The Jolly Boatman Reviews Summary

Service

Pros:

• "Table service is always swift with really friendly, accommodating and attentive staff - very impressed!"
• "Fantastic service with a smile from Sam and Charlotte very attentive to my small children."
• "Staff were amazing especially Olivia, nothing too much trouble, great sense of humour."
• "The two waiters were very friendly & efficient."
• "The staff were lovely and helpful and we're very welcoming."
• "The staff were great, really friendly and nothing was too much effort."
• "Very welcoming staff and landlord who took the time to engage our teenage grandsons in conversation."

Cons:

• "Although it was quiet the service was slow."
• "What let it down most was the service. Staff were abrupt, and made you feel like they wanted you gone as soon as possible."
• "Asked to see manager 3 times before we got to see a very rude man."
• "Rude service, Attitude towards new people not great."
• "Complained to staff & their response was silence."
• "The waiting staff were very nice people but very unorganised."
• "Incredibly slow service (despite booking and it being relatively quiet)."

Location

Pros:

• "Nice location by canal."
• "Lovely pub on a busy road but the canal parallel with outside space and enclosed car park."
• "Staff are great, lovely setting, easy to park."
• "The outdoor seating is pleasantly close to the water but not so close its a worry!"
• "A beautiful canal setting, perfect for a dog walk."
• "Great location right by the canal. Lovely sunny spot."
• "The canal-side venue is lovely with the barges chugging under the bridge, plus walkers and bikers enjoying the rare sunshine."

Cons:

• "Only downside is the main road location."
• "At times a lot of noise from the road which could be busy with fast moving traffic."
• "May be a one off but bitterly disappointed to have booked a birthday meal for 2nd April to be told at 3pm on 1st that they are cancelling."
• "Shame about the fella who lived in the boat on the canal."
• "The kitchen extractors belch burning oil smells all over the outdoor canal side seating."
• "Nice views. Next to a busy main road."
• "The outdoor area at the back was unkept and needs to be refurbished."

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Good sized portions of really well cooked wholesome grub."
• "All the meat (beef, pork and gammon) was well received, good roasties and very good Fish'n'Chips."
• "The shared fisherman's platter starter arrived after 35 minutes with tasty cod pieces, goujons etc."
• "The food quality was amazing."
• "Food was good, had chicken and bacon pie, in a proper case which is always a big bonus."
• "The food was fantastic."
• "Couldn't fault the food, was absolutely delicious."

Cons:

• "Service was good wine was nice food was nasty."
• "The veg was uniformly overdone and soggy."
• "Food ruined my whole experience. Burgers were barely edible. Extremely dry."
• "Unfortunately really sub standard food... Awful service. Shame as it is such a nice location!"
• "Unfortunately mash was really dry. The pie crust was really hard and dry."
• "I had scampi, which was really greasy."
• "Food was over priced for the quality received! Over cooked and anemic."

Atmosphere & Cleanliness

Pros:

• "Lovely ice cold estrella on tap with nice outside seating available on warm days overlooking the canal."
• "The food was good, the place was clean and picturesque."
• "Beautiful views with lovely food."
• "Beautiful setting, the food was really lovely and the staff very friendly and nice."
• "Beautiful location on a summers day to sit and have a drink by the river."
• "Amazing and not long wait time even though it's been a busy & mega hot day."
• "The food was very good & very reasonably priced."

Cons:

• "Disabled access isn't great. Narrow corridors with small steps up and down."
• "It was quite uncomfortable sitting 6 adults on one picnic bench style table."
• "Staff were rude, too many tables in such a small space."
• "I’m really not happy to just find out that the jolly boatman was given a 1 star hygiene rating."
• "Wasn't overly impressed by the cleanliness of the pub restaurant, there was rubbish on the floor and the glasses were a little dirty."
• "A disappointing mixture of dried-out-by-reheating and just-plain-cold food."
• "The sandwich was terrible and very seriously over priced."