The Anchor Hotel

We eventually gave up, paid for our cold drinks and left. Nobody even apologized for the wait. We won’t be back. This is about the restaurant only, as we didn’t stay overnight. It was an unforgettable rude experience. When we arrived, one table was occupied, so we thought it would be ideal for a light lunch. The menu looked great, with local choices for even the fussiest diners. We sat down, then the bar maid challenged us about whether we had booked. Nearly all the tables were empty. We said we hadn’t booked, and after checking, she told us the table we’d chosen was free for the next few hours and we could sit there. It would have helped to have a sign asking customers to wait to be seated, or reserved signs on tables, instead of leaving us to guess. Our cold drinks came quickly, then we waited and waited. The staff were squabbling over the one occupied table, unsure whether to take their food or drinks order, until the chef came out barking at the waitresses to take their food order. The whole staff seemed overwhelmed and focused on that table, even though we were the only other customers. I heard the chef call them judges, so it seemed that unless you have some kind of title, you might be treated as irrelevant. My advice to the owners is to let customers know when a small group’s booking means a longer than usual wait, mark reserved tables, and put up a sign asking people to wait to be seated. The menu looked great, but we gave up before trying anything. We won’t be back.

We popped in for drinks. There was a good choice of beer and snacks, though the service felt a bit strange.

The seafood penne pasta and beer battered Lobster tail were just what I wanted, absolutely delicious. This tucked away Johnshaven Inn is a real gem, with a great beer selection and a lovely little beer garden at the side. It’s dog friendly too. I can highly recommend it for seafood worked into everyday dishes.

Nice place, and the staff were friendly. The room was tiny and the soundproofing was poor. I’d stay there again, just wouldn’t expect too much.