The Jolly Fisherman Pub in Northumberland

Here’s a more polished version of your review while keeping the sentiment intact: --- We had heard so many great things about this place, so we made the two-hour drive, excited to enjoy a lovely lunch. The pub itself is fantastic, with a great atmosphere and wonderful staff who provided excellent service. Unfortunately, the food was a major letdown—overpriced, lacking in both luxury and flavor. We started with the soup of the day and the Jalapeño Crab Toast, but the soup was bland, and neither dish had any real impact. For mains, the fish pie (£24) was one of the most disappointing we've ever had—completely forgettable and lacking taste. The sandwiches were decent, but the chips (ordered separately) were overcooked, and we left half of them. With two soft drinks and two coffees, our total came to over £80, including the added service charge. I don’t enjoy leaving negative reviews, but as food lovers who travel specifically for these kinds of experiences, we felt seriously short-changed. This was not the standard we expected.

We called in on spec and managed to grab the last free table in the bar area, really need to book in future. Good selection of beers, had a great local pale ale, also a lovely glass of Picpoul. We just wanted a light lunch so went for the crab soup and chowder with a sneaky portion of beef dripping chips to share. the two soups were excellent and the crab toast with the chowder fab. The pub certainly lived up to its reputation and would recommend a visit! Staff were friendly and took the order at the table which saved queuing at the bar.

Called in on a windy day for lunch. Cosy pub with friendly service. Both had the chowder with crab toast. Absolutely delicious. Didn’t want it to end!

First visit to this place following a recommendation. The pub is really cosy with beautiful views. Loads of tables outside weather permitting too. Ladies toilets were immaculate. We called and reserved a table for lunch. Glad we did as it soon became really busy and this was just a normal week day. The table service was really good. The waitresses were excellent. The food was really good. Mussels, fish pie and scampi all highly recommended. When we asked for the bill, the waitress brought it and said we could pay at the bar area. It included a 10% service charge which we would have happily paid. However when we went to pay it was disappointing. There were a few customers waiting at the bar but we stood a good 10 minutes before we were able to pay. Not ideal and annoying when one of the bar ladies went to clear a table and push stools into the bar rather than take the payment from customers who had already had lunch! For the wait at the bar we did not feel we received good service and chose not to pay the optional service charge. Having said all that this is a really pub with great food and definitely worth a visit. Organise the bar and it would be five stars,

Great pub, busy, good atmosphere, friendly service, delicious food…crab soup and fish pie which was so full of seafood! Would recommend Many Thanks

The food was fantastic and the service was spot on.

Another delicious meal at The Jolly Fisherman. Service was professional, fast and efficient. The view from the restaurant with the wild crashing waves was spectacular. Can be relied upon to create the perfect start to our regular short breaks. Wouldn't think of going anywhere else. It always meets our needs.

The food is absolutely delicious, excellent prompt service, we come every year and would come more often if we could. You cannot beat the food for flavour. Highly recommended.

Lovely meal in a great restaurant! Our first time. We’ll be back!

Really enjoyed the fish platter: delicious. Reasonable range of beers too. Great views

I always order the crab soup and the whole kipper, can't go wrong!

Great food and very welcoming. Beautiful views of the sea and friendly atmosphere. Enjoyed visiting again and the food was wonderful as always. We all had different things from roast beef to crab sandwiches. Everything was delicious and in generous portions. Left feeling very satisfied and wanting to come back soon.

Beautiful food. Good service. Highly recommend the Jolly Fisherman famous crab sandwich or the fish finger sandwich

Always enjoy it here but I now find the menu too limited, no steak, fish & chips, fish curry or Devilled crab as in the past.

As ever the food and service was fantastic, we have visited on many occasions and have yet to be disappointed. Will be back again

Quite quiet but very pleasant environment . Good choice of food though sadly had run out of the scotch eggs so we’re only able to order two rather than three but happy with the other choices available . Sharing fish platter was fabulous but very filling great value for money . Thoroughly enjoyed our evening .

Perfect post-walk lunch. Fantastic food, great staff and lovely buzzy atmosphere. Great value too. So good to be able to take the dog in too.

We had a great lunch. Staff were very nice and welcoming. We had the mug of chowder, crab sandwich, the posh fish finger sandwich and a portion of chips. All very good. The chowder was nice but could have a deeper flavour of smoked fish, but I’m being picky. Go, you’ll enjoy it!

Food was excellent. Plenty of food for the money. Very well presented. Polite, kind staff. Will definitely be back again to try the Sunday lunch.

Great crab sandwiches. Perfect location. Great service

Excellent food and service. Couldn't fault anything. We particularly enjoyed the Kipper Scotch Eggs and the Fish Platter.

We all had the fish pie and WOW! All agreed it was the best we’d ever had. Deserts were fabulous too. Can’t recommend highly enough, the staff were so lovely …we’ll definitely be back

Superb! Great ambiance, great staff and great food. It’s a regular visit when we come to Northumberland.

Excellent food and friendly service. Wonderful views.

Sunday lunch consisted of tomato soap and the haddock chowder for starters and roast pork and scampi for mains … every morsel was consumed.. delicious… not too much on the plate but definitely enough. Dogs are made welcome even though one of ours made a bit of an impression when we arrived.

Popular place on a Saturday for people out for a walk. Dog friendly in the bar. Our table was at 2.30 so lunchtime rush was just ending - went from heaving to quiet in 10 minutes. Seafood platter was very good and ample, I had scampi and chips - chips weren't as nice as last time - change of supplier? Nevertheless one of our favourite places to go and the staff are brilliant - if very busy!

Good food and service, nice fire and good ambience in a very busy pub. A bit on the expensive side.

Craster like most seaside villages and towns is dominated by second homes and holiday lets unfortunately but does have the bonus of a great pub restaurant which this is. It was January so nowhere else was open which added even more volume through their doors and I am sure more stress in the kitchen. The fish cakes I had been yearning were off by 1.00 but the food we had ( the chowder, fish platter and scampi and chips) was excellent! The staff were very pleasant but for the reasons above service was slower than expected, but that’s the only fault we can find. Make sure you book as you would be lucky to get a table without!

We have eaten twice this week at The Jolly Fisherman, on each occasion the food and service have been excellent. One of the best Sunday dinners I’ve had for a long time, and the treacle sponge delicious. Of course there’s also that wonderful view from the restaurant. Will definitely be on our list when we visit again.

Lovely Sunday dinner and the fish platter is incredible! Cauliflower cheese and beef on the Sunday dinner were perfect. The only tiny thing if I’m being picky is that it was quite cold in the bar area so either wrap up or ask for a table close to the fire.

Sunday lunch is beautiful, fish pie is amazing, great choice of wine, staff are lovely.

The service was quick and efficient, and the views are amazing from the restaurant. The crab sandwiches were disappointing, with thick dry bread and some limp red lettuce on the side.

Lovely location and stunning views Lunchtime menu very limited and expensive for what we were served Side salad served with sandwich and crab toast was poor just mixed chopped up lettuce

Excellent as always. Friendly staff and good food.

Lovely Sunday lunch overlooking the sea. A little pricey but for a treat was very special. Staff were amazing and attentive

Fantastic food and service. Outstanding , would highly recommend to others.

We’ve visited many times. Always good. Great location, good food & pleasant staff. Recommended.

We have now eaten in the Fisherman a number of times and it never fails to delight. Delicious fish pie

The food was excellent, but the.gluten free bread actually tasted like bread! The smoked salmon on the sandwiches was fresh and thick, and the prawn sandwich with Marie rose was said to be delicious. The only problem we had was ordering ice cream with chocolate sauce. Mine came with caramel, and when we questioned why the waitress said, the chef had indicated there was wheat in the sauce. Shame it wasn't mentioned on the menu. Will definitely book again, but the.menu needs to indicate what is GF and what isn't.

The staff here are wonderful. So kind. We knocked a water jug off our table and caused pandemonium, but one of the servers (who I think might be the manager) handled the crisis so professionally - and very kindly. This was not our first visit and will not be our last. We love it here. The food is also fantastic, of course.

Relatively quiet. Service was attentive by lady taking our orders. Other staff looked lost and unsure, assume many were new. Food was average at best. Would not rush back.

Nice meals , lovely pub . Fantastic views would recommend

Slightly disappointed with our Fisherman experince. Waited for our table and it was over busy. Food was ok. The fact that is was New Year's Eve probably did not help. Service charge added to bill - and not pointed out.

We holiday for Christmas in Amble every year and always have Christmas Eve lunch at the Jolly Fisherman! The place was packed to the rafters so always book! We enjoyed the most creamy delicious oysters, kipper pate, devilled crab toast, then mains of fish pie (wow!) and scampi! The chips are to die for! Service was fabulous- we were served by a young man who was an absolute delight! Thank you for a wonderful Christmas Eve!

The food, wine and beer were excellent, fish pie in particular was great! Ambiance of the pub was nice, service good and friendly would recommend for sure

Sorry but after reading good reviews about this pub the food was very overpriced for what it was Average nothing more

Was recommended booked 3 months ago, was worth the wait absolutely gorgeous food and the view from the restaurant is one of the best you’ll get 👍

Excellent food, great pub. We love the views and walk to Dunstanburgh to get an appetite. We’ve been many many times

The best pub in the whole of the UK!! Amazing location just on the coast in a beautiful village of Craster, friendly staff and very tasty seafood! Truly magical place, highly recommend!!

Never had a bad meal here and the staff are lovely.

Lovely pub/restaurant Excellent food, well presented Helpful efficient staff

Revisiting a pub we dined in a few years ago. It was a delight to find that the standards are still very high, and the menu is still an adventure.

High quality food and service and good attention to dietary needs. We’ve eaten there before and the quality is consistent. Had desserts this time and they were great!

Fantastic meal, helpful and friendly staff that coped with a largish party seamlessly. W’ell be back😳

Delicious and friendly service - lovely pub - thank you

Love this place. Food was fantastic, atmosphere was great and the staff were friendly and attentive. Perfect in every way. Looking forward to a return visit.

We were a family of 10, coming together for Xmas and we hoped to have a nice meal out after the chaos of being in the house for a few days. We couldn't have asked for a nicer table, service and meal. The kids all had pasta/pizza which was great and the adults all tried some form of sea food dish from the famous kippers to a seafood platter. My mum is celiac and was impressed with her seafood platter with gluten free bread. My wife loved the mussels and raved about the crab chowder. Everything on the menu was delicious, supported by some lovely wines. Our table was overlooking the sea , a beautiful spot. Overall a lovely experience and we will be back again soon

Came for lunch Xmas eve so as expected was very busy . Sat in the bar area . Wish we could have sat on the window overlooking the sea but all tables were taken . Table service ( which was useful as was so busy ) . Food came quick . Crab sandwich and. Ploughmans bait. I’ve had better of both and the dishes didn’t blow me away. Was good but not exceptional . Loads of staff though and they were friendly and professional

The fishboard Sticky toffee pumpkin If table for 2, see if you can request the table with the best view of Dunstanburgh Castle

Meal was absolutely delicious. I ate there twice this week as part of our Christmas celebrations and both times it was outstanding

A stunning meal - the fish pie was the best thing I've ever eaten!

Great service and good food for my partners birthday. Boxing day menu made it hard to choose! Kids loved it.

Lovely food - best in area, great atmosphere and great service

Always enjoy making a visit to the jolly fisherman live reasonably local Felton been coming for “many many” years standards are always maintained.

Lovely meal , fabulous service and stunning views

A wonderful village pub with high end quality food. The cut of pork was beautifully delivered.

Great food as ever. Thoroughly enjoy going here. Highly recommend

The seafoid and main part of the meal was exceptional, however the chips were disappounting to the point we left them.

Lovely meal great location, all very friendly and efficient. Snug was a hit with our dog!

Thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Jolly Fisherman. A delicious crab soup for starters followed by fish pie. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. We have visited before and made a return booking whilst staying in Northumberland.

Friendly service and warm welcome. Food was great and was reasonably priced. Open fire and good buzz. Highly recommend!

Food amazing! Staff amazing! Great location and atmosphere! Will definitely be returning!

Great experience and pleasant staff, great value for money really enjoyed out evening

Last time we had the roast, tonight was the fish, excellent choices both times. Well worth the visit. Definitely would recommend it.

Early family dinner with two young boys in a party of 8. Excellent choice of starters and mains promised a lot and happily delivered. Drinks were good too. Enjoyed ourselves so much we ran to pudding, which were also worth eating. Service was good. Overall cost reflected the quality of the food. Being able to park outside was the icing on the cake.

Great fresh food and attentive service in a lovely setting.

The noise from the kitchen staff from the access door behind table 20 was very off putting. It sounded like a children’s playground. The windows needed a good clean too. The food was OK but the staff need more training.

Oysters excellent.Crab soup🥳 crab salad very good But ensure fresh salad leaves! Mussels first rate. Chowder 🤩 but would prefer it in a bowl rather than a beaker. Good lunch experience

Excellent as always, lovely cosy pub area and beautiful dining overlooking the sea. Spoilt for choice with the menu eventually opted for devilled crab toast and mussels for starters and both went for the luxury fish pie. Could not fault the food and lovely friendly service. Highly recommend

Very nice ambience overlooking the harbour & the sea on a stormy day. 4 of us had the lobster which we enjoyed but the chips that were served were disappointing. We also had the ice cream for dessert but the caramel sauce served was a little under generous for the price.

Fabulous food, lovely staff, great atmosphere 😁😁

Was a rainy weekday afternoon and the was very quiet just one table preparing to leave. The service was immaculate, the food (3 out of 4 had the fish platter) amazingly good with a great ambiance. So pleased we showed our Northumberland cuisine to our Southern guests of course they now want to live in God’s Country.

Fab Sunday lunch as ever only complaint was Yorkshire pudding was cold x

We loved it! I’ve had this place on my list for quite some time and it definitely did not disappoint. Our new favourite place. Friendly staff especially a young guy very professional and attentive for his age. Very refreshing. The Tempura prawns were to die for and the Sunday roast one of the best we have ever sampled. The views were incredible. The ambience perfect. It was very busy but the place felt very calm and relaxing. Lovely lunch. Can’t wait to go back!

Have visited the Jolly Fisherman on several occasions and it never disappoints. The menu is outstanding, the service terrific and it has a great ambience whether outside on a sunny day or sitting by the log fie on a winter's evening. On this occasion our party of six had the Captain's Corner to ourselves in the bar area. It was very cosy and we were able to relax with our dog (who enjoyed his own 'Sunday Roast' doggy treats) . The menu has plenty of variety, the Sunday roasts hearty and delicious and the fish pie wonderful. We look forward to our next visit. Highly recommend. Many thanks.

We booked here because, quite simply ….. we love it. It never disappoints and is the best pub/eatery/coastal marvel in the planet. Simples. 🦞🐟

Lovely typical British pub situated right on the coast with lovely views out in to the North Sea. Great food and selection of beers and ciders. The sound lady who served us was great, polite, friendly, great service. Food was really nice, and served nice and hot. Would definitely recommend and go again.

The food was very good, the staff were polite and the restaurant setting overlooking the sea was relaxing.

Absolutely fantastic food, the best fish pie ever.

Food is great, the view is outstanding and not to be missed!!

We have a lovely meal at the jolly fisherman. This was our second visit and the food, service and overall experience was as good as our first visit. Would highly recommend this restaurant.

Food was excellent. Staff very friendly and efficient.

Ate in restaurant c views out to sea. Lovely spot. Very busy on Sunday afternoon. Food was excellent and imaginative. Nice lively atmosphere. Only beef is having to park in the town car park which is pricey and difficult to pay as there’s no 4G on most networks

Excellent lunch. Obviously a busy day for the staff. They seemed rather stressed. Fish pie was excellent. Wine choice was great! Loved the views.

Excellent food and very friendly staff and customers would definitely go back back

The Jolly Fisherman is well worth a visit. Friendly staff, great views and lovely food

Great location with very good food which was served by very friendly staff, will return

Excellent lunch and enjoyed the famous crab sandwiches. Delicious

Here's a review you could use for the Jolly Fisherman: --- **Review for Jolly Fisherman** ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently dined at the Jolly Fisherman, and I must say, it was an exceptional experience! The food was absolutely delicious, showcasing fresh ingredients and incredible flavors. Each dish was beautifully presented, making it a treat for the eyes as well as the palate. The view from the restaurant is breathtaking, adding a perfect backdrop to the dining experience. Whether you're enjoying a sunset or just taking in the scenery, it truly enhances the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, the ambiance of the Jolly Fisherman is warm and inviting. The decor is charming, and it creates a relaxed environment that's perfect for both casual meals and special occasions. Lastly, the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. They went above and beyond to ensure that our dining experience was enjoyable, making us feel right at home. Overall, the Jolly Fisherman is a must-visit for anyone looking for great food, stunning views, and fantastic service. I can't wait to return! --- Feel free to adjust any part of it to better match your experience!

Excellent main courses. Fish pie was exceptional. Not a good choice of desserts. All cold and basically ice cream , posset or cheese and biscuits. Coffee good