The Ivy Reviews 

The Ivy has just arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon, and it didn't disappoint.
Super staff, lovely decor giving a great ambiance and really fabulous food.
Look forward to going again.

We've been regulars to the Ivy and Ivy Asia in St. Pauls and just been the Ivy Asia in Cardiff. Just disappointed with the experience and way below the London version. The food was almost cold and the flavours were all very sweet. Nothing special and on this occasion and we certainly wont be back to this particular restaurant. A shame as we like this chain.

Disgraceful treatment of loyal customers
Immediate withdrawal of loyalty scheme . No warning and little time to spend balance.
Are they trying to upset their most loyal customers!
Who ever made this silly decision should be sacked.
Impossible company to contact head office.

We went to The Ivy in York for my Mother in Law’s birthday. Very expensive prices for very average pub food, in fact I’ve been to lots of better pubs. I had fish and chips. The fish was bland and not well seasoned and for the price I would have expected hand-cut, triple-fried chips or similar, but they were clearly frozen chips, although tasty. It was also uncomfortably hot inside and my son had to go and stand outside for a while to cool down. I would expect much better from somewhere like this. It seems to really have gone downhill and just become another chain that’s at risk of disappearing. The waiter was a bit dour and didn’t appear to be very experienced, or knowledgeable about the menu.

My issue is with The Ivy app and the Ivy customer service online both very very poor. The app is supposed to be linked when you book and get points back but every time I have to email and give them receipt details, every time. The woman I was dealing with via email regarding an issue with a voucher and booking via the hopeless app replied “I did not book it correctly” when the email says click here to book and use voucher. They are not interested and we have not been back, after visits that cost £300+ £250+ and so on. Well there are plenty of other restaurants that are more than happy to accept your custom. Very poor customer service from The Ivy Restaurant Customer Service Department.

Have been a loyal customer for years but shall never eat there again after they just decided to wipe all loyalty points with one month's notice

Extremely disappointing experience at The Ivy City Garden in London — and particularly frustrating because this is the second time this has happened to me at this restaurant.

We had a reservation for two at 6:30pm. The booking confirmation clearly states that parties of up to two have the table for 1 hour and 45 minutes.

However, at approximately 7:38pm — just over one hour after our booking — we were asked to leave while we were still eating. We were simply presented with the bill.

When I raised this with reception, I was told that “probably the next booking arrived early” and they needed the table.

I genuinely couldn’t believe that was the explanation. If another customer arrives early, that is not my responsibility as the customer who has a confirmed reservation and has not exceeded the agreed booking time. I actually said to them, “Not my problem” — because frankly, what else are you supposed to say?

The restaurant’s own booking confirmation says 1 hour 45 minutes. The receipt confirms that we were last served at 7:38pm, meaning we had only been there for approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes.

We were still eating when we were asked to leave.

There was no apology, no explanation that made sense, and no gesture of goodwill or discount. We were charged the full £95.40, including a 12.5% service charge.

I completely understand that restaurants need to manage table bookings. But if the restaurant promises customers a 1 hour 45 minute table allocation, it cannot then expect customers to leave after just over an hour because the next booking has arrived early.

And the fact that this is the second time I have experienced this at The Ivy City Garden makes it even more disappointing.

I have photographs of both the booking confirmation and the receipt showing the timings.

If The Ivy needs a table earlier than the time stated in its booking confirmation, that is a problem for the restaurant to manage — not something the customer should be made to pay for.

Very poor customer service and certainly not the experience I would expect from The Ivy.

What is particularly frustrating is that the restaurant effectively transferred the consequences of its own booking management onto us. We had done nothing wrong: we arrived for our reservation, were still within the agreed dining period and were still eating. The fact that the next reservation apparently arrived early should not override the booking terms that had been given to us.

If the restaurant routinely needs tables back earlier than the time stated in its confirmations, then the booking policy should say so clearly. Customers should not be promised 1 hour 45 minutes and then be asked to leave after barely an hour because another table has arrived.

Beautiful restaurant. Nice staff. The food is very poor though

Our waiter Luis was absolutely fantastic very attentive and so caring as we had just dropped our son off at university, and were quite stressed with the situation. Luis was so caring and made us feel so much better about it, he was also really helpful about our choice of food and drink and recommended the alcohol free lager as I was driving, I have to say it was lovely. We will definitely be coming back as everything about the evening was fantastic. Thank you Luis

Ivy Marlow
Overcharged by £22 +!
Refund took some time to negotiate as staff were reluctant to accept they had made a mistake.
Apology made but no offer of reparation.
Not impressed

My Son and Daughter took me to the Ivy in Harrogate for my 90th birthday last Wednesday. The Staff were marvellous and the food was gorgeous. We had Champagne and I was given a delicious dessert and also a cake with a candle in it. There were 8 of us and I could not have had a better birthday.

I am a longstanding customer of The Ivy and have always regarded the brand as one that should represent a very high standard of hospitality and customer service. Unfortunately, my experience with Ivy Rewards customer service today was extremely disappointing.

I had approximately £20 of rewards / 400 points on my account and had previously checked with staff at several Ivy locations, including High Street Kensington, Windsor and near Victoria, and had been told that my points would remain available for me to use.

This weekend is my son's 18th birthday. He travelled down from Peterborough and I had suggested The Ivy Chelsea Garden for his birthday celebration with friends. When I logged into my account, I was shocked to discover that the rewards had disappeared.

I immediately called customer service and spoke to a lady called Sabina. I explained the situation and also explained that I have ongoing disability and medical difficulties which have made dealing with administrative matters particularly challenging.

Rather than trying to assist or even investigate the missing rewards, I found the manner in which I was spoken to dismissive and condescending. I was effectively told that she was not interested in whether I had a booking at an Ivy restaurant in Chelsea or elsewhere and that the points would not be reinstated.

When I asked her to repeat her name, I was sharply told, "I have already told you my name."

I found this completely unacceptable from a premium hospitality brand.

I was not asking for a large amount of compensation or making an unreasonable demand. I was simply asking for £20 of rewards that had been removed!

We have been to a few different Ivy restaurants and always found them to be terrific
My daughter bought my wife a gift voucher for her 70 we live in Leicester so don’t have a Ivy She decided to try the Birmingham Ivy so we had an over night stay to celebrate
I must say we where disappointed
The food and Service was not a patch on other Ivy we have visited
All things considered a very poor experience and something I didn’t expect from the Ivy brand

Food. Not for me.
Staff were nice but food took a while to arrive

I had a valid, pre-arranged booking for the terrace, yet upon arrival, your staff member stated the terrace was closed and unavailable—and gave this as the reason we could not be seated there. This was not true. Shortly afterwards, when we said that if we could not be seated on the terrace as per our booking then we would leave, suddenly there was a table on the terrace! Additionally, we clearly saw other guests being seated on the terrace, which was fully open and in use. This means we were deliberately misled and denied the area we had booked in advance.

We use these restaurants on regular occasions and even have a loyalty card, so we are left extremely disappointed.

This behaviour is unacceptable, dishonest, and deeply disappointing. We made plans around this booking, only to be lied to and treated unfairly. It is a breach of trust and falls far below the standard of honesty and respect customers are entitled to.

Sadly, our table was positioned directly in front of the bar, with staff constantly walking past us to access the corner. As a party of four, we asked if we could move to another vacant table, also set for four. We were immediately told no, as the restaurant was fully booked.
I explained that we would simply be exchanging one table for another of the same size, so this would not affect any bookings. The member of staff consulted a manager, but the request was still refused, with the explanation that the table had been reserved/requested. What was particularly frustrating was that the table remained completely unused throughout our lunch, and the restaurant subsequently emptied considerably.

The location of our table detracted so much from the experience that we decided to stop drinking and skipped dessert. Despite this, we still spent around £100 per head.

What disappointed us most, however, was the attitude we encountered. The response felt indifferent and unwelcoming, with little warmth or effort to make us feel valued as customers. Had this not been a celebration for my son, I would have left.

We left feeling genuinely underappreciated. When spending this level of money, you expect not only good food, but also a sense that your custom matters. Sadly, that was missing, and we will not be returning.

Went to The Ivy in Bath today? Great all round. Served by the excellent Rory

Very Disappointed - we both had sirloin steak, chips & peppercorn sauce - the worse piece of steak I've ever had - full of fat & grissle hardly any steak - questioned if it was actually sirloin - there were more peppercorns in the tiny portion than actual sauce - best thing were the chips and the lovely waitress - £117 bill for a few chips & glass.of cider - returned home hungry - NOT IMPRESSED AT ALL & WILL NOT RETURN & WOULD.NOT RECOMMEND !!!

I went for dinner on Saturday night with my partner and although the food was lovely, the service was very poor.

Upon arrival we were asked what drinks we wanted and we told them just tonic waters as we don’t drink alcohol.

Soon after 2 glasses of champagne were brought to the table and we thanked the waiter but told them we don’t drink.

Another waiter then brought the glasses to our table again and set them down when I made a joke to lighten the mood saying we actually don’t drink anymore and are being good to which the waiter looked at us making us feel as though we were causing offence to not take them.

They didn’t apologise for assuming we drink and for bringing them down twice even though we had told them we don’t drink on arrival.

Just handled badly in my opinion and an uncomfortable experience.

Spent a lot of money and left a tip but the handling of the situation was very inappropriate.

Went to The Ivy in Liverpool for a girlie break and cannot praise the staff enough.

The whole evening in Ivy Asia was amazing from the staff that were exceptional to Tom who kept our drinks flowing.