Merchants 1688 in Lancaster

This is our number 1 place to visit for good food and excellent service in Lancaster. Visited here a few times now with family and friends and it gets a big thumbs up every time. The new Spring menu caters for all tastes, highly recommend the halibut loin ( delicious) and my husband had the short rib and bone marrow pie which he said was excellent, and he is a fussy one when it comes to dining out. Cannot fault this place. Staff always welcoming and friendly. Very high standard and excellent quality all round. Highly recommend.

4/4/2024 14:00 Happened upon this spot when visiting. Lancashire hot pot was delicious, cannot fault, 10/10. Paired with a portion of chunky chips it was the perfect lunch. The staff were very knowledgeable on the history of the merchants which was really insightful and added to our visit. Service were lovely, attentive, and very well informed about the food and drink on offer. All in all totally recommend a visit xxxx

as soon as we walked in we were greeted and taken to our seat, great options for GF, the waiter seemed very knowledgeable with allergies which was very reassuring. recommended a lovely wine to go with my meal, i had the risotto which was so fresh and full of flavour, side of GF onion rings (Amazing). and my friend had the lamb cannon, cooked perfectly with intense flavours of spring, the lamb was incredible and everything went so well together on the dish. great value for money and amazing service. thank you cant wait to come back and try the gluten free sticky toffee pudding.

Having been to the merchants many times I chose to take my sister so she could try their steak...(I'd argue best in Lancaster for quality & price) Met with friendly staff, warm atmosphere & a menu that promotes local produce, wine list is excellent too! From a local lass who's seen this locally ran business grow for over 25 yrs!

Regular visitor to the merchants. Fabulous food as always, never disappointed. Such a special little place, amazing food, friendly atmosphere and accommodating staff who are always willing to help. A little diamond in the city for food and a little drink.

There were some nice elements - the lamb cannon my fiance had was cooked well and the side of chips and onion rings were delicious. However, the experience in general was a let down. My fiance's starter was mussels in hollandaise with a Guinness foam and all we could both taste was Guinness that completely overpowered the mussels and hollandaise. My main was wild garlic gnudi, the gnudi were dense and bland, accompanied by a sauce that was bland and creamy (for £19!!). My fiance's lamb main had goats curd, romesco, wild garlic which ended up being big flavours competing with eachother far too much (obviously in retrospect) - she found a good combination by leaving certain elements off. The service was also poor. On entry we were met with a bouncer and two bar staff that clearly did not want to be here, the waiting times for everything we're too long and it felt like staff were just going through the motions on service. Overall a very disappointing experience for the price and we will not be returning. I don't understand where the AA rosette has come from, I don't see it staying for long.

We booked a delayed Christmas do for 26 people. Pre-ordered starters & mains, stating our arrival time & eating time. We had a full arched cellar to ourselves – a very unique setting. What a meal – couldn’t have asked for better service from the waiters/waitresses, at the table & the bar and all the food was amazing. We didn’t know what to expect as a large group but we all left very impressed. All the food came together and I would highly recommend to book for a large group of people as the quality of food was exceptional. Thank you for having us.

Amazing old pub close to the station & Castle. Well kept selection of local beers, classic menu & amazing staff. Easy 5 stars & highly recommended...

Stunning food , beautifully presented and well worth the money

Dropped in for a drink after doing a walking tour of the town which ended at the castle. Great atmosphere inside and a very unique venue. Lucky to get a table in the dining area which was lovely, nicely lit to create a really cosy place to enjoy lunch. Menu wasn’t huge but I struggled to choose between several of the dishes that sounded fantastic. Decided on the beef fritter and my husband had the scotch egg. The beef was exceptional. Inspired ingredients and very tasty. Scotch egg was sat on a lovely Cumberland sauce and the yolk was slightly soft, so perfect. Mac cheese side was lovely too and a bit different with Nduja included in the dish. A few chunky chips and onions rings on the side completed the taste fest. Onion rings weren’t your usual greasy batter, they were lightly coated in fresh breadcrumbs and were delicious. Will definitely return when we visit again.

Absolutely incredible food, excellent real ale, all served in a 17th century wine merchants' cellar. The service was also brilliant; attentive, without being overbearing. I went in hungry, as I wanted to try three courses, and was very glad I did. My partner also got three courses, so we got to try each other's food. Every mouthful was amazing. A special place to go for a meal!

What a place, so different from any other restaurant. Not too be missed, food amazing

Fabulous- the setting is so charming and different The food was truly amazing for us all.- from starter to main - probably one of the best steaks I have ever tasted and the accompianments delicious You seriously need to go!

You will probably want to know that it isn’t just the place for gherkin ketchup and smoked elderberry jus. The lunchtime menu includes a burger, although it is made with dry-aged beef, raclette and a roast shallot mayo. There’s fish and chips, and a range of sandwiches including roast beef with watercress, or Appleby cheddar with chutney.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch here. It’s warm and welcoming with great ambience. Great selection of drinks and service was outstanding.

Lovely place will definitely go again

Really poor service and manager. Sad to see because it’s such a nice pub but the way we were treated as fully grown adults was really embarrassing. Will not be returning.

Lancaster is a city of excellent Sunday roasts but the Merchants stands out from the crowd. Every element is carefully thought out on the plate. Succulent roast strip loin of beef served pink comes with a delightful surprise of beef brisket hidden in the Yorkshire pudding. Buttery mash is accompanied by an sublimely silky butternut squash and mange-tout. My wife had a perfectly cooked breast of chicken cooked on the bone with crisp roasted potatoes. The pigs in blanket which come at a bargainous £3 side order are a must plus their Sunday wine deals ensure everything is washed down in style.

A lovely historical venue for quality food and drink at reasonable prices. Will be back again to sample some more. Parking nearby.

Amazing GF choices. Staff all very knowledgeable and friendly.

Great place but trying to be posher than they are.. Dog friendly in certain areas...good selection of ales and wines..food is slightly above average and perfectly edible

Knocking one star off as the roast beef was very tough - think the meat needed to be rested longer. Lovely place and very attentive staff. Will definitely be back during the week to get the normal menu.

We were there on Saturday evening celebrating birthdays , all our food was absolutely delicious, from starters to main meals and we all managed to Finnish with ice cream which was very reasonably priced . The staff were all friendly and helpful , we would all recommend coming to dine here . Thank you for a lovely evening

Top notch food. Not great front of house. JR overhyped it a tad.

Had lunch Sat,first time we have visited for a long time.Food excellent a good selection to choose from.Staff efficient and courtious,can really recommend,Merchants1688!

Starters cold scallops mains beef wellington ok halibut had better muscles good chocolate fondant good overall experience disappointing won’t be returning

Went in on New year's Eve with the wife,the food really nice great night had the chiefs tasting menu fabulous the staff were all great sorry no photos will be back again for sure great wine ordered it the day before it was on our straight away nice singer aswell

Excellent pub restaurant. First class food reasonably priced. It's good that there is a separate dining area, not so wonderful that the dining area lacks dedicated staff, especially as the pub is usually busy....Overall though, would highly recommend.

Brilliant night. ''Friday Night Lads'', 10 of us, all the above excellent. Congratulations to chefs, and all the staff, from booking to paying the bill.

Excellent food, great beer and plenty of space. Perfect place to while the afternoon away.

Amazing food and great service ! Would definitely recommend.

Excellent. Well prepared food, very nice. Had fish&chips (crispy perfect batter over succulent fish) and mushroom&chestnut risotto which was perfectly cooked. Service excellent. Very good range of beers, including a local bitter - marvellous to include a bitter as many other pubs now just rely on the "trend" IPA's.

Fantastic service and great environment. The soup of the day was star of the menu for me. The Sunday roast was very good but the soup of the day (made of cauliflower and garlic) was sublime.

The staff are friendly and attentive to customers. The food was wonderfully good. The place is charming. Congratulations to everyone from the kitchen, waiters and cleaners.

Beautiful food and wonderful atmosphere! Not loads on the menu but that made choosing easier! Staff really lovely and helpful. Street parking nearby that is free after 6pm. Would highly recommend!

Delicious Sunday roast followed by a thoroughly entertaining quiz.

Some of the best food I have ever had, the starter was full of flavour. The main was to die for compliment to the chef William. The staff were also fantastic with everything they did.

Me and my children came here for an evening meal after them squeezing us in last minute. The service exceptional! I have celiac disease so eating out can be traumatic but these guys know their stuff. Most of the food is made gluten free including the things that go in the fryer. The server talked me through the menu, he didn’t just hand me the allergen book. I ate fillet steak… cooked to perfection and Sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Yes the price is a little higher than most places BUT the quality is worth the extra couple of quid. The setting is perfect and unique and there is parking at park and ride a short walk away. This will be my go to place to in Lancaster going forward. thank you x

Lovely atmosphere and amazing food. My wife had the traditional hot pot and I went for the venison haunch; both were delicious and well portioned! Good selection of drinks including local ales. They even had a good alcohol-free beer selection. Staff were very accommodating moving our booking when we ran late. Servers were attentive and friendly. The atmosphere is a nice mix of people drinking and dining.

Great place to be in Lancaster excellent choice of real ales and friendly staff.

Fantastic meal, couldn’t fault it.

A party of six, choosing to eat just mains. Venison, lamb hotpot and beetroot variants with goat's cheese. All were delicious enhanced with their accompaniants. Venison sausage fantastic. And of course wine and beer were all good. Recommended.

From arrival to leaving the staff were professional, attentive, funny and knowledgeable. The food was exceptionally glorious. The choice was limited as it should be. The quality and quantity was superb. We have eaten in some great restaurants and the Merchants is definitely in the top three. The food was imaginative, full of unusual and complementary flavours and it made for a delicious and satisfying eating experience. 10 stars.

Gorgeous food, great atmosphere and fab service. Will definitely be back!!

Lovely place for food and drinks. A great wine list to go along with a fantastic menu. Well worth a visit and will return when back in Lancaster.

Food and service was excellent, highly recommend

A very nice pub. The building is listed and they keep the character and the charm. There is a sign with the history of the building that is appreciated. Great service, good food, great selection of beers and a reasonable wine list.

Excellent lunch, great beer in a seventeenth century vault. What's not to love?

Lovely late Boxing Day lunch with family- food was familiar but with innovative touches. French onion soup was fabulous

Great place for a pint of ale or a snack.

Great pub with superb character, we were seated in vaulted caverns, so atmospheric. The food was superb for a city centre pub. The only fault we're the Christmas revellers 🤣🤣

Nice environment, but pricey for what you get

Whilst impressed very disappointed. . No room at the Inn.

Just had a lovely Xmas meal there with friends.Highly recommend!

After my train was cancelled I had 1.5hrs to wait, the toilets on the platform were closed, I was a female on my own at 10pm and headed to Merchants on Tuesday 5th December, the bar staff really looked after me until they had to close. I would like to thank the lads who kept me company and helped keep me safe. A credit to your business.

First class food and service can not recommend highly enough. Sunday dinner beef, chicken and belly pork, the Yorkshire puddings on the beef dinner were stuffed with beef what a fab surprise and so tasty.

Chapeau to the floor staff for accommodating a table for 5 on a busy December Saturday lunchtime. The Guest Beer at only 3.4% was a first class accompaniment to the small portion of Tirril Beer Battered Haddock & Thick Cut Chips. Five very satisfied customers - thank you 👍🏻

The decor and atmosphere was very inviting and cosy. The food was orgasmic. The price is worth it :)

The food. I had a wild mushroom chestnut risotto- this gentle caressing embrace of a meal elicited a scene of a lush autumnal warm woodland, resting within a mossy glade or even a soft meadow stroking little brown bunny rabbits. If I had to draw exact parallels, the bunnies are clearly the chestnuts. It was filled with depth and richness, needless to say it brought me immense satisfaction. The service was great, the place was a vibe.

Amazing Sunday lunch. We had the chicken, the beef, the nut roast and the hotpot! All declared best ever. And when you’re too full for dessert force yourself, you won’t be disappointed. Amazing environment and great staff.

Amazing food, atmosphere and service. Joel was especially friendly, efficient and attentive; a real asset to the restaurant. The food was outstanding with the flavours and combos truly flavoursome and amazing value for money.

Very enjoyable ,lovely place for meal and beer.

Amazing food and service. Best Lancashire hot pot ever!.The staff warm and welcoming and a great setting in the cellars.

Fantastic food, very friendly staff, and a tasteful music selection of the nineties (at least when I was there). Would travel back from Manchester just for it!

Possibly one of the best Roasts ever experienced at a restaurant. Worth adding the cauliflower, brocoli cream cheese. Lancs hotpot was also excellent and also my son enjoy mac n cheese.

Really nice place ,relaxing atmosphere, highly recommended

Fantastic place, very quirky, excellent food very good service , when in this area again will be back

Really like this spot, near the train station the atmosphere is great, it's like being in an underground tunnel good for evening drinks taking a date etc. Nice staff and good drinks menu.

Amazing experience for food and drinks

High prices but the cuisine is to die for. And the ambiance + welcoming staff and some rare events? Just great

A new menu on this week which had some great choices. We chose the Venison and the Hallibuty. Both delicious.

We made a decision to invite family and friends for a meal to celebrate half a century .. and what a great decision it was. We booked our meal with Lauren who was friendly and professional and who arranged everything perfectly .. The service from...

We LOVE this place for date night !! Food is 10/10, yum wish we could eat here every night. The desserts SLAP

Great service, great setting, great food. Very reasonably priced considering the quality of the food.

We had our wedding reception here on 29.09.2023 and it was absolutely amazing! Right from our first meeting with Leanne we were impressed with her attention to detail and calm approach, nothing was too much to ask of her! Our guests loved the building, and...

I booked a table for 11 of us and pre ordered our meals by email and phone without any problems at all. The food was delicious and everyone commented that they really enjoyed everything about their meals and drinks. The service was spot on everyone...

An excellent setting in the old wine cellars. There is a long bar with three caverns next to each other and opposite the bar. Our table was just inside the furthest cavern and all was fine when we arrived. Shortly after, a large party came...

Always love a visit to the merchants. Their range of drinks is fantastic and the Sunday lunches are top tier!

Absolutely amazing food. Couldn’t fault a thing with our visit. The ‘normal’ sized portions are huge. I would advise to go small as a lunch meal.

Food is amazing and the building is really cozy. Highly recommended!!

Visited for a drink which was very good value - lovely vaulted venue, great location near the castle - food side was full, so this shows that the place has a good reputation.

Just had sunday lunch here and i must say it was excellent. Ive had lots of sunday lunches all over the country and I can honestly say that this was one of the best.

Visited Friday lunchtime and it was fantastic. The food was stunning and the service also amazing. Thank you for the lovely experience. The brie donut & Korean pork belly are definitely a must have!!

The best Sunday dinner I’ve had in my life! The food was top quality. We had the Sunday dinner and every member of our party loved the food. The staff were really informative and friendly. The venue was clean and had a great atmosphere. Can’t...

Fabulous food at reasonable prices 👌

Well we came into town on a Friday night not sure where to eat. Had an early drink here where we often pop by and asked for the evening menu. It was fab. We booked a table . The belly pork and brie doughnut were...

W spent a lovely Sunday afternoon here, food was very nice and the ambience of the place was great. Staff very friendly and a great choice of food which was great. Entrance just before castle, only small complaint was that there was no suitable toilets...

Ten out of ten for this lovely restaurant. We didn’t have a booking, just walked in. The staff are extremely attentive, she found us a place in the separate bar, got us drinks and said 20 minute wait which was well worth the wait. Service...

Good pub with a rich history,didn't eat but had a beer which was lovely

Exceptional interior. Food is excellent and the value is amazing. We spent 90 pounds including tip and had duck and halibut mains plus starters. Southern England that is 120 pound night easily. Service was excellent and the waitress was very much in sync with their drink selection. Recommend highly especially after our experience in this area where there is an obsession with chippys and low end burgers.

Great setting and great food!! Our waiter Luke was amazing with knowledge of the food and wine on offer

Came here after a long, long day of driving. We had a reservation at 7pm but we got stuck in traffic. Phoned the restaurant and asked to push our table back to 8pm and they were very helpful and obliging. The restaurant itself is really...

Wow, what can I say other than great! This place has history,atmosphere, good service, neck oil, food, and a Salsa Verde to blow your mind. Keep up the great work you are a credit to yourselves and Lancaster. Thank you

Any restaurant with kohlrabi, celeriac, golden beetroot and nduja on the same menu is either very ostentatious or has a seriously good chef. Thankfully at Mechanics it’s the latter and we had a delicious meal this evening. A chicory and blue cheese salad set the...

I visited the famous Merchants on route back to Lancaster train station. The pub is steeped in history and this is obvious from the moment you enter the building. I didn't order food as I was simply wanting a quick drink before catching the train, but the food looked amazing. The staff were very friendly and welcoming and the Guinness was perfect 👍

Wow. What a very pleasant surprise. We had Venison with golden beetroot, gratin dauphinoise and a Venison jue to blow your mind. Absolutely perfect. We will definitely be back. Well done team.

Great place to eat was recommended the Merchants 1688 at the b&b we were staying at. Food was fantastic had cod lion and pea risotto. Also do a tasting menu which if I lived nearer we would be going to try.

Fabulous anniversary meal on a Wednesday night. Friendly excellent service - great choice on menu - relaxed atmosphere. Lovely starters - recommend especially the French Onion soup. Also the lamb salad was really good. Food of a very high standard. Well done and thankyou. We...

What a lovely building with loads of character. Staff very helpful. Our meal was wonderful. Can't recommend the Lancashire Hotpot highly enough.

Delightful find in Lancaster for lunch. Great gluten free menu. Food was delicious all freshly cooked. Waitress knowledgeable and helpful. Great location and the decor an absolute delight. Highly recommend a meal here. There was outside seating too which looked good for a summers evening. Very reasonably priced.