Lobster Sheringham — Restaurant in North Norfolk

I would like to start off this review by saying my partner and I are not ones to make fuss, yell or be hostile when issues arise. As we know mistakes and mishaps happen. But I do believe that with those issues must come a level of organisation and resolve from the business dealing with their grand mistake. Apart from the very new girl Maya who had to deal with this (only there for two weeks and tried what she could) the business fell short and was shocking. Let me explain.

We made a reservation three weeks ago for a night at the Lobster on the Saturday night, 30th March. For a family members' 60th birthday, and we are very much not locals, my first time here in Sheringham actually. We entered the pub shortly after available check in, and made to wait 15 minutes just to be seen, understandable. It was busy. But with glasses staked high and only way of check in handling the bar, it was a messy ordeal. Then a gentleman told us his manager could only be the one to check us in. So we had to sit and wait even longer, again, this was fine for now. Once we are finally seen in this busy space, the manager goes on to quite firmly scold us and say that we made our book for the night before (Friday) and they are fully booked. My partner very calmly showed his email confirmation that had the dates for Saturday as clear as day and that the error was indeed on their end. That's when the headless chicken back and fourth began. We were told to wait whilst they kept trying to get a hold of the booking team, whilst bystanders gazed and looked at us, even another couple giving their sympathies due to the embarrassment and how we were originally treated. Then finally we were told, basically tough, all seven rooms were booked and all they could do was place us in a hotel so horrendously far away as recompense due to everywhere else being booked up and we would still have to pay. We were shocked, we don't drive, I myself am disabled. It had already been so much time past since we had sat down and we were waiting for resolution. As anyone would, we said this wouldn't do. We were then told basically if we found our own hotel, we would pay the amount we originally were meant to pay the Lobster. I found a replacement at Dale's Country House (who will now ALWAYS receive our custom and are magnificent, highly recommend), and got the manager to begrudgingly confirm this was acceptable. They said they would cover our taxi, but bear in mind our purpose for our visit was to be as local as possible, as it was for my partners mothers birthday and she has limited mobility. And no one drives. After many hours we were told a cab would be even longer wait. Two hours minimum. We ended up having to wait outside the premises, as it was clear they didn't want us showing other customers one of the many messes they had made. It was clear we were an eyesore and the owner had told the manager to just get rid of us.

We understand the hotel side of the business had only been open two weeks, but the women in charge of our situation was new, the booking team were awol according to her, and the owner was nowhere to be found, she had to privately call them. I truly hope that NO ONE takes on this business for a stay. Apart from Maya trying to fix what they could, It's unorganised, relentless and if we hadn't been lucky enough to be housed by another hotel, we would have been out of a warm place to be last night. And from what we are hearing from locals and others, this is not what the Lobster used to be, and they have proven to have so many more issues since. It's tarnished our trip for an occasion, and I am still not over the embarrassment of being in the middle of a crowded tiny space, being scolded for a mistake they made initially then being told essentially "our bad, but your demise"

Shame on the new owner of this business, you're scaring away new custom and already the people of Sheringham that have kept it's reputation already neglect your...

Wow! Where do I start? This is one of the best places we have been to stay in Norfolk! From the staff to the food to the hotel room to the atmosphere = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Me and my family decided to stay overnight in Sheringham as a little treat to ourselves for the bank holiday and come across the Lobster we decided to give it a go and we can definitely say that was the best idea we made. From first arriving and seeing the gorgeous building to then being greeted with some lovely smiles from the staff. We arrived about early afternoon and decided to have the roast dinner since we were already there, and I can confidently say that was one of the best roast dinners we've ever had. There was plenty on the plate and a good variety of vegetables and roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings, too, without a problem when we asked for extra yorkshires. Our server, Roman, was absolutely amazing and brought the food out within 10 minutes. He had a gorgeous smile and made sure we had everything we needed and made sure we were happy. When we checked in later on in the day, we were greeted by Connor and we couldn't have had a better host, he was ever so kind and cracked a few jokes and made sure we settled in comfortably (he also had a lovely smile too.) The bedroom itself was lovely and spacious and very, very clean and had more than enough room for 3 of us to potter about and get ready for the night or day. The room was a bit hot during the night, but the staff were brilliant and catered to our needs and were able to bring a fan for us, which helped massively. The outside was lovely and quiet even late at night, and the beds were comfy and had the right amount of pillows too. The bathroom was a bit small, but it was still enough to get in and out alright, and we were not too bothered as we'd only be in there briefly. When we come down in the morning for breakfast it was lovely and quiet and was greeted by the lovely Dylan and Liam with beautiful smiles and welcoming faces and allowed us to sit anywhere in the main bar area. The breakfast was absolutely amazing, and you could pick what you wanted from the menu even if it was mix & match or just the normal English breakfast. It wasn't a long wait and the servers made sure you had what you needed and bent over backwards to cater to our needs along with everyone else (even during the busiest times of the day.) I can't explain how amazing the staff and the atmosphere was during our stay and we were always feeling welcomed from start to finish and will DEFINITELY be...

AVOID!! Terrible food Covid risk unclean We popped in on our day trip to Sheringham on the 26th Aug at 1420 hrs as a family of 9 who sat on two separate tables in the main bar area. on entering the bar was spotted a table in the centre of the room put was covered in plates and food, I asked the barman to please clear the table as it had been sat there some time the floor was also covered in food waste chips etc, a lad came took the plates away and returned with a damp tea towel and whipped our table, no chemicals were used, with the covid-19 risks of infections rising again they sure will in the Lobster Inn.

I therefore whipped the table down myself with hand gel and wet ones the process on placing an order at the bar is ridiculous to say the least. there is no social distancing being monitored takes way to long to order, took us 45 mins to get the to place a food order the 40 mins to get the uneatable cremated food i sent back only to have the same burger brought back to me with an extra chicken for my complaint as my burger bun was burned top and bottom the chicken was cremated tomato and lettuce was dried out the chips where under cooked and the pizza was burned, fish had a lot of bones and batter was also burned. please we had to watch where we put our feet due to the amount of food waste all over the carpet. we knew something was gonna happen with the food as I spotted a brioche bun burnt which was left on our table from the last customers, then a chap received his burger and sent it back is it to was burned,

I witnessed 12 people over the time we was sat in the inn enter through the front door as this is for exit only ie one way system but staff including the female owner who was behind the bar said nothing to them

the very same female owner took our drinks order and the said she would be back 15 mins later she still didn't return with our two children's cold drinks so I had to take my place in the large Que again just to ask for our drinks

the only positive thing I can comment on is the employee male with the beard how whipped down tables next to us with the correct chemicals and throw away the cloth after ever use, apart from that our experience was terrible, The toilets had no soap but glad to report hot water but overall disgusting

over all this had to be the worse meal we had all holiday, I would advise anyone wanting a good meal to avoid The Lobster Inn

They should be ashamed of themselves, the place is filth, I bet even the rats...