Fortescue Arms, Woolacombe

Woolacombe, Pub, Fortescue Arms - Where do we start? A lady approached our table 10 minutes after we were seated and demanded our order - we hadn't even been offered a menu, when we asked to see one she said we should have looked at the blackboard in the adjacent bar. Service with a smile? Service with a sour face! She then said if we wanted anything other than the carvery we would have to wait at least 50 minutes, even for a starter, despite the fact that the restaurant was half empty and the majority of diners were eating the carvery (self service). We overlooked the poor customer service at this point as we were in a good mood, it was the last day of a good holiday. We asked for some bread to keep us going, we were given four portions of butter and the bread turned up about 10 minutes later with the starter! The starter was fine but we were starving, saving ourselves for steak and chips X 3 and a lasagne. Two meals were brought out. Two further meals were brought out and given to the wrong table, who started to eat them. Hello?! Isn't it obvious that a table of four eat together?! After several minutes we asked for our meals, were given a filthy look then had to wait another ten minutes. It was obvious they had messed up our order but instead of one simple word, "SORRY" would have sufficed, not a word was uttered by the big, boisterous woman. An explanation would have made it better but there was a total lack of manners or etiquette. To top off the whole experience, the food was vile, steak like an inner sole and big, greasy chips. A basic meal that anybody could cook was absolutely rank, we could not eat it. As we left, the woman glanced at our untouched plates and stormed off without a word, she was so, so unfriendly it made our blood boil. We were asked as we paid if we had enjoyed a meal, and we told them politely that no, we certainly had not enjoyed it. We explained about the staff and received a verbal apology. But we still had to pay the full £70 bill, despite our awful dining experience and empty stomachs. We were disgusted, not even a complimentary drink was offered. The elderly barman even made us wait before we could get in our taxi, suggesting that we may not have paid. The icing on the cake! DO NOT go to the Fortescue unless you are some kind of sadist, they are totally clueless about customer service. An amateurish attempt at a restaurant, perhaps they should employ a chef? Even better, send that woman on a course to learn some manners. She ruined the last night of our holiday. They give British cuisine a bad reputation. Thank god for pizza delivery!