Borough Arms, Bodmin — Restaurant in England

Welcome, dear food adventurers and pub aficionados, to the grand tale of the Borough Arms, a gem hidden in the wilds of Bodmin, Cornwall. It’s so easy to find, you’d think it’s the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, except it’s better because it’s full of ale, not gold, and let’s be honest, which would you prefer on a Friday night?

Navigating the parking lot is a breeze, with more free spots than a leopard has spots. And for our furry four-legged patrons, this place rolls out the red carpet. That’s right, it’s so dog friendly you half expect to see a pooch propping up the bar, regaling you with tales of chasing its tail.

Ah, but before you think it’s all smooth sailing, let me regale you with the epic quest of descending the steps to the main entrance. No sign of a wheelchair ramp from our vantage point in the car park, so if you’re rolling rather than strolling, a quick call ahead to confirm access is your best bet. Consider it your very own adventure quest to unlock the enchanted gates of the Borough Arms.

Stepping inside is akin to tumbling down the rabbit hole – except instead of tea parties with the Mad Hatter, you get real ale and a welcome so warm, you’d think you were a long-lost relative. The place unfolds like a magician’s endless handkerchief, revealing nooks and crannies galore, and an array of tables as diverse as the crowd it attracts.

The staff here? Imagine your best mate, if your best mate were exceptionally good at bringing you food and drinks exactly when you need them. Their approach to service is like Goldilocks’ porridge: just right. Not too intrusive, never neglectful, and with a knack for remembering who’s allergic to what without making it feel like a federal case.

Speaking of dietary dilemmas, they tackled my potato starch intolerance with the finesse of a culinary ninja. Hunters Chicken with rice instead of chips, and a special cheese that’s as starch-free as my kitchen is of Michelin stars.

And the prices? Let's just say, you’ll feel like you’ve won the lottery, especially when you opt for their meal deals or decide to treat yourself to a dessert that arrives not a moment too soon nor too late, but exactly when you wish it.

Every inch of the Borough Arms oozes character, from the eclectic collection of photos and paintings adorning the walls to the curious objects that spark dinner conversation and maybe even a bit of debate.

In short, the Borough Arms isn’t just a pub; it’s a destination. A place where you can fill your belly without emptying your wallet, where your dog might just make more friends than you, and where each visit feels like coming home – if home were a magical, ever-expanding cavern of culinary delights.

So, if you find yourself wandering between Bodmin and Wadebridge, do yourself a favor and follow the yellow brick road (or just the A389) to the Borough Arms. You won’t just like it; you’ll want to come back again and again. Highly recommended, would give more stars if I...

Absolutely shocking. Visited for a nice family meal, as it was my wife's birthday. Ordered drinks, 2 cokes, 1 coffee and a Thatchers and 4 roast dinners, as it was a Sunday, 31st October. Waited just over 30mins and still no drinks! I asked a passing server if there was any news on our drinks and she said that she would check. Another 10mins past and our food arrived and a moment later the drinks finally turned up. The Yorkshire pudding and the meat looked a bit dry, so thought I'd ask for some more gravy. I took a sip of what I thought was my Thatchers, but it turned out to be a Rattler. I went up to our server and asked for some more gravy and if she could check what drink I had and if it could be changed to a Thatchers. She said she would change the drink and bring the gravy over to our table along with the drink, so I went and sat back down. 5mins passed, no gravy and no drink. 10/15 & 20mins passed and still no gravy or replacement drink, even after failed attempts at catching a servers attention. It wasn't until the manageress came over, after being prompted by a lady on the table next to us and asked if everything was ok, that I got any response from anyone. I said I was still waiting for gravy and drink. She said she would get some gravy brought over but by this time, some 30mins later, my roast had gone cold and everyone else had finished their meal. She offered to get another roast sent over, but I'm not one for sitting and eating on my own, when everyone else had finished. So ended up with just a pint of coke, after driving over an hour to get there from Plymouth. I've worked as management in the hospitality industry for 15yrs and this is certainly no way to run a restaurant! There seemed to be no tables assigned to certain servers and no checkbacks done, if there had been, this could have been avoided and a much better review may have...

I have been visiting the Borough Arms on and off for around Ten years. It is mainly a tourist venue obtaining most of its trade from users of the camel trail and passers by on the nearby road. Because of this the prices tend to be quite high for drinks. It reverted back to St Austell brewery management a few years ago and the previous managers Dave and Michelle always did a great job! Giving you a warm welcome and the drinks and food were fairly priced. The roasts from the carvery were particularly lovely! I called in yesterday on my way home after a cycle ride with a friend. We decided to eat although i only wanted something small. I had a pint of rattler and he had a large coke. For food he had a prawn jacket potato and i had humous which is served as a starter. The drinks were £8 and the food was £15. The humous was just a scoop on a plate with a sliced dry pitta bread, with a handful of leaf salad. It looked totally unappetising and to be honest i guess at most it cost £1.50 to prepare. There was no olives or even a slice of lemon to complement it. Totally overpriced! The jacket looked like it had been cooked the day before with blackened skin and a few prawns on top again a handful of salad on the plate. To say i was disappointed is an understatement. I don't mind paying for something so if your going to charge these kind of prices at least make an effort! As a local person i wont be using the Borough again. Far better off going to the Masons arms or the...