The Arts Brasserie in Maidstone

Staying at the hotel - have eaten lunch and dinner there. The menu is all easy griddle, microwave or fried food. Which is a real surprise considering How long it took to prepare! The burger also arrived and missed the flavours / sauces in the description and to add insult to injury the condiments were all sachet. The bar was SLOWER than an unmanned bar, and no table service if your in easy chairs. So you have to 'claim' your space with a jumper before a TWENTY minute wait at the bar to be served. Even then they were sold out of a number of lines. If mobility is an issue be aware there are steps from the entrance to the restaurant - there is a chair lift, but still. On the plus side, it make me resolved to try alternatives nearby and I found some great places.

Были дважды, первый раз ресторан был закрыт на день рождения (и не нашли нашу бронь, но посадили) и посетителям накрыли столике в переходе в бизнес-центр. Было не очень уютно, но обслуживали быстро. Второй раз сидели в ресторане. Блюда которые понравились: грибной суп-пюре, пирог с грибами и с курицей, рыба сибас, жаренные овощи, десерты. Сухой и не вкусный бургер. Есть хорошие вина.

I was intending to visit the hotel with family members for an afternoon tea. Luckily that I checked in advance, as despite paying full price for an afternoon tea, they could only offer gluten free bread for sandwiches, but no cakes. This was particularly disappointing, as the gift was purchased by my son to celebrate my birthday.

Good menu choice, very tasty food. I had Chicken Tikka, and loved it. Comfortable seating, although the area by the window is a bit chilly.

We were using the hotel as a base and on our last night there it was dark and rainy so we decided to have dinner there. We actually were here twice, once for drinks and dessert and the second time for dinner. The first time we ordered the cheese tray which was supposed to be 3 different cheeses but instead we got 3 pieces of brie. No complaints because the brie was excellent. We also tried the sticky toffee pudding which came with toffee sauce instead of hot custard. However, this is our own fault for not paying attention to the menu. The night we had dinner we started with an order of nacho chips which were good with excellent guacamole and salsa. I ordered the chicken tikka masala which was actually better than the meals I had in the Indian restaurants I had eaten in the last couple of nights. My wife had the chicken stuffed with brie and chorizo which had quite a bit of olive oil in it, it was not what she was expecting but it was alright. Even though there were 5 people attending the brasserie, I still had to get my own drink refills from the bar but still was hit with a 10% service charge on the bill.

We had a lovely dinner, with great food and service. The menu isn't large but the options are really good so it's hard to choose! We really enjoyed our meals, and the desserts, ohhh my! The prices are very reasonable, and the quality is excellent

Arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon and went directly to the Arts Brasserie as we would be working from 6pm onwards with no opportunity to eat. Varied and interesting menu. Only 3 or 4 tables occupied so we were quite surprised to be told in a very matter of fact manner by the waitress that our meal would be "25 or 30 minutes" [unquote]. No explanation given. Both our meals were fine when they arrived so that was a plus!! We enjoyed our meal.

Went to this restaurant at 14-00 on a Sunday and found that the servery was very lacking in choice. Very small selection of starters, the vegetables were overcooked being what was left over from earlier customers. The beef looked lovely, but was very tough and the cutlery supplied was blunt, making the problem worse. The gravy was a very thin greasy mess and the potatoes were deep fried new potatoes with the skins on.The only reasonable thing on the menu was the cheesecake. The staff made us feel as if we were holding them up because they were clearing all the tables and laying them up for breakfast

We had a meal there during our stay at Mercure and it was fine if expensive for what it was. It saved us going out though so that was great.

Stayed the hotel for 2 nights no complaints with the hotel .However booked a table in the restaurant for 19-30.We turned up 5 mins early and was told by a very rude condescending man of foreign orgin that he could not seat us .No take seat and get a drink I will get come and get you .So we waited 2 mins then saw a very polite lady who showed us to a table that I had seen earlier already laid .I found the food very bland but was nicely presented hot and good value.Just shame about the service

Afternoon tea with Prosecco cost £20 per head with includes a glass of Prosecco the food was good, very pleased with service/

I decided to grab something to eat before meeting many colleagues for a meeting. The brasserie was empty except for one other couple. There was obviously something going on in the bar next to the brasserie ----a kareoki or celebration? Sound checks, people pouring in and staff trying to cope. I just had a burger because the ambience was poor. Eventually the meat arrived with some tasty chips. Overcooked and rather taste-less burger but good fries. Would I eat here again? I'd rather not.

So from booking through to paying the bill, the experience has been nothing but first class! Very friendly and warm greeting from the host, no wait for our table and what a fantastic view out onto the lawn and lake. Me and my wife both had lovely starters, garlic flat bread and the soup of the day, very quick to come out and piping hot. So on to our mains, and again absolutely brilliant. My wife's curry was full of flavour and the kitchen certainly didn't scrimp on portion sizes. I would highly recommend the Ranch burger, especially that you can swap out beef for chicken or a veggie option! Finished off nicely with a complimentary glass of bubbly to help us celebrate our first wedding anniversary. A special mention to our waitress Cathy and the only male waiter/door host on that note, they made our night even more special and memorable...thank you guys!!!

When we arrived we were given the option of booking a table and opting to pay a minimum of £18 but to get £22 credit towards dinner, just paying the extra if you go over. You could just squeeze in two courses for this. Some of the food is a little expensive, for example the rib eye steak was £24, rather a high price for meat that was not melt in the mouth tender, although very tasty. The burger was delicious and no fat in the meat. It was good that the chips could be substituted for salad. The ice creams to follow were delicious, but £6 for three scoops. Can't fault the service. Very efficient and friendly. We were made to feel welcome.

We visited for Sunday lunch. Firstly our booking was not in the diary. Then had worst sunday lunch out in a long time. Meat was fine but potatoes not cooked through and the cauliflower and cabbage were undercooked as well. Not a good range of vegetables on offer at all and the gravy could have been much better. Will not repeat.

Das Essen war sehr lecker und die Bedienung auch sehr schnell. Wir hatten die Empfehlung des Chefs genommen, und waren sehr zufrieden. Die Whiskyempfehlung war hervorragend

Nos alojamos en el hotel y la cena era divino. Tuve la chuletas de cordero y fueron liberar en la boca maravilloso!! La noche siguiente tuve que probar una hamburguesa como mi marido comentó sobre la noche anterior y estoy de acuerdo con él en que era exuberante. Comidas fantásticas ambas noches.

I visit most weekends they do a great Sunday carvery and it's not very expensive a good selection of wine and sometimes have a pianist playing.

Me pareció que no comimos en la Brasserie nuevamente después de nuestra última comida terrible, pero mi padre de paso le gusta por alguna razón.

Después de leer algunas de las críticas negativas que estaba preparado para ser decepcionado, sin embargo, tuvimos un buen servicio y disfrutamos mucho pescado fresco y patatas fritas y bistec cocinado tan solicitado. Entrantes de cóctel de gambas estaba bien, pan para compartir era insípido....

Gran selección de menú con las opciones gratuitas al gluten disponible bajo petición. Excelente comida, atractivo y ptromptly servido por un personal atento y amable, a pesar del hecho de que el restaurante estaba lleno. Además de música en vivo muestra una muy buena/Songer de pianista hizo una noche más agradable para nosotros

excellent food, good varied menu, very pleasant and welcoming serving staff. Plenty of parking and easy to find and get to.

This weekend we chose to celebrate family birthdays at the Brasserie and had booked a table for 10. It was thought that the buffet system would be suitable for the fussy teens amongst us! However, disorganisation, lack of information and mediocre food didn't make the meal quite so enjoyable as it could have been. On arrival, there were no other customers waiting at the bar so we attempted to order drinks. Two people behind the bar, one being trained to make a latte - surely not the best time for training just as people were pouring in for lunch – and they both ignored us. I know that the best places acknowledge customers, even if they can’t be served immediately. Two training issues already – please note, I am not complaining about the staff but the culture here. Eventually drinks arrived and we made our way to the table. A waitress did appear and take orders for soup, all other starters were from the buffet - salads, pasta, seafood etc. Second orders of bread were bought to us quickly. When we came to the mains, we discovered that the vegetarian options - lasagne or tuna steak (veggie, really?) had to be ordered and would take 20 minutes. No-one had told us that and in the end veggie lasagne took 5 mins - thank goodness for the microwave!I'm not a fan of buffet food; most of it is usually overcooked, soggy or dry, so the food was as expected. Not the staff's fault, just the system. The cauliflower cheese was good. Puddings were dull, the cheese was as expected (cheddar, brie and stilton with a couple of biscuits - one stale - and 3 (yes, 3) grapes and a couple of slightly beyond their best, sticks of celery). The wine was ok and coffee drinkable, just.The restaurant itself was pleasant enough with a lovely view over autumnal coloured leaves. All in all the meal was disappointing, nothing to perfection, everything mediocre or worse. The staff, mostly young men and women were friendly and did their best, but there was no feel of an overall hand in the organisation and the menu was dull & formulaic. I would expect more of a 4 star hotel. It is a reminder of something I already knew, don't eat at a hotel. Try somewhere local if staying there or out for any kind of meal, the food is, after all, one of the main reasons for going out to eat (& in our case, to stop my Mum having to cook for 10)!

We dined in on the first night of our 2 night break at the hotel because it included a voucher towards dinner. Although the meal wasn't bad, it was really just OK and would have cost over £70 for the 2 of us including just a couple of drinks if we hadn't used the voucher. The second night we ate out in a nearby restaurant.

We were there for a trophy presentation evening on on 7th March 2015. The setting was nice and clean, and the staff was very friendly. The thing that really let the hotel down was the food. It was chicken breast, potatoes and vegetables followed by a chocolate tart. The chicken was dry, the potatoes warm, and the vegetable soggy.

We attended a meal attended by 40 people . the meal was so disappointing almost as it had been made earlier and warmed up later in particular the vegetarian option .The desserts were no better .The Profiteroles looked naked - virtually no chocolate sauce - the lemon in the tart was good but more pastry then lemon .It felt as no effort had been made ! Shame Caroline Simpson

We were there for a trophy presentation evening on on 7th March 2015. The setting was nice and clean, and the staff was very friendly. The thing that really let the hotel down was the food. It was chicken breast, potatoes and vegetables followed by a chocolate tart. The chicken was dry, the potatoes warm, and the vegetable soggy.

A lovely evening out with a good meal. We booked at the last minute on a Saturday night - strangely when we got there, we were not in the book - -but it did not matter as there was hardly anyone else eating there! (tho we did go early, 7 pm). For us, that was lovely - quiet and attentive staff. The music was fine, gentle "pop", not too loud.My husband went for the vegetarian option - mushroom, leek and spinach bake and it was fantastic! I had a Moroccan lamb shank - sadly the menu did not make it clear that this was heavily based on tomatoes, and I cannot stand tomatoes, so not so much of a success, but a lesson to me to ask next time! A disappointment for the pudding as I wanted the pear crumble but that was "off" - sadly, we were not told that when given the dessert menu, so had to re-select. I then had the toffee popcorn sundae - again, I don't think my choice was the best, the toffee popcorn was odd. My husband had the sticky toffee pudding - which was ok, but nothing very special.I think with different choices, we would have had a fantastic meal, the menu has some good looking dishes on it. My review loses a point due to the tomato disaster and the lack of crumble - but we shall certainly go back and try more dishes and hopefully next time will be able to give it a five!

omg. as a table of 8 we have just returned having had christmas dinner at the mercure & what an awful awful meal...absolute disgrace. The meat was the thin sliced turkey, hardly any veg & disgusting roast spud & turnips NO SWEDE NO PEAS. The pudding was bloody awful too. Everything was frozen food. DISGUSTING..we are taking this up with the hotel. Staff nice food a disgrace

I had a fantastic night, courtesy of The Great Danes Hotel, celebrating Christmas and the end of a long, hard school term with 70 colleagues.The bar was a bit pricey but the meal was good value for money and the service attentive, friendly and helpful. The DJ played a range of music to suit all tastes so the dance floor was never empty.We didn't stay overnight so I can't comment on the rooms.

We went here to celebrate my 60th birthday. The starters were quite nice but when my salmon arrived it had been cooked to death - something which was obvious just by looking at it. I don't like undercooked food, so for me to complain that it was overdone said it all. The dressing was noticeable by it's absence. I am no chef and don't even consider myself a good cook but I could have served up a better meal than that. My husband had the steak and he had to wrestle the meat from the abundance of fat. Having said that the portions were a decent size but the meal was definitely over-priced for the quality. We could have had a better meal at our local for half the price. The guitarist playing in the background was the only redeeming feature. Will not be going back.

We went here to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary, particularly because we had our reception here. I was told when I booked that there was an a la carte menu, a carvery and buffet and that they would do " something special".On the evening we were first given a Menu which included a carvery and buffet and then told ten mins later that there was a coach party coming g in and that we were not allowed anything but the a la carte! The food we did order was over cooked and unpleasant and the Service painfully slow since there were not enough staff. Never did get " something special" ! A memorable night ruined!Unbeknown to myself my mother has twice emailed the hotel manager who has failed to respond.When we got married this was a nice Hotel. Now it is Mercure is had really gone downhill.Heaven only knows wha teir other Hotesl are like!

Pre booked Dinner. Told diffrent allowances on different nights. Asked fro Steak, got a burnt chuck steak that tasted only of salt. Sent this back and asked for a pizza to be told that the cheese woud be chedder as they had no mozzorella Assumed the salmon would be good, cheap cut.. Guiness was off never kept its head.

We have just had a really good afternoon tea here, there was a good selection of sandwiches and cakes fruit scones etc, lots of tea or coffee. Its a shame that the hotel does not advertise this a bit more because as we were the only people in the large restaurant having tea it was completely lacking in atmosphere.

This has to be one of the worst meals I have ever suffered.......service...well lets just say non-existent...it took over an hour to serve the starter of bread...it would have been understandeable if is was baked rather than microwaved....great if you like a bit of bounce in your breadAs for the rest I've blocked it out of my memory and never to be repeated. I like everyone but this was just cheap, lousy quality and not worth the cost

We ate here 2 nights as we were staying at the hotel and were too tired to go elsewhere. Food not too bad - buffet rather old style school meals but quite adequate. Wines pricy.I was quite surprised that the Bar did not stock any local beers (and Kent has plenty of breweries) or ciders. I would have expected some English wine as well as the largest producer is just down the road.

We visited the Great Danes for a special lunch with the Kenny Ball orchestra playing. The room was the large ballroom and our table was way out on the extremity but we still had a good view. The service was very good and the set meal was delicious. One member of the party needed a special menu and this was no problem at all. The staff moved as if by clockwork around the room with the Maitre D directing as meals were served and plates cleared. The food was fresh and hot as it was served to us. The jazz band played all their old favourites and were lively and entertaining, making a mass dinner seem quite intimate. Kenny Ball hinmself was in hospital but his son Keith was brilliant to carry the event forward. We were sad to learn that Kenny died shortly after the event but his music will live on and we hope the Jazzmen and Kieth will continue for many years. Thank you to The Great Danes for giving us a lovely sunday to share the music.

Went to a function very early December, absolutely great, although there was no food choice and it was a Christmas type meal but not a Christmas function it was very good, hot and enjoyable. Live singer whilst eating brilliant, tribute band great. Would definately visit again. Was dubious as locally it doesnt have a brilliant reputation.

I attended with a friend on Friday 11th January for dinner. It was a fantastic evening. The meal was delicious and the staff made the night for being so attentive. Special thanks has to go to VICKY - what a lovely lady. She made us feel very welcome, special and attended to our every need. The level of service supersedes many surrounding eateries. I highly recommend this venue and hope others enjoy themselves as much my friend and I did.Many thanks to everyone.Lesley

Had the chilli with rice, rice wasn't cooked properly and very small portion. The chilli didn't taste of anything and again, not enough of it.

i recently had my birthday celebration party in the restaurant , and i must say the service food and music were all excellent .and i would like say on behalf of all my party a very big thank you to vicky our waitress who also made the evening special

We were very pleased to enjoy the Sunday lunch carvery offered by this hotel. Every detail wasto a high standard and exceptional value for money. The staff employed in the brasserie werefriendly and very professional. The restaurant was clean and comfortable.Looking forward to enjoying several Sunday lunches during the Autumn/Winter period.Thank you.

one of the poorest hotel restaurants I've experienced. Attractive sounding bistro-style menu, but the reality is disgusting ingredients microwaved or over-cooked. Scallops, black pudding & pea purée sounds pretty good until you realise the pea purée is tinned marrow fat peas!!

Dreary smelly noisy dull and prepacked reheated garbage

i quite enjoyed the buffet sunday lunch there was plenty of choice with the roasts and veg. but it was not as hot as i would have liked. for dessert i ordered the apple cruble with cream but i was very disappoined with the squirty cream it came with wished i had ordered custerd or ice cream instead all in all though it was good value for the money we paid

I only had one meal which was a buffet lunch. It was well presented and I enjoyed it. The chef was attentive and hadihad any requirements I feel sure he would have been helpful

We visited mid December and had a very enjoyable afternoon. As it was the Christmas menu we also had entertainment, which was a selection of musicians, and a magician who was very good. Not a great choice of food, but still very nice. The restaurant accepted our tastecard so 2 of us ate for free! Very good value and will certainly visit again.

We had an excellent meal at The Arts Brasserie - I would highly recommend to anybody looking for great food in a relaxed environment. We had a tastecard to use which made the cost very cheap. a three course meal with wine for around £22.50 a head. Excellent value for money.The staff were wonderful, very helpful with any questions about the menu and wine list. 5 stars all round!