The Old Mill Restaurant in Eastleigh

My daughter chose to come here for a roast to celebrate her birthday having seen a great review on instagram. My sister and brother inlaw who were visiting from Plymouth decided to join us which made it a double celebration as it is her birthday this week too. We were not disappointed the warm welcome we got was lovely. All of our starters were beautiful I had the spiced parsnip soup which was very tasty. The roast dinners were very lovely and a bargain for the quality and amount of food on the plate. I had the posset which was absolutely delicious and the cheesecake and brownie also looked amazing and went down well. I would definitely recommend giving this place a go it was a wonderful meal in a lovely setting.

Absolutely incredible meal last night here at The Mill. On arrival we were greeted with a warm welcome from the Manager, Chris. He introduced himself and then seated us at the bar for a drink before our dinner… this gave us a little time to settle and enjoy the restaurant ambience before our meal. The meal itself was faultless. Although the tables were mostly fully booked, there was minimal wait time for food. All served hot, well presented and absolutely delicious. I think we may have found a new hidden gem! We can’t wait to go back and recommend to our friends. Thanks again The Mill

Collective feedback from a party of 14 who attended a 40th Wedding Anniversary Sunday lunch at this venue. We visited Hampshire on 31st July in search of a lovely venue for our 40th anniversary and the Old Mill came recommended for the quality of its food, service and location. Our original wedding reception having been held in Botley and our families coming from Botley and Hedge End we had high hopes of this being the perfect choice. We were shown round by a lovely girl and given a choice of 3 different locations within the restaurant – the entrance area with the beautiful watermill feature, the inner area with the fantastic old mill machinery and the private dining room. We opted for two large round tables in the main entrance area and later followed this up with a telephone call of confirmation, paid a deposit on the 13th and sent an email confirming our lunch choices on the 15th August. We specifically said that we did not want the private dining room as it would not accommodate our seating requirements and being a long rectangular room lacked the atmosphere we were looking for. On Tuesday 27th August I telephoned the restaurant and spoke to the same young lady (Eli I think?) to confirm arrangements and final numbers. On Thursday 29th prior to the luncheon we were contacted by the Manager to discuss the final arrangements and during the conversation he advised that the restaurant did not do circular tables (very strange as their website shows pictures of circular tables and indeed the restaurant had these on the day) and suggested the private dining room. I explained that this lacked the ambience we were looking for whereupon he advised that “we had a party of 14 in there last night and you will create your own ambience”. I stated that we had specifically confirmed upon our initial visit that we did not want nor like the private dining room. I also explained that one of our party had been unexpectedly admitted to hospital but we were hoping they would be able to attend on the day. He then stated that he had someone coming through the front door and ended the telephone conversation abruptly. Clearly service to someone else had become his priority! On the day prior to the luncheon he telephoned us again and we returned his missed call and confirmed that our guest was still in hospital but that we would still like to have the main and dessert we had ordered as we intended to take this to the hospital on the day to which he replied “I don’t have any jugs for the custard”. We advised that this was not necessary and dessert without custard would be fine. He then asked if we were “happy with the private dining room” to which I replied “my husband is!” He asked again if we were “happy with the private dining room” I replied with the same answer whereupon he said fine we'll see you tomorrow then and hung up. On the day of the luncheon we were given a complimentary glass of fizz of some description in a plastic gold coloured goblet. There was no member of staff present when we were ready to be seated and it fell to me to show our guests where to go. All members of the party found the starters to be lovely and we all gave them 10 out of 10. The mains were a bit hit and miss with guests complimenting the melt in the mouth pork but two guests had very tough beef and could not eat it. All desserts were lovely , however one guest had to go and find forks as desserts came without them and eating chocolate soil was impossible without one. One guest commented that the fruit crumble tasted burnt but we suspect this was probably because the fruit and topping were cooked separately. So 5 out of 10 for the main course and 9 out of 10 for desserts. Service during the meal was non-existent with guests having to go to the bar themselves to order drinks. Two ladies found the stuffiness of the room unbearable but in his defence the Manager did bring a portable fan to the table. Not once did the Manager ask myself or my husband if everything was to our satisfaction but went out of his way to compliment those guests who had empty plates and paid no attention to those who had uneaten food left on their plates. Service noticeably improved once we got to desserts possibly because we were virtually now the only ones remaining in the restaurant. The guest who received the best service on the day was our friend in hospital – the Manager had taken the time and trouble to package her luncheon beautifully even to the degree of packaging the red cabbage separately so as not to stain the rest of the meal. So in summary if you want your special day to be ruined by a Manager who doesn’t listen to what you want then this is the place for you. If you want to sit in a room with plastic flowers hanging over your head with diamante wallpaper, no fresh air and last years Christmas decorations in the corner then this is the place for you. No one could even be bothered to address the ‘Happy Anniversary’ card to us by name!! However overall the food was very nice but far from ‘fine dining’ and ambience – well you might as well buy sarnies from M&S and sit in the park and “create your own ambience” rather than pay several hundred pounds to be forced to sit where it’s convenient for the Manager to put you! Happy to discuss this in person with the owner as they have my contact details but I doubt very much if they are in the slightest bit concerned that our day was completely ruined. Lets face it its only once in a lifetime that you celebrate 40 years!

Loved it! The staff were on point and the service was fantastic. We went for the steak night and the food was so delicious and reasonably priced. We even got to select our own knives which was a nice touch. Would recommend :)

Great place! Elegant but familiar at the same time. Highly recommended for any occasion, from family reunions to more formal ones. And the food is delicious

Couldn’t fault our experience. We will definitely be back again - recommending to others

We went for Sunday lunch to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. The service and attention we received was amazing. The food was copious and delicious. The atmosphere was quaint and the toilets were clean and interesting. We will return and recommend this lovely place to enjoy .

Another amazing meal at The Mill Botley, service amazing, great helpful and attentive staff along with fantastic food and great value for top class fine dining. I cannot recommend this place enough and we are so lucky to have it on our doorstep. The waterfall and steam room are just a true delight that adds ambience to a fine dining experience.

First class food and service once again! Sharing board starter was delicious and a generous amount. I chose the Sea Bass and my husband had the Fillet Steak- both cooked to perfection! The amuse bouche and the sorbet are a lovely touch, we were too full for dessert instead opting for an Espresso martini to finish our evening. Thoroughly recommend this delightful restaurant - see you again soon.

Have had the most brilliant experience at The Mill. First time visiting for our anniversary. They made our evening very special with complimentary drinks, congratulations card and attentive service. The venue is beautiful, service impeccable and food delicious. So much so, booked for a celebration evening next year. Highly recommended.

Amazing Sunday roast. Having to pay a deposit and preorder food was a bit annoying but entirely worth it for the quality of our meals and the service provided. The staff were also lovely to my mum on her birthday. Very impressed.

An excellent Sunday roast with all the trimmings.

Visited a few weeks ago for lunch (first visit). Very impressed with the food & service. I had fish & chips & a friend & I shared puddings! Will definitely visit again

Sadly not up to the standard we expected. We dined in the main restaurant, it felt lacklustre in terms of decor and lighting, even our table light battery was empty. Menu over sold and under delivered. To be fair the starters were ok, but very overpriced for the fine dining portion sizing. The mains were really average hence the average review. The seabass was like it had been cooked covered, soggy skin, not pan fried style as the meat read. The pork was lacking in anything pleasant to mention, the sauce was odd, not even sure what is was trying to be. It was like a burnt Asian gravy. Even the warm break was like toast. I felt bad complaining really as we were so hungry we ate it all, but can’t give higher than an overall 3, I think I’m being generous really. On a plus note, the wine was enjoyable and the manager was reasonably sympathetic, albeit disagreeing that sea bass should have a crispy skin. Who wants steamed style seabass when advertised as pan fried?

Warm greeting, great value for money, lovely food.

What a wonderful place to share a special moment. The food was incredible, the service was exemplary and we were made to feel special. Thank you for helping us celebrate our anniversary

Fantastic evening great menu lovely tasty dishes, well looked after thanks

We had a wonderful evening with friends at The Mill, the food & service were excellent.

Lovely lunch and polite service Just need somewhere to accommodate baby needs

I had a wonderful experience at your restaurant in Botley Village “The Old Mill” restaurant. Free 1 hour parking. The staff were incredibly pleasant and welcoming, and the food was delicious. One small suggestion: consider adding a kid’s menu. Overall, a delightful visit, and I look forward to returning. Thank you!

Beautiful meal cooked to perfection! Lovely surroundings. Very friendly staff Everything was perfect!😁

Lovely Sunday roast.pleasant and polite staff. Relaxing atmosphere. Thank you.

Lunch for 5 adults. Service was above average, friendly, prompt, attentive and food was presented in good time. 4 x roast dinners and one vegetarian (Butternut squash) roast dinner. Nothing left, the right size portions. 1 x bottle of white wine and soft drinks - £150 inc. a tip of 10%.

Unfortunately, I only had time for a quick drink, but I was impressed enough to want to come back, which I plan on doing ASAP.

We were celebrating my son’s 21st birthday and had the use of a room to ourselves. We had excellent food and service from all the staff.

WOW! From the moment we arrived to a warm welcome from Chris and a birthday card from the team - to when we left after having great cocktails, gorgeous looking and tasting food accompanied by some nice little touches The Old Mill was just superb, Oh and we both loved the toilets.... Thanks for a brilliant place to enjoy an evening.

The Mill has been, and still is, one of our favourite places for great food and great service. However , £46 for steak and peppercorn sauce is too expensive. We shop at Owtons for our meat (including fillet steak) and Atkinson‘s for our fish and understand how pricing works plus over heads etc. As I said we appreciate the setting, service, ambiance (which was lacking on a Saturday evening with many empty tables, yes, we were there to see them!) the downturn in economy etc and so when we do go out we want to feel that what we are getting is better than we could cook ourselves at home. (Not withstanding the amuse bouche and palate cleanser.) Your reply to your previous reviewer was rude and patronising. This is the second time that we have been slightly disappointed by our visit….Your response is not positive nor representative of the service that your staff are working hard to deliver for you. On the staffing front, we only recognised one familiar face. Where is Chris?

We came here for a 30th birthday dinner and dined in the private dining area. First time dining here and we would highly recommend it. Staff are extremely attentive, food was really nice and all 12 guests were over the moon with the whole experience. They even bought out complementary canapés with we greatly appreciated. Thank you to the team here at The Old Mill, you made our evening one to remember and we will be back.

Very quiet…just one other table, which suggests an issue for me. The food was pretty good but the vegetarian was not worth £25. With no atmosphere it’s hard to fully enjoy it. Unfortunately I wouldn’t rush back

Nice setting with friendly staff. Food was ok but expensive. Better places to go. Had the veg dish but was very watery. Have a different dish!

Went for Mother's Day lunch with my Husband, Son and Father. We all had the roast and agreed it was excellent. My elderly Father had a half roast which is plenty for those with smaller apetites. The surroundings are lovely. Young staff who are friendly and deliver first-class service. All the Mothers received a little goodie bag. Thank you for a lovely experience.

Beautiful and unique restaurant with welcoming and helpful staff. Although the menu is limited, it is top quality, fairly priced and we all found something we enjoyed. We hope to return very soon to sample the Sunday Lunch menu!

So, we came for a Saturday lunch. Maybe our mistake. A limited menu. No one was seated in the area by the front door, so seemed bereft of customers/atmosphere. Starters were lovely. Crab, prawns etc We also ordered the breads and although toasted were stale. Mains of steak sandwich, very good, risotto… not so good. Really was channeling Uncle Ben’s and frozen peas….. no baby spinach 🤷‍♀️ Service couldn’t be faulted but we missed Chris…..Underwhelmed on this occasion.

Lovely setting. Food good but a bit pricey. Staff excellent. Pay for parking that looks like a private car park is a bit cheeky.

Good food but a bit over priced. Old building so it was cold, they had a portable heater plugged in beside our table. Salmon starter was good as was lamb. Mash potato was piped onto the plate so it was a bit watery.

First time dining here and very enjoyable, with beautifully prepared food and excellent wine.

Good restaurant, not sure why but the gents is full of bond memorabilia

My partner and I visited to celebrate our anniversary on Saturday evening. It was our first visit, and we were not disappointed. The staff made us feel really special. The food was delicious and was interspersed with palate cleansers & amuse bouche. The portion sizes were good, and there were a couple of lighter desserts on the menu to finish. Which I always appreciate when I have three courses. A well-deserved 5 stars, and we will definitely go back again.

We visited for my partner’s birthday and were not disappointed. A good range of different meals, friendly service and the food was faultless. The only thing we couldn’t understand is that it was so quiet at lunchtime. I suspect that just before Christmas, everyone was opting for evening meals and were fully booked that evening.

Visited on the evening of 23rd December with friends and couldn’t have had a better experience! Warm friendly welcome into a very unique restaurant with the water from the Mill on view for all to see. Very attentive staff overseen by the charming manager Chris, service was excellent and the food didn’t disappoint. Beautifully presented dishes across 3 courses with palette cleansers adding a nice touch and the drinks were sensibly priced. The history of the Mill is there for all to see and the restaurant has been tastefully decorated. The meals were all delicious and the bill was as expected for top notch food and wine. Would thoroughly recommend it and we will most definitely be returning in the New Year. Wishing Chris and his staff a very Merry Christmas 🎅🏻

Possibly my favourite restaurant with excellent service and food! Certainly pay more for the whole experience but is worth it! 👌

Excellent service. Lovely complimentary palette cleansers were a great touch. Good food. Unique features with the running water from the mill.

Beautiful surroundings and excellent food. I would definitely recommend!

Beautiful meal last night provided by very warm and friendly staff. The room we were provided for our birthday gathering was perfect for a little privacy whilst being able to experience the lovely atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Great place brilliant evening for mums 90th birthday.

We were so looking forward to trying this place out for the first time tonight Friday 10th Nov. We are very disappointed. The service was lovely. The atmosphere was great. The food was rubbish, seriously overpriced for what you get. We ordered olives and scallops for starters. The olives and bread were lovely. The scallops were slightly undercooked, a bit wet if you ask me and the linguine was too wet also. We ordered the special steak. I insisted on no fat. My steak was literally just fat. My husband’s was ok, my son and I couldn’t eat more than half. It was literally riddled with fatty tumours. Seriously disgusting. The roasted tomatoes were not roasted at all. They were just warm. I don’t know. Add a bit of olive oil and leave in the oven a little longer. The chips were fine. My husband enjoyed the chocolate mousse. My and my son’ s sticky toffee was ok but the custard is warmed up in microwave. It makes it lumpy with a thin coat on top. Not great. But most importantly the table was sticky all over. Use an actual sponge with actual soap and dry with a cloth. This is the only way it won’t be sticky! We paid £150 with no wine. We had a complimentary bottle with the steak special. We won’t go again. The food was not at all the standard it should be. Maybe it was a bad day. The place was busy but this is not for us. We like gourmet food and we thought that it was what we were going to get. If you want delicious food then this place is not the one. The manager and our waitress were lovely but that just wasn’t enough. Talk to the chef and don’t serve disgusting steak specials.

Went in October with friends and it was nice enough, but I wasn’t wowed to be honest. I expected a lot more. Service was friendly and welcoming, food is served nicely, but food prices are a bit steep.

Some of the nicest food I've had. Went mid afternoon for Sunday lunch, the Pork Belly and accompaniments were cooked to perfection, couldn't fault it.

Fabulous Sunday lunch as always and 5* service, great atmosphere and great surroundings, best food for miles.

First visit but would definitely recommend and go back.

One of the best Sunday roasts i have had , i had roast lamb and my friend had the chicken , large portions and it was all cooked just right , and i can't thank the staff enough , all very helpful and friendly , the restaurant itself unusual setting being an old mill but very clean a great experience , will definitely be returning, thank you to everyone there .

Didn’t know this restaurant existed - will soon return. Amazing friendly staff and food the best quality we’ve had for years. Would definitely recommend.

We came to the Old Mill this evening to celebrate our silver Wedding Anniversary. The food and service was fantastic. A truly special meal. Thank you.

Cannot recommend this place highly enough. Food is fabulous (and large!), staff and so nice without being overbearing and well priced. If nothing else, go for the decor in the toilets!

Visited whilst down on a business trip, chose this place based on Trustpilot reviews and it didn't disappoint! Great environment, attentive staff and fast service, all overshadowed by the food. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. A little mackerel amuse bouche, followed by duck orange paté, and amazing pork belly (so tender). Wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.

Delicious birthday meal with friends. Could not fault food & service in this lovely restaurant. Two of us had the lamb fillet & two had fillet steak we all loved it. Large portions and beautifully presented. Highly recommended for a special occasion. You won’t be...

We brought our nephew for a ‘nice’ restaurant experience and he loved it! We wanted him to feel comfortable whilst enjoying new things, like the Amuse Bouche and Palate cleanser. Starters of pate, stuffed mushrooms were delicious. Mains of fillet steak and tuna were perfect....

Had a ‘significant’ birthday celebration here, could not fault the service from the initial greeting to a fantastic meal. Gluten free options available and all eight diners enjoyed their meal. The young server was polite and attentive without being intrusive. We were warmly greeted with a complimentary glass for birthday lady, whole dining experience was exceptional.

Couple weeks ago me and my fiancé popped to Old Mill Restaurant totally unexpectedly and what a nice place we found! The service was just spot on, the nice gentleman that welcomed us was really attentive and we can't fault him at all, sane with ladies that worked there at the same time but he was really great. Haven't been served so well in so long! The food was delicious (we both went for different variations of ciabatta, I have loved every bite of my falafel and sweet potato one!), we didn't have to wait long between meals either and there was no disappointment at all. We loved it there and we will be back soon! Oh did I mentioned the dessert? Anyone have to go for dessert especially lemon marangue tart/pie...🤤

Ate here for my birthday, service excellent however the 2 of us that had lamb were disappointed, it was tough and chewy, I left mine. I have to say that we have ate here lots of times and never been disappointed before.

Excellent food and prepared very efficiently for us! Great portion sizes, and pretty good price for what you get. Most of us had the Sunday mixed meat roast which I can definitely recommend!

Just returned from Sunday lunch at the Old Mill Botley and had to write this review it was one of the best Sunday roasts I've had great choices of meats veg was done just as we like great venue, staff were really good,had a great...

Had a lovely lunchtime meal here for my mums birthday, they even left a birthday card on the table which was a nice touch! Their 2 course bottomless prosecco lunch was great, kept topping up our glasses throughout the meal. Enjoyed the battered fish and chips for main course, lovely piece of fresh fish, only wish they'd put a few more chips on the plate. They had a fabulous choice of deserts, wanted all of them, the vanilla and raspberry cheesecake with clotted cream ice cream was delicious! All the food was presented well and you could tell the chef had great attention to detail. The renovation from the flour mill into a restaurant has been done very well, keeping original features such as wheels that have been highlighted nicely. Wasn't much of an atmosphere for lunchtime, I imagine it's better for dinner. The toilets need a mention, the female had birds singing while using it, with faux foliage on the ceiling and bird wallpaper, quirky environment! And apparently the male was a bond theme with the soundtrack playing while you're in there. Another nice touch was when the bill came in a small envelope with the words 'The Damage' written on it, which gave us a giggle at the end!

Hidden gem, highly recommend this place the food and service is amazing the cocktails were a work of art and the building is very quirky. Lovely experience

In these current times it is standard practice for eating establishments to reduce the size and/or quality of their dishes ………… whilst increasing prices. But not at The Old Mill, the quality of their food remains high, is attractively presented and ………… still at reasonable...

We were treated to an excellent meal at The Old Mill Botley, the food was amazing, service was very good. As it was our wedding anniversary we received 2 glasses of fizz and even an anniversary card from the restaurant team (which we accidentally left behind) that was a very nice touch.

Had a great evening at the Old Mill. This was not my first visit have used regularly for Dinner, Sunday Lunch and Special Occasions and never disappointed. Love the atmosphere, food and staff and would highly recommend. Carol

We hadn’t been for a while so we decided to celebrate it being Friday. Yet again, everything was fantastic! Great food, scallops for starters, fillet steak and tuna salad for mains. All delicious. Great service and we like the touches of the amuse bouche and...

Had a great meal here, great surroundings and very atmospheric. Food was excellent to as were staff, even though they were very busy. Only minus has to be the awful car park system. They have a private company that controls the area so you need to ticket which didn’t work but luckily the restaurant are used to this. They sorted the issue.

Wonderfully welcomed at the Old Mill, sat at a table best view re water mill, staff warm and adventurer 🤗, will definitely visit again. Botley sounds a beautiful picturest village, well maintained, good architecture.

As always, great food 😋 today we had a Sunday roast which I highly recommend, lovely setting, good service, and friendly staff.

A friend's birthday lunch on Sunday. absolutely amazing. We look forward to next time.🤗

Excellent food. Not cheap, but good value for money. Vegetarian options.

Excellent choice of food. Not cheap, but good value. The main course vegetable crumble was one of the best vegetarian dishes I've had. Staff very good.

I took my wife here for her birthday recently. We had a lovely meal. The staff were very attentive and there was a good atmosphere in the restaurant.

This restaurant never disappoints. Delicious food and they always treat you like valued customers.

Beautiful building. Amazing food and good choice. Friendly staff

Lovely birthday celebration with beautiful friends. The Mill is a gorgeous place and the staff were excellent. Thank you

Definately worth a visit. Beautiful and unusual setting. Lovely atmosphere. The food was delicious, well thought through. Our waitress Hannah was absolutely lovely. All the staff were attentive and welcoming.

The food was good but needed to be excellent to be good value. They really should come to an arrangement with the carpark owners, or take a leaf out of Julian Richer's book and take the hit it is currently a PR nightmare. Unfortunately it was so quiet it was lacking in atmosphere.

Excellent food, service and venue. We'll definitely be back!

Absolutely lovely. It was my first trip to the Old Mill but it won't be my last. The food was excellent and the staff tremendous, couldn't fault it in any way. Looking forward to my next visit.

Our first visit and was absolutely in keeping with previous reviews. Excellent Sunday Lunch - lovely staff and great value for money.

I went with my three siblings for my sister’s birthday celebration and we had such a lovely evening. The service was really great - the owner is friendly and personable and makes you feel so welcome. This is something that is missing in so many...

This restaurant has totally maintained its high standards. Again, the food and service were fantastic! Starters of mushroom and pate, mains of fillet steak and pork belly, two lemon meringues to finish. Nothing could be faulted. Amuse bouche and palate cleansers perfect. We thought a...

Had a lovely lunch with my daughter before going to the theatre

I really enjoyed it. Chris and the team are excellent

Great food, really well presented and excellent service from Emily. The Manager also took personal and sincere interest. Can't praise this Restaurant enough. looking forward to the next visit.

Serena and I had a lovely anniversary evening last night. Your restaurant and staff are a credit to you both. We loved the restaurant and the food ( scallops, cod loin, fillet steak, limoncello cheesecake) were all fantastic. Food far superior to our recent experiences...

Highly recommended. Beautiful place, beautiful food and amazing staff

Had our firm Xmas lunch here, good venue

Booked a table for 12 for my daughter's 21st birthday. We had a lovely time. Venue is stunning staff were attentive and the food amazing. We will definitely return.

We had our Family Christmas Lunch here on 11th December 2022. It was a truly fantastic afternoon. The food, ambiance and Chris and his staff were excellent, thank you very much, we will be back very soon!

We had our Family Christmas Lunch, it is an excellent resteraunt in an amazing location. The food was beautifully presented to a very high standard. Chris and his staff were so attentive and friendly, we will be going again very soon!

We have been coming to this restaurant since my mum moved down here, we live in London and have eaten at Michelin star restaurants and this is on par with any of them, the food is superb and the staff are wonderful, it’s well prepared...

The Old Mill Restaurant is a great example of a venue, the staff and the meal all coming together perfectly! This is a lovingly renovated venue that is comfortable, well-spaced and very relaxed. The staff are amazing! I came here for a Christmas lunch and the staff were so kind and obliging: they took our photos for us and were incredibly happy to tell us more about the mill and its history. The food was awesome. Very well made and professionally laid out, which you might usually expect from a big city restaurant, but which was a pleasant surprise from a restaurant in such a cute village. I’ll definitely be heading back soon!

The Old Mill is complete with mill workings and waterfall inside the building. Beautiful with good amount of space between tables. The bar area is comfortable and eclectic with a fab selection of drinks. The staff were friendly, welconing and professional and also well informed...

Had a lovely meal here on Saturday evening for a birthday. Service was great and the food fantastc, will definitely be back. Thank you

we’re greeted at the door and shown to the bar for pre drinks. The girls were given the large gin menu to choose from and then offered doubles which they accepted without fuss. We we’re shown to our table in a lovely well spaced dining...

We were staying at the local hotel and although none of us were local we had pre-booked a table for the Saturday evening in order to celebrate both my Wife’s 50th Birthday and my sister-in-law’s imminent 60th. The pre-booked taxi let us down badly but...