Nine of our family gathered as usual for our pre-Christmas Sunday lunch at the Jolly Fisherman in Craster, Northumberland.
We were met with – you have only booked for seven – everyone looked at me – I protested that was not the case, I always book for nine. With a reluctant response from the manager – we were shown to a table for seven with two more place settings and chairs squeezed in.
No Christmas menu, and no real vegetarian main course in sight. I asked if there was a Christmas menu and what was the vegetarian option. The Christmas menu was not till next weekend and the vegetarian option was a Ploughman’s lunch with ham! Family wanted to get up and leave, but I said it didn’t matter, I would have the Ploughman’s. A few minutes later a very grumpy waitress came and said there was a vegetarian option which they could do.
The food was extremely average and the service apart from a very pleasant french girl was decidedly reluctant.
Such a pity, the Jolly Fisherman is situated in one of the most beautiful positions on the Northumbrian Coastal Walk and the restaurant was not full. Everyone was disappointed and asked if we could go to the Craster Fish restaurant instead next year!