Buzzworksholdings Reviews 

We recently visited Scott’s in Troon and, first of all, I want to say that all of the staff we encountered were great. Everyone was well presented, polite and friendly, always smiling and checking that everything was okay. I genuinely couldn’t fault the attitude of any member of staff.

Unfortunately, the rest of the experience left me feeling a little underwhelmed.

The food was okay, but that’s really as far as I could go. It wasn’t anything to shout about, not even a little bit. For the amount we spent on main courses, sides and desserts, I wanted to come away thinking, “Wow, that was worth it, I’d happily spend that again.” Instead, I came away thinking I probably wouldn’t.

For me, a good test of a dessert is whether you’re sitting there thinking you could eat another one, even though physically you know you couldn’t! I certainly didn’t feel that way here.

I completely appreciate that eating out has become more expensive, but for me it’s not necessarily about the expense, it’s about value. If you have a fantastic meal and experience, you don’t mind what you’ve spent because you leave feeling it was worth it. I’ve eaten in restaurants a quarter of the size, often for considerably less money, and left thinking, “WOW, I’m definitely coming back.” Sadly, I didn’t have that feeling here.

Although the staff were always polite, the service itself also felt very slow. There seemed to be a long wait before our order was taken, another long wait for the food, and then another wait before being asked whether we wanted anything else. Even getting the bill and paying seemed to take a long time. Perhaps they were understaffed that day, I’m not sure, but it definitely affected the overall experience.

One other thing I’m not particularly keen on is the automatically added service charge. I realise this isn’t isolated to Scott’s or Buzzworks and is becoming increasingly common in the UK, but I really dislike this American-style approach to tipping.

The bill explains that the service charge goes to the staff and that you can ask for it to be removed, but that puts the customer in the awkward position of having to specifically ask for it to be taken off. Personally, I think it should be the other way around. Ask whether the customer would like to add a tip rather than automatically adding one.

That doesn’t mean I never tip. I absolutely do, but I believe a tip should recognise service or an experience that goes above and beyond what you’re already paying for. In a restaurant at this price point, table service, politeness and attentiveness are things I already expect as part of the experience.

Overall, the staff themselves were lovely and I have no criticism of how friendly or polite they were. But taking the food, price, waiting times and service charge together, I left feeling underwhelmed rather than impressed.

I actually have a group booking at another venue within the group next month, and unfortunately this experience has left me questioning whether I want to go ahead with hosting it there. I really wanted to leave Scott’s thinking, “That was great, I can’t wait to come back.” I just didn’t.

Their recent revamp of the new online app is very skewed towards them ; having been patrons since the inception of the business, we were regulars garnering decent points/discounts towards future visits. Unfortunately, in recent years, the quality has tanked and the prices have become uncomfortably high. “We” are not responsible for COVID and its subsequent damage to hospitality, but we are being treated like we are ?!

Having seriously limited our attendance as a result ( and observing a drop in their general demographic ) it came as a surprise that they appeared to have noticed and started a promo called “Happy Days”.

We booked a midweek attendance and the bill still came to circa £80 , for relatively little in consumption. Furthermore , the app has awarded us nothing in return as we are now in a tier that earns nothing until we spend ( on my reckoning ) several hundreds of pounds. My previous unsubstantial balance has also disappeared.

Nice try, but never again.

Might I suggest that HMRC ( or trustpilot ) enquire why this trustpilot business review listing , states it is a company registered in the U.S. , when it’s actually listed ( in Companies House ) as Kilmarnock , East Ayrshire ?

Went to Scotts in Troon for lunch.
Soup of the day was a vegetable curry soup but was so salty for me it was on the verge of being inedible although my partner didn't seem to find it just as bad.
Main courses were lovely and tasty.
Lady who served us was a bit dour and a bit lacking in customer service skills. More efficient than social and welcoming.
The main two issues for this review are:

"Optional" service charge of 10% was automatically added to the bill. I always usually give 10% unless there is an issue which is very seldom but I object to the automatic charge.
Customers tend to just accept the charge as I did due to being embarrassed to ask for it to be removed. This is why these companies do it. It has spoiled my experience and I won't be back. I will stick to The Duke where the charge is not added when there are only 2 of you.

My next issue is the new 'Benefit 2' described as:

"the smarter, more rewarding version of our loyalty program, designed to bring you even more value, flexibility, and exclusive perks"
Well...not in my experience and not in anyone else's I have spoken to either.
This has been a change to benefit the company and not the customer. I am worse off as a result.
This used to be a decent customer focused company. Not any more in my experience.

Went to the Fox Troon two years ago as it was not long opened, dreadful experience, however, as thought they couldn't possibly be as bad and must have improved decided to try it once more.
For anyone that has not been the Fox lives upto it's reputation as being the worst pub I've ever been to. Lethargic staff eventually showed us to a table, twenty minutes later someone came to ask if we wanted a drink, which took another ten minutes to arrive even though the bar was empty. Eventually a menu was provided and twenty minutes later someone finally came to take the order. The food eventually arrived, and it was disgusting. They had burnt and dehydrated my meal so it was glued to the plate and inedible, and for the first time in my life I sent a meal back.
The staff don't have a clue what they are doing and there is nobody in charge so it's just a feral adolescent student doss.
The fox in Troon is an embarrassment to the town.
Avoid this place at all costs.

Myself my wife and my daughter went to the Longhouse Kilmarnock last Thursday afternoon for my daughters nineteenth birthday gave our order and asked for drinks my daughter ordered a cocktail to which the waitress asked for Id which is fair my daughter stated she hadn't brought it as she was with her parents etc. The waitress was very condescending and made my daughter feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. I explained to the girl that she was my only child and had her name and date of birth tattooed on my forearms, she still wouldn't budge I then explained my daughter was a student nurse and it was her birthday again to which she replied well that's all very nice but it doesn't help. I discussed with my wife and daughter and we decided to leave. I wasn't happy and phoned the head office and spoke to a nice girl who said that it wasn't acceptable and she was sure the general manager would want to discuss it, I said that would be fine. It came to Sunday I hadn't heard anything, so I emailed the head office, I am pretty sure it was the same girl she was quite shocked and said she would chase up the general manager of the Longhouse and include an operations manager in the email it is now Wednesday evening and I have heard nothing. It is very poor service and after service which I am shocked about as it is put me off using one of their outlets again... A further update still have heard nothing from this business and from what I have seen online they have no interest in answering critisim of any sort. They seem to be only interested in money at any price. I would suggest try somewhere else...

Extremely disappointed with Thirty Knots South Queensferry

Reservation made on Tuesday 10Dec 24 for an 80th birthday celebration dinner on Sat 25th Jan 25 @ 7pm.
We arrived at 6.55pm to find the restaurant was very busy and were advised our table would be ready in 15minutes and were asked to take a seat in the bar. The bar was jam packed and two of our party were being jostled by others who passed. We were then advised at 7.20 it would be a further 15 minutes before we could be seated at our table. It took a further 30 minutes until our table was ready and we were eventually seated at 7.55pm. 55 minutes after our reservation time.
While the waitressing staff were very apologetic, the management was extremely erratic. It turned out they had accepted many ‘walk in’s earlier that evening, to the disadvantage of those who had made a reservation.
Beware: Reservations don’t necessarily mean your table will be ready even remotely on time. Profit over people and completely unacceptable. Poor show Buzzworks, Thirty Knots have let you down on this occasion.

Had dinner tonight in the Longhouse Kilmarnock. . had an issue, waitress fetched the manager, 5 mins later not only resolved, but resolved in a 1st class manner. I would go as far as to say it’s the best customer service I’ve ever had in my life !!