At Headlam Hall - County Durham

We visited this restaurant for Sunday lunch with high hopes given the beautiful setting of the hotel. Unfortunately, we were disappointed by the poor service and lackluster food. Although the staff were not rude, they were slow and inattentive. We waited 15 minutes for a waiter to take our drinks order in a not-so-busy restaurant, and we felt ignored throughout the meal. A service charge was added to our bill despite the lack of attentive service. The food did not meet our expectations either. The bread was store-bought and not even warmed, which was surprising for a country hotel. The starters were decent, but the main course was a letdown. The beef was overcooked and dry, the vegetables were bland, and the roast potatoes lacked crispiness. The only saving grace was the tasty gravy. We decided to skip dessert due to our disappointing experience. It is a shame because the venue itself is charming, but we do not plan on returning after this underwhelming visit.

We had a wonderful afternoon at Headlam for our ladies' lunch. I savored one of the best pieces of fish I've ever tasted - full of flavor and perfectly cooked. The vegetables were also delicious and the room was stylish and comfortable. The service was top-notch and the overall experience was relaxing. The quality of the food was excellent and the prices were reasonable. Thank you Headlam for upholding such high standards of hospitality. My friends and I felt very well taken care of, making it a truly memorable day.

Very disappointing. Although having booked, we were made to feel unwelcome, in fact, a hindrance. One member of staff was particularly unhelpful, and after ordering a bottle of prosecco, we were left to pour it ourselves. Sadly, we wouldn’t recommend.

Went in for a few drinks. The barman was rude and barked “what do you want” at us. He didn’t know what the sparkling wine I asked for was. He then proceeded to ask if we were paying cash and card etc and not really...

Setting, layout and atmosphere all consistently good. The choice was good, including vegetarian options, the quality and service very good.