The Post House in Stafford

[iknow.uk.com]

New to the site - but wanted to share my thoughts/experience on my recent visit to the Post House - searched for the topic and found these 5 pages of thread - boy, what an interesting and varied range of reactions!

Personally I am thrilled with the addition of an extremely up-market addition to my locality.

I should confess, I'm almost definitely their target market & that's kinda the point, guys!! If you've tried it (rather than taking virtual offense!) & you're not keen, that's NOT because THEY missed - they just weren't aiming for you!

As a 45 yr old female (not that you'd know it - love my surgeon!!), relatively financially comfortable, ex-Londoner (settled down in Staffs to breed and enjoy this beautiful county) with a passion for great food, wine and general aesthetics - I have been, almost literally, starved of quality food-based stimuli in Stafford!

The Post House is a venue of deep quality - an architectural landmark with top quality modern interiors.

They're new, and with their sights and standards set terrifically high! Good on 'em! They are providing employment for local people - who I doubt have spent little time in 5* establishments - so guess what? They're learning - but my experience was they were warm, smiley, nervous, the very opposite of slick and boy, I felt nervous for them - but they were EAGER to please and do a great job! In a few short weeks/months I have faith they will be wonderful! [And how outraged would we be if they have brought in smooth outsiders!]

I don't believe it is meant to be primarily a bar/club! At my ripe old age and living my pampered life - on the rare occasions my Mommy-duties allow me to go out, I want to go and have a Michelin starred meal, with wines chosen by a relaxed Sommelier, before popping downstairs to the cool 'cigar' bar for a cocktail or two, followed by a mildly intoxicated shimmy on a small but perfectly formed dancefloor!

This place is the embodiment of a dream I hadn't even dared dream for here!

Last nights dinner in Pillar was excellent! The menu is short, and frankly not that perfectly formed - having a seasonal bias I'm not keen on (turkeys? What IS their point!!) At the end of the meal, the charmingly earnest and passionate chef Matt came out to meet his diners and get feedback - he was able to explain cogently and persuasively how he came to be involved. Staffs has some amazing local produce, he has worked for a very long time under Gordon Ramsay (don't hold that against him, please!!) and is knowledgeable and devoted to making this place a must go to venue.

He wants to build slowly and surely, hence the limited numbers and menu - but in speedy time will be on to the full a la carte menu, Chef's table and I truly believe it will be fabulous......Petrus watch out!!!

We had a three course dinner for two, and wines in a stylish venue with great ambience & sweet, attentive service for less than £150.00 - I've spent that on meals elsewhere in our location (no names, no pack-drill) and had nothing LIKE the pleasure this gave.

Yes, it's not for everyone - is anything!!

But at £45 a head I think that is exceptional value for what is delivered....and I feel confident this is just the start! (Of the prices probably!

Anyway, before I get offered a job as their Comms and PR bird I'll sign off!

Season of goodwill, guys!

;-D

 

[Admin]

Welcome to Stafford Forum, iknow.uk.com!

Thanks for the review. Interesting username you have chosen - I don't think I've ever seen one with so many full-stops in before! I can't help but notice the correlation with the following:

iknow-UK is a UK based online advertising directory for accommodation, food and drink, attractions, shopping and travel.

Any relation? I was just intrigued by your username, so Googled it and that was one of the first results!

Also, when you say:

I should confess, I'm almost definitely their target market & that's kinda the point, guys!! If you've tried it (rather than taking virtual offense!)

That implies that people are "taking offense" based purely on what they read here, when if you read the thread you will clearly see that everyone who has commented on the venue has done so because they are lucky enough to have visited it!

If you have been tasked by The Post House to post on their behalf, you'd be wise to read through the thread and heed the advice I gave earlier:

...I hope they take the criticisms on the chin and realise the potential The Forum offers them for gaining genuine, honest feedback/market research (for free) and use it to properly engage with and respond to their client-base, rather than just go in a huff and dismiss us as 'moaning minnies' like Super Radio Stafford did (and we all saw how long they lasted).

I feel like sometimes people see The Forum as a single entity, with a single goal or motive, and so dismiss it if they see something they don't like or something negative directed towards something they have an interest in. Businesses/entrepreneurs/etc. need to understand that The Forum is completely unbiased, and merely a place for the people of Stafford to voice their opinions. If one disagrees with something that is posted, then one should post a rebuttal - that is the very essence of debate and discussion!

 

[iknow.uk.com]

Thank you for my welcome

Delighted to confirm that despite all the dots I am in no way connected to the site you mention - nor have I been tasked by TPH to promote or report on their establishment in any way! Just part of the great unwashed with things on my mind.........

[I loved the name Governator - but turns out it was taken!]

My comment re the virtual offense was prompted by a comment in this thread - quote 'Uhm is anyone else a little affronted by this remark? If they don't really want Stafford people in their establishment then i politely suggest that they f off to where their target market live then!
I was considering going but now wild horses couldn't drag me.'

But I'm always up for heeding advice!

 

[Rikki]

Hate to say it but reading that post I was quite suspicious before I saw admins follow up.

 

[My Name is URL]

Hate to say it but reading that post I was quite suspicious before I saw admins follow up.

Great minds think alike obviously.... I hate being so suspicious of "newcomers" but the above post reads more like a marketing brochure, not someones genuine positive feedback....

And the username seems highly unlikely to have been plucked out of the air....

 

[grumpystaffordguy]

@iknow.uk.com - You are having a laugh. You must have had good fun writing that!

Do the company pay you in advance or do you write the post and then ask them for money afterwards?

 

[basil]

it seems that TPH has what customers are prepared to pay for, yet they are unable to deliver..... idiots!.......

 

[Gramaisc]

it seems that TPH has what customers are prepared to pay for, yet they are unable to deliver..... idiots!.......

Bit harsh?..

 

[iknow.uk.com]

Really sorry to see such negativity and suspicion.

I will repeat one time only - I am in no way connected to TPH, and have not been or expect to be, rewarded by any kind of inducement or reward for what is my personal opinion.

I am genuinely delighted to see an establishment of this nature and quality in Stafford and was really wowed by my experience and hold great positivity for what the place could become - I am aware of this site and wanted to share my experience (all the more so after reading a lot of quite negative views, conjecture and gossip).

I'm not sure it would be helpful to ponder on the basis for these responses - and I don't wish to stand accused of 'protesting too much' so I shall sadly leave it there - unless called on to provide further defence.

 

[basil]

it seems that TPH has what customers are prepared to pay for, yet they are unable to deliver..... idiots!.......

Bit harsh?..

Not at all, they offer a product/experience that some are prepared to pay for then they fail to deliver......

 

[Admin]

Really sorry to see such negativity and suspicion.

I will repeat one time only - I am in no way connected to TPH, and have not been or expect to be, rewarded by any kind of inducement or reward for what is my personal opinion.

I am genuinely delighted to see an establishment of this nature and quality in Stafford and was really wowed by my experience and hold great positivity for what the place could become - I am aware of this site and wanted to share my experience (all the more so after reading a lot of quite negative views, conjecture and gossip).

I'm not sure it would be helpful to ponder on the basis for these responses - and I don't wish to stand accused of 'protesting too much' so I shall sadly leave it there - unless called on to provide further defence.

No, that's fair enough!

If iknow.uk.com says she is unaffiliated, then so be it. As she says, she is entitled to her opinion, and clearly she had a lovely evening at The Post House, so thank you for posting your results, iknow.uk.com.

 

[darben]

Hi iknow.uk.com and welcome to the forum. It was good to get a view from someone that has the full experience of the post house. I enjoy going to nice establishments & went in to try lunch especially as when i had walked past earlier there was an amazing aroma floating around. Sadly i didn't even get near a sniff of the food or a drink inside so left.

I think it is great that someone has brought this venture into the town, I will go and try it out but it will be next year when hopefully it's customer service is more slick I don't really want to pay to be a practice piece for their staff to hone their skills on.

 

[basil]

it seems that TPH has what customers are prepared to pay for, yet they are unable to deliver..... idiots!.......

Bit harsh?..

Not at all, they offer a product/experience that some are prepared to pay for then they fail to deliver......

Furthermore i fly with Ryanair at least 20 times each year and by and large they stick to their part of the deal........

 

[iknow.uk.com]

Thanks, Darben.

Know what you mean - think I'm happy to cut them a bit of slack in the 'just launched honeymoon/novelty period' but they'll get my rather pointy feedback if there aren't regularly improving standards over time!

 

[tek-monkey]

Its good to see something like this in the 'ford, but I know I am not their target market. £150 is roughly 10% of my monthly take home, I can't just jizz that on a meal when it'd feed the whole family for 2 weeks easily. Especially if they liked mexican

 

[Withnail]

I'm not sure it would be helpful to ponder on the basis for these responses - and I don't wish to stand accused of 'protesting too much' so I shall sadly leave it there...

For what it's worth (not much) i thought it was an entertaining and well written post.

And you are right, some people did seem to making their minds up about the place without actually going. Seeing as accusations are being bandied about, it is not impossible that some of the negative comments may have come from less than uninterested parties, who's to know? I think it may be worth keeping an open mind.

Having said that, i'm not exactly their target market - difference is i don't have a problem with that.

 

[ATJ]

I'm happy to see a place like The Post House in town and I hope it becomes a success. My worry is that be focussing so exclusively on the upmarket target, they won't actually be able to survive. To be able to survive on 'special occasion' diners only, they really will need to attract people from a long way away.

 

[darben]

I'm happy to see a place like The Post House in town and I hope it becomes a success. My worry is that be focussing so exclusively on the upmarket target, they won't actually be able to survive. To be able to survive on 'special occasion' diners only, they really will need to attract people from a long way away.

I used to work with people in the black country who reminist about their visits to 'top of the world' apparently the youth of the day used to get coached in from quite a condsiderable radius as it was the place to be.

What I'm trying to say is that if its 'got it' people will come. If it works it will be great for the town and will attract more people, the town could really do with a bit of oomph, it has the potential to be a really beautiful town and if such ventures attract 'the right people' here it will improve for the better.

 

[Gadget]

Thank you for my welcome

Delighted to confirm that despite all the dots I am in no way connected to the site you mention - nor have I been tasked by TPH to promote or report on their establishment in any way! Just part of the great unwashed with things on my mind.........

[I loved the name Governator - but turns out it was taken!]

My comment re the virtual offense was prompted by a comment in this thread - quote 'Uhm is anyone else a little affronted by this remark? If they don't really want Stafford people in their establishment then i politely suggest that they f off to where their target market live then!
I was considering going but now wild horses couldn't drag me.'

But I'm always up for heeding advice!

As that was my remark, i feel i should comment. I made this statement as They have set up a very nice business in the middle of Stafford. The manager then said that Staffordians were not their target market. Thus implying that it is not for us locals and they only want out of town business. i was as i said a little affronted by the implication that although they have set up in 'our' town they don't really want 'us' in there. To not feel welcomed into a place as many folk who have visited the place have not been is quite enough to put me off.

I'm glad that you have had a very sucessful life and are obviously very comfortable from your comments. I'm glad that you had a great time at the post house and really liked it, however a proffesional business should make everyone welcome and treat them eaqualy. You seem to think that because you 'are their target market' they treated you better than they did the other customers who you think are not. It doesn't really work that way. I'm not the London Hilton's target but i expect to be treated and served the same way as the bank of england manager who is.
We are all saying that there is something not quite right there and i really don't think that it is just us who are not right for the place.

 

[dippy1]

I must admit that I was suspicious of iknow.uk.com's post especially as her extremely positive post was posted only 13 minutes after my negative one.

People do need to try the venue out for themselves but unfortunately at the prices they charge, just don't take the whole family.

I do hope they succeed as it is a lovely venue but they will be having no more of my hard earned cash.