Christmas Day was a bit of a flop for some, as Miller & Carter in Hockley Heath had to cancel festive plans at the last minute. Families who had booked a special Christmas meal were left scrambling after the restaurant announced a sudden kitchen malfunction. Imagine arriving at a steakhouse only to find out that the ovens couldn’t be turned on due to a faulty extractor fan.
James Munro and his family of 13 were one of the many parties affected. James, whose sister travelled all the way from Devon, found out from a friend that the restaurant was closed and there was no official notification until the moment they showed up. Despite pre-paying £100 per adult and £60 per child for a special day, they were left wondering where to go next. Their festive meal turned into a pick-and-mix from Little Waitrose.
Miller & Carter, feeling the heat, expressed their regret and explained the issue, which was apparently discovered at 9am on Christmas morning during routine checks. They had engineers trying to fix the problem all morning but needed a replacement part sourced from Blackburn, which took time.
The steakhouse promised a refund and apologised to all affected families. But for many, including James, the offer of a complimentary meal didn’t quite make up for the festive fiasco, especially for those who planned this visit as a highlight of their holiday.
Despite the chaos, there was some relief as the restaurant managed to reopen by 6pm, just in time for some late Christmas cheer. The incident highlights the importance of timely communication, especially during a time when everything is closed and alternatives are hard to come by.
A heartfelt message from the Hockley Heath management was posted on Facebook, explaining the unforeseen electrical issue. Thankfully, Miller & Carter resumed normal operations on Boxing Day.
While it was an unexpected hiccup for many, here’s hoping your Christmas feted you with more festive cheer and less culinary chaos! 🎄🥩