Jolly Sailors Brancaster Staithe — Restaurant in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

The Jolly Sailors is our yearly Christmas Eve go to after the pantomime in Hunstanton. We have done this for around 10 years and have never been able to fault it - however this year was a game changer and I would never return. I had booked the table online in late November. This year the pantomime ran for longer than usual and I called the restaurant to ask if we could still come but would be 25 minutes late. Table booked for 4:15pm. The lady who answered the phone was very rude and said we only had the table until 6pm. I said fine we would skip starters and still come. We were seated by 4:40pm. Every year we have sat in the main restaurant with the lovely fire, Christmas decorations and good atmosphere. This year we were put in a small side room with no decorations/ no fire (it was very cold didn’t take coats off) and no other people so zero vibe. There was uncomfy bench seating - a far cry from our previous experiences. I initially asked a waitress if we had also been scheduled to sit in this room or whether it was due to lateness and she just shrugged and never answered.

So in view of the 6pm deadline we got straight in with main courses/ drinks order. However I walked through to restaurant where there was lots of vacant tables (these stayed vacant for the whole duration of our visit). I was then nearly knocked over by a male waiter rushing out the kitchen which literally smashed in to me as he wasn’t looking. He was very apologetic but none the less I had a visibly bruised arm and it was quite a shock.

So the food arrives, while everyone else in the pub/ restaurant is having a jolly time and we are stuck on this cold empty side room (despite all these empty tables). So we ask for the bill and I say it’s a shame we had to sit here and questioned the other tables. The waiter explains that we could have the tables in the restaurant as one is booked at 6:15pm and one at 6:45pm. I said well we only have this table until 6pm so why could we not have gone in to the restaurant as we could have stayed slightly longer. That’s why we have rushed and skipped starters desserts etc. I am then told no I have this table all evening and it doesn’t have any other bookings. Yet when I called I was told only until 6pm. So I question this and am told no definitely no other bookings. Then he comes back and states he’d made a mistake and there was a booking at 6pm, however as they’d had a cancellation in the restaurant the system automatically transfers the booking to that room. So I then question if there was vacant tables in the restaurant why didn’t it auto change my booking? He had no answer.

In summary we supported this pub during covid. On Christmas Eve 2020 we were the only people eating in the restaurant. Last year we stayed late and listened to the sea shanties having multiple rounds of drinks and 3 course meal for 5 people. This year we had intended to do the same however it was ruined and I believe we were treated with hostility and also lied to. Plus I was actually physically hurt due to someone not paying attention. We will be finding another pub for our Xmas eve meal...

No faults. Everything as great as it could be right down to the singing bar staff and lavender scented hand wash.

Now, I didn't go into the actual pub as the pub is pretty much outside in summer with a fully equipped bar and enough seating to accomodate the whole village. Dogs are made especially welcome with their own water bars and free biscuits (Oh to be a dog!).

Service is friendly and welcoming with renditions of many oldies including 'it's raining men' and some classic Steps. I noticed they have live music and entertainment weekends in peak months including an unmissable Sea Shanty live music weekender (Nelson would be pleased).

Right, for the food and beer. Excellent. Real value for money, no waiting, fresh cooked and big portions. A few specials offered each day alongside a large pizza menu and takeaway. I had a very large bowl of blue cheese tagliatelle and spinach which more than satisfied this little piggy. (£12) The 10oz Norfolk gammon, duck egg and chips would have fed a large vessel of many Jolly Sailors. (£11)

A 21st century pub with 18th...

Stopped at this pub on a very wet day ,it was Sunday and we wanted too eat dinner ,my husband suggested I have the steak as I enjoy a steak at home ,he had gammon one of his favourites both served with chips, I had a peppercorn sauce ( a little too salty for my taste though ) while we waited the waitress was collecting drinks from the bar for her customer when accidently the tray slipped and the poor waitress was drenched with beer sitting behind her it missed us but people in the area around the bar saw it all poor girl there was quite a loud cheer & laughter ,poor girl she turned around soaked through !!! A dry t shirt and in minutes she was back serving ,our meals came my steak was at least an inch thick cook medium rare how I like it ,with chunky chips peas and roasted cherry toms ,Len really enjoyed his lunch too ,we both enjoyed our meals and the floor show ,also a great place if you have dogs and children as they were made very welcome and I saw it at least 3 tvs out in the other side of the resturant were customers watched...