Drawing Office Two

Beautiful restored bar in offices of the shipyard across from Titanic museum. However, service was very poor. Despite several wait people and managers milling about and even though it was not busy at all, service was very slow and inattentive. Even at the bar, we were ignored for a long period before finally finding someone to take our order. Asked for water and dessert menu repeatedly. Expected first class service, but got third class service.

The overwhelming memory I will take from this lunch was the “above and beyond” service from a young waitress (name starting with L, served lunch today) whose politeness was impeccable as she was let down by the bar’s depleted wine stock three times in a row. In her place I might have given up but she took ownership of the problem and found a solution by making an extra effort to go to another part of the hotel to procure some wine. The consequence was that we (gladly) doubled what we paid on the wine rather than spending nothing at all. So often I’ve seen this situation and been met with a “can’t do” person. To have someone like her in the team is a credit to the venue. The missing fifth star was because the Bloody Mary’s were awful - much too ice / water, as mentioned above, the wine stock management seemed entirely sub-optimal and the food was merely “OK”; entirely forgettable, for the most part lazily prepared and presented. Most of the staff looked like they were suffering from a preceding heavy night; in both their grey complexion and lethargic demeanour. One said as much to us which raised an eyebrow amongst my guests. The space itself is very underused - it’s a beautiful piece of clean, classic architecture, and the seating and tables don’t much fit the space and are uncomfortable for doing much more the lounging. All in all, I’m glad there was an exemplary waitress to prop the score up.

Special bar in the very special hotel building. Spacious and authentic hall with the island bar in the middle. Huge valued wooden model of RMS Titanic dominates the place. All bartenders are friendly, very helpful and they can shake fine variety of the drinks. Even Guinness was superb here! Joyful experience :-)