Sloop Inn — Restaurant in Wales

I know businesses have to work hard nowadays and nevermore so when you're an industry in decline (400 pubs closed in England and Wales last year) and there's 2 of you competing for the same customers in one place. The days of filling the slate miners' tankards are well and truly over but the logoed shirts the Sloop sells doesn't mention this though it certainly is dining out on its age given the dates on the logo. Not that the current crop of daytrippers probably care that much - the place has a free car park and I'd guess 99% of the visitors drop in, snap a picture, eat lunch and then drive off. I can't imagine somewhere like Clovelly or Boscastle (both beautiful harbours that clobber day trippers by charging high car park costs) doing this but then I guess foot fall is probably a lot lower. We walked into Porthgain from the west along the coastal path and chose to eat here as opposed to the other hostelry in the village simply because of a broader menu selection. I used to work with a bloke from North Wales who told me of the time he went to a pub in Swansea with his colleagues and listened to the locals be slightly less than kind about them only for them to be quite surprised when he spoke to them in Welsh as they left. I've never experienced this (of course I wouldn't know if a non-English speaking person was being unkind - unless it was in French or German) but I sort of think that I might have been treated more like the tourist I probably am than the person eager to know more about and interested in Porthgain's industrial heritage that I want to be today. I base this only on a couple of brief interactions which I'll explain shortly. First the positives. We didn't wait for our table and were seated straight away. The beer was superb (local pale ale) and I could have drunk it all day. The food was served quickly, it was hot and generous in portion size. The cost was modest - my normal expectation for a round of drinks was reduced by at least a couple of quid and I don't remember a cheaper curry this year outside of 'spoons. So - what went wrong in the Sloop? Firstly, we were seated next to an ice cream cabinet whose light unit threatened to burn my retinas away. We politely asked for a different table and were reseated next to the toilet (the pub was largely empty of customers it has to be said). Secondly, I ordered a curry and the menu stated "add chips for £2". I asked for the chips to be added. When my meal arrived it was sans rice. When I asked at the till if my meal should include rice I was told "you need to ask for the rice and the chips if you want them". Explaining that this wasn't explained was met with a smile but no apology and certainly not any offer to rectify the situation. When I asked if I'd paid for the chips I was told I hadn't however when I checked my bill on my return home I had clearly been charged the extra £2 so thanks for that little bit of deception. So Sloop - I'm here for 2 weeks with my foodie family but I fear I will be searching for other places to eat. A shame really - the beer really was excellent and the food quality quite good - but you've got to get service right, keeping punters happy isn't that hard, just remember (even if it isn't) the customer's...

When eating out, I expect two things to be of the highest standard. The food and the atmosphere. After stepping in to the sloop inn, I felt like I was transported back to the 1800s. The decor was unique and it made me want to blow my brains out. My table was clean and suited to our needs and I felt if the rest of the experience continued to this standard, I would be in for a treat. However, as the service started, cracks began to show. Ordering at the counter is something I only expect at a Nandos, not a restaurant that I was holding for high standards. Fortunately, the food arrived swiftly. I ordered the fish basket, expecting large portions of fresh and fabulous fish, instead I was met with a lackluster amount of calamari and cod bites and far too many White baits. I was disappointed to say the least, it was heavy and dry and the sheer amount of them made for a difficult eating experience. It's not often that I leave the restaurant happier than when I went in, but unfortunately today, that was the case. Thankfully, not only was the ice cream parlour across the road heavenly but the whole atmosphere of Porthgain made it worth the visit. In conclusion, if you're looking for delicious fresh whitebait, I'd steer clear of...

O! M! G! I had the best pub dinner here; would highly, highly, highly recommend! Ordered a classic staple: Mussels in a cider sauce with garlic and onions. What a treat! The food was served fast, and, in the mere wait that it was, we were able to view the quant harbour. The atmosphere was lively, bustling and rather busy (but it was no issue for us not to book and there was hardly a delay on gaining a table). One issue we and some neighboring tables perceived was the fact that we were clueless about the chips as a side with the burgers (which were absolute whoppers). We ordered extra chips on top, unbeknownst to us that we would have too many! I must reiterate, the price may look expensive, but for the quality and aesthetic of the food, it is very well worth it. The interior of the inn was nautical themed -as it should be as a harbour-side Inn- and was informative to the local history at Porthgain. Parking was a nightmare, yet opportunities arose with extra spaces being available. It was pleasant to see visitors and local children playing on the fields outside the restaurant area, but a shame that we couldn't sit by the harbour wall to eat. Will 💯% be back to order...