Kayleigh C.
Google
My husband and I chose Duchess of Wisbeach for a date night, hoping for a dinner-and-dance experience. While the staff were genuinely friendly and accommodating, the overall experience fell short of expectations.
The décor makes a strong first impression at the entrance, but unfortunately this doesn’t carry through to the rest of the restaurant. The main dining area feels dull and lacks atmosphere. Booking a table requires a non-refundable R1,000 per person, which is unusual. Any unspent amount is converted into restaurant credit, a system we found confusing and restrictive.
The menu pricing is extremely inflated, especially considering the quality of the food. For example, a prawn cocktail consisting of shaved iceberg lettuce and three maybe four prawns coated in pink mayonnaise did not justify its price of R170!
Once the party atmosphere began, no effort was made to create space for dancing. Tables remained in place, resulting in guests constantly bumping into us as they walked past. It became so frustrating that we considered leaving, but were unable to do so because of the remaining credit on our tab.
The unisex bathrooms were another downside, with obvious drug use taking place throughout the evening. Additionally, the DJ was rude and unapproachable. When I requested a song, hoping to dance despite the music not being to our taste, I was flatly refused, although it appeared certain patrons were accommodated.
Overall, this is a very expensive venue offering average food, poor flow, and an experience that seems geared more toward an Instagram photo at the entrance than a genuinely enjoyable night out.
