Well this is a first, lunch out with the senior partner to dine at one of our longest established clients, Blunsdon House Hotel, and I’ve planned my outfit well in advance, baggy dress with no belt as I know Dave is partial to a pudding so this may be a big working lunch!
We arrived just after 12.30pm and hunted out an empty table in Carrie’s bar for some informal dining, where plenty of people were already enjoying what appeared to be some great plates of food.
It was a quick decision on my part to select a prawn caesar salad from the menu, whilst Dave struggled with deciding from the assorted appetising options, mindful that he would be running (well, most likely walking if truth be known) around a squash court later that day, he eventually picked Thai chicken Massaman curry served with rice from the light lunch menu.
Whilst waiting for our food to arrive I enjoyed the relaxed ambience of this bar, which was tastefully refurbished just over nine months ago. Dave tells me that Blunsdon has undergone various changes in the past year which also included updating their largest conference facility the Garden Room, and also the Tawnys restaurant which has been extended and improved to provide a super room for celebrations and is also a licenced wedding venue. This all follows the refurbishment of the restaurant and carvery Flame a year or two ago.
I am well versed on Blunsdon’s wonderful carvery as this venue has been the host of our company Christmas Party for over 20 years I believe and I am looking forward to my 11th this year (if this meeting goes well!).
With our meals served I was impressed at how delicious they both looked but must confess the aroma of Dave’s curry made me slightly envious. My salad was very tasty and a really generous portion and Dave declared his curry was really very good, with plenty of succulent chicken and mushrooms which I was eyeing up!
Just as I thought about perusing the dessert menu Dave informed me he has a 2pm meeting back at our Swindon office, I guess I will have to go back another day to enjoy their ‘Sparkling Afternoon Tea’ which includes scones and Prosecco and if I make it a long lunch I’d probably start with the curry!