me". Fairly taken aback, I went back to the table and told the others, at which point the barman came over to the table and started lecturing us on why people like that "with issues"should be allowed to sell pirate DVDs and that he allowed her in every day. After repeatedly telling him I didn't want to have this particular argument with him, I eventually had to tell him twice to simply go away before he left. He then proceeded to go back behind the bar and pick at the bowl of green beans behind the food counter which had either come back on other people's plates or were going on to them (not sure which)!! No gloves, completely unhygenic and thoroughly rude. Lovely pub but spoilt by totally arrogant staff. Don't feel like ever returning after years of going. What a shame.
by luce g, 12 Sep 2007
by luce g, 12 Sep 2007
Still one of the coolest and busiest pubs in London. The staff can be a bit short, but when you have to deal with that many people all day without a break you'd be a bit short too! Regardless of this issue, the food is always good and the astmosphere second to none. 11 years and still rammed packing them in. Got to be doing something right. Love it.
by jon doh, 19 Jun 2007
by jon doh, 19 Jun 2007
Went there this evening and had to wait for anyone to even acknowledge me at the bar - they weren't bothered! We ended up at Grand Union instead.
by Natz (2 reviews), 13 May 2007
by Natz (2 reviews), 13 May 2007
I was there yesterday, Sunday. We ordered a jug of Pimm's and the guy behind the bar said that they had no jugs. We pointed out a jug to him and he replied, laughing, that the jug had some drink in it and that he couldn't wash it. Anyhow, they were only serving Pimm's in plastic cups. Surprise, surprise each one of them cost us £8! The jug was supposed to be only £17...
The solution is to cross the road and get your drinks from the pub opposite. Like this you get to enjoy the cool crowd from the Westbourne and have a more relaxing time, as you are not dealing with its staff.
by Anonymous, 16 Apr 2007
The solution is to cross the road and get your drinks from the pub opposite. Like this you get to enjoy the cool crowd from the Westbourne and have a more relaxing time, as you are not dealing with its staff.
by Anonymous, 16 Apr 2007
A nice pub with a great atmosphere, but I agree that the staff are unbelievably rude.
by Anonymous, 15 Apr 2007
by Anonymous, 15 Apr 2007
What rude staff. The owner (or maybe it's the manager) so rude I thought I was going to punch him! He should stop trying to impress young girls and actually perform some sort of customer service. Wrong person for the job. Will not be going back.
by simonk, 16 Sep 2006
by simonk, 16 Sep 2006
Nice beer garden, good food but shocking staff who completely ruined it for us. If it were my pub I'd sack the lot of them in favour of staff who are actually happy to serve the punters (yes guys, that's what you're paid for). Will definitely NOT be back.
by AAG, 10 Jun 2006
by AAG, 10 Jun 2006
First visit there last weekend. Amazing atmosphere. THE place to be on a Sunday. Will definitely be back.
by Becks, 30 May 2006
by Becks, 30 May 2006
Nice, cool staff. Good beer. Great menu with lots of different meals and a lovely choice of fish.
by clewge (2 reviews), 05 Jul 2005
by clewge (2 reviews), 05 Jul 2005
I love this place. It's great in the summer, but again get a seat if you can as it gets packed out.
by ems (23 reviews), 24 May 2005
by ems (23 reviews), 24 May 2005
Have we missed a great pub in London? Let us know.
