T.G.I Fridays, Haymarket

I called in to the T.G.I. Fridays restaurant in Haymarket on the 25th of July 2007, and was asked to wait 15 - 20 minutes for a table.

Sat at the table and to be given the menus took another 10 minutes.

The waiter took the order 10 minutes later, and we waited and waited and waited.

Eventually, 25 minutes later the food arrived and was plonked in front of us.

The waiter looked at us and asked what was wrong. I told him that it would be nice to have something to eat the food with.

He came back after 5 minutes with a knife and fork each, and I asked him what was happening with our drinks.

Another 5 minutes passed and they eventually arrived.

The meal went well, and I asked for a top up for the drink. The waiter took the empty glass and never returned until it was time to clear the table.

I asked for the drink and said that my girlfriend would like a top up too.

He returned a few minutes later with the drinks, and said that the sweet would be 2 minutes.

10 minutes later the sweet duly arrived.

When this was finished I asked for the bill.

*Service is at your discretion* was underlined with a pen by the waiter, I just stared at it and made sure I paid the bill to the penny.

As we left, I asked the manager who do I complain to about the awful service and was given a phone number to ring.

I waited 2 days and rung the number. What a surprise - the number had changed. I rung the new one and found out that TGI's are no longer with Whitbread.

The lady gave me a number which I tried, and I got through to the complaints department.

They said they would get the manager to ring me within 24 hours. When he rang I asked him if he was the person I spoke to the evening I was there, and he confirmed this, and I explained what happened. He said that he was horrified and he would send me a free meal voucher as compensation.

I waited 2 weeks for this voucher to arrive and nothing did, so I rang the head office. They were horrified, but they did confirm that sometimes they get lost in the post and they will send me some out recorded delivery.

The next morning £40.00 in vouchers arrived as promised, and I yet have to spend them.

The meal was £28.08, so I suppose on average that's about the correct compensation.

If you do have a problem with the service or food then remember to keep your receipt and phone the head office. You will need the chk number from the receipt to prove you were there and how many people there were too.

I will go again, as I won't let one bad experience ruin a nice meal.