Newlyn Meadery Ltd — Restaurant in England

This is a charming (albeit ahistorical) medieval themed restaurant, though aside from the "bar wenches", don't go expecting a full Medieval Times affair á la Cable Guy, (which is kind of a good thing for me because I can't stand forced jollity of any sort). That said, piping out some medieval music instead of chart pop might have complimented the ambiance better.

The food choice isn't huge, the medieval style big slabs of meat on the bone thing seems to be in keeping with the theme. The main choices are battered half chicken or rack of BBQ ribs with chips and/or salad and a modest choice of sides; some veggie options but this is limited to vegan thai curry, if I recall. Be warned the ribs are tasty but very messy and combined with the chips they are very filling. No comment on the desserts because we had no room for it.

Drinks wise, mead is obviously available. The mead wine is lovely though tastes closer to mulled wine than mead. Small selection of ciders and ales/lagers also available.

The staff are polite; I should say well done to the lady who had to deal with a particularly rude customer and was somewhat shaken. Be aware also that most evenings, even during the week, are busy. You may therefore have to wait half an hour or so for a table if you're walk-in.

Covid-19 adjustments are sensible, though as with everywhere this depends on the clientele being at least half as sensible as the staff, easier said than done when people get rowdy after a few.

All in all though, if you want the novelty of the medieval theme and wholesome family fun, or a birthday outing, you could...

Quite a disappointing visit to be honest. The food was nothing special to warrant the price, portion sizes were pretty standard but the service was okay. I felt like the theme was a bit gimmicky given the latest top 40 pop hits were blasting through the speakers instead of 'ye olde strings' or similar...

We arrived (a party of 6) with some elderly folks who struggled to read the menu with the dim lighting and only a single flickering battery operated candle to aid.

Even though there were so many available tables, some of which were much bigger with a lot more space, we found ourselves cramped together around our assigned seats (two small tables pushed together) that would have better suited a smaller party.

Also worth mentioning, we noticed that another party of people followed us in, but were for some reason asked to wait in the bar area downstairs. Given the amount of available places they could have easily occupied upstairs, I'm left to presume it was to sell them 'pre drinks', which is a little saddening, although they could have been waiting for more people to arrive

The salad bar was quite a nice touch, with lots to choose from, I can't help but feel this should be a refillable option though as extra helping of salad were chargeable.

I personally ordered the ribs and left hungry, but the chicken in the rough option looked quite...

Mostly good experiences:

I've been visiting Newlyn Meadery for most of my life, and it holds a nostalgic charm that keeps bringing me back. The highlight is undoubtedly the blackberry mead wine, which adds a unique touch to the experience—especially on special occasions like birthdays. However, I was a bit disappointed to be told to keep the noise down during a recent visit while enjoying a celebratory drink.

The building itself is stunning, with its old-fashioned design creating a cozy and distinctive atmosphere. It’s one of the rare places where you can still dine in dim lighting, which adds to its unique appeal. Sadly, it seems the candles have been replaced with electric lights, which slightly diminishes the ambiance, if my memory serves me correctly.

As for the food, it’s simple and traditional, but perhaps intentionally so. If you’re looking for something flavorful, I’d recommend the BBQ ribs over the half chicken, which tends to be quite plain.

Overall, Newlyn Meadery is a place steeped in tradition and charm, but it may not be for everyone. If you appreciate its quirks and historical feel, it’s...