Ana Lukjancenko
11.02.2023
Wetherspoons quality food at 3-4 times the price. A real shame because the manager is charismatic and welcoming. Wait staff also attentive and friendly. Can't help but feel mugged off when paying £20-30+ for a tough, overcooked, dry gristly piece of meat without any sort of jus/sauce. Owner clearly embarrassed at the quality of food coming from the kitchen as he was nowhere to be seen once our order had been taken. We raised our concerns with the wait staff who had nothing to say, and had clearly heard it all before. A disappointing experience especially as the building is so beautiful.
K M
03.04.2022
Really nice and warm atmosphere. Very tasty food (especially lamb shank), and the best chef in the city :) I'm really suprised there is not many reviews for this place, because meals are superb!
The History geeks Kirstie Robb
11.09.2019
I'm not usually the type of person to complain, however, after literally being shouted at by Rosie, the co-owner of the Franklins Brasserie - Thomas Paine Hotel, for daring to complain, I thought I'd give the heads up, to anyone else thinking of making the ill advised choice of going for a meal there.
Firstly, I would like to start by praising Laura, the poor woman left to deal with the situation we had on Friday night. Laura was nothing short of helpful and did her absolute best to resolve the issues.
Having had a very pleasant experience on previous occasions, my partner and I decided that as we fancied dinner somewhere a little nicer than Wetherspoons, we would visit the Thomas Paine, following our earlier visit.
Upon arrival there was a large group of ladies (a few of whom are friends) celebrating, nothing wrong with that of course, however as a hotel with three large rooms available for catering, being put in a room next to the bar and the large party secured that we would not be hearing each other all night. Indeed, even trying to hear Laura proved almost impossible.
Eventually our starters arrived and frankly were average to say the least. It was our main meals that were the final straw however.
I had ordered a mushroom burger and skin on chips from the massively reduced and uninspiring menu, whilst my partner ordered a mixed grill - rare. For the sum of £10.50, I was presented with, what at best could be described as a tepid, unpalatable, sub standard, school dinner!! My partner received his mixed grill with an exploded sausage, a steak that was so tough it was impenetrable with a fork and steak knife(!!) and a gammon steak that could have quite easily been confused with the the soul of a tramps flip flop!! As I said, Laura was fantastic and when I explained, through a series of lip reading and shouting over the noise, that I would not be paying for the "meal" we had received, she agreed, understood and was deeply apologetic (in short professional and the pole opposite of everything her manageress/owner sadly was!!) I asked for the owner to contact me to discuss, as we were deeply saddened and disappointed by our experience. After being left for 48hrs as he was to busy to talk to me, his wife calling and screaming at me down the phone at me for daring to complain has absolutely secured that we will NEVER VISIT THE THOMAS PAINE HOTEL AGAIN!! So sad as I have often recommended the hotel and indeed, celebrated my daughters baptism at this otherwise beautiful hotel.
