Magpies in East Lindsey

Amuse bouche was delightful Main course excellent Meat melted in the mouth Desert was quite lovely We were the only three people in (Weds Afternoon) and it was quite cold. £128 for the three main course and two desserts Highly recommend the food, ambience not so great

When you arrive you are led to the waiting room. I avoided the tired looking sofa which looked like the family dog had slept on it all day. You are handed the menus and some tempura. Mine had some tempura crumbs pressed between the pages from the previous punter - the sort of thing you would find in a busy seaside diner. I went to the toilet to freshen up. Unfortunately, the toilet seat would not stay up and the sink was awkwardly poky. The dining room is a bit of a surprise. I suppose it is supposed to look posh. It's royal blue with a giant doily. Unfortunately, my chair had a few stains on the upholstery so the room was giving mixed messages - made worse by the staff appearing to wear their day clothes. At least, the food looked nice. However, we all felt that the meat and fish had been over-cooked. My dessert was okay but the biscuit with the creme brulee was soggy. The following day, England lost the final of the Euros - a crushing disappointment. You can't say that about going to Magpies. It is not disappointing, it is a bit of a joke. A bit like Fawlty Towers. The only thing grand about going to Magpies is the price.

Food to savour and remember. Excellently sourced, prepared and presented. We thoroughly enjoyed everything we had, Calm vibe. Only a few tables. Service was very good. A Horncastle gem.

Went to magpies for our anniversary we had a lovely welcome from the owner, amuse bouche was delicious, we had all three courses everyone of them really delicious, the desert my favourite crème brulee was the best I've had, we will be going back, thanks to all the staff.

What a wonderful find! We had a superb meal here. It’s a small establishment which means you feel very looked after. There was an extensive selection on the menu and very reasonably priced for such high quality food. I’m sure the wine list was just as comprehensive, but unfortunately lack expertise in this area. I had the beef and my wife had the lamb. Chef was prepared to cook it to her liking. The elements on each dish complemented each other perfectly, which was also true of our starters. Dessert was the cherry on top. If you’re looking for a special meal that won’t break the bank, this is the place for you.

Spent two nights bb, and dinner one night. Large room spotlessly clean & large bathroom powerfull shower. Coffe machine, mini bar in room if needed, toiletries etc. Fantastic food, best resturant meal I have had in a long time. Limited parking outside.

Tried to find menu and other details through various routes. Give up. A lost customer..would have potentially booked...

Could not fault this hotel. Extremely friendly staff, could not do enough to help. Rooms are absolutely beautiful and spotless. Also welcomed my dog Bella. Breakfast was delicious and cooked to perfection. Would highly recommend. We’ll definitely be back.

Just returned from an excellent overnight stay. We took advantage of the dinner, bed and breakfast deal which was really good value. All the food was beautifully presented and delicious, the service just right, thank you Naomi, and the drinks reasonably priced. The room we stayed in was spacious, clean and comfortable too!

I’ve eaten here many times, truly fantastic food. It’s a meal you’ll remember. The sweets are world class.

We had played Woodall Spa Golf Course and were looking for a nice restaurant on a Sunday evening. Well, the reviews are spot on…..great food, great wine and brill service. If you’re in the area, you must visit this restaurant. Superb!

Delicious B&B breakfast. Moderate proportions if you tend to have big breakfasts at hotels, but not ungenerous. They offer very pleasant service and friendly service.

Stayed in the purple room for 2 nights and ate in the restaurant both evenings and had breakfast each morning. Couldn't fault the whole experience. The room was very spacious with a huge bathroom with both a freestanding bath and a large shower. Bed was very comfortable and the room was well appointed. The meal we had in the restaurant was absolutely delicious and was the best food we had eaten for a long time. Staff were all friendly and efficient and it was a great experience. We are already planning a return trip for our next special occasion.

Lovely local restaurant in the town of Horncastle, run by family having been open for nearly 20 years. Very friendly. Great choice on menu, Cromer Crab, local meat & provisions, excellent, wine menu was very comprehensive, with some great wines. We stayed over in one of their 3 rooms located above the restaurant, very comfortable & breakfast very nice.

It’s a little while since I have visited The Magpies as we live nearly an hour’s drive away. I have always enjoyed it there and when there is a special occasion(my birthday this time) it is nice to make the effort. We had a lovely evening which started with a relaxed drink in the lounge area with some complimentary nibbles which were delicious whilst we perused the menu. I chose the beef for my main course. It was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. For dessert I had the sticky toffee pudding which was just so good. All the staff were very attentive and pleasant and it was a perfect evening. We will return very soon

I booked a Dinner Bed & Breakfast package direct with Magpies as part of a surprise birthday treat for my wife. Everything, from start to finish, was perfect! The booking was quick and easy with confirmation received back very quickly. Upon arrival (free parking in front of the property) we were warmly greeted and shown to our room. We stayed in the "Gold" room which was absolutely beautiful; very comfy bed and a large and luxurious bathroom. We went for a walk around Horncastle before our meal, which seemed like a nice market town, but as it was a cold & dark winter Sunday evening we didn't venture too far. Upon returning the Magpies, we enjoyed a quick glass of wine in the lounge from the very impressive (and great value) wine list. A platter of amuse-bouche was a nice surprise - and delicious too! I'm a bit late in writing this review, so can't recall the details of all the dishes we ordered (sorry!) so I've uploaded a couple of photos and can assure you that the food was top-notch! Once we'd had our fill, we had a quick glass of dessert wine back in the lounge before turning in for the night. After a great night's sleep, we went down for breakfast, and both service and food were excellent. We left feeling very, very happy about our stay, and would like to say thanks very much to everybody at Magpies for looking after us; it was very much appreciated :-)

Came with a group. Lovely food. I did make the mistake of having sea trout and that salmon so I had 2 similar fish but the dishes themselves were lovely! Nice staff. The dessert was amazing!!

Saturday evening dinner and as close to perfect food as I’m likely to get. A wide range of ensures all tastes are catered for. Exceptional.

Imaginative food with strong flavours, well presented. In the culinary desert that is Lincolnshire, Magpies stands out. Presentation and flavour combinations are well thought out and the accompanying wine list is extensive and interesting, with the world’s finest wine regions represented. The chef’s selection of amuse bouches was delicious, with fish, soup and meat wonderful tasters of things to come. Puddings looked good and tasted better. Well worth a visit to this little market town. We’ll be back.

Recently had dinner at Magpies. It could not be faulted in any way. The food, service, helpfulness of the staff and ambiance was excellent. To be thoroughly recommended.

A special occasion location with wonderful food and service. 2nd to none for the experience and food. Haven't stopped talking or buzzing about it.

We booked in here for our anniversary on a Wednesday evening, we moved to Lincolnshire a year ago , and it’s been a struggle to find a restaurant serving really good food with a relaxing atmosphere etc , well we landed well with Magpies and will definitely return , the menu choice was hard as everything sounded mouthwatering, our choices didnt disappoint , I had the sea trout , crayfish and mackerel pate which was amazingly tasty , we also were treated to a chefs selection amuse bouche which was gorgeous and did its job of making your mouth water for the rest of the menu , my husband had the calves liver as starter and complimented it all the way through , I had a cod loin summery fresh main, the husband had a combination of wild boar and pulled pork , both were amazing, we also couldn’t resist pudding , the magpies assiette and cheese board , fantastic, the service and atmosphere was lovely , gentle music playing , friendly and unobtrusive , relaxed and in no way rushed , looking forward to our return visit .

Great place. We were lucky to get in having not booked. I would advise booking. Well worth it. Great food, great service, not in the least bit snobby. Go on, you know you want to.

We have wanted to visit this eatery for many years and it did not disappoint, we had the 3 course ala carte menu, we would certainly come back again

Sleep in the car with a takeaway is a better option. Very very expensive to be treated like an intruder. Furniture from a junk shop, dining room must have cost all of £10 TO FIT OUT. Zero hospitality, no breakfast, no tea, Nothing. I regret...

Very highly priced, which is fine if the service is good. There was 2 young staff that were very friendly and kind. However the older manageress had zero people skills and the group we were with spent the walk home not discussing the food or...

My husband and I had another incredible meal at Magpies. This is our 3rd visit and the food did not disappoint. The service was excellent attentive but not over the top fussing. My husband has a broad accent and in many places is treated with...

We were staycationing in Lincolnshire and chose Horncastle as a central base a small friendly Market Town. We always seek a fine Restaurant for our last night whether at home or abroad and we were certainly not disappointed by Magpies, excellent food and very varied...

Booked for mid week lunch. First visit having moved to lincolnshire to retire. Greeted into lounge no rush and offered appetisers lovely gesture. Seated in good time and meal came rapidly too.excellent food and service. Post lock down so quiet and no table cloth. We...

Visited Magpies this evening with friends, the food was spot on as was the service. So nice to have a menu with a difference, Wild Boar to be recommended! Thoroughly recommend, a quality restaurant in Lincolnshire five stars!

An overnight stay in the Gold room at Magpies; a well-appointed comfy room with big en-suite. No car park but parking bays on road directly in front of hotel. Friendly efficient arrival. Good value DB&B. For dinner we were seated in the cosy lounge and...

This was a short notice booking for the last day of our stay in Horncastle and it finished off our few days perfectly. From the calm, comfy arrival to the delicious food and friendly staff. An excellent menu made choosing a little difficult. I started...

After amuse bouche and three different types of homemade bread ( all delicious), we were worried that we would be unable to do justice to the actual meal. Fortunately this was not the case and we were able to enjoy the best meal that we...

Dinner on Friday 21st February 2020. Nibbles on arrival consisted of leek soup, chicken in teriyaki batter and falafel. A starter of partridge breast with a small scotch egg followed by Goose Breast (the first time I have ever been offered goose breast in a...

I’ve never thought it necessary to submit more than one review for a restaurant but over the past 8 years we’ve enjoyed Lunches, Sunday Lunches, Afternoon Teas and an Overnight Stay or 3, ALL EXCELLENT. One afternoon we found ourselves in the area unexpectedly and...

Greeted with a warm welcome and a lovely smile. This restaurant is set in a 200 year old cottage so has a lovely homely feel. The restaurant is elegant and is a great setting for lunch or dinner. The canapes were sublime and we knew...

Loved it! We looked for somewhere to take my mother for her 80th birthday. We booked the dinner B&B option. Rooms were lovely with nice touches such as Krups coffee machine and home made shortbread. Rooms were really nicely decorated and welcoming. The food was...

I visited on New Years Eve with my family for a celebration meal. I was disappointed with both the meal and the attitude of the staff. We were met at the door with a rather unwelcomely ‘they’ll have to go to their table theirs no room in here’ So guess a welcome drink in the lounge wasn’t on...! Next we were sat at our table and just left for about 10 minutes before anyone attended to us to ask for drinks etc. We were eventually presented with an amuse-bouche but nobody said what it was and it was almost thrown at the table. When I asked the waitress what it was she didn’t know and wandered off to ask. Nobody came back to us. I tasted it and it wasn’t good at all. Next course was presented, I asked again what it was, really expecting it to have been described as it was being served. The waitress just snapped ‘it’s on the menu..!’ Oh ok sorry for asking. The rest of the mean was mediocre and I didn’t really enjoy it. Now for £110 a head I did expect better. Now I know it was New Year’s Eve and busy which is the only reason they received a two otherwise it would have been lower. They need to be more welcoming and cook food a whole lot better. I don’t think I’ll ever return.

Lovely meal, expertly cooked and presented. Lived in the area for 4 years now and been desperate to find somewhere to go to to spoil ourselves

I have eaten at this restaurant on and off for the last 10 years or so. Each time I have been impressed by the flavours, combinations and presentation of each dish served to our party. There fixed price menu changes regularly but some old favourites make welcome returns before long. I would describe the food as refined British. Expect well designed plates not mountains of calories. By the end of the meal you have been on a journey and arrived at an ample sufficiency. To accompany all this ther is a well balanced and interesting wine list which even includes a "bin end" section which is worth checking out.

Very special meal. Staff were very friendly and helpful. They made my 4 year old grandson feel right at home. Food was well presented with nice portion size. It tasted great and after canapes and 3 courses I felt comforted but not over full.Will definitely be going back to try the evening menu.

This is our third visit although it’s been nine months since we last came here. It’s so nice to return somewhere and find that the food and service is just as fantastic as it had been on our previous two visits. Only very small disappointment was that there were no petit fours with our coffee as there had been previously. Hopefully, these will have been reinstated by the time we visit again!

Fell on this terrific boutique shop and what a find the selection of clothes bags and shoes is second to none in the area. The lady who was also the owner let's her clients shop under no pressure but available for advise and to answer any questions .My husband and Pippa our dog was made very welcome having a good chat whilst I searched the rails checking out the latest styles and amazing colours . I choose 3 items from the vast range and bought them getting style and value for money.I will return for sure and reccomend it to friends and family and even if we do not shop we will call and say hello to a very nice lady who happens to own s terrific clothes shop

How disappointing this restaurant was !

Beautiful food and lovely room.

We were staying in Horncastle and wanted a nice dinner. This restaurant offers classy service and delicious food with a modern twist. The amuse bouche included tiny cups of piping hot soup. miniature tartlets and fruit skewers. an additional amuse bouche in between courses and every course was delicious and well presented. We met a couple who lived in Lincoln but travelled to Magpies for special meals and celebrations. This restaurant celebrated a fifteen year anniversary. We say well done. we look forward to seeing you again.

Went for a meal last night with some friends that came up from Kent to see us.

A lovely generous sized room with a 5 star shower ! Really I couldn t fault it a superb dinner complete with home made bread chocolates etc Really lovely I will return !

This restaurant is a little gem. The food is consistently fantastic. Beautifully presented and super tasty. Perfect for that special night out.

THE most wonderful, attentive Mothers Day at Magpies! The food was just out of this world (perfect in every way- portions, flavours, presentation, quality) and everything was brought to us neither too quickly nor too slowly, in spite of them being busy. The only problem would be what to choose from the menu in the absence of being able to have one of everything! And it was ever so reasonable for what we had. Absolutely brilliant, no wonder Magpies has so many positive reviews. Thank you and we shall be back!

Really do not know where to start. From entering the Restaurant the whole experience was amazing. Staff, Food Ambiance all top notch. We dined for my Husbands 65th Birthday. It was a surprise so really didn't know what to expect or what would be on the menu. Each of us chose completely different dishes. All looked and tasted amazing. From the warm bread rolls through to the excellent desserts. Nothing was too much trouble. They even put more crumble topping on the apples which our Son requested. Can't thank them enough for wonderful time. Compliments to the Chef he really should have a Michelin Star !!

Excellent food from start to finish. We were shown to the comfortable and cosy sitting room to make our choices from the short but varied lunch menu, whilst doing so our amuse bouche was served, the three delicious appetisers set expectations high. The restaurant is understated but beautifully set out with crisp linen, quality cutlery and tableware. The food did not disappoint, fabulous flavours, lovely presentation, and the home made bread served with the first course was as good as I have ever had (including Michelin 3 star restaurants). I was unsure whether I could manage a dessert but as I had enjoyed the food so much thought I should have a little, it was delicious, like little flavour bombs going off.

From the start, sitting in comfort enjoying an 'amuse bouchée' and a drink, the magpie is excellent. The three course set menu at a reasonable price is worth travelling for, the wine list is extensive and reasonably priced. We will return.

I came to Magpies with friends who live locally. I have many dietary requirements which too often makes eating out very hard for me. My friend had called ahead to discuss them all with the owners and they made a special menu just for me that adhered to all of my requirements. Every course was stunning, it was one of the most enjoyable meals I have ever had. I would highly recommend anyone to travel to eat here in a beautiful setting with very warm and friendly staff. Many thanks to all at Magpies for such a wonderful dining experience!

We were visiting Horncastle & wanted to take a friend of ours who lives locally for a nice meal. From the moment we entered the Magpie to the moment we left we had first class service by warm friendly people THANK YOU. The food left me thinking I could have just shut my eyes & put a pin in the menu to choose it was excellent. The reviews on trip adviser in many ways do not do this friendly homely restaurant justice. how could they ? Just visit your self & see you wont be disappointed.

As usual a lovely greeting,great amuse bouche and fabulous meal. Quiet on a Thursday lunchtime so really easy to catch up. Really enjoyed.

We were looking for somewhere special for Sunday Lunch, she chose Magpies. Have had many evenings here, the lunch menu is in a very similar style and good value for money. Food here has been consistently excellent and lunch was no exception. The restaurant was pretty full, so you may wish to book ahead. Portions are just right, all the dishes went down well well with a particular favourite the guinea fowl with a mushroom rage. Highly recommended.

One of the best meals out we’ve had. Service, food ambiance and attention to detail was excellent. We travelled quite a long way too and it was definitely worth it. So nice to find a place that truly takes pride in the whole dining experience.

I had been looking forwards to visiting for a few months - I don't manage to get to Horncastle as often as I'd like and I've been trying to get there just to eat at Magpies for an age. I was not disappointed. The food is sublime! As good as I have eaten anywhere; they should be at the very least knocking on Michelin's door asking where their star is.

Saturday night dinner to celebrate a friend's 60th Birthday. Delicious food, flavour combinations were gorgeous and the little extra delicacies were yummy. Beautifully presented, Friendly efficient service, nothing was too much trouble. We all enjoyed every mouthful. Highly recommended!

Wow came for lunch for my birthday the service and food were top class from the time we came in to the time we left

It is many years since I went to the Magpies Restaurant but last Thursday I was invited to a belated birthday luncheon. It was a set meal consisting, Tortollinni stuffed with goats cheese slivers of crispy vegetables and a beetroot sauce for starters. The main course was Guinea Fowl with amaretti butternut squash mash, dauphine potatoes and fresh broccolli,, the dessert was hot raspberry souffle, filled with raspberries raspberry coulis, decorated with raspberries and a small biscuit with raspberry sorbet on the top. It was first class. The tables had pristine starched white tablecloths, white linen napkins beautifully folded, crystal shining glassware and perfectly shined silverware. The plates were red hot, as were all the dishes. The waitress was very professional in every way. I particularly notice these things as this was something that I went to College for. Top marks to the chef whose culinary skills and arrangements on the plates were superb. I cannot wait to go again. There is an a la carte menu and an afternoon tea menu but the luncheon menu is for reservations only.. The Magpies deserve a 5* rating as the Tripadvisor notice is for 2014 and should be upgraded. Thank you for making my birthday so special.

Why have we only just discovered this great place after being in Lincolnshire for many years ?

I could spend a fortune in here and often do.

I have previously posted glowing reviews for this restaurant. The food was again excellent, especially the coconut coated plaice and the venison. The refresher of banana and lime sorbet was outstanding though the assiette of desserts were all somewhat disappointing, mostly because the setting agents had been used to excess. So why only two stars? Well I have subsequently learned, and I am happy to be contradicted by the owners, that none of the tips are passed on to the staff. I think the average diner would assume that any tips were for the waiting staff and the kitchen staff to share. They are not to further reward the proprietors. If this is the case then it should be clearly stated on the menu, a further 10 to 15% on a Magpies bill for 6 is not inconsiderable and if it is not going to the staff then it can remain in my wallet.

We had lunch as a family, six adults and a 2 year old, who was very well behaved it should be noted in spite of the fact that there were no high chairs, although we were aware of this prior to our visit. The food was excellent, the staff were so helpful. great understanding of gluten free, we'll definitely be going back.

Not booked, they fitted us in at the last minute. We were scruffily dressed as we weren’t expecting to have time for lunch. What a lovely bunch of people. What fun. One of our best dining experiences in years. We have already recommended this to so many people. Can’t speak highly enough of the way we were treated despite turning up looking like a couple of dodgy gardeners. Lovely people, amazing food and fabulous staff. What a surprise find. Will go back again and again with all of my friends and family. 100% the best surprise I have had in years. Thanks to all the people at Magpies for a great lunch experience. Would have given six or seven stars if I could. It’s that good. xx

This is fine dining but it does not come cheap. The atmosphere is friendly and the food is very good. Parking in front is a bit restricted, but there are side streets nearby with spaces.

Stayed the night at Magpies. The room was lovely, huge bed, bathroom modern and clean. Tea and coffee making facilities in room, also a mini bar. The restaurant is very pretty and relaxed. The food outstanding and the wine list very good. Would highly recommend Magpies.

Well cooked ,good marriage of flavours on the plate .Will definately come again .Waitresses were very nice and we had an enjoyable time

This is a really excellent restaurant, small but high class, and with exceptional food and wine. Very comfortable and nice to be in with good attentive service. Web spent a delightful evening here.

Visitaba a unos amigos en Woodhall Spa nos trataron de una fabulosa cena en urracas. El personal era muy atento y cada campo era maravilloso. Una cena especial y visitar con los amigos! Sin duda lo recomiendo.

Dos amigos y yo fuimos para el té de la tarde y mi comida necesitaba ser sin gluten. La comida era excelente, con mucho para comer, el servicio era excelente, pero el restaurante estaba completamente, excepto por nosotros! ! Mi decepción fue la actitud de la directora. Nos cobraron £11. A pesar de la página web cada 95 diciendo que era de £9. 95! Pagamos £11. 95 porque valió la pena, pero el perdón sólo mabageress el sitio está fuera de fecha. Dije que deberían cobrar lo que se anuncia. Pero no sirvió para nada, la directora no era budging! ! Ella dijo que podría cambiar el sitio web, hasta la fecha los precios siguen siendo incorrectas! !

Como otra crítica dijo "es una difícil 'comida es muy buena, pero el servicio no es lo suficientemente buena como para justificar el precio. Teníamos 5 campos, pero tardó dos horas en ser servido. En un punto tras el plato principal nos sentamos con nuestros platos vacíos durante 25 minutos antes de cualquiera llevaron con ellos. Cuando no te sirven un campo la comida estaba situada antes de nosotros sin palabra. Nunca nos preguntaron si todo estaba bien, si necesitábamos algo, etc. Y después de los postres nos sentamos esperando la factura pero nunca llegó, así que nos fuimos a recepción y pago. No mencionar el largo tiempo que había estado en el restaurante y la camarera dijo que era porque estaban ocupados, pero había muchas mesas vacías,? ? No creo que volveremos de nuevo, si quieres cobrar dinero de arriba a la derecha todo tiene que ser, por desgracia no es

Yes I know I have written a glowing review before, but we re-visited this week and the meal we had was quite exceptional ... memorable in fact.Thank you Magpies, you never disappoint.

Three of use went to Magpies for lunch on thursday. The food was excellent. Well-prepared and presented. The service was informal, friendly and extremely good. Set price affordable menu with plenty of choice.

This is a really tough one to review because a cop out would be wow fabulous must go back etc.A word others have used is pretentious, maybe yes. Fancy china, crisp white table cloths, small helpings, overdressed guests. Yes probably pretentious is true. Left on our own is another quote. Yes I can relate to that. We were offered drinks on the terrace, nice, but cheap and nasty furniture, weeds, not that nice. And G&T's in the smallest of glasses. Is set at a fixed price of £48.50 which is a lot. Is it worth it well as a 4 we were split 50:50. Probably fair for 5 courses but do you really need 5? Difficult. At Gordon Ramsey's yes in Horncastle no it is too much. Food was actually superb. I suspect that a straight forward a la carte menu would work better. Also there are questions about service, we thought it was good but again not so good it matched the price. We also stayed the night, fabulous room, very modern, very smart, fully equipped, great breakfast. Only just a bit pricey. We went away with doubts....

The food was very good, with the assiette of desserts utterly fantastic. It all was beautifully presented on the plates. Sadly the service let the food and experience down. It was clunky (at best), with a waitress walking away while we were still talking to her at the start of the evening. Plates of food were rather hurridly flung in front of us, without any style or care. At the end of the evening the waiting staff had vanished, so after waiting 10 minutes I ended to walking out of the restaurant to knock on the kitchen door to ask for the bill. For the price you pay, you should get better service. It came across that they didn't really care about you as a customer. As another reviewer said, the chef is excellent and being let down by front of house staff.

Visited this restaurant a few months ago. Food was faultless, beautiful to look at and to eat. Atmosphere here not my style i'm afraid, reminded me of formal dining in the 80's. People in evening dress and talking very softly to each other to avoid being heard in the quiet. Obviously considers itself to be up market, very pricey food but high quality undoubtedly. BUT the service was atrocious, the head waitress, who surely must be family or would not be in the job, was very rude, never smiled, hardly spoke and I became quite scared when she brought our food as she barged me on several occasions whilst slamming my plate in front of me. At the end when my partner paid our bill he left a tip of £20 - the bill for 6 of us was around £350 which is pricey for Lincs. We then seemed to be completely abandoned in the restaurant and had to get our own coats from the cloakroom and let ourselves out as the staff had all disappeared. Not very upmarket at all! None of our party will ever be going back despite being very local to us, such a shame that the chef is let down by his waiting staff.

This restaurant has a fixed price menu, so for £48 per person you get a choice of starters, mains and dessert.The food is excellent and perfectly cooked. However, they make no allowance for the size of appetites of different people. It is basically a one size fits all, thus you lose out if you cannot manage everything on the menu.The staff were very nice and the ambience is fine if a little noisy in the restaurant.Not cheap, expect to pay in excess of £55-65 per person if you include wine etc.

We have friends nearby and Magpies is our restaurant of choice when we visit.Horncastle is a "Distant Outpost" as far as we are concerned and Magpies one of those well kept secrets that surprise and delight.'I cannot pay a greater compliment than to say that the menus and food quality is "London Best" standard .... consistently.The welcome is genuine, warm and friendly as only a family run eaterie can be. Anywhere where they take the trouble to stock Ruinart Champagne is going to be alright with me, and it is.Last Summer we were attending a wedding so we stayed at Magpies for a few days. The rooms were excellent, attractive, very comfortable, and clean as one would expect. First class and an easy five stars all round.

We planned a very special night at your restaurant, unfortunately we were greeted with sour faces on arrival. The older lady who I presume is the restaurant maitre de was unacceptably unfriendly and the rest of the staff seemed frightened to death. The waiting room which we were almost demanded to go through to was unlike a dentist waiting room. The atmosphere was frosty, feeling very on edge. The decor needs attention while it's very "nice" it's very " cold" needs to be cosy and friendly!!! The food is absolutely superb but unfortunately the front of house staff let you down dramatically and we were never ever asked by any member of staff if we had enjoyed our evening. Would we go again? Absolutely not.

What a lovely place! I booked a table for two and overnight stay at Magpies as a birthday treat for my wife. We had visited once before for Sunday lunch and felt we must come back one day.On our return visit the whole experience was faultless! From the appetisers served with pre-dinner aperitifs, through the whole of the meal, to the relaxing after-dinner drink in the lounge it was all excellent. The Magpies' menu is refreshingly different to the offerings of many restaurants in the county. If locally-sourced ingredients imaginatively cooked and presented is your thing then Magpies is for you. Ingedients such as eel, venison, wild boar and various game feature in starters and mains as well as lovely desserts for 'afters'. All of this in lovely comfortable surroundings.We read on previous reviews some negative comments about the waiting staff. Well we certainly didn't find this! Everyone was polite and professional in their work, not to mention cheerful and friendly. The earlier mentions of the 'elder lady' made us more aware and alert to any shortcomings but we saw none. Credit due to the entire team!Our room (Room 3) was comfortable and spacious with a well-stocked mini-bar and tea and coffee facilities. The bathroom was spotless (as was everywhere) and finished beautifully. No cause for any criticism here!All in all I would say that Magpies, while not being the cheapest place to eat or stay, has to be one of the best we've visited. Money well spent!We will return!

Hi took a trip down memory lane in the Autumn. Used Magpies a lot in the year 2001.When working for 10 months in the area. It was very good them. But now wow it's fantastic. If a little expensive not for every Saturday night. But for a special occasion its the best. It's fine dining if you like that. Would definitely recommend you are spoiled.Will return some day. Sorry so late posting. M K.

Especially for Lincolnshire, this restaurant provides excellent food and service and a good selection of wines at an overall price that is certainly very reasonable for what is provided.

I had such high hopes for Magpies - staying just one night - the room was excellent with a large selection of teas but only one choice of instant coffee. As I was leaving early I ordered the breakfast hamper and after reading the choice of menus and reading that Magpies are proud to promote and use the best quality local produce in Lincolnshire. Magpies own selection of jams and marmalades and home made breads. What a let down! The worst croissants I have ever had - prepacked and the one tiny plastic pot of jam and marmalade - Duerrs - no butter. The blueberry muffin was wrapped in cling film and was stale - all ended up in the bin. The reception staff are in the wrong job - no smiles here - no conversation - one of the worst welcomes I have had in any hotel. Disappointed.

I visited Magpies on a Saturday evening with a group of girlfriends. Between the 5 of us I think we covered the full menu and no-one had a bad word to say about a single element of any course, the food was truly excellent. My only criticism of our dining experience would be that the staff just don't seem particularly happy to be there! The elder lady in particular was borderline unwelcoming and I don't think any of them managed a smile. Thankfully the food makes up for it - well done to the kitchen team, but you are being let down by your front of house team.

the room was excellent .the food was to die for I've never had carpaccio or venison like this it was beautiful.the staff were lovely and very attentive,it was a fabulous weekend and highly recommended thank you all we will definitely be back asap

We have visited the restaurant six times previously, and last night was our poorest experience of what had always been a first class dining experience. Basically the problem is the decline in service standards (last visit was over a year ago).When paying over £300 for a four person meal, I expect the service standard to be as exceptional as the food, and on this occasion it was very disappointing.The waiting staff looked very glum from the time we arrived and throughout the meal.Our pre dinner drinks were ordered and delivered in a rush. Same again for the appetiser, the waitress made a quick explanation of the offerings and was walking away as she talked. One of the appetisers was a deep fried chicken ball (in batter) which was quite oily, however there were no napkins on the table or supplied. Leaving us with greasy fingers and trying not to wipe them on our clothes or furniture.We were shown to our table in the dining room, greeted by a rather stern looking waitress to pour the wine.We felt that the food was served very quickly with to short a time between courses. At no point during the meal were we asked if everything was OK .My wife ordered the cheese from the menu, which stated a selection from the trolley. On previous visits a trolley was bought to the table so you can select the cheese. However on this occasion a plate of preselected thin slices was bought to the table - my wife isn't keen on goats or smoked cheeses but wasn't given the opportunity to select her own.That being said, the quality and flavours of our starters, mains and deserts was superb.The front of house's lack of attention to detail and dourness, does not do the chef and kitchen team any favours. I fear it will be some time before I choose Magpies as my first choice destination for a special meal.I suggest hiring some happy waitresses who enjoy serving people.

Passed the Magpie over the years and thought that it looked a really inviting place to go. Finally we stayed over in one of their lovely rooms and had dinner which was excellent, I really like the chef because of his menu diversity and the hard work he must put in to make it happen, my wild boar dish had three components of wild boar, also I could have picked any one of the starters and mains they were all mouth watering.Definitely lived up to our expectationsThank you!

Returned to the restaurant for another excellent evening, lovely atmosphere, great staff, and truly exceptional food

The food here is excellent, but the one thing that really 'lets it down' is they limit you to one bread roll each, and even if you ask nicely, they will not allow you any more of their excellent bread, which I find unbelievable! It would make such a difference to my overall thoughts and review of this restaurant, as the food is excellent, but this really puts me off going back again, because of their attitude towards this very inexpensive offering!

Wow I've got to say the food here is excellent, we had the set Saturday dinner and we both found the choice and presentation of the food was fantastic. The young staff were friendly and polite, the one negative was the old girl on front of house, from us arriving till leaving she never smiled or engaged with any customers. Upon leaving we paid the bill and left a generous tip I said to her how wonderful our meal and night was, she never looked up until I said you're welcome as we were opening the door to leave at that point she said thank you. A little to late, she needs to be a lot more friendly when on front of house. Would we go back? Definitely

We decided to dine here as a little bit of a celebration for my belated 30th birthday and my girlfriends new job and I must say it was an evening to remember!! The restaurant has a wonderful ambience, you take a seat in the soft seating area and a very polite lady asked us if we wanted drinks, we decided to have a bottle of pink champagne which was brought to us by our host for the evening! We also ordered our wine and water for the table! Whilst in the soft seating area we got brought a selection of appetisers that were exceptional and also placed our order! Once our starters were nearly ready we got invited to our table where our wine and water was waiting for us! What a beautiful relaxed dining room! We then got brought our freshly baked bread which was so very good and also our 2nd appetiser which was full of flavour and looked beautiful! The starters then arrived which were the duck and the rabbit and I have to say they looked stunning and the tastes were out of this world! Without going stupidly over the top both the main course and dessert looked out of this world and tasted exceptional!! We opted for the lamb and the wild boar for main courses and the asset of desserts and a cheese board with port! We also went for the petit fours and coffee which were beautiful!! We had such a exceptional memorable night that we took all there menus away with us and we will be joining you again!! Magpies has a wonderful set menu with lots of seasonal ingredients on show with various different methods of cooking being executed! The wine and drinks list is simply phenomenal! And the service was out of this world, all staff very knowledgable, never an empty glass and they make sure you leave feeling 110% happy!! Nothing is to much trouble!! Thank you very much for such a great night!!

All courses we had were very delicious. Even prepared a vegan menu for one of our party. the lounge area is a little cramped but the restaurant is self is a great atmosphere. Would potentially benefit from a tasting menu

We were on a day out looking around horncastle t of understanding some Georgian furniture when we came across magpies. It was a very rainy day so we decided to pop in to wait for the rain to pass and never again.We didn't realise they had a dress code my husband did have trainers and a t-shirt on which is probably why the woman wasn't very welcoming towards us. We ordered and food was served awfully quick. Too quick to be cooked fresh. It was ok apart from I found a bit bit of plastic in my lamb dish but certainly wasn't worth the money we paid.For the 2 of us we spent just short of £70 and honestly wasn't worth 30.The female there I assume manageress was abrupt and had no customer service skills at all. Maybe if they upgraded the staff it would be nicer. But unless your suited and booted for a average and I mean average restaurant then you won't be welcomed here. I wouldn't recommend sorry

An absolutely fantastic lunch deal of £15.95 for 3 courses (which has to be pre-booked). Elegant restaurant; friendly, attentive service and delicious food.

Called here with two of my friends and had afternoon tea. Delicious!! a fabulous selection and plenty of it and at £9.95 per head excellent. Have also been here for sunday lunch with my husband …. highly recommend.

Possibly best suited to special occasions although we visit several times each year.Menu is descriptive and matched if not surpassed by the foods arrival. Wine list is perfect offering a wide range of choice and price.Convivial and friendly - a great and enjoyable experience

It’s the best place to eat in Horncastle but we were the only ones in for lunch – apart from a couple having an early afternoon tea. Perhaps people didn’t want to stump up £26 for a three course meal but the A-board advertises a cheaper £15.95 version. Don’t be fooled. Ask for it and you’re told it has to be booked in advance. Really? Now is that a con or not?What is not a con is the food, really good in an unassuming way. There are fine breads, a spot-on, moist, tasty guinea fowl terrine and a jaunty fig, artichoke and goats cheese tart, all crisp pastry and lively flavours. My breadcrumbed chicken breast sounds simple (and it was) but it tasted ultra-chickeny, livened by a great mango relish, which pops up elsewhere on the menu. The chef-patron is Andrew Gilbert. His wife Caroline makes the desserts: a good lemon tart and a first class trifle.There’s more sophistication on the plate than in the service. Just because your bill comes to over £70 doesn’t mean the waiter will carry your pre-dinner drinks to the table. That said, well worth a detour.