Tanswell’s Commercial Hotel

Where do I start? You hear it so often "If I could give a 0, I would." Consider my verdict a "0" On the 13th April 2025, a table for 2 was booked to celebrate a special birthday. We arrived and we were shown our table. So Far, all good. We were told it would be table service. We ordered drinks which were promptly delivered to our table. This is where the service deteriorated rapidly. We then ordered the sourdough and our main meal. What I saw next was disgusting! In my line of vision, I witnessed the 2 staff handling the sourdough without gloves or tongs...unbelievable! This is after clearing tables etc without gloves. Do these people have qualifications in food handling. I certainly hope this is followed up by the authorities. More and more people were arriving whereby the attention given to our table became less and less. When our meals finally arrived, I found my chicken parmigiana to be saturated in salt. The staff by this time were running around like headless chooks. Waitress cleared our glasses and in a rush doing so, toppled a glass of water on our table. Did she get a cloth and clean it up...no! She came back with a serviette and dropped it on the spill; then left. Finally, we ordered sweets. We waited and waited and waited..... We gave up as these did not arrive. Infuriated, we got up to pay the bill as the night was now ruined. Needless to say the sweets were on the tab which we asked to be removed. Waitress couldn't have cared less; she did so with an insincere "sorry." This is a perfect example of a business being understaffed (2 staff on the floor and a 3rd was looking after the drinks). This hotel is packing the customers in knowing full well that they are incapable of looking after everybody, therefore the service becomes non existent. Finally, we were sitting behind the booking counter where the dividing wall was covered in dust. Don't they have cleaners? I would never recommend this Hotel to anyone and I will never return. Prices for wine are exorbitant and as I said earlier, their food handling practices need to be addressed before there is a salmonella out break. It's all about the $$$$$$ There is another hotel in Beechworth which is excellent! I suggest to any one reading this...give it a go!