Merchants 1688 in Lancaster

Service fantastic, very accommodating and helpful when our son’s train was late. Very friendly staff. Great food, lovely atmosphere

We ordered Lancashire lamb hotpot, onion rings and tempura mussels. Food was delicious at a fair price. It just took longer than expected to serve, but no big deal. Recommended.

It was a very good restaurant and the waiter was very nice and kind. Amazing food.

Excellent Sunday lunch. Very good quality pork and chicken. Excellent and speedy service and a cosy atmosphere.

Wow - a wonderful twist on a sandwich. The Appleby cheddar sandwich on focaccia was outstanding as were the accompanying chips and Parmesan truffle fries. Focaccia starter and the marmalade carrots were delicious xxxx The choice or real ales is good and beers are well kept. We were very well taken care of by Graeme and Sasha they were so helpful and a real credit to the establishment. On the basis of our experience today we will definitely be back and would highly recommend to anyone looking for excellent food and drinks xxxx

Really lovely place with great food, i had the chicken ‘pie’ which was just amazing , would highly recommend. Service was fantastic aswell would highly recommend this place :)

Had a fabulous lunch today - food, drink and staff absolutely top notch. Best fish and chips I’ve ever tasted. We shall be back soon. Thank you

It came highly recommended and lived up to the praise. We will be back very soon. The food and the atmosphere was spot on.

Absolutely amazing place for relax, top quality food and drinks and excellent customer service. Highly recommend it! Thank you for the lovely experience!

A very nice high end resturent really good food

Went for the quiz night on a Sunday. Chris's quiz was great but the sound system is awful! Kept cutting out, speakers not working etc. Definitely needs some work to improve the pa system!

Brilliant quiz, Chris is a legend! Sound, especially in Bay 2 (sound keeps cutting out and speakers only working at the far end), please get it sorted, spoiling a brilliant night.

We came for the quiz, but the sound was really bad. Very frustrating! Not the fault of the quiz master, he had to keep coming round to repeat the questions. Please can you sort it? Thanks. Otherwise a lovely evening.

Great night at the Merchants. Went for the regular Sunday quiz which is always challenging and brilliantly presented. Slight downside that the sound, paricularly in the middle bay area was really poor. Get it sorted guys.

It is so nice to have a decent place to eat out in Lancaster again. Great Sunday roast. Delicious gravy and crispy Yorkshire pud. Staff were attentive. Thank you!

Managed to get a booking for the tasting menu - was a fantastic evening - slightly disappointed with only 1 of the courses and that was because the sorbet was icy and the dish as a whole could have done with a different texture. But the canapés were delicious and the Morecambe Bay Shrimp dish was stunning. The turbot and venison were equally as delicious.

Had an oat milk latte but was very strong and milk not spun right. The coffee itself was good but a latte ,it was not. The barista was open to making it weaker,but even then it was unlike the usual latte. There's a skill to latte, using non-dairy is trickier,but others manage it to perfection...and actually have had a good latte at the Merchants before...perhaps more training needed. Have to say was peeved at the price vs value gor money and I went without my coffee because it was undrinkable. Would have liked a refund.

Wonderful food, great service, would definitely recommend the satsuma parfait!

Went with family for Sunday lunch 01/02/25... This is a pub with a difference as it is seeped in history. The majority of the inside is made up of wine sellers / tunnels, which is where customers sit. We all ordered chicken roast dinner, which was very well presented and more of a gourmet type restaurant than pub. I would recommend soup of the day..Sweet Potato and Rosemary... Each of us discovered that with our main courses, a couple of items were overcooked and should not have been served by the chef, which was disappointing and reason for the deduction of one star. Also some of the cheeses you are able to choose for your cheeseboard are an acquired taste... choose with caution! All staff were efficient and professional despite the mentioned food issues. The pub is accessed by going down some steps, into a lower level than ground. Toilets are also accessed by a flight of stairs. Unless there is a ground floor disabled toilet, then there would be access difficulty for both the entrance and bathrooms for people with mobility restrictions and wheelchair users. Parking would be via local car parks in the vicinity. The pub is located within easy walking distance of the cities train station and directly outside if the castle grounds. If you are looking for a pub with a difference, somewhere quaint and vibrant, this is certainly the place for you!

Amazing celeriac dish. So many flavours. Excellent chice of ales too. Thank you.

I did a delivery there and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Looks like a great place for a drink and meal.

My husband and I ate here one lunch time, my husband had the lamb hotpot and I had the cauliflower steak and we both agree they were delicious.

Always really friendly staff and a great selection of drinks. Really historic building so great atmosphere.

Food was delicious, it’s small portions and expensive so bare that in mind but you get what you pay for. Not many veggie options but I had the roast cauliflower and it was amazing. Staff were really warm & friendly. Lovely setting.

Great historic pub right in the centre of Lancaster.

How refreshing to find a pub with a different menu. Fabulous food obviously cooked on the premises. We had the lancashire hotpot, cooked for 72 hours. Very tasty and served hot. The sticky toffee pudding also recommended.

Lovely old pub can get very busy you might need to book for food dog friendly too

Have the Christmas menu. Crab, halibut and chocolate slice. Nice👏 A good place for company event. Everyone enjoys themselves with beer 🍺

One word is absolutely enough to describe my experience: amazing!

Get off the train. Go here for beer. Excellent.

This was our fourth visit, usually superb but not this time. Arrived early, ordered a drink at the bar then told quite rudely by a very abrubt lady who appeared to be in charge that we couldn't stand at the bar and ordered us in to a seperate room to sit and wait. Sat for an hour before someone came in (you would think as people were not welcome at the bar someone should be waiting on in the room checking all ok and seeing if anyone wanted another drink ??) Sat down bang on time, 7pm after asking if our table was ready. Thought the menu was very limited and dissapointing this time, in fact none of us fancied any of the starters so just ordered main course, all had the Lamb Hotpot which we all agreed was fantastic, very tasty and plenty of it, well done chef. The Nuits St George wine was also excellent. Unfortunately the rude welcome put a bit of a downer on the meal

Incredible food & drinks post fancy looking place just at the bottom of Lancaster castle 🏰

Christmas meal for the family was perfect. Each course was delicious, the crab ravioli sauce was perfect, as was the beef - soft and tender, and the pigeon received rave reviews. Compliments to the chef and the staff who were really accommodating after our booking was delayed slightly. Thank you for a great afternoon in such a lovely historic setting.

A lunch with old friends, good beer excellent food and a very pleasant atmosphere. Has become restaurant of choice when in Lancaster

Best food I have tasted in any lancaster restaurant bar none

We visited Merchants for our Book Club night out and had the Christmas menu. We all agreed it was the best Christmas meal we’d ever had! The three courses were absolutely superb! Different tastes and textures, beautifully presented and served by charming waiting on staff. If you haven’t booked your Christmas meal yet we would thoroughly recommend The Merchants.

Visited for mid-week lunch, pub is situated a short walk from the train station. First visit for a couple of years and the service and quality are as good as ever. Had the special lamb hot pot which was excellent, but there is a good choice from the menu. You can go for restaurant or bar service. The setting is a cellar with three separate eating areas, there is also an outside area at the entrance . Recommended.

Nice, although expensive pint. Served quickly enough. Sat down in one of the alcoves, seating not clean and a musty smell.

A gem in Lancaster. The food was excellent and the quantities were impressive. Amazing service too. I wish London could be closer to Lancaster so that I could visit more often.

Been here a few times recently and have been absolutely blown away with the quality of food. The autumn/winter 24 menu in particular has been amazing and it’s fantastic that a lot of the food is sourced locally. The atmosphere in the old wine cellars is lovely and makes for a really unique dining experience. Service is usually good but not always, sometimes members of staff can be quite abrupt but I appreciate they are probably very busy. Definitely not something to put you off going as the place really is one of a kind in Lancaster.

Just went for drinks. Atmospheric but pricey

Lovely food. Great beer and mine. Intimate venue. Recommended.

Fantastic place to eat and drink 🍸

Visited on a Sunday for my partners birthday celebrations whilst staying in Lancaster. Excellent friendly service by everyone and one of the best Sunday roast dinners we've had in a long time! We also stayed for the pub quiz afterwards, which was great fun with a friendly quiz host, and we didn't come last 🙂 Our first visit to Lancaster and, therefore, to Merchants 1688, but we will be returning to both! Whole heartedly recommend a trip here for a meal. Thanks.

Visiting Lancaster on the way to Scotland we stumbled fortunately on this characterful venue. Set in old vaulted wine cellars, but also with some outside seating, this place has tons on atmosphere. We sat in some comfy leather sofas and tried two of the ales on offer and they were both great. We only saw a bar snacks & chips blackboard and so can’t comment on food offering. Enjoyed our visit.

Atmospheric pub brimming with Lancastrian history. A bit posh and foodie but also good for a quick pint or three. Interesting choice of local cask ales. Great place to sit in the cavernous cellars and soak up the atmosphere. Top drawer.

What a great choice for a birthday gathering. Deliberately chosen because I'd read such good reviews of Sunday lunch - and we were not disappointed. All staff warm and welcoming - both at bar and at table. Service was efficient but relaxed, and food tasty and beautifully presented. Thank you to the whole team.

Great food and service, lots of history.

Outstanding food and service. Highly recommend this. The Sunday lunch menu was exceptional. The absolute best roast beef ever and magic Yorkshire Pudding with a tasty surprise inside. And, the evening was topped of with a brilliant fun quiz, the quiz master is top notch.

Absolutely beautiful food...little problem sorted out in a totally professional way,waiting staff highly attentive. Would highly recommend

So first things first we where a parti of 8 adult and two children and had pre ordered prior to our arrival. Starters went well and the food was enjoyable. Then onto the mains three of us didnt receive our orders but fair play to the staff the quickley realised that there was problem and explained that there had been a mix up in the kitchen and that they would get the food to us as soon as possible and that there would be no charge for those 3 main meals. To be fair it didnt take to long. Overall despite the odd hic up we enjoyed our food and would definitly go again.

Brilliant food great atmosphere and good service can't recommend it enough

Brilliant pub with first class Guinness

Quite a fancy little place, unfortunately the food just wasn't to my liking, presented very well and was definitely good quality. Not a big fan of lobster, tried it for the first time here. Had the beef steak medium rare which wasn't very tasty and quite chewy, very good potatoes, the nduja mac and cheese is pretty good too. Had the satsuma parfait for dessert which was pretty pathetic, a bruleed tangerine with some chocolate mousse that tasted like it was £1 from a supermarket. Overall a fine dining experience, great service, unsure if I'd comeback with how expensive it was but maybe if the menu was good enough.

Wonderful atmosphere and food in this wine cellar style restaurant

Stunning food, great value for money and very friendly staff.

Beer was good but they seemed more interested in catering for diners than drinkers!

Magnificent ad! The dishes are a treat for the taste buds. The staff are lovely. I highly recommend

Unusual setting, tastefully fitted out. Good range of ales. We sat inside in one of the old wine cellars which gives a more intimate atmosphere.

Saturday 19th August 2023 This real ale pub is so quaint and has a cave interior that has to be investigated by punters coming here to drink the ample amount of great hand pumped ales on This pub has now got a great price structure for its ales The staff are ace, and it has a good decent local following. Tonight, I was really impressed with how well organised everything was sorted out I did not eat in this pub, so I can't give stars on eating But this pub is a must to visit for real ale Tuesday 2nd October 2024 Again, today, we visited this essential visit for real ales when in Lancaster Nothing has changed from my last visit a fantastic interior, beautifully ranbe of plethora of handpumped ales and good staff and back ground music this idealistic real ale pub is ace Keep up the good work all in volved

Did not order food, so I can not comment. Great selection of drinks, really pretty building. It's like being in a cave (but a pretty cave!) and has a warm atmosphere. The staff were really friendly and dipped in and out of conversation (which i personally love!) I would not say it is accessible for wheelchairs due to the nature of the building, and toilets are upstairs so ring in advance for any queries there. It's a cosy, more calm place to go compared to the centre of town which can be quite busy and loud in evening. Right next to lancaster castle.

Only dropped in for a coffee but excellent

I really can't belive how bad the food was heavily over salted the potato's cabbage and all accompaniments were awful this was a pre ordered meal for a 40th and totally let the day down I really would recommend looking else where

Food was excellent, I was on soft drinks as driving, as usual they were mega expensive a pint of beer was probably cheaper. Overall lovely place would go again but not drive .....

Came for a Sunday roast, left amazed at the quality. Even at the price it's well worthwhile. Can't think of a single fault in our entire experience.

Nice place to have something to eat and drink and the staff were very helpful 👍 👌 😀

The food was delicious, and the service was excellent. A pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

What a quaint little place. A variety of real ales and beers. The quality of the food is excellent. I would highly recommend this place.

September 2024: a beautiful sunny day. We had the Fuzzy Duck Brewery: IPA and Pennine Brewery: Heartland dark amber ale. November 2017: A 17th Century, 300 year old wine merchant's cellar, on Castle Hill. A historical basement pub serving traditional pub food and seasonal dishes. 3 tunnels within give the Merchants 1688 a unique atmosphere. It is rumoured to connect tomthe Castle via a secret tunnel and is said to have once been used as a storage room. Casque Marque accredited real ales, wines and craft beers. Absolutely loved it here.

Fish over done and hardly any Fish mostly over done batter nice chips but everything else was not that nice we were very disappointed

This restaurant was recommended to us for Sunday Roast and did not disappoint. We had pork belly, and the Sunday roast beef. Yorkshire pudding was perfect - crisp and stuffed with some roast beef. Service was excellent. Setting was historic, near the castle. Highly recommend this place!

The best food I’ve ever had. I have been many times now and just love the Sunday dinner and puddings they offer. An absolute treat and I can’t wait to visit again. The environment is well maintained cosy and clean. The staff are very supportive and accommodated our requests. My only ask is that they offer custard as an option with the puddings but I can’t fault the fact that they made us some up on request. 5 star service and food!

lovely food, the pepper and hazelnut risotto was gorgeous. atmosphere was very cosy and inviting and the staff were knowledgeable and attentive :)

The best food I’ve ever had. I have been many times now and just love the Sunday dinner and puddings they offer. An absolute treat and I can’t wait to visit again. The environment is well maintained, cosy and clean. The staff are very supportive and accommodated our requests. My only ask is that they offer custard as an option with the puddings but I can’t fault the fact that they made us some up on request. 5 star service and food!

Great food, lovely staff, prices are higher than the average pub

We both had excellent late lunch, waitresses was very knowledgeable and thoughtful. A well constructed menu, well above what you’d normally expect in a pub. Excellent range of beers, we’d highly recommend this place for food and drink

Fantastic ambience for dinner. The lamb was cooked perfectly.

Went for the tasting menu which they do every couple of months and the food great, friendly staff and very good service enjoyed myself really well would highly recommend.

Have been coming here for decades! Great selection of drinks and love the history and ambience. Haven't eaten there in a very long time, so can't comment on the food.

Had Sunday lunch - one of the best roasts we have had including many in London! The starter of Mushroom parfait on toast with brown truffle was absolutely sublime; on a par with places like St John, Brat or Quality Chop House in London which specialise in hearty food like this. One of the best things I’ve eaten this year. The quality of the meat (beef) for the roast really set it apart from other roasts, it had obviously been well-sourced and was full of flavour. Nice atmospheric setting and attentive staff. Would highly recommend.

I can’t say anything bad about this place. My partner and I were in Lancaster for one night, by chance we picked here to eat, the food was delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend it and I will be back again.

Great place to eat and drink. The food was 10 out of 10.

Nice outdoor area, alcoholic drinks on the expensive side.

I came here with my team and it was a lovely experience. We had pre-booked the restaurant in advance and we had all selected what we wanted to eat before the day, so the chef was prepared. The staff were courteous and everyone was satisfied with the menu (especially the visitors on the team) from the starter to the main course and dessert. I will be back again

Those onion rings are perfect; automatic 5 stars! Plus the staff are so helpful, really nice vibe in here. A great place to stop off after visiting the Castle

Faboulous food and service, we were very pleased with the evening. The restaurant was fully booked but the staff accomodate us in the bar area where we had all room for ourselves like on the private dinning. Despite them being very busy the service was spotless and with great smile. Higly recomend this place. Also great value for money.

Excellent meal, good review by Jay Rayner! Well presented and flavoursome, would happily eat here again

Great pub, really enjoyed the thrill and palomino beers

Great food and drink. If you're visiting Lancaster, I highly recommend Merchants.

Quiz Night is Sunday Night, so make sure you attend. Apart from that I like how they change the taps, so I can frequently try new ales and ciders. The lunch menu here is also great too, I like the cibatta style sandwiches !

Great beet, great serice.Riecommend the palomino

Only had drinks but was very nice

Been to the Merchants a few times now and they always exceed expectations. With a unique selection of ales and an ever-changing menu, each visit is exciting. Despite having quite an ambitious menu, they execute each dish I’ve had with absolute conviction and I’m always pleased with my choice. The staff are knowledgeable, helpful and accommodating and the interior creates a very ambient and distinctive environment. My only criticism would have been that the table itself was just slightly too dim, a candle would’ve been a nice addition.

A sweet pub in Lancaster. Would recommend for a stop in

Popped in here for a drink after visiting the castle in Lancaster. The building was very aesthetically pleasing being in an old arched wine cellar set below an old building. Inside there was plenty of seating in the large rooms that you would have stored the wine in which looked amazing. The bar was beautiful and served some delicious drinks. I had a local gin and tonic which was very nice. We didn't get to sample any food but could smell it and it smelt beautiful and would love to try on a future visit. I definitely recommend this pub for people who love historic buildings.

This is the best dessert I've ever eaten in Lancaster

A wonderful first visit here. Amazing food and service. We'll most definitely be back!

This dining-in-wine cellar experience with beautiful simple and complex dishes just made my day. My intentional yet aimless escape finds its purpose here. Lamb hotpot is wonderful, heart-warming especially on a chilling July evening. The potato slices are soft yet offer a little bite. The lamb is tender, neither too lean or too fatty, and melts in mouth with the diced carrot and potato. The onion based soup is delightful. To me it doesn’t taste too much similar to Irish stew despite similar ingredients; maybe the mysterious Worcester sauce is the key (and/or the lack of Guinness or whisky) in addition to proportion of herbs. It’s also less thick than the Irish counterpart. The portion is just right. The focaccia has an enjoyable rosemary crust. I don’t usually add butter but appreciate the toasting and slicing and even spreading. And the butter tastes of surprisingly good quality, very milky, even after a reception with much cheese. Red cabbage has a delightful vinegar taste with strong presence of fennel. Finishing with a summery dessert in defiance of the chill. First peach in 2024! Earl grey sorbet is really unique. I always like tea and the bergamot aroma is refreshing. The sorbet contrasts and complements the silky yet not too sweet panna cotta. The mint leaf is a great idea. With the honey comb bits, there are so many ways to enjoy the wondrous layers of textures and tastes the dessert ^^ (The cheese board is of such a reasonable price! Cheese usually cost much more than desserts… (I have already had cheese today so I noted the suppliers and their flavors :> souvenirs?)) (I came here to try some Lancaster classics, but the “locally sourced, in-season dishes”look very tempting too, and the starters! Next time I’ll bring friends to share and sample :3 Having been to Lake District already, I decided to stick to the less commonly available Lancashire lamb hotpot, and the 72-hour prefix sounds like it’s cooked longer than other restaurants (though not an indicative of the result). And it sounds popular among neighboring tables— there was a couple with two identical dishes. It is great.) The staff are super friendly. No wonder there are many frequenters. The environment is elegant and intimate, though it could be better with a little music in the background to slightly muffle the many interesting conversations. (WiFi is as nonexistent as cellular, so focus on people, if any, and definitely food.)

Easily the best meal, service, beer, and environment during our 1wk in the area. Loved it.

An excellent choice of well kept draught beers to try before the well reviewed hotpot which didn't disappoint. An excellent dining experience.