Written evidence submitted by Margot James
MP
If I am not too late I thought I would send you a
few views, I must say that I have yet to avail myself of the various
retail facilities and gym and so forth that exist so my feedback
is confined to the catering services. Generally I find the catering
to be of a high standard and the service is excellent.
My main complaint is the new system of payment in
the members dining room. I rarely have time for more than one
course but I used to enjoy going in there at around 9pm on a Monday
or Tuesday night and have a main course and a glass of wine or
two. I find it very annoying that I have to pay a flat rate of
£15.00 for this now as I rarely bill that amount with my
choices. As I don't claim food as an expense I find this increased
cost to be quite a deterrent and I now use the tea rooms more
often instead of the members dining room.
My second suggestion is to widen the choice of wines
available by the glass in Strangers Dining room (I am not sure
whether this is the same list as in Members). Chardonnay is a
very popular varietal and the only one available is a Chablis—which
is a very specific flinty style of Chardonnay—and frankly
at that price level really quite acidic! It would be nice to have
another Chardonnay choice from a warmer climate capable of providing
a slightly fuller bodied more rounded style of wine.
Finally it would be wonderful if staff could clear
the tables on the terrace during the Summer months. I realise
that the cost of having staff our there regularly might be prohibitive
in the current climate, but if it could be resourced I do think
this would improve the ambience out there no end. I really was
quite shocked at the state of it when I first went out there last
Summer, it really does resemble a not particularly well cared
for station cafe—the Members fault no doubt!
I would like to take this opportunity to say how
wonderfully friendly, polite and helpful at all times the catering
and serving staff are. And I would like to pay special compliments
to the truly excellent men in the Pugin Room.
November 2010
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