OYO Lakeside Haydock Hotel, St Helens

We had had a busy day and were delighted to come across the Toby just off the East Lancs Road. We love Toby’s and were really looking forward to a decent meal. It was very quiet, but we still had to wait to be seated for over 5 minutes. We were told where the table was with a wave of the hand. We were seated in a small conservatory type of structure, more like a glass corridor. Most tables were occupied, clearly they wanted to keep all their customers in one place, fair enough, but I did feel sorry for the young man who clearly was on a first date and trying to get things right. So, we sat down and waited for someone to come and take our drink order as we were promised. We waited 22 minutes when the lady that seemed to be “in charge” sauntered up. All she said was that she had asked someone to take our drink order- nothing icky like doing it herself! She then decided to take our drinks order. We continued to wait. The drinks arrived, my husband’s alcohol free cider was fine but mine? Well I’m not a wine expert but I knew that the red wine that was presented to me wasn’t the Chardonnay I had ordered! The lady said she would replace it and after only a small delay, the wine arrived. The lady not wearing a uniform came to take our food order. This caused enormous consternation! How hard is a Mac & cheese Yorkie wrap (with salad) & a vegetarian carvery be? We waited and waited. Eventually the “order” arrived. Only it was wrong. We were given two Mac Wraps! By this time I was hungry and just wanted to eat something and get out, so I ate it. The wrap was nice but the ‘salad’ was inedible. Great chunks of old carrots that even the knife couldn’t cut. Old tired lettuce, side and very blemished tomatoes and cucumber. The cucumber seemed fresh. I have thrown better food into my recycling bin- and believe me, I am really into recycling and avoiding food waste. I have no idea how anyone could send this slip out and expect humans to eat it (I’m not sure any self respecting rabbit would be happy with it). I was really upset with everything. The waitress came up to to ask was everything ok and when I told her (I said the order was wrong, I said the wrap was ok but the salad was awful) her comment? Oh so it’s only the salad that’s wrong!!! Said over her shoulder as she walked away. The only time they moved speedily was when I asked for the bill. Perhaps if there wasn’t so many children who were clearly the children of the staff to be looked after they might have had time to look after their paying customers. It was vile and I urge you to avoid this awful place.