I visited the Hand and Flower on Mothers Day this year as I always do, we made our booking 3 weeks ago and were advised that there was a special Mothers Day Menu and a gift for all Mothers.(no gift, not even a flower on the table)
We booked our table for 6 people at 15:00hrs. You can imagine our surprise at being told that they had sold out of 2 of the 5 or 6 starters and 2 of the 4 or 5 sweets that should have been on offer.
I could understand the situation if we had booked the table for early evening or had just turned up the day.
We did try and speak to one of the waitresses (who has worked there for quite a long time) and she couldn't have cared less, I got fed up of waiting for a drink so went to the bar myself, this took 10 mins to get served as there was only one barman. I made a comment to the barman who stated that the other person who should be serving was having his diner! I only hope that they hadn't run out of what he wanted!
Has the Hand and Flower got new owners? I use this pub on a regular basis and have never come across such bad service. After leaving I went to the Cardinal on Tudor Drive who had 140 people for lunch and the place was buzzing, we had our sweet in the Cardinal! All tables had a red rose and complimentary chocolates on them.I fully recommend the Cardinal to anyone who wants good food, great atmosphere, and can serve what is on the menu.
The Hand and Flower will have to up it's game or it will continue to loose customers.
Regards,
A very dissatisfied local....

As promised I took all my family back to The Hand and Flower,well we were spoilt rotten, yes we know it's Christmas. We were made to feel so special the food was great, service a tad slow, but they were full, It's almost cheaper there than to eat at home, and far less hassle!! I am looking forward to summer in their garden the kids will love it.
John Dufton

I had lunch in the Hand and Flower today 15th December, the place
was full as one would expect so near Christmas the food was really good and excellent value, the service also was really first class, I talked to the people on the next table an they thought the same and
explained they were there most weeks and so were many of their friends. I will take my family again, thank you Hand and Flower.
J D

Dear Sirs
On Sunday 22nd November my wife and I ate at the Hand and Flower. Our visit was basically based on the write up and review from the local Kingston Leisure magazine. Upon ordering the meals on arrival firstly the meals were incorrect as were ordered by another table, , secondly , when the meals arrived they were both cold and both meals were then returned and reheated. Once returning the meals the meat covered the over cooked and burnt potatoes which were well and craftily hidden by the meat. Understand the restaurant was busy but staff on the day were very unhelpful and the service was very, very poor.

Rather than a proper Sunday roast was basically meat that was prepared and simply heated with vegetables which appeared out of a frozen bag rather than the normal fresh veg . Yorkshire pudding was definitely not freshly made