Admiral Rodney Southwell — Restaurant in Newark and Sherwood

We visited the Admiral Rodney last night having booked the table a week in advance. We were going to watch a concert at the Minster so wanted a meal somewhere that was close. I checked reviews before booking the table and thought this would be a good establishment. Upon arriving we were shown to our table, no concerns at this point. Apart from when we sat down, we had a table that rocked and a chair that wouldn't sit flat. We were told to go to the bar to order food. Upon going to the bar we were informed a lot of food was out of stock. I asked for a burger they didn't have any of the 5 burgers from the menu, no lasagne as well as various other items. Therefore myself and my mum opted for the fish pie and beef pie. Nothing was said to us at the till in respect of a wait for food. We sat down at the table and waited - 45 minutes past and no sign of any food and no update on its whereabouts. It got to an hour and I had to chase the food at which I was told the pie has just gone in the oven it will be 10 minutes. 1 hour and 15 minutes of waiting and we finally got the meal at 7.05 pm, having booked the table for 5.45 pm and ordering the food at 5.50 pm. Having waited this long for 1 course I had moderate expectations. However it came yes it was hot but in reality that was the only thing it had going for it. The pastry lid wasn't fully cooked, there was several pieces of meat and then a runny sauce that had no great taste to it and unseasoned. I had around 12 fries to which I wondered where the rest of the portion was ! My mums fish pie was watery and again a dollop of mash potato. Just not good enough when you wait this long for food but also are not told they are busy and there is a wait. Other customers sat near to us were waiting equally as long. If you can't cope with the demand its simple you don't take the orders. If I had been informed at ordering it would take this long I would have eaten elsewhere. As the food was substandard, not filling and customer service was sub par. Leading to us rushing to eat it and only just making our...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5 — A Proper Pub with Heart, Soul, and the Godliest Fish & Chips I’ve Ever Had

I’m honestly still glowing from my visit to The Admiral Rodney in Southwell. From the moment I stepped in, I felt completely at ease — the whole place hums with warmth, friendliness, and that effortless, down-to-earth charm you only find in a proper British pub that knows who it is and does it brilliantly.

Let me get straight to it: the fish and chips were nothing short of divine. The batter was crisp without being greasy, the fish inside was beautifully flaky and fresh, and the chips were hot, golden, and soul-soothing. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was the godliest fish and chips I’ve ever eaten. I’d go back for that alone — happily.

Then came the cheesecake, and wow. It was the kind of dessert that makes you go quiet for a minute. Creamy, smooth, perfectly sweet — but what really got me was the biscuit base. It was buttery, rich, and had the perfect crunch. Honestly, it could win awards. I’m still thinking about it.

The staff were amazing — genuinely lovely people who made me feel like I was more than just another customer. They were friendly, attentive, always smiling, and just really decent. You can tell they care, not just about the service but about creating a good atmosphere. They even made a fuss over the dog, bringing water and treats — it’s a proper dog-friendly pub, not just one that allows dogs but welcomes them.

The vibe was exactly what I needed. Relaxed, no stress, no pretence. Just a cozy, comfortable space where the conversation flows, the music is at just the right volume, and the energy is warm and familiar. It’s the kind of place you could settle into for hours without even realising it.

There’s something special about The Admiral Rodney — it’s not just the food (though that alone is worth raving about), it’s the feeling you get when you’re there. It’s comforting. Joyful. A little sanctuary of good vibes, great food, and kind people.

I left full, happy, and already planning...

Was excited to visit as we were in the area and I when looking for somewhere to eat I saw positive reviews for this pub.

However - Having booked a table prior, you walk in with no direction as to whether to approach the bar or whether to grab whichever table you fancy. When asked at the bar we were pointed to a table which was hardly big enough for a game of dominos (despite the fact that the booking was for 3 people).

We had a 6 month old with us and wasn't offered a high chair. When I asked for a high chair I was given vague instructions on where to get one (never visited before so most of the instructions were unclear without knowledge of the pub).

Our table, despite being tiny, felt like we were right in the way, especially with a high chair next to it.

We chose to order on the My Pub app, however signal isn't great in Southwell and there was no WiFi, so it was a struggle to order food via the app.

Food arrived, as a lover of good pub grub, I was so disappointed. Beige food which looked like it came out of a kitchen in which the staff have no passion for what they are serving. Undercooked chips, soggy burger bun. Food came out in about 5 minutes which was about the only positive, however was a bit of a poisoned chalice as no meal which can be prepared and brought to a table in 5 minutes can be of high quality. Tasted ok, however was clear microwaved/hot plate food. Which is fine, however if you're serving wetherspoons level food then charge wetherspoons prices, not double.

Waitress also bashed into our pushchair whilst I was feeding our child, no apology. Just simple...