I cannot speak more highly of the Jolly Woodman. I understand that it is under new management within the last few months, so any of the old "appalling" reviews should not be taken to heart.
In fact, here are three reasons why the Jolly Woodman is a must-stop on your visit to the UK...
1. The staff
Most nights our waiter was Oli. He is probably the sweetest kid we've ever met. Very easy to talk too, great recommendations and super accommodating to anything we asked for. On the nights he wasn't working, we genuinely missed him.
On the second night we visited, we met the manager, Matt, and he's a truly genuine guy. Matt is the kind of guy who would literally give you the shirt off of his back. You can tell he really loves the restaurant with the stories he tells about the history of it (ask him about the tunnel if you visit!). He gave us a ton of recommendations of places to visit while we were in the UK and they were all spot on. His knowledge of the food and beer is extensive. We looked forward to catching up with him each night that we went in.
We also met the head chef, Stuart, on our second night and he's one of a kind. He's also a Michelin star chef, but NBD. This man is passionate about his food, so much so that he brought out samples of what he was working on for us to try and it was all AMAZING. It was a one of a kind experience that you simply wouldn't get here in the states. If you have the chance to visit he Jolly Woodman and try his food - do it. You will not regret it.
2. The atmosphere
Look at my pictures. Could this place be any cuter? It's a truly unique location with more history than you can imagine.
3. The food
Alright, let's get down to brass tacks.
The woodman has HANDS DOWN the best fish and chips I've ever had. The serving is huge, so I recommend fasting before you get there (really). Trust me, it will be worth it. I cannot do it justice writing about it - just go and try it.
I also had a cheeseburger and the cheesecake for dessert and they were both spectacular. You cannot go wrong here. They also have a phenomenal beer selection.
My recommendation: Sit at the bar, have a chat and a drink with the locals, you won't regret it. read more