The Lobster Inn — Restaurant in England

What a great pub. It's a traditional pub with open fires, good grub, games rooms, quiet room, raffles and quizzes too. The beers are great with some real treasures to taste. The food is great with a some veggie / vegan options and a brilliant Sunday Lunch - just remember to call ahead to book a table so you're not left wanting. In one area there's a large bar with pool table, darts and an open fire. There's also a large but nice quiet room with an open fire where the quizzes take place. Upstairs is a huge snooker hall with 4 immaculate snooker tables. They have 2 cash prize quizzes every week: Thursday night at 8pm is Dave’s bingo quiz - The quizmaster Dave is really funny. It's a normal quiz where you then guess the strength of your answers before placing them accordingly on a bingo card to create a better chance of getting a winning line. Once the numbers are read out, you're in with a chance to win the cash prize. Half way through they have a wine and chocolates raffle followed by a real game of bingo with a cash prize for a line ‘and’ a full house. Sunday night at 9pm they have a traditional cash prize quiz with a connections round. The lovely quizmaster Terry also hosts a ‘Play Your Cards Right’ (higher or lower) card game at half time with a jackpot cash prize for getting 7 cards right, before finally drawing the meat raffle winning ticket.

If there's one downside and why its gone from 5 stars to 4 stars, it's the restrictions placed on the tenants by Samuel Smith - Cash only! No kids! No dogs! No music! No Phones! Come on Sam Smith - wake up. If you don’t have cash you’re directed to McColl’s which takes 10 mins to get to and has a pub across the road - why return? If you do have enough cash and with such a huge seating capacity, you're stifling what could be Redcar's best pub by mimicking the policies placed on the likes of Wetherspoons who have a different clientele. This is a traditional pub. Use it as a test case? - I get it that phones are a pain and stifle atmosphere and a quiet room should be just that, but why not allow music or a juke box in the games room? Why not allow kids and dogs in, but make it clear they need to be well behaved or they'll be asked to leave? Just think how many dog walkers would pop in for a cheeky pint everyday, never mind the hundreds at Majuba car park every weekend / evening - looking for some food after a brisk walk on the sands. Kids too - they would come in for food, pop and snacks at a huge mark up at lunch time when the pub is quiet - the beach is a few hundred meters away! Include a card reader too because not only does cash spread germs, it’s inconvenient and you’re losing punters. Go on Sam, give it a punt and make this a 5 star pub and Redcar's best.

That said, don't let this detract from what is a warm and fantastic pub run by a lovely landlord and landlady with friendly locals. If you've not tried it ... try it. If you like a fun quiz ... go and have fun. If you're looking for a local ... get cash and make it the Lobster, we have and...

On Friday evening, my partner and I wanted to eat something after our journey. The closest open place was The Lobster Inn. We entered through one of the two doors and waited near the bar to ask if they were still serving food. The place wasn’t very busy, especially for a Friday evening. The girl behind the bar was busy discussing a billing issue with another customer, which is understandable. We patiently waited for our turn. The first customer left while the girl continued trying to sort out the issue. She passed us at least four or five times without even acknowledging that we were waiting. Not even a simple “Sorry, I need to take care of this, I’ll be with you shortly.” That would have been enough for us. But no, why bother being polite? Eventually, she finally noticed us and, with a very grumpy and unhappy expression, said, “I need to serve these two gentlemen first.” Seriously? I can wait for her to serve others, but at least make an effort to be welcoming, not give the impression that customers are a burden. I used to work behind a bar, and I can’t imagine treating customers this way. So we just left the place since you didn't want us there so badly. I don't know if the fact that we were speaking Polish to each other made the staff member hostile towards us, or if that's just her usual way of treating customers.

Funny enough, there’s a notice on the entrance door saying the place follows Smith’s policy, prohibiting customers from using phones or tablets inside. Fair enough—your place, your rules. But the irony is that the issues began when the girl behind the bar couldn’t even calculate a simple bill and had to ask the customer if she had a calculator...

The Lobster or "The Lobby" has been in Redcar for several decades, in recent years by Ali and Ingrid, in what has been a transformation in standards and clientele at times too.

While not the trendiest bar in town, it's ran by two amazing people who ensure the highest standards are met, and that the staff uphold the values of this establishment.

Nice people, good food and service. Pool and Snooker for those who want to play too.

Definitely worth a visit, and try the Parmo while...