The - Cornwall,Isles of Scilly

I have to admit that I am not the person that comments on anything and everything, nor do I ever right a review of my experience. If I am unsatisfied with the experience, I just won 't return again. But ... I have been seeing the Development of this establishment for that past 20 years and treated myself quite often to a night or two in any of the corner or best suites highly recommend those and enjoyed the ambiance and service this hotel had to offer. Our experience: Arrival to the hotel : We planned to have drinks prior to our meal. Found the bar area as busy as usual. With no free seats in sight, I ask the Brasserie manager if we could order drinks in the main lounge, whereas we been told that there normally is service but he has no clue what they doing today. Not answer I was hoping for. The entrance to the main lounge also been blocked off for some reason. Luckily the wait at bar was sufficient enough to pass the time for a table to become vacant. In previous visits, a relaxed table service was offered but not this time for some reason . Guess it’s an informal 5 star service.. , had to ask for bar menus as neither been on the bar or tables to see what’s on offer. also no usual complimentary nuts that used to be offered Restaurant We arrived early to our Booking at the samphire and were delighted to be able to be seated, unfortunately without any menus. It took about 10 15 min of us staring holes into the warm air, when I lost my patients and had to get up from the table to ask for menus at the entrance of the Restaurant. Yet again it took quite a while for us to order drinks and food as it seemed to be a chaotic service with everyone doing everything and no restaurant Manager nor head waiter in sight please note.. all evening . The lack of attention to detail was incredible .. table settings with knives to left and forks to right on every table .. just wow giggle Food and drinks order done. ordered a glass of white wine with my mains, which never arrived .. Drinks arrived what seamed ages. Overheard table next to us complaining about the slow service too, which been given a small apology but no solution to increase the speed of service yet again a lack of management Noticed the young waiter being unfamiliar on how to correctly present a bottle of wine and opening it, which I thought should be a training standard for a 5 star establishment. not only did he seem untrained, he also dried his hands in a used napkin left on the table next to him where diners just left. The pork belly starter , was below luke warm which was shame as its been rather tasty. I guess if a portion of this size is sitting on a kitchen pass for mere 3 min, it naturally will loose its core temperature, suggestion.. Next time use a cloche! I wanted to point this out to the service but yet again no manager or headwaiter to be seen and the waiters seem too busy to be bothered. Once they did ask if everything is alright, but by that time we finished what we had on the plate which is not a lot if you are hungry Unfortunately the main course of the hen and the monk fish not been any better and yet again being luke warm. Dessert of the frangipane tart and pineapple been ok, but yet again no attention to detail, as the dessert been bought out without cutlery being replenished prior. Ordered coffee to be served in the lounge, which arrived with no sugar or spoon and had to be asked for separately. When I paid my bill, I mentioned that the wine I ordered with my main course never arrived. No apology was offered.. A informal fine Dining experience. 95 informal 5 fine Dining. : Over the past 20 years I always chose the Headland hotel for its perfection, attention to detail and impeccable service, this time it 's not delivered to its promise which is a shame cause that 's what I will remember.. Coming from a 4 to a 5 star .. I expected more go back to 4 stars !!! You been better then

We were staying in a suite at the hotel for 4 nights , are were expecting good food and drinks. The first night we were given the Autumn Menu , which was very pleasant but nothing out of the ordinary. It had a reasonable selection . The some the food came out cold and the service was very slow. The second night we were expecting a change of menu , remembering this is the premium restaurant in a so called 5 star hotel.No it was the same menu. We ordered the steak , which said it could be shared , not that it must be shared , we double checked that it was OK for just one person to have it. It had a per person supplement. When the bill arrived although only one person in our party had had the steak we were charged double the per person supplement. On querying this I was advised it was a supplement based on two people sharing , when I pointed out that it said per person ,they went away and said on this occasion they would only charge one supplement. If there is a minimum charge this should be shown , when it says per person that is what the customer must pay. Not have to challenge the bill. Day three brought the same menu , this should not happen in a 5 star hotel restaurant. The menu should be changed daily.

We have been coming to Cornwall for 15 years or so and have always wanted to stay at the Headland Hotel. Staying in a self catering apartment within walking distance, we booked a table for 3 adults and were really looking forward to a special evening. The restaurant was quite quiet except for a large group. We had to request that the blinds be opened so that we could enjoy the view and later on in the evening that the top windows be closed as it was getting a little chilly. Whilst the food was excellent some of the servings were just too small......for example, one scallop sliced into three pieces???? Our main disappointment was the ambience. This hotel restaurant looks like it tries to be exclusive with its location, menu and pricing. However, it really lacks the ambience and finesse to pull this off. Items of cutlery missing, petits fours ordered with the coffee arrived after and were just 2 macaroons and 2 small cakes which looked straight out of a supermarket box. To be honest we left feeling a little disappointed and it all just felt a bit old and tired. Even on exiting the restaurant the bar area felt deserted and not somewhere you would want to stay. Sadly the main conclusion is that we will neither return to dine, nor to stay at this wonderfully positioned and historic hotel.

Visited for afternoon tea and was not disappointed. Food was loverly if slightly unbalanced in the quantities of cakes to sandwich’s. Refills of tea were readily available. The view from our table was spectacular. Considering the restaurant was not full the service could have been a little more attentive.

Have been coming to this hotel for many years but never eaten in the Samphire Restaurant. Wish I’d eaten here before it was absolutely delicious. Staff were friendly too. Will definitely returning.