Esquires Coffee in Guildford

Went in to get a take out coffee. Staff were pleasant enough and didn’t wait too long. However where the drinks were served was filthy. Spilled fluids on it. Serviettes on the floor. No one was cleaning anything. The toilets OMG were disgusting. Water or some sort of fluid all over the floor. No toilet paper. No hand towels. Absolutely disgusting

The coffee was good but I had to wait at least 20 mins for it after they had given my latte to someone else. I had to speak to a rather grumpy waiter about three times to get him to eventually bring my latte. When I complained I was told it was my fault as I had moved tables. I had but I was still very close by and only to comply with the cafe's request that our running group should be in a particular area as we also had a walking group with dogs. Watching everyone receive their coffee when these people had ordered theirs a long time after me was not a great experience. I raised the matter in a polite way at the end but nobody was prepared to offer an apology.

Annoyingly Nando’s was full so we ended up going next door for the worst dining experience ever. Warned as we arrived that they didn’t have much food in stock… but that was ok, we just wanted burger and chips, which they had. When ordering on the app, (as no one came to our table after we were sat down) I forgot to make it “two” child meals. I went to the till straight away to explain, but was greeted with a real attitude of “I’m not interested in helping you” After a few minutes of the guy faffing on the machine and constantly telling me he can’t promise anything to correct the order(!) (it was simply to add the kids meal reduction, which the deal was kids get a £2 meal with an adult meal)…. I just said I’ll happily just cancel it and redo it if it’s too much trouble, which was met with more huffing and puffing. I finally bit the bait and said I’ll just cancel the whole order then and go some where else, to which he quickly then said, oh it’s ok I’ll just comp it as it’s only £2. So after that fiasco, I felt like we’d finally got somewhere, but considering we were only one of the two tables being served, or should I say, NOT being served or waited on… it took over 30 mins to receive our cold food. We heard a bell ring from upstairs 20 minutes after ordering, but the staff ignored it. I assume that was our food, and probably why we got I cold 10 mins later. Just before our food arrived, I followed the sign to the toilets, but half way up the stairs I got shouted at and told they were out of order. I just replied “I was following the sign”, and the guy said “oh, checking on your food were you?” (As the kitchen was upstair)… I mean, probably a good thing, as our food then arrived, so again, I took that as a win. But, the fries were ridiculous, so thin, cold and hard. Our children’s burgers were burnt round the edges. My wife’s burger was tiny and tasteless. No one came over to check in on us, or ask about the food. Staff were just leaning at the counter on their phone, and instead of waiting us, were just waiting to go home. We ended up just leaving (as we’d already paid on the app) as no one came over, and I was too annoyed to go up and complain, we just wanted to leave at that point. Everything seemed to be a big effort for these guys, and anything they said was incredibly insincere and baiting for some sort of argument?! It was the most bizarre, awkward atmosphere I’ve ever experienced. On reflection and feeling really deflated about it the next day, I wish we had just left, but we just kept giving them the benefit of the doubt. Being nice doesn’t pay at this place. Avoid at all costs.

Very disappointing visit as used to be a lovely pub. No precautions in place for covid - no details being taken from visitors and just 1 small token bottle of hand sanitiser on the bar. Big groups of very young people (made me feel old in mid-30s!)with no attempt at social distancing. Toilets were dirty and smelly. Won't be going back!

We were in Ripley to visit a family member and popped in to the Half Moon for a quick en route. Well priced beer, good environment, and more to the point a proper friendly landlord and landlady. Wish we had a pub like this nearer to where we live, would never be out of the place. Would most certainly return if we were ever to be back in Ripley.