The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel

The beer tasting was a highlight of our January 15, 2026 visit to The Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel for my partner Nico's birthday. I didn't know which beers to pick, so the staff member chose four for my tasting paddle. He put real thought into it and wanted us to have the best tasting experience. He checked in on us during the evening, and when we asked how ale differs from beer, he went to double-check before explaining it in his own words. He was warm, knowledgeable and passionate, and clearly enjoyed talking with us. The manager was just as kind and welcoming. I'd arranged a reservation in advance and asked if the table could be decorated. It wasn't when we arrived, and the manager explained that decorations aren't provided. He was friendly and open about it, and said we could have brought something and decorated the table ourselves. The venue normally has self-service, with menus at the bar, but when I asked, he kindly brought them to our table. The food was delicious and very good value for its quality. We felt comfortable and well looked after all evening, and would absolutely return. Jasmina & Nico from Germany

On our list, this was the third pub, visited late Friday afternoon. It's a lovely old place built from white sandstone, with a nice feel and plenty of beauty. There are several beers on tap; we tried their house beer and I'd rate it 9/10. The pub food menu is good, and there's a separate menu upstairs and for the accommodation. A lovely spot for a few drinks.

The office is open only from 9:00-5:00, and outside those hours the pub staff look after the rooms. Our room was adequate, though pretty bare-bones. The pub food is really good. I don't drink beer, so can't comment on that, and our schedules didn't overlap with the restaurant's opening hours, so we couldn't eat there.

Sharing the ribeye with my sister was a great call. It was the best steak I've ever had. Shauna and Molly were lovely and gave us magnificent service, and Taylor in the kitchen clearly knows what he's doing. I'd give it 10/5 if I could. A superb meal.