Azur at The Marina Pavilion Marina, St Leonards on Sea Restaurant Review
Azur at The Marina Pavilion Marina
Reviewed by Mr Hon Yip
Azur at The Marina Pavilion Marina,
St Leonards on Sea East Sussex,
TN38 0BU
Web: http://www.azurmarinapavilion.com
For several years, this sea front positioned restaurant-bar of
Azur’s was the butt of many a complaints from its local clientele. Azur’s
has recently been awarded ‘1066 Business Winner 2009’.
On a recent visit to Azur’s, this establishment may be a business winner but it is not I’m
afraid a restaurant winner. The foods offered by Azurs are mainly set
meals, straight forward English cuisine. Having paid my £15.00p fee
(excluding service charge) for a night of ‘BBQ and Swing Band‘ at the
Azur, I was left with bitter disappointment.
The barbecue (gas cylinder operated) was set on the pavements on the sea front which the rear of the
Azur’s ran along. Being a nippy night there were no heater-warmers, the
vegetarian food on offer were simply made up jacket potatoes, salad and
breach rolls. On my initial visit to the barbecue stand only a few burgers
and sausages were on offer. During my second visit the cook informed me
that there were no chicken left, which I found amused because behind the
cook was a several pan loads of chicken thighs and fillets. Finally, on my
third visit to the now famous ?Barbecue Block? I did receive some chicken
and was told that the meat had to be oven cooked.
When asked by a member of the staff at the barbecue of “how is your evening going Sir?” I replied
“fine, except I had to pay a third visit to this barbecue stand to finally
get some chicken”. The part owner of Azur’s (a woman named Allison) who
was standing next to me, replied “just enjoy your life and take it easy –
just chill out”. Obviously such rude response from a proprietor left feel
fuming. The band promised to play any requests the audience favour so I
and a friend asked for a total of two Ella Fitzgerald songs to be played –
which the band promised would be played soon. However, the songs requested
were never played. Azur has a reputation for its people not being customer
focus, lacking in general people and communication skills. Its staff had
recently been trained to improve their customer services skills but
obviously the training is lacking for some its employees. However, the bar
staff generally seem friend and attentive, and the young doorman was very
polite. To sum up Azur’s: food is basic and uninspiring (Azur’s website
advertises ‘wonderful meal’) service is average with ‘no extra mile’
approach; price was extortionate for the event in question; venue is a
somewhat outdated large room with a bar one end – when paying for drinks
on credit or debit card one had to exit the venue room to pay on the
payment machine at the reception counter at the lobby.
Overall, a disappointment in entertainment, service and food.
I agree wholeheartedly with your summing up of Azur. On Sunday morning the weather in St Leonards was glorious, the small boats were sailing (the sailing club is adjacent to Azur) and all was right with my world so thought I’d stroll along the prom and have a relaxing coffee at Azur.
At 11.38am I ordered, and paid for, (hence the time accuracy) a latte and was told to find a seat and it would be brought to me, which it was 35 minutes later! When it arrived the coffee, which looked suspiciously like coffee with milk rather than the traditional Italian latte on the menu, had been slopped into the saucer. The young girl who put it in front of me asked if that was ok, I said no, not really but as I’d waited this long I wasn’t prepared to wait another half hour for a replacement, but would welcome a napkin so that I could prevent drips from the bottom of the cup splashing on my clothes. I was told she’d be straight back with one. Half an hour later after drinking my coffee minus the napkin I left vowing never to return.
Prior to this experience I’d had a meal in the restaurant earlier in the year and was not impressed by the uninspired preparation and presentation of the food for which I was charged London prices.
Azur could be a top class venue but management need to get their heads out of the sand and spend more time recruiting, surely not difficult in the current employment crisis, and train their staff to the right standard. In the current business climate surely it is even more important to ensure that not only do you attract new clientele but keep your existing patrons, some of whom, I’m sure, are just waiting for somewhere with a bit more nous to open!
We went to Azur for dinner last night. Overall felt the service was friendly but novice, the food generally tasty and prices not unreasonable.
We were greeted at the door by a pleasant waiter who lost track of what he was doing even though there was only one other table of diners at that point in the evening. He seemed not to have quite got the patter. We found our table. We didn’t get to hear the specials.
We ordered tap water twice before it arrived and had a cracked glass on the table (which they did replace promptly when it was pointed out).
Two glasses of wine were brought out when we’d only asked for one.
The starters were very tasty – stilton mushrooms and smoked salmon with prawn roulade. Mains (Baked Bream and Lamb double saddle) were also good although the lamb was overdone. ‘Homemade’ desserts were disappointing and overpriced (tasteless clearly defrosted tiramisu and similarly tasteless crepes suzette). We did enjoy watching the waiter refry the crepes in front of us with plenty of flaming alcohol, however.
It was a pleasant evening and setting. We didn’t really mind the waiters’ lack of experience as they were polite and friendly. We’d probably have skipped dessert with the benefit of retrospect.
The price tag – £50 for two, three courses and one drink each.
Like the above, I found the Azur to be disappointing and in my case, very expensive for absoluteloy nothing! We booked in October 2010 for 2 for Christmas Day, paid deposit of £40 (£20 per person), also booked for New Year for 6 and paid £120, total deposits £160. Few days before Christmas received phone call demanding full payment in advance! No mention of this at time of booking, nor on webiste nor on receipt! My friends refused and I asked why this sudden demand and was told it would make things easier for them on the day because they would have 200+ people. I asked how they got on for drinks then since these would have to be paid for and the meals were all fixed price, so no difference at all. Unpleasant and confrontational attitude during the phone conversation from the owner and refused to refund deposit! I am looking to see if he can do this but just be aware! The food is adequate for the price, but the service can be sloppy as other reviews have also stated. Poor business practices – you can’t change the goal posts just because you feel like it and restaurants depend on good reviews. Obviously, you can make your own mind up but £160 is a lot to lose especially as there were/are no terms and conditions stating full payment prior to the meals on the website or receipts.
We have made 3 prior visits throughout the year, and on 2 of those occasions there were problems, none of which was sorted out and the staff just done’t seem to understand the workd service. The first was the state of the toilets, with paper towels strewn all over the stairs – the reason – they had a cage fighting event downstairs so couldn’t cope! The other occasion – two pints fell off the waiter’s tray?? over our table – no ofer of a clean table, no offer of a complimentary drink and 3 of us had to have outr clothes drycleaned. Still, we thoguht Christmas and New year for a last chance – the result of which you have read above. My advice, give this place a miss, the scenery doesnot make up for the attitude.
Booked in October 2010 for 2 for Christmas Day, paid deposit of £40 (£20 per person), also booked for New Year for 6 and paid £120, total deposits £160. Few days before Christmas received phone call demanding full payment in advance! No mention of this at time of booking, nor on webiste nor on receipt! My friends refused and I asked why this sudden demand and was told it would make things easier for them on the day because they would have 200+ people. I asked how they got on for drinks then since these would have to be paid for and the meals were all fixed price, so no difference at all. Unpleasant and confrontational attitude during the phone conversation from the owner and refused to refund deposit! I am looking to see if he can do this but just be aware! The food is adequate for the price, but the service can be sloppy as other reviews have also stated. Poor business practices – you can’t change the goal posts just because you feel like it and restaurants depend on good reviews. Obviously, you can make your own mind up but £160 is a lot to lose especially as there were/are no terms and conditions stating full payment prior to the meals on the website or receipts.