January 2024 by marion lovett
After our visit for lunch will never return, cold over cooked food, no service, and overpriced,we asked for the service charge to be removed as there was none. such a shame, we have been going to the Tollgate for many years, who ever runs it now has ruined it.
January 2024 by J C (JC)
Ruined. The Tollgate used to have an amazing carvery which we visited as a family many times over the years. It's USP was an amazing cold buffet selection of starters.They've stopped that. We paid £50 a head ( which they demanded full payment in advance for ) for the boxing day carvery. They had 5 starters listed on a tatty misprinted menu, but despite being the first people to order at 12.15, they had run out of two of the five.The carvery had yesterday's reheated soggy and burnt sprouts , soggy carrots , and completely under cooked broccoli. The gammon was under cooked almost to the point of being rare so was inedible and salty.No organisation, they sent 4 tables up to the buffet in one go. We had to ask 3 times for a jug of water for the table. There is no table service for drinks ( their loss , we only had one set of drinks because we couldn't be bothered to go up to the bar ).This is possibly one of the worst carvery's I have visited this year. Such as shame the new management have ruined what was a unique restaurant full of atmosphere.I guess others have already discovered how bad this place is now given how empty the place was on boxing day ( we have never seen it so quiet )A total rip off and we won't be returning.
January 2024 by Darren Jalley
I've been having Xmas lunch here with my daughter and grandson for 6 years, now you've changed the process of going up and choosing your starters and desert and replacing it with a choice of 4 starters and desserts which of one was off the menu , my grandson had never heard of chicken tarine or the sound of it , service was slow and unfortunately will have to find another venue for Xmas Dinner from now on ?
January 2024 by Paul Le Surf
Changed a lot since I last visited, the buffet starters section closed, the staff a little slow, unattentive and disoriented. Lukewarm veg and discoloured Brussel sprouts.The first time I visited (nearly 40 years ago) there was a three month waiting list to get a booking, it was that good and that popular. How things have changed...
January 2024 by luckyladyofleisure
When booking for our customary family post-Christmas lunch I was dismayed to see the change in menu and the bad reviews. However, I went ahead and was pleasantly surprised by the helpful and informative service provided by Jess and Patricia, hoping this was a good omen for our forthcoming visit. On arrival we were shown to the table we requested, and were pleased to see tasteful festive decorations around the room and charming crackers on the table. The chairs had been refreshed with new covers and everywhere looked clean and tidy. When our starters arrived, with dietary requirements noted and adhered to, we were amazed at the size of the portions and the quality of the food. Later at the carvery the chef engaged in friendly conversation with us while serving exactly what we selected from the considerable choice available. There was a wide selection of vegetables and sauces, all piping hot. We all commented on how delicious the main course was. The meats were cooked to perfection and the vegetables were tasty and tender, a great improvement on experiences in past years. Our meal was rounded off to perfection with a lovely dessert. We all thoroughly enjoyed our meal, and everyone has voted to return!!
January 2024 by G6999FEchrisw
£100 per head for a New Years Eve Dinner and Dance only to be served Lamb Breast as the main meal, Lamb Breast !!!! the cheapest, fattiest cut of meat money can buy, who on earth sanctioned this and felt it was okay as the main meal, I am not going to comment on anything else, this dish alone was a destroyer...................
December 2023 by Tony H
Terrible experience. Booked specific table for Christmas lunch months ago and checked it a week before we were due to visit, only to be told on arrival at the restaurant we could not sit there and then put on a squashed side table near a walk through with no apology given. Had to ask where the chef was so we could have our carvery served Meal not very hot Had a jug of water without any glasses to drink from Ten per cent added to bill for poor service. Skeleton staff. Have been going to this restaurant for years. Never again. Very disappointing.
December 2023 by GoPlaces62207700545
I spent Christmas here as a package with my wife. The room was very good and on Christmas eve I left the hotel at 6am and walked into Brighton which was really good. Christmas dinner was busy and we waited a while for the main meal but really it was quite good and the service was good despite the number of people there. The shift supervisor was as ever really good, she is always so polite, the receptionist was helping with food service and the chief was really happy despite people moaning about nothing. The cold buffets and the breakfasts were good and I will be going back again as I love staying here.
December 2023 by James C
Ruined. The Tollgate used to have an amazing carvery which we visited as a family many times over the years. It's USP was an amazing cold buffet selection of starters. They've stopped that. We paid £50 a head ( which they demanded full payment in advance for ) for the boxing day carvery. They had 5 starters listed on a tatty misprinted menu, but despite being the first people to order at 12.15, they had run out of two of the five. The carvery had yesterday's reheated soggy and burnt sprouts , soggy carrots , and completely under cooked broccoli. The gammon was under cooked almost to the point of being rare so was inedible and salty. No organisation, they sent 4 tables up to the buffet in one go. We had to ask 3 times for a jug of water for the table. There is no table service for drinks ( their loss , we only had one set of drinks because we couldn't be bothered to go up to the bar ). This is possibly one of the worst carvery's I have visited this year. Such as shame the new management have ruined what was a unique restaurant full of atmosphere. I guess others have already discovered how bad this place is now given how empty the place was on boxing day ( we have never seen it so quiet ) A total rip off and we won't be returning.
December 2023 by Angela R
The most disappointing and embarrassing evening out we had taken our friends as a special birthday treat to them Firstly we thought we?d arrive and have a nice pre dinner drink The seating area was lacking any atmosphere at all rather like sitting in a rest home lounge Then we went into the dining room which is so dated and needing refurbishing the chairs were all rickety and falling to pieces The food was really disappointing the choice of meat was okay but the potatoes and vegetables were terrible everything wasn?t hot enough When mentioned this to the waiter we were told that it was because it was coming towards the end of service 7.30 Really !!!The brandy sauce had been so watered down it didn?t taste of brandy or custard just yellow water We certainly won?t be returning again As I said it was extremely embarrassing !!!
December 2023 by Ade Goord
Visited 6th December at 12:45 for a 13:00 booking. Our group was made up of two couples who have been regulars for many years. Our friends, who had their wedding reception there, sent me a message tonight that they would never return. We had the carvery main and a pudding plus one round of drinks. We were there for over two hours as the service was so slow. The carvery food was lukewarm but despite this was tasty. Had it been just my wife and I I would have asked for it to be heated in the microwave. Our friends drew the coldness of the carvery to the attention of the lady in charge who said ?were we not asked if the food was ok shortly after we were served? we said no. She replied Oh! Service continued slowly and we and others in the restaurant waited for over half an hour for the sweet menu and order to be taken. Despite our concerns about the coldness of the main, which could be a potential health issue at a carvery, we decided to have a pudding. Unbelievably when my wife asked if she could have some brandy sauce with her choice she was told ?only if you pay for it as it only comes with Christmas pudding?! We are not freeloaders but given the poor main course one would expect a degree of customer service. This was pointed out by our friends and the brandy sauce was forthcoming. The staff were all pleasant but very slow and inattentive. However, I would suggest not enough of them made it more difficult. We waited 15 minutes for the bill after asking each of the 3 waitresses. Neither couple have done this before but we decided to ask for the included service charge to be removed. At this stage things changed, the replacement bill arrived promptly we were thanked for our custom and wished a Happy Christmas. I guess they must have been embarrassed or worried about a negative review.We did have a moment of hilarity when we asked when we might be able to go to the carvery. We were told it won?t be long now and were sorry for the delay but they were busy. A quick reconnoiter of the queue was undertaken to find there was not a single person at the carvery. We pointed this out and were greeted by the customary ?oh?! A truly Basil Faulty moment which made us laugh.In summary, prices have increased significantly, portion sizes have decreased, food quality has declined as has the level of service.
December 2023 by Neil parkin
used to be a carvery. Now limited choice menu of bad qualityfood. Will never go again.
December 2023 by BigmanBrighton
This is not the first time we have come here to use the restaurant for an annual get together. However, since lockdown, the service has gone downhill. Even more so now it is no longer a Best Western place. Although the food was very good, the service was very slow. If I was in charge of the carvery, I certainly would not allow the server to use the same knife for all the meats. The worst bit though was the bar. They could do with having the drinks that most people like. The alternative to the Bombay Sapphire that we were advised was horrible and tasteless. They also had trouble pulling the Harveys Sussex Best Bitter. Instead of taking the usual 2-3 pumps for a pint, they were having to pump it 12 times. They knew there was a problem with the Sussex but did not have the staff to sort the problem out. The one pint of Harveys I had, I left because it did not taste anything like I have been used too. There would have been no point in complaining to the bar person because he didn't seem to know what he was doing sometimes and had to keep asking what had been ordered when there was more than a couple of drinks. I will be voting to give this place a miss when we decide on our next annual dinner.
December 2023 by Wander28178024779
We had a excellent pre Christmas Lunch with family on Monday. We had read some of the previous comments but were pleasantly suprised by the Friendliness of the staff and the quality of the Carvery lunch. All the meats and veg were delicious and the Christmas pudding with brandy sauce excellent.
December 2023 by marionlZ5931CA
We have used this carvery for years and had our wedding reception here, but sadly todays lunch will be our last visit. Cold food, overcooked dry veg, slow service, and overpriced,
