We didn't call in because we were on our way to meet folk at the 'Grape & Olive' which occupies the top floors of the Meridian Tower on the seafront, just opposite the Marriott Hotel.
The two venues couldn't be more different in terms of customer experience. The Pub on the pond, lingers in the past whereas the Grape & Olive is definitely Gen Y territory.
TPOTP used to be one of my haunting grounds when I was at Swansea Uni and to be honest we students didn't take too much notice of the interior design or ambience. These days having the experience of managing such venues behind me, I look at restaurants and bistro's in a completely different light - HACCP plays a large part in how I rate a new venue.
The last time I visited TPOTP was probably ten years ago and at that time it didn't have cleanliness on the top of it's list of priorities.
TG&O is brand new venture. The building itself has a chequered history - the recession hit the original construction company very hard and at one point it was touch and go as to whether the landmark building would be completed.
The original owner Peter Way made an absolute 'pig's ear' of it - he went ahead with opening it to the public when the building wasn't complete and the staff were inadequately trained. Within a few months staff were whistle-blowing to the local press about how cheated they felt.
My partner and I visited the venue within the first month of it's opening and were very disappointed indeed. This venue could have been a prime spot in Swansea bring visitors from farther afield however my professional eye say much that was of a dreadful standard including a bucket and dirty mop left in the bar area in full view of the public. Staff had not been trained to any visible 'service level' and those present on the evening we attended were NOT tuned into offering any level of engagement with customers. I had the impression that the owner's business plan was sorely lacking. I have to admit that the question crossed my mind 'How could such a cowboy-business-outfit set up and hope to build a successful restaurant, with such appalling standards?'
It was sad to see such a shambolic company in charge of a venue with such a wonderful potential.
It came as no surprise to read the adverse comments being made via the Evening Post.
LATEST NEWS: We visited the newly opened restaurant last week for the second time. The new owners Brains Brewery have re-branded the whole kaboosh to match their successful Cardiff enterprise. It is such a relief to know that there is now a top-notch team in charge and our recent experience endorses this view. I feared that whoever took over this venue following on from the first disaster, would have a tremendous job ahead of them in regaining the public trust and turning around the abysmal reputation.
A significant investment has been made by Brains to take this venue into the realms a of 'top-class' experience
We didn't call in because we were on our way to meet folk at the 'Grape & Olive' which occupies the top floors of the Meridian Tower on the seafront, just opposite the Marriott Hotel.
The two venues couldn't be more different in terms of customer experience. The Pub on the pond, lingers in the past whereas the Grape & Olive is definitely Gen Y territory.
TPOTP used to be one of my haunting grounds when I was at Swansea Uni and to be honest we students didn't take too much notice of the interior design or ambience. These days having the experience of managing such venues behind me, I look at restaurants and bistro's in a completely different light - HACCP plays a large part in how I rate a new venue.
The last time I visited TPOTP was probably ten years ago and at that time it didn't have cleanliness on the top of it's list of priorities.
TG&O is brand new venture. The building itself has a chequered history - the recession hit the original construction company very hard and at one point it was touch and go as to whether the landmark building would be completed.
The original owner Peter Way made an absolute 'pig's ear' of it - he went ahead with opening it to the public when the building wasn't complete and the staff were inadequately trained. Within a few months staff were whistle-blowing to the local press about how cheated they felt.
My partner and I visited the venue within the first month of it's opening and were very disappointed indeed. This venue could have been a prime spot in Swansea bring visitors from farther afield however my professional eye say much that was of a dreadful standard including a bucket and dirty mop left in the bar area in full view of the public. Staff had not been trained to any visible 'service level' and those present on the evening we attended were NOT tuned into offering any level of engagement with customers. I had the impression that the owner's business plan was sorely lacking. I have to admit that the question crossed my mind 'How could such a cowboy-business-outfit set up and hope to build a successful restaurant, with such appalling standards?'
It was sad to see such a shambolic company in charge of a venue with such a wonderful potential.
It came as no surprise to read the adverse comments being made via the Evening Post.
LATEST NEWS: We visited the newly opened restaurant last week for the second time. The new owners Brains Brewery have re-branded the whole kaboosh to match their successful Cardiff enterprise. It is such a relief to know that there is now a top-notch team in charge and our recent experience endorses this view. I feared that whoever took over this venue following on from the first disaster, would have a tremendous job ahead of them in regaining the public trust and turning around the abysmal reputation.
A significant investment has been made by Brains to take this venue into the realms a of 'top-class' experience