The Wheelwrights' Restaurant in Medway

On 20th July 2024, my husband and myself had paid for ourselves and our two daughters to go on the Call The Midwife Tour - we were celebrating our eldest daughter's birthday and because we are all MASSIVE fans of Call The Midwife my husband and I bought the tour tickets and at the time of buying the Tour tickets we also bought the Cream Tea £6.95pp. We had bought the tickets weeks prior and were so excited when the actual day arrived. After the Call The Midwife Tour (which I do NOT recommend - see my review) finished we walked along to The Mess Deck Restaurant to enjoy our Cream Tea. We were greeted by a member of waiting staff. My eldest daughter showed her the tickets whilst saying "Hello, we are here for our afternoon Cream Tea!" and the waiting staff snatched the tickets out of her hand (literally!) then counted to confirm the number (4) and very heavily threw them on the counter and turned towards the fridge. I looked at my eldest daughter and she looked at me. (We are being served by the most unhappy, miserable, bad attitude member of waiting staff). The member of waiting staff turned to place - two at a time - our Cream Tea all on ONE tray. The waiting staff simply looked at my eldest daughter and said "hot or cold". My eldest daughter said "excuse me". The waiting staff then sighed, took a deep breath and repeated her question very angrily "hot or cold? do you want the scones warmed up or left cold?. My eldest daughter replied "hot please, thank you very much". The waiting staff then continued with our request and literally "threw" everything on the tray together. What a bloody mess! One strawberry fell on the floor for which my eldest daughter had to ask for another and when the waiting staff asked why, my eldest daughter said "because it fell on the floor" and the waiting staff was NOT happy with this and "huffed" whilst placing another one on the plate. As the tray was "overloaded" and "unsafe" to carry, my eldest daughter fetched another tray and split the Cream Tea in half. Well, bad idea, the waiting staff wanted us gone! As we picked up our trays the waiting staff said "we shut at 5pm and it is 4.30pm now. We said "OK" and found a table. Would I recommend Cream Tea - No Would I recommend The Mess Deck Restaurant - No Today was about celebrating our eldest daughter's birthday. Our eldest daughter had been saving for quite a while to go on Call The Midwife Tour and whilst booking for that we noticed Cream Tea for £6.95pp and thought - why not! birthday treat! My husband and I did pay for both events as her birthday present for which my daughter has since apologised for "wasting our money". What we have taken away from our day is the lasting memory of the waiting staff and the way in which she served us and again , our daughter has apologised for her too! All in all a complete waste of money!

Four of us had lunch on a Friday and it was really quiet. We all had fish finger sandwiches and shared cheesy chips and dirty fries. The chips were large portions with plenty of topping. Everything was reasonably priced.

Enjoyed an interesting days visit to this historic dockyard with it’s different displays, ships and ropery. A full days entertainment rounded off with a nice meal in the wheelwrights restaurant.

Sat outside in the covered patio which was ideal on a very hot day, sandwiches were great along with the service.

Excellent staff, nice range of freshly prepared made to order foods. Drinks good too. Meals brought to our seats. Nice friendly place

We stopped here for lunch, before entering the museum, great service, very relaxed and friendly atmosphere, nice food. Recommended

This restaurant is wonderful!! Staff are lovely food is really good, and large portions too!! Reasonable prices for what you get!!

Much better than the old restaurant. Good choice and friendly service. We went mid week so not over crowded.

My mother and I popped in for a drink and slice of cake. We decided to sit outside due to the clement weather. The cake slices were tasty and not too expensive. My main criticism is that the inside of the restaurant appears to be very clean, however the tables outside are clearly not disinfected and cleaned often enough.

we had the breakfast as part of our sleepover event . Good table service , food all very good and enjoyed by all ,

Very good choice on offer between hot and cold options! The Fish was massive! Great surroundings, clean and well themed. No doubt very busy in the high summer months.

The food and atmosphere here is so good. Whenever I'm in the area with work, I'll come in just for tea and scones! Love it!

The restaurant is fine. Gets a bit messy at busy times. As often with these places rarely enough staff to cope. Would prefer to take my own food. Plenty of places to sit and eat

We had a voucher for 2 4 1 Fish & Chips, but the Cod was terrible, I would guess that it had been defrosted badly, it was watery, tasteless and not nice at all. Chips were not very good also. In fact we could not finish our meals which is very unusual

The wheelwright's restaurant is spacious and nicely laid out with ample tables and chairs. It is not immediately apparent what food is on offer, although there is a menu parked at the entrance to the self service area. The choice was adequate. The one thing I would criticise is that no-one was clearing any tables whilst we were eating and it is unpleasant to be sat looking at other people's half finished meals!

We went here for coffee on arrival at an event at the dockyard. Lovely cafe plenty of seats and the coffee was fine no queuing. We came back for some lunch later on and there was a half hour wait for a bacon roll so we went somewhere else. Don't think it is like this on a normal day.

Pleasant staff and plenty of snacks to choose from, all at reasonable prices. A bit chilly in there but it was a cold day outside. The soup plus bread was very nice and warmed us up.

Lovely ambience - but chilly. We chose plates of 'serve yourself' salad + cheesy chips. Chips were 'spot on', salad was very boring - we had to ask for boiled eggs and tuna in order to make it more interesting. In fact we believed there were other snacks on the menu, but this was not at all obvious. Our visit was out of season and frankly it rather felt like it - this restaurant is so lucky to be right by the Dockyard entrance but it really needs to be more welcoming - staff and choice of food available.I will visit again when the Dockyard is in full swing and hope our present visit was a 'one-off'.

A good place to stop and grab lunch and good prices too. Hot and cold food available long with a...

At the heart of the historic complex, this has a captive audience, so could be really good. The potential is good, with local food, such as pies; the reality was different as they had run out of many of the hot food options, so we ended up witj a pretty unexciting meal.

Este es un lugar ideal para parar y recargar las baterías mientras visitaba el astillero. Nos necesitan desesperadamente un lugar para sentarse y descansar un rato y tomar algo de comer y beber. Hay una gran zona de comedor y había una buena variedad de sándwiches y aperitivos calientes. Tuvimos sándwiches este tiempo y una agradable taza de té.

A good selection of traditional food, well presented and reasonably priced. Restaurant is modern, clean and inviting. Staff are particularly helpful.

Visited with my son, we had a salad with fish and chips, all very good and so was the service. Stopped off for coffee too. It was not busy so the place did not feel full which helped.

A snack bar in the dockyard that does great sandwiches and hot snacks. Their doorstop sandwiches especially are excellent with a sensible amount of filling.

As with so many of these places a disappointing and over priced experience staffed by people who would rather be doing anything other than working in a resturant

Mis amigos y yo asistimos al vapor y transporte mostrar en el astillero, sensación de hambre, nos decidimos por el pescado y patatas fritas. la cola era larga y el servicio es lento, lo que habría sido mal si la comida valió la pena la espera, ¡fue horrible! Las patatas fritas eran congeladas y cocidas tenía la textura de la madera y el pescado recocido y grasienta y, regados con una taza de té, que consistía en una bolsa de té en una taza de papel por £1. 75. sin visitar el astillero de nuevo, pero sin llevar bocadillos.

I loved the style of the place but it was a dreadful lunch of stale bread sandwiches and it takes ages to get food even when the place is almost empty. I don't know what the staff are doing.

I have criticised on dealing with queues before. This time however there was no queue and great service. Good selection of snack type food including some unusual pies. Lamb cobbler. As always there doorstep sausage sandwiches were excellent.

Does a good selection of sandwiches and hot snacks. Staff are very nice and friendly but have trouble dealing with queues. Still good lunch food especially the sausage and mustard doorsteps.

Had to write a review after such a short time 6 weeks as I was not to complimentary last time. Now I have come outside school holidays it has returned to being excellent service and great sandwich. My Sausage doorstep had so much sausage in it it was difficult to eat, not that I am complaining. Moral of this review is come on quite days.

Don't come here if you are hungry. Ordered cheesy chips with bread and butter 25 mins ago. Chips came lovely, no bread and butter. Coffee is self serve from a machine but really good. Limited menu

Food was good and the staff were friendly. Very large dining area that was geenrally clean and tidy. We got a 2 for 1 offer by buying the entrance tickets off their website.

Visit regularly perhaps 10 times a year. Always great snack meals pastry and sandwiches. However and to leave the queue during school holiday as the staffing had not been geared up and the queue for lunch made it impossible to wait for lunch.

Good restaurant for an attraction. Time to relax either before starting your journey through history, or after. Well stocked and good selection. Clean with friendly staff.

We waited for Fish and chips. It was very busy as the weather was coldThey could do with more staff as tables were very cluttered. The staff there were pleasant but rather overworked.

Had a great doorstop sausage sandwich with mustard. Whilst good was good service seems slow. However nice environment.

We were feeling a bit weary while visiting the Dockyard and needed a place to sit down and the Wheelwrights’ Restaurant was a welcome break from the cold. We had a very nice Cornish pasty and a hot drink. The staff were very friendly and the restaurant was spotlessly clean.Definitely worth a visit.

good friendly service right from start kids loved the science lab very fun took a walk round lots to see need more then one day to see it properly had lunch at commissioners house great friendly service food was excellent loved the ploughmans looked amazing well presented

Visit often always friendly service allthough a little slow. I love their large doorstep sandwiches but pies and pastries not so good. Also a little overpriced especially as a large number of children visit.

As it was winter some doors were locked presumably to keep the heat in. When I did find the entrance I opted for a Cornish pastie and a cold drink and was served by unenthusiastic staff. Reasonable quality but overpriced.

During my visit there were no hot meals served and so it was basically sandwiches/drinks. Prices were reasonable but it can get busy at certain times of the day/if there's a lot of visitors which is a bit frustrating having to queue but there's plenty of seating, even it has the feel of a works canteen. There's a kiddies play area and a micro brewery located next door. Staff were friendly if a bit slow serving.

Very good food and service. Can be quite crowded, but what does that tell you???The choice of food is good and varied and the service as quick as it can be, they do get busy.

Food is not bad, but very over-priced! We only had sandwiches, but hot food was there if wanted and did look, and smell, nice!

Excellent restaurant within Chatham Dockyard which is both clean and good value. The staff are friendly and the food served is good, some from local suppliers. A welcome rest before you wander around the other half of the dockyard!

Had visited before and remembered having a good lunchtime (special) meal so made this our first stop on our return. Quiet time of the year so there weren't any daily specials, which was a shame as there is a limited selection of hot food on the menu. However, we timed it right and got our order of fish and chips in before several more people arrived. Contrary to previous reviews, our fish was excellent - fresh, crispy batter and piping hot. However, oven chips were a bit overcooked and tasteless, peas were cold (!) and tartare sauce was 'strange'. Rolls however were warm and fresh. Good choice of bottled beers. Staff pleasant. Wonder how well they would cope in high season. Overall - perfectly acceptable for this sort of place, would return.

Two of us had the soup which had lots of stringy bits in it, which was uncooked celery and only white bread was available despite the menu stating white and wholegrain. Also £5.50 is a ridiculous high price and it is only a small bowl of soup. Asked for the childrens meal which was turkey nuggets and they looked like they had sat there for a long time and there was not enough for 2 children, so we went for the fish and chips. The fish was also not up to standard. Will be coming back to the Dockyard but will be bringing our own food.

We had a lovely sausage meat pie, chips and peas. Nice place to have some refreshments while going around the dockyard. Good value too.

Stopped here for drinks and to recharge kids' batteries during a busy day at the dockyard. Good choice of cakes and drinks to satisfy both adults & children. Enjoyed hot chocolate with lots of cream!This place is inside the dockyard which you pay to enter (well worth it - see separate review.

We first visited this restaurant a couple of weeks ago on our first visit to the Chatham Dockyard. The food was lovely and the prices average but I was disappointed because our hot food went cold whilst waiting for our hot drinks served from a completely different counter.However we made a return visit to the Dockyard on Monday of this week and ate again in the restaurant. Again the food was lovely and the chocolate cake is to die for. This time we simply had sandwiches but ironically as the dockyard was not so busy the hot food was being brught ou to you and plated up to order rather than out on the hot food counter, a much better solution. Shame it wasn't like that the first time.

Fresh tasty food. Good choices of sandwiches, snacks, hot food and lovely cakes. Nice staff who serve efficiently with a smile. Fair pricing all round.

Pine tables in old barn setting and nice outdoor seating areas too. The food servery is a little cramped at one end and has a fairly limited selection of options, however food is locally sourced and the home made cakes delicious.Was lucky enough to be at an event which included afternoon tea on vintage china which was lovely and very good value for the very generous servings of sandwiches, scones and cakes.Prices are reasonable for a venue within an attraction and it was nice not to be subjected to fast food.

The food is made to order, so fresh there is plenty of seating inside and out the prices are average

Loved the tea and scones one day, and the next day the home made to measure sandwiches. Eating was inside on large pine tables, or outside under cover at small metal tables. Good.

Chose to eat breakfast here due to hotel breakfast at £9.00 per person over priced. Excellent breakfast great value.

The selection of hot food was pretty good with generous portions at reasonable prices. The sandwiches were made to order but the process was very slow and I have no idea how this, apparently new, sandwich system will cope when it is anything other than a quiet day!

We visited on the first day of the 2014 season on a very clod and blustery day.Stopped for a hot chocolate and a cake. i had a lovely bit of coffee and walnut cake, my wife had a bit of flapjack. All the cakes are home made and really rather good. Much appreciated!

Arrived near to closing and just as hot food was finishing, but the staff did their best to accommodate us. Food good, priced as others within attractions, staqff were very good. Disable friendly and very clean.

Very friendly staff, average food, bit pricey but nevertheless a very welcome break and pleasant area to sit down. We had a sandwich and a piece of cake and a great mug of tea.

All you want from a nautical venue. Prices are sensible here and the staff are most obliging. You will need to take the weight off your feet at some time at Chaham Dockyard and this place, inside a restored auld beamed shed does the business well.

Nice food and drink and well priced and great atmosphere, being made out of ancient timber. Good selection of food and drink.

You know when you go somewhere and you plumb for fish and chips and a cuppa and along comes a very fine piece of cod with some mushy peas and it's surprisingly good? Well that's what we hoped for when we went to the Wheelwrights' Restaurant only to find, let's say, a slight less adequate representation of England's favourite weekday lunch. The Wheelwrights' feels a bit like a works canteen and it's a shame that hard working staff could be seen to be at the end of subjective critics like me but please, management, take a trip to other venues, see how full their cafes are and see how you could fill your own. Good luck!

This restaurant should compliment the location, and sadly it does not. An over priced out of date menu that lacks any imagination, along with coffee machines that belong in the 1980s.Would recommend that you avoid.

only went in for a sit down really, but managed a cup of tea and a cake! it was perfectly acceptable. Other people were eating however and I must say it did look very apitising. The prices seemed resonable for the portions too. Unfortunately they stopped serving hot food about 2.30 pm or so, or we would have gone back for an early evening meal.

Limited choice, expensive and one member of staff could do with some more training.Cakes on display, uncovered, at lunchtime were still there unprotected at 5pm.Pleasant, sunny seating area outside.Toilets here are better than those outside by the Hearts of Oak attraction.

Das Angebot im Restaurant ist reichhaltig, teils hausgemacht und schmackhaft - auch Kinderangebote.Die Tische und Sitzgelegenheiten sind zweckmäßig angeordnet.Das Preis/Leistungsverhältnis ist gut, man wird nicht besonders zur Kasse gebeten, weil man im Werftgelände "gefangen" ist.

decent food, decent price.nice atmosphere,definately the place for refreshments,& dosnt get too packed

The Wheelwrights’ restaurant is located just next to the entrance / gift shop at Chatham Dockyard. We often find that restaurants or cafeterias that are part of an attraction or tourist site are usually pretty basic and mediocre. However, this one totally impressed us! Wheelwrights is so good, if they weren’t the eatery for the Dockyard, they could stand entirely on their own!The staff are super-efficient and genuinely kind and helpful. We stopped for a cold drink and a light snack at the start of our dockyard visit and lured by the aromatic scents of food being cooked, we returned again for lunch as our last stop before we left the Dockyard. Absolutely no regrets! The food on offer was really delicious, nicely cooked and served in generous portions! The variety of the cooked food, snacks and desserts available was impressive for a small restaurant. There were also local beers available for sale which was nice. We loved the old timbers and the vintage sailing vessel feel of the place. The décor, the layout, the long wooden benches and tables made us feel as though we were dining in the belly of a ship! Certainly, a really unique environment! We highly recommend the Wheelwrights’ for a meal on your day out to the dockyard. The staff and the quality of what they serve do the dockyard proud indeed!