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Fishermans Return, Winterton on Sea

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user reviews of the Fishermans Return, Winterton on Sea

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I had a week in Winterton working at much the same time as BothamsAshes and agree with most of his comments. Food in large (even too large) portions and beer quality (Belhaven, GK and Adnam) fine if not adventurous. Very popular with locals and holidaymakers, who mix well - the main downside seemed to be a darts board with blunt arrows that youngsters could not make stick meaning they bounced rather dangerously toward those dining. A Morris side turned up on one evening and all in all this is an above average holiday area inn
Arctium_lappa - 24 Feb 2013 23:22
Had a week's stay in Winterton and visited this pub every day. Contrary to reports the beer quality is very good, the Wherry was excellent every day I had it (which was every day!). The food choice is changed daily and is of a high quality, though I can understand a long wait in summer as the place is hugely popular. The locals are also amongst some of the nicest people you could meet (that too goes for the staff in the Dunes Cafe on the beach, the little chippie and the newsagent). As there was no sign of the cold reception mentioned below, I suspect it is more a problem with that reviewer than the residents. Highly recommended to visit.
BothamsAshes - 8 Jul 2012 13:06
Could be a great pub, its not. Great small village near the coast location. Geared up as the only place in town and somewhat of a tourist trap. Ok selection of ales though the own brew was not up to much and the selection of Adnams and Wherry were not great quality. Waited an hour for mediocre food too. Later the place is very much locals so expect the stares.
theposh - 20 Feb 2012 19:04
Lovely little pub serving Woodfordes ales. Wasn't too impressed with the homebrew though. Good food if a little bit large on portion size. Enjoyed a game of darts there too
deportivo_azul - 19 Oct 2011 16:54
This pub is an old favourite of my mine. The nearby beach is a maze of dunes where people can get lost, I had an embarrasing incident a few years ago, I did not realise that people would do that kind of thing in the dunes( oh well I digress). A truly great flint knapped pub, the service is a tad slow, the resteraunt extension is called "Tinho" it is quite upmarket know with a patioetc. Years ago it was just an old tin hut.Norfolk Square Stilletto was on when I visited, a very nice beer, a humpty dumpty ale was also on.
slerpy - 7 Aug 2009 20:00
This pub is an old favourite of my mine. The nearby beach is a maze of dunes where people can get lost, I had an embarrasing incident a few years ago, I did not realise that people would do that kind of thing in the dunes( oh well I digress). A truly great flint knapped pub, the service is a tad slow, the resteraunt extension is called "Tinho" it is quite upmarket know with a patioetc. Years ago it was just an old tin hut.Norfolk Square Stilletto was on when I visited, a very nice beer, a humpty dumpty ale was also on.
slerpy - 7 Aug 2009 20:00
we booked this place for a few days B&B at Easter. After booking we found out the present landlord had only just taken the place, they have been here 2 months now (Easter 2009). It's a ~300 year old pub with a few rooms and an outside tin hut which is good for families. They do a few decent beers and top end price pub food.
The rooms are above the pub, real narrow quaint staircase from the pub with a good Fire Escape as well.
The owner is a bloke who is the "Front of House" and his partner who is the chef, we only saw the first in the 3 days we were there.
The owner said they had bought the place and were improving it because the previous owners who had been there over 30 years had let it go downhill - it must have been pretty bad.
Beer is kept well, but at that price it should be. The first meal we had was on a busy Saturday evening, unfortunately we sent both back as the meat & potato pie was lukewarm, the grilled fish raw - not cold - raw. They came back quite soon, good and with apologies. We have no problem with that, it was a Saturday night and they were busy. The second day, both meals were good, the beer was also, and the local cider.
I did ask the owner to wipe a table one evening before we ate at it, he did so with pleasure, but with a beer towel which he then wiped the nearby chair seats, back and arms. I think a basic hygiene course is in order here, arses and tables need separate attention!
Regarding the accommodation:- The tea making facilities were as left by the previous occupants, tea stained and with empty tea and biscuit packets. The bathroom needed a good scrub, it was scruffy and the tv changer didn�t work. On our second day, we returned after nine hours cycling to a room exactly as we had left it � OK it was Easter Monday, but that�s no excuse to not make the bed and push the vac around the place and make it look nice.
Finally, if you stay, you eat in the back room of the pub by the kitchen. Nice enough room and an �anything you want� good breakfast, but do I want to sit at a table and chair covered in crumbs from last night�s cheese & biscuits and chips and turkey nuggets squashed into the floor by my chair? No, the room was mucky, and not just from the previous night.
The owner was pleased he had sold 17 barrels of beer at Easter � well done you, but there is more to running a good pub than selling a lot of beer. Sorry guys, we won�t be back in a hurry
MrAverage - 15 Apr 2009 14:33
We are fairly regular visitors to this pub, and the food and beer are always excellent and reasonably priced. The food is all home cooked, and there is a good choice of specials which change regularly - the fresh fish is especially good.
I actually quite like the absence of children in the main bar, but when we have visited with friends and their kids, we have been made welcome and have no problem with sitting in the Tinho.
It's also nice to find a good pub where our dog is made welcome.
miss_monkey - 19 May 2008 10:05
I've stayed at this pub several times over the years and never had a problem. The food has always been good and staff always polite and welcoming.
I really feel there should be a seperate family room for children and they shouldn't be allowed in the main bar.. There's nothing worse as a child screaming and shouting while your trying to enjoy a meal.. I blame the parents !!! At least with a dog they generally do as their told.
Dingdongdaz - 15 Apr 2008 14:21
some strong reviews!
if you fancy a pint they have about 6-7 real ales kept well and is worth a look.
alundra - 14 Feb 2008 16:28
Totally agree with the above comments. Have been visiting this area for about 15 years and since we have had children (12 years)we find this pub quite unwelcoming, hate being banished to the 'Tinho'which is the family room at the back, but often have found that they cant even be bothered to open this up out of busy season. Shame, as beer and food are good.
lindaki - 29 Sep 2007 00:01
we booked b&b at this pub explaining that we had a small baby, this was said to be no problem, on arrival we were told that the baby was not allowed in the main bar, but we could take her anywhere else in the pub. We went into the other bar and had a drink. We later asked the young barman if we could book dinner and were told that the didn't reserve tables for anyone, even residents, he doubted that there would be a table as they were always busy! We returned at 6.30pm and there was plenty of room so asked if we could order food and were told that the baby who was asleep in her carry chair was not allowed. we could use a miserable backroom or the childrensroom (a barn at the back)which had youngsters noisily playing pool in it, on returning through the bar I was attacked a very nearly bitten by a dog, which was later stretched out on the furniture, two other dogs were also present. The youngsters from the childrens room 10/12yrs were eating in the bar. So it would seem that unless you are known or have dogs,you are not welcome with children. Ps. we found the staff unhelpfel,except for a very nice middle aged lady who served us breakfast.
wombatipus - 17 May 2007 15:06
my nomination for the least friendly pub in England. I visited with my family, or rather attempted to- we were curtly told that the family room was closed and weren't offered access to any other part of the pub. We had travelled 40 miles to visit but found ourselves going to the cafe down the road for mugs of tea and beans on toast at a nearby cafe where we got a friendly welcome. This is a pub where they've got too big for their boots and don't care whether you go in or not. Avoid it, especially if you have children with you.
edward chambers - 9 Jun 2005 22:03

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