Harbour Inn Reviews Summary

Location & Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Classic pub just outside Southwold. Great location by the boats and water."
• "A true to life, historic old fisherman’s pub. Cracking location, harbour view."
• "Lovely little pub right next to the River. Beautiful to sit outside on a sunny day and watch the world pass by."
• "Beautiful location with fine ales and the chance to walk off fish and chips with a walk along the coastal path, would do it every day if possible."
• "A walk along the beach down to the harbour from Southwold, past colourful beach huts, interesting houses and a working fishing harbour to get to this pub/restaurant."
• "At the harbour at Southwold, so great location. The energetic amongst us can take a pre dining walk, either along the harbour towards the sea, or inland along the country path."
• "Really well situated on the harbour, offering some lovely evening view."

Cons:

• "Council are trying to force you into paid carparks or you have a long walk, it's all designed for affluent people with deep pockets."
• "Plenty of parking but the harbour is under that and looks very run down."
• "Not the greatest of venues to eat in because of the smell from the nearby river."
• "The road down to the pub is a bit to be desired being loose stone and pot holes. It's also not that disabled friendly as there are steps both up and down into the pub."
• "Limited shade though (it was hit & sunny when we visited!)."
• "The only downside was the number of dogs allowed in the place not great when you're sitting eating with dogs everywhere."

Food & Beverages

Pros:

• "The food we did managed to order was fantastic and arrived quickly."
• "Portions are generous."
• "the portions of freshly cooked, really tasty food, are on the big side of just right."
• "some of the best sandwiches and chips in town."
• "food was really lovely and I am not easily impressed."
• "Had been for a walk down the beach and around the harbour, popped in and had a look at the menu, there was a lovely wood fire so we ordered adnams beer battered fish and chips which were lovely, a nice latte and a pot of tea. All round a very pleasant experience."
• "Amazing fish pie, great and friendly service."

Cons:

• "The rest of the meal was Luke warm and dry."
• "Had cod and chips not nice at all the chips were hard and the fish was dry and over cooked."
• "Food had been recommended by friends. I had Dover Sole as 'a special' for £15. It was tiny skinny and had no flavour."
• "basically a large beef tomato stuffed with very little for £11.50. Complete rip off."
• "Food is priced too high for families as the quality isn't there."
• "they had run out of fish pies, crab, lobster, and many other meals on the menu."
• "Used to love it here but last couple of times food very poor, wet, uncooked batter on fish, burnt brioche bun on burger(not just mine but every one I saw come out!) Nasty watery coleslaw, 'steak' burger dry."

Service & Staff

Pros:

• "the old ramshackle Inn had space for us with no waiting."
• "Staff always most welcoming and plenty of parking outside."
• "The staff were all friendly and the service was excellent."
• "Staff were all very happy and lovely."
• "Our waitress was lovely & very professional."
• "Service good, Adnams Ghost Ship excellent. Staff pleasant & smiley."
• "prompt and friendly service."

Cons:

• "Unfortunately to top it off, as we were leaving, someone from the bar area came outside with a floor mop and bucket and proceeded to clean the tables with a mop (that they expected their customers to eat their dinners off)."
• "Management cannot agree on policy and we were asked to leave our tables."
• "the staff member said the pints are pulled and lined up on the bar ready to be collected by the servers, but this pint had no head and looked like it had been on the bar for A LONG time and it tasted BAD."
• "Staff were brusque even though pub wasn't overly busy."
• "Then the food came fish meals great but the burgers 🤢 buns burnt to Ash and 3 of use who had burgers are currently ill and I'm still in bed with extreme stomach pain."
• "we waited over 10 minutes for someone to take our drink order."
• "they only had two people at the bar working, with an endless que of people trying to get drinks, and food orders."