The Botanist has become a firm favourite across the UK ever since its launch in 2012, with middle-class families rushing to try the famous hanging kebabs and groups of glamorous ladies making it their monthly spot for colourful cocktails.
However, does the nature-themed pub-restaurant chain still hold the same charm? Apparently not. Customers have recently complained online of ‘overpriced terrible meals’ and ‘poor service’, with staff unable to control the ‘overcrowded chaos’.
Others have complained about a lack of atmosphere, claiming the eateries, found in the likes of Birmingham, Liverpool and Cardiff, are now filled with younger clientele who have ‘no conversation’.
‘Full of people who think they are faces,’ one reviewer previously wrote on Tripadvisor about the Newcastle upon Tyne location.
More recently, several customers noted a problem of overcrowding, claiming wait times for meals were ‘disappointing’ and that staff at several of the eateries were unable to deal with the crowds at bars.
Plenty of diners looking for a social media-worthy snap have used the picturesque decor of the restaurants and the appealing-looking food as props for their photoshoots.
A theme across some reviews appeared to suggest that the chain sticks to ‘style over substance’, with one person writing about the Birmingham location: ‘The decor is lovely… but unfortunately the meal overall was very disappointing.’
‘Arrived at 8. Left at 8.20 having been totally ignored. Asked the waitress who seated us if we could have some water to start and we didn’t see her again. Appreciate you were busy but that’s poor service,’ wrote another unimpressed diner.
Plenty of diners looking for a social media-worthy snap have used the picturesque decor of The Botanists and the appealing-looking food as props for their photoshoots
Prices at the bar range from £7.95 for a small plate to £17.95 for a hanging kebab or £19.95 for the brand’s ultimate chicken burger.
Its pan-fried salmon, teamed with herby mash and roasted cherry tomatoes, costs £22.95. There’s also a sharing kebab for £41.95.
Puddings include a £9.95 Millionaires Cookie Dough and an edible chocolate plant pot for £12.95.
One person, who visited the Birmingham bar last month, said: ‘After visiting The Botanist on many occasions, what a disappointing visit.
‘Staff were miserable, dressed scruffy and not friendly. They stood talking so we had to go to the bar to get drinks. Nobody checked everything was OK.
‘We’d just finished our main course and they brought us the bill, we weren’t asked if we wanted a pudding, I guess they wanted us to leave!
‘I’d put on the booking it was my son’s birthday, there was no mention of any of our requests. There was six of us, meals were average but expensive, we thought it’d be a nice treat – how wrong we were. I wish we’d spent our £220 elsewhere.’
A fourth diner, reviewing the bar in Bath, said: ‘AWFUL- if you have a meal booked, cancel it! I have never had a more disappointing evening out.
A glamorous woman poses up a storm outside of The Botanist bar before sharing the snap on Instagram
A woman dressed in a chic two-piece ensemble stands outside the front entrance to one of The Botanist restaurants
One of The Botanist bars located in Liverpool, pictured
‘Our table was booked for 7.30pm. We were not seated until 8.30pm. Our main courses arrived at 10.30pm! The turkey and pigs in blankets were not cooked all the way through. The vegetables were cold.’
‘Gimmicky… need to get the basics right,’ another diner warned, while someone else wrote: ‘I attended a hen night but found it to be very overcrowded, hot and noisy. It would suit younger people very much.’
Others suggested more staff were needed, explaining: ‘We’ve been stood at the bar in a big queue for 30 mins’ before labelling the bar ‘overpriced’.
‘Me and my friends visited for some drinks and the service was absolutely terrible,’ another The Botanist diner said.
They continued: ‘This was a Wednesday and although the seating area was busy, there was no one at the bar. We waited 25 mins for a bottle of wine and 3 cocktails.
‘… We are all from hospitality ourselves so we understand it can be hard when it’s busy but we expected at least an apology.’
Meanwhile, one diner in Cheltenham said their local eatery looks beautiful inside with ‘fabulous’ decor. However, they branded the food ‘terrible’.
Another customer showcases her glamorous outfit while at one of The Botanist restaurants
A diner is pictured enjoying her meal while at one of The Botanist bars in the UK
They claimed: ‘Our starters came and we had to send one of them back as it was cold, the chicken was so dry.
‘The mains weren’t much better, service miserable, most staff on their phones, not attentive and didn’t deserve the service charge that was put on our bill. We won’t be going back in the future. What a waste of money.’
In Newcastle, one The Botanist diner claimed: ‘There were no seats, the whole area was overcrowded, this needs to be addressed with a level of control on admitting guests.
‘At those prices you don’t want to be standing, holding a wine bucket and trying to hold a glass of wine in a busy area.’
However, it wasn’t all negative reviews for The Botanist, with one diner in Birmingham writing: ‘Another great meal at the Botanist, we both had the chicken hanging kebab. It was exceptional.
‘The chicken was cooked to perfection and there was plenty of it, the sweet chilli sauce was beautiful.
‘I had the chips with it and vegetables all cooked to perfection. We had good service and there is a good vibe. Well done to the chef and the staff.’
Similarly, one customer in Newcastle said: ‘Don’t let bad reviews put you off! After reading recent reviews I thought I’d made a bad choice dining here.
A theme across some reviews appeared to suggest that the chain sticks to ‘style over substance’, with one person writing about the Birmingham location: ‘The decor is lovely… but unfortunately the meal overall was very disappointing’
However, it wasn’t all negative reviews for The Botanist, with one diner in Birmingham writing: ‘Another great meal at the Botanist, we both had the chicken hanging kebab. It was exceptional’
‘But it was superb, I was solo dining and didn’t feel uneasy one bit. The food was to a very good standard. And I took advantage of the happy hour they do on a Monday night.
‘…If I visit Newcastle again I wouldn’t hesitate in coming back!’
And it wasn’t only some diners in Birmingham and Newcastle that appeared impressed. A Worcester customer wrote: ‘In any bar or restaurant the first and most important element of success is good staff.
‘Personally I love this place because the staff are so good, hard working and lovely fun people.’
The Botanist in Chester, meanwhile, was dubbed a ‘fantastic atmosphere with warm earthy spaces adorned with plants’.
The review continued: ‘Their signature kebabs come with dipping sauce of your choices. Lamb, chicken, and steak kebabs were all flavorful and well prepared. Solid service and kid friendly. Suitable for intimate or party sized gatherings.’
Overall, The Botanists on Tripadvisor were rated either three to four out of five stars.
A spokesperson at The Botanist told the Daily Mail: ‘Delivering a welcoming experience with great food, drinks and live music is always our top priority.
‘Our restaurants and bars operate in line with industry standards, particularly during busy trading periods when higher footfall is expected across the high street.
‘Whilst we endeavour to get it right every time, there are occasions where we fall short of guest expectations.
‘In these instances, we follow up with customers to ensure their feedback is taken on board and we can continue to improve.
‘The vast majority of our reviews reflect the positive service and atmosphere our teams work hard to provide every day.
‘We remain committed to maintaining consistent standards across all our sites and continuously review feedback to ensure we meet our guests’ expectations.’
