I quite agree about the appalling catering at Tees-side! (Middleton St George airfield). The wife's from Darlington and (as a young lass) worked on the information desk at MME so we have a keen interest in that airport.
However, we've always found the check-in staff friendly (too friendly, 'cos the bloody queue doesn't move!!!) but we've only used Dan-Air (when they were alive) and British Midland (sorry bmi!!!)
May I ask who did you flew with and were they self-handling or handled by Servisair?