Jolly Sailor — Restaurant in Stockport

Having recently moved back into the area I was really looking forward to visiting following their massive revamp a few weeks earlier. I've been twice now with different people who were also keen to try it out, but I'm unlikely to bother again out of anything other than geographic convenience and laziness.

It's cosmetically very nice inside but the food sadly doesn't live up to expectations and it is not a gastropub by any stretch of the imagination aside from the prices.

Burgers were decent quality but no option of fries, just a heap of stodgy chunky chips which although nice enough in their own right simply don't work with a large burger unless a food coma is your ultimate aim. On the second visit I ordered a fish finger sandwich. To my amazement that was literally it. A bare bun with 4 cold bits of fish in it and nothing else aside from the side salad. It would have been sent back if we'd had more time.

It's also quite strange that despite being the biggest growth area in the drinks world, the refit didn't add any craft beers at all and to further detract from the drinks offering the guest ales were from Robinsons, a brewery that rarely fails to disappoint anyone with a slightly adventurous or passionate approach to beer. Personal preference obviously, but the lack of a broad range of beer styles seemed a glaring omission for a newly refurbished pub unless they're hamstrung by the brewery they're tied to.

Service is very hit and miss from a very young team and we had to repeatedly ask different people for the same thing again on both occasions, which soon became tedious and irritating.

I walked in really wanting to love it as it's on my doorstep and I'd heard good things, but found it lacking in many areas unfortunately. I don't like leaving negative reviews but hopefully I've at least justified the 2 stars and provided ample feedback. Neither myself nor those accompanying me were remotely impressed on either occasion which is a shame as we had high hopes having had better experiences at other...

I visited Monday 5th July and placed my order for £8.70 but was told it was card payments only. Surprisingly Emily accepted my £10 note. During the duration of our stay, she made zero eye contact despite walking past us on 4 occasions. When departing I enquired about my £1.30 change only to be told ‘We only accept card payments.’ How strange, the claim ‘Card Payments Only’ yet will accept cash. This practice is immoral. Following is the correspondence between myself and the pub. I visited today with my 99-year-old father, when I tried to pay £8.70 Emily said it was cash only as she accepted a £10 note. During our stay, she did a tremendous job of avoiding eye contact, upon leaving when I asked about my change she told me that they didn't give change. Thank f#@k I didn't pay £20. On the way out I did notice a sign. £1.30 means nothing to me, it is a matter of principle. I will NEVER visit any establishment within your chain but rest assured that you will lose a darned sight of more than £1.30. Response from the owner 19 hours ago Hi Bob, Thank you for your review, although I am sorry to hear you were disappointed that we do not currently have the facilities to offer you change should you pay cash. We stopped taking cash when we reopened after lockdown last summer due to Covid. I am sorry that you were not made aware of this as you entered the pub, I will be checking the positions of our signage to ensure that this is clear. I have spoken with Emily and she was really sorry to hear you felt this way, she had thought she had explained that you could pay on card or that we could take cash but we were, unfortunately, unable to give change as we don't have it available. Please accept our most sincere if this...

Love this more than all the other almond pubs. It's 5mins from home, food is super tasty and staff are wonderful couldn't wish for a better local that does great food. Outside seating is also fab.

Fast forward to a sunday we call to book a table for 4adults and a 20month old and am told that we need to be a table of 6 to book. I explain how I don't want to just turn up with a 20month old and wait for ages. I am then told the maximum wait has been 20 minutes, I ask if I can book for 6 people and then say 2haven't turned up and am told that would be naughty. So I go with what I am told that it will be 20 mins only to get there and be told rudely that it's jumped to 45 minutes, I argued that I was told 20 mins and that I can't wait 45 mins to eat with a 20 month old. No apology just that is the policy I explain that this policy excludes families and children which make up a large percentage of the customer base and needs revising. I was offered no understanding, apology, resolution. I explained I would talk to the owners who live locally and was met with sarcasm. Then a party of 3 come in after me and are told their wait is 30 mins????? don't wish to visit another almond pub in my lifetime because of this experience. Oh and last week we waited 45 minutes after our order had been taken to be told the order hadn't come off the printer and had only just been given to the kitchen, we had 3 children this time and 4adults again we had waited for a table. Gutted as really liked having a local but the policy...