Basildon - Festival Leisure

Average Rating: 
3.58 / 5

Staff: 
Average: 4.3 (4 votes)
Speed: 
Average: 4 (2 votes)
Decoration: 
Average: 4.5 (2 votes)
Food: 
Average: 4.5 (2 votes)
Festival Leisure Park
Festival Way
SS14 3WB
01268 530228
Nearby: 
Parking: 
Gallery
Photos submitted by: Pompey Ranger
Photos submitted by: RYN Admin
Photos submitted by: RYN Admin
Full Reviews:
Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
10-50
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
4.75 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
5 (Wow, I feel incredibly welcome! Recognised if a frequent visitor)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
5 (Nando's fit for a King - The very best (Please tell us why)!
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
5 (An exceptional Nando's! (Please tell us why) )
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Served by a really friendly helpful guy named Vince. I had ordered the incorrect roll, he was so kind and it was no trouble at all for him to quickly exchange my roll for a pitta!. We was made to feel very welcome, our drinks were refilled frequently and the food was hot and fresh.

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
10-50
How Busy?: 
25+ minute wait - come on Nando's!
Date of Last Visit: 
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Time of Day: 
Mid-afternoon or late evening
Rating: 
3.13 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
2 (15 - 25 mins - Where's the food? Might have asked a staff member)
Quality of Food: 
3.5 (Average but with lots of peri-spice)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Need to improve on waiting areas as their sometimes is around 20+ people waiting for a table and gets really squished. Tables are very close togeather leaving you to bump into the table behind.

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 5 (1 vote)
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Time of Day: 
Mid-afternoon or late evening
Rating: 
4.38 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
5 (Under 5 mins - I had only just got back with my cutlery and sauce)
Quality of Food: 
4.5 (Great - Very tender, piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

as a saturday night goes i thought the staff acted very proffesional under pressure, they were extremely polite, the chicken was very suculent and the spices rounded of a nice touch, over all the meal was well presented, i would like to point out a man i think was the manager he had a name tag of jimmy i think , may i say he was very helpfull with the public and staff a like, he seemed very hands on, it was only my second visit to the restaurant but would definatly return for more, as i said

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
5-10
How Busy?: 
Half Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Time of Day: 
Weekend Lunch
Rating: 
4.63 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
5 (Wow, I feel incredibly welcome! Recognised if a frequent visitor)
Speed of Service: 
5 (Under 5 mins - I had only just got back with my cutlery and sauce)
Quality of Food: 
4.5 (Great - Very tender, piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Very polite immaculate young lady called Harley was very helpful and nothing too much trouble. Never received a service like this anywhere before especially not in here. Will Deffo come back because of her 5 star . You should be proud to have her on board :D

Gerry Louis's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Gerry Louis
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
3.75 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
4 (Above average - noticeably tastier than normal)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Got to this branch just before 3pm after a 25 minute walk from Eastgate. Spent five minutes walking around Asda looking for the exit with no luck, poor homing pigeon I am...

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
10-50
How Busy?: 
10 - 25 minute wait
Date of Last Visit: 
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Time of Day: 
Weekday Lunch
Rating: 
4.75 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
5 (Wow, I feel incredibly welcome! Recognised if a frequent visitor)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
5 (Nando's fit for a King - The very best (Please tell us why)!
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
5 (An exceptional Nando's! (Please tell us why) )
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Although extremely busy! Staff were great, food was prompt, and the new makeover is beautiful

Pompey Ranger's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 4 (2 votes)
Author: 
Pompey Ranger
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time of Day: 
Weekend Lunch
Rating: 
3.25 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
3 (10 - 15 mins - Nando's average)
Quality of Food: 
2 (Quite disappointing - seems rushed, may have some parts burnt)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This store part of the festival leisure complex on the outskirts of Basildon and has a wealth of free parking which it shares with Empire cinema, Hollywood bowl and other eateries.

Marc RYN's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 5 (2 votes)
Author: 
Marc RYN
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
Half Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Time of Day: 
Weekend Lunch
Rating: 
4.38 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
5 (Wow, I feel incredibly welcome! Recognised if a frequent visitor)
Speed of Service: 
5 (Under 5 mins - I had only just got back with my cutlery and sauce)
Quality of Food: 
3.5 (Average but with lots of peri-spice)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

It was time for a Rate Your Nando's team adventure to a Nando's which neither James nor I had previously frequented for Sunday lunch and Basildon Festival Leisure fitted the bill perfectly. We arrived within about 40 minutes and felt most welcomed to the area by various enticing road signs! We managed to locate the Nando's in the Leisure Park after a minor moment of uncertainty given the usual complications when using a post code for a leisure centre with no street number.

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
No votes yet
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Monday, January 6, 2014
Time of Day: 
Weekend Lunch
Rating: 
3.25 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
3 (Average - just as you would expect)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Chosen kids desert not available.
They were taking the Xmas decorations off around us ... standing on chairs to do so, and then 2 minutes later customers sitting down on those chairs!

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 3.3 (3 votes)
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
10-50
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
4.38 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
4.5 (Great - Very tender, piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
5 (An exceptional Nando's! (Please tell us why) )
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This is my favourite Nando's restaurant by far! Friendly staff, quick service and always clean. This is a great starting point before mentioning the actual food! The chicken is always cooked very well, with a generous amount of sauce given (mango and lime - my favourite!). I always enjoy going to this Nando's as I know I will never be disappointed.
I usually go in the evenings and it's usually very busy - another good indication that the restaurant and staff are a big success.

Anonymous's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 2 (1 vote)
Author: 
Anonymous (not verified)
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
2.75 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
2 (Quite disappointing - seems rushed, may have some parts burnt)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
2 (An old Nando's, needs some investment)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

My first and last visit to a Nandos. If a restaurant specialises in just one thing I.e chicken, then it should not only be good but exceptional. Our chicken was dry luke warm and tasteless . If it had been marinated in something then it must have been fresh air. The chips were also Luke warm and floppy and the salad was small boring and tired.
You can get better chicken from an average fish and chip shop and certainally better chips.

cmunday89's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 5 (1 vote)
Author: 
cmunday89
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
4.5 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
5 (Under 5 mins - I had only just got back with my cutlery and sauce)
Quality of Food: 
4 (Above average - noticeably tastier than normal)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
5 (An exceptional Nando's! (Please tell us why) )
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Very quick and excellent service. Food came out fresh and tasty. Restaurant was very quiet however staff were seen to be working hard still.

Ryan's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 4.5 (2 votes)
Author: 
Ryan
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
A few tables occupied
Date of Last Visit: 
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Time of Day: 
Weekday Dinner
Rating: 
2.38 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
2 (Quite rude, ignored me as they walked past)
Speed of Service: 
2 (15 - 25 mins - Where's the food? Might have asked a staff member)
Quality of Food: 
2.5 (Average but needs more peri spice)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This Nando's is on the Festival Leisure park, which has no fewer than three hotels, a cinema, bowling alley and other pubs/eateries. There are hundreds of free spaces - so easy to get to.

Archive's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 4 (2 votes)
Author: 
Archive
Number of Visits: 
2-5
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Time of Day: 
Weekend Dinner (Inc Friday)
Rating: 
2.25 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
2 (15 - 25 mins - Where's the food? Might have asked a staff member)
Quality of Food: 
2 (Quite disappointing - seems rushed, may have some parts burnt)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
2 (An old Nando's, needs some investment)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Easily the worst branch of nandos we have been to and we have visited about 10 between us. Service is terrible: the servers seem to be brain dead and no sense of urgency about the place. Table in between two doors ( bad design) so was freezing throughout our very long wait. Could see our food sitting waiting to be brought to us for ages. Chicken Luke warm and burnt.

Archive's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 2.5 (2 votes)
Author: 
Archive
Number of Visits: 
10-50
How Busy?: 
25+ minute wait - come on Nando's!
Date of Last Visit: 
Friday, July 15, 2011
Time of Day: 
Weekend Dinner (Inc Friday)
Rating: 
2.88 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
3 (Not bad. Did everything I asked of them)
Speed of Service: 
2 (15 - 25 mins - Where is the food? Might have asked a staff member)
Quality of Food: 
3.5 (Average but with lots of peri-spice)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Overall not to shabby had a good night and went to the cinema which is next door then into chicago's after that which again is next door! Parking is good if you get there early enough but if your using public transport it can be a pain to get to!

Damien's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 2.5 (2 votes)
Author: 
Damien
Number of Visits: 
This was my first visit
How Busy?: 
Almost Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Time of Day: 
Weekend Lunch
Rating: 
3.63 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
3 (10 - 15 mins - Nando's average)
Quality of Food: 
4.5 (Great - Very tender,piping hot, not at all burnt, dripping in sauce)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
3 (Standard Nando's, nothing bad, nothing exceptional)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

The Festival Leisure Park "BasVegas" Nando's was the 33rd to open in the UK, and much in the same vein as the Cheshire Oaks branch, is bolted onto a cinema, bowling alley, night club, and various other chain restaurants, surrounded by a large car park.
On entering, we stood at the door for quite a while, waiting to be greeted by staff members who were off doing other things. It seemed nobody was set on door to table duty, but that's pretty much where my complaints end.

Archive's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 4 (2 votes)
Author: 
Archive
Number of Visits: 
50+
How Busy?: 
10 - 25 minute wait
Date of Last Visit: 
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Time of Day: 
Mid-afternoon or Late Evening
Rating: 
4.5 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
5 (Wow, I feel incredibly welcome! Recognised if a frequent visitor)
Speed of Service: 
3 (10 - 15 mins - Nando's average)
Quality of Food: 
5 (Nando's fit for a King - The very best (Please tell us why)!
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
5 (An exceptional Nando's! (Please tell us why) )
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

Basildon branch is as good as all the other Nando's out there! But it lacks size and it gets pretty rammed in there. It could do with an extension into the main lobby of the cinema which I'm sure they would allow. It seems like it has been forgotten and needs some SPICE to it just like its peri-peri. I hope you take this into consideration.

I eat at nandos atleast 50+ a year easy, me and my Girlfriend visit frequently together and order a wide range off the menu, we LOVE it!

DanB's picture
How Helpful?: 
Average: 3.5 (2 votes)
Author: 
DanB
Number of Visits: 
2-5
How Busy?: 
Half Full
Date of Last Visit: 
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Time of Day: 
Weekend Dinner (Inc Friday)
Rating: 
4 / 5
Friendliness of Staff: 
4 (Good stuff. Very polite)
Speed of Service: 
4 (5 - 10 mins - Some conversation had begun)
Quality of Food: 
4 (Above average - noticeably tastier than normal)
Decoration & Cleanliness: 
4 (Very clean, newly furnished, impressive artwork and lighting)
Comments - Stand out in our monthly competition! What did you eat? Unique aspects? Parking/transport tips?: 

This is a really nice Nando's; clean and well decorated with friendly and helpful staff. The food arrived quickly and was of a really high standard.