"Previously had a lovely lunch at the Steam Packet Inn, Totnes so, after travelling a few hundred miles from Suffolk, thought I 'd have breakfast here. Entered bar area at 9am no other guests/customers around. Checked they were still doing breakfast (the board outside said they were) and whether I could have it outside at the tables on the terrace (view of R Dart). Fairly miserable looking woman said I could have it in the bar area (cosyish but dark and no view) as otherwise places were reserved for their residents, who 'took precedence '. I hadn 't seen anyone anywhere inside or outside on my way in, so I checked what she 'd said was correct in this case, so she went off to 'ask the Manager '. After returning, she took me through to the large indoor restaurant area, overlooking the river, where there was literally no one else! I thanked her and said it was a shame not to sit here if it was empty, but I really wanted to sit at the outside tables (also having zero customers) was this possible. She repeated that this inside area is 'for residents in preference ' but that I could take my menu etc outside if I ordered and collected my food from inside the bar there would be no waiting service outside, which is only the other side of the restaurant glass wall. Whilst I can understand all this in high season or at other times when there are myriads of people around, I don 't get it under today 's conditions. Common sense and a desire to welcome and serve have gone awol. I 've been sitting on Vire Island with my take away breakfast (bought from some lovely local cafes well done Curator coffee and Food for Thought), facing the Steam Packet, and there is still a dearth of customers. Their 'computer says no ' attitude and lack of welcome and service will unfortunately make it unlikely I will revisit or recommend it when I move house to just up the road fairly soon. The dearth of customers, at least this potential local/regular one, is on the cards to continue."
