Selina Kindrat Pang

Review of jodhpur

AWFUL VISITOR EXPERIENCE, EXTORTIONATE AND NO FOOD...

AWFUL VISITOR EXPERIENCE, EXTORTIONATE AND NO FOOD OR DRINK AVAILABLE

Visited on the 6 April - first day of the new season - after seeing promotion of Easter events, family activities and additional entertainment. On arrival we were ushered through the car park which had been cordoned off for wedding guests to park in fields over 10 minutes walk from the main grounds unprepared for additional parking, and were left to navigate cars and children around rusting miniature railway parts and building/farm materials. Minimal signage and staffing did not help us navigate our way there or back to the main entrance.



The booth near the farm had no working card machine and no working coffee machine, which meant no hot drinks. On the first day of opening and on a chilly day this is a missed opportunity. The booth is also not wheelchair friendly and another visitor was overlooked whilst we were waiting.

There was a Meet the Lambs pen on arrival at the main courtyard, which was sweet but a little disconcerting to see a little black lamb being picked up by the young handler and then dropped head first onto the cobbled floors. There didn't appear to be handwashing facilities apart from the normal toilets in the courtyard.

The family activities were all located in the Riding School, which was a free for all, completely disorganised and overwhelmed when we arrived, and no designated buggy parking making it an obstacle course both in and outside of the venue.



Outside the restaurant, more savvy visitors were using tables to eat their packed lunch in the cold whilst listening to the poor musicians freezing their bums off for their art/fashion. Sadly one musician made it to the cafe too late with his food voucher and had no sandwich left to exchange for it.



The whole day reeked of teething problems of an unestablished venue, but given that Hatfield House has been open to the public for years and charges an absolute fortune, it was one of the worst visitor experiences I have ever had.