Waterfront meadery in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

As a local family that has spent a lot of time (and money) in The Waterside our latest visit with a group of friends really left us questioning whether or not we would go back again. This is not a complaint about the food or the service of the waitresses at all but the owner. We were sat in one of the booths by the till. As a frequent visitor of the Meadery, I remember the days pre-Covid when the booths had netting separating the tables rather than the brown leather(?!) screens. The addition of these and the insistence of keeping them post-Covid has meant that these booths now have less air flow, making them hotter. This was also the case last year when we visited during Golowan - it was uncomfortably warm. During this visit, it was so hot in our booth so we rolled up the brown screen a little. This provided some ventilation. The owner came down and he was so aggressive and rude towards us and as locals we felt that this was unnecessary. He told us we had ruined the screening because we had taken all of the drawing pins out - we hadn’t. We had in fact taken one out. He then stormed off. This ruined our experience at the Meadery and we will not be returning before it is sadly knocked down. What was once our favourite restaurant seems to be a million miles away from how it was in its heyday. If the owner wishes to open up elsewhere then perhaps a course in customer service would not go amiss. The Waterside Meadery will be a huge loss for all of us in Penzance and the surrounding area but the customer service of late will not be!

My experience was fantastic - I was greeted warmly and service from all whom I dealt was friendly and accommodating. The food was served very quickly and portions are huge! The BBQ spare ribs are, honestly, some of the best I have had anywhere around the world, the meat so tender and falling off the bone. The place has a great and different theme and I can’t believe that the council wants to knock such a unique place down to build a car park. Surely it has to be one of the standout places of Penzance.

No wonder this place is closing down. We had friends staying with us and wanted to give them the meadery experience. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing one. We were seated quickly at the only table in the whole restaurant with the brightest bulb you've ever seen, no exaggeration you could have got a suntan from it. You wouldn't have it at home let alone a meadery. Straight away this wasn't the atmosphere we were looking to show our friends. Every other table had a bulb more fitting to the restaurant. The whole point of these places is to sit in the dark and eat with your hands. The bulbs were LEDS so we checked they weren't hot (obviously leds don't get hot) and stuck a napkin in the shade so it looked like all the other tables. We couldnt ask to be moved as the place was full. We had been served by a nice waitress who said nothing about it what so ever. She even laughed saying this table is always a bit too bright. Half way through our meal the waitress changes to some useless girl who looked about 16. She had a terrible attitude and looked like we had asked her for a lap dance instead of one of our group asking for a knife and fork. She also ignored requests for sauce with our meal and so our night showing our friends a meadery that was soon to close was becoming a bit of a disaster. THEN the useless waitress could be seen from our table that faced the kitchen pointing and talking about our table. This went on each time she went back to the kitchen. To the point where my friend had to mouth to her "what are you looking at?" It was embarrassing for us in front of our friends and just plain rude. School kid stuff. The manager then comes over and says it's a fire hazard to have the napkin in the shade. We asked her to touch the bulb it's cold, it's an led. She did that and then said it's too risky. Which was laughable. All because this little girl didn't want to be serving tables, she thought she'd cause some trouble. I'd think her nickname is probably Karen the Supergrass at school. We ate our food, which was good, made sure there wasn't a service charge, and left them not a bean as a tip. We would have normally left at least a fiver each for good service so they didn't luck out that evening. Also, how much does a coloured bulb cost? Pennies. So in short we are now glad it's getting bulldozed. We only live up the road, but maybe the attitude was how the are to tourists, which they probably thought we were. They get by on the one time trade I expect as you'd not go there again. My husband said he bets the useless waitress with the bad attitude is related as its family run. All I'd say is the poor parents! An awful person costing you money. I'd stick her out the back where she doesn't have to be polite. I also explained to the manager we had bought our friends here for the meadery experience and why isn't this table like the rest. She just shrugged and said it's always been like it. No apology or anything. Well, maybe spend three quid to make it look like the rest of the place. Come next year it will be in the dirt anyway, so maybe she's saving that £3 for a rainy day. From now on, we will go to the one in Newlyn or St Just. Nice people and way better inside.

We went here because it was highly recommended. We walked in right as they were opening and were promptly seated. From that moment on, the service was only responsive (meaning we had to track our server down to get any attention). The mead is the highlight and we indulged. It was STRONG and sweet. I couldn't drink it all, but I think most people would like that. The portions were all ample. I ordered the chicken with salad. It's the worst salad that I've had in England. It was mostly cabbage and the ingredients didn't blend well. There was no dressing. It was just blah. I had to put my bag on the floor because there wasn't enough room for our party in the booth. When I picked it up, it stank. I had to wash it. The lighting is so dim that you can't see the menu or what you are eating. I think the dim lighting may also hide that the place isn't that clean because the table was kind of sticky too. It has a pirate feel, but not really. There are some cheap pirate themed things hanging up, but it doesn't really feel like anything special. The worst part was the check said, "Service not included." Nowhere on the menu, or anywhere else, does it talk about a service charge. I think this was done because we are Americans. This is not standard in England and we did not encounter this anywhere else.

Warm, welcoming place. Loved the food especially chicken in the rough with garlic mushrooms for starters. Chocolate challenge for dessert. Fantastic service. There were 10 of us and our young waitress was quick, efficient and totally unfazed. She worked so hard. Smiling all the time. All the staff seemed very happy. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will definitely be back.

Normally give 5 rating but we noticed the scampi was not up to its normal standard! Outer shell was thicker than the scampi its normally other way round. Have been visiting the Waterside for over 35 years and can definitely taste the change. Thankfully the...

Found a great place in Penzance to dine Food great atmosphere fantastic Staff very friendly and helpful nothing to much trouble. Would highly recommend, if I did not live 300 miles away i would definitely go again

Having not visited the Meadery since childhood (where it seemed we went for every children's Birthday), we visited the Waterside Meadery to celebrate a friends birthday on Thurs 30th September. Within our party we have one person who was gluten free (coeliac) and one who...

Great for families or groups, they have kept it looking like a classic port waterfront pub but it does great simple food quickly and well priced - toilets were dirty and they don’t provide cutlery for most meals ( which was weird) but well worth...

Food was amazing, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Retro menu, and loved it! Would love to go again if in the area.

We had a meal here on the last night of our holiday, having tried to book earlier in the week but they were full. Simple menu, but the food was lovely, and very generous portions - never seen so many breaded mushrooms (I had the...

Always a pleasure. Atmospheric and fun, great staff, great location and great mead. I grew up in the area so fond memories to be had. Never let down, totally recommend this one and Newlyn.

There is very basic food choice but what there is was very well done. Not much in the terms of vegetables but the salad was very large and tasty. The portions are very large, I had the fish fry and it was massive. I could...

Myself and my family visited last night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! The staff were friendly and helpful and the food was gorgeous with plenty of it. I highly recommend the breaded mushrooms and the scampi.

Ate here for the first time and loved it. The staff were so welcoming. The food was excellent and the portions huge. We will certainly eat here again next time we are in Penzance. Highly recommended.

Visiting from far we were quite excited to try this place but the disappointment was massive. The dishes were prepared without care, salads with raw mushrooms, veggies cutted on massive chunks. Food was so salty to the point of being not edible, chicken fried and...

Staff very friendly. Nice outdoor bar upstairs with a great view . Very efficient service. Covid friendly , the adjustments they've had to make are in character with this atmospheric restaurant. Food piping hot . Chicken excellent. The amount of scampi you get is astonishing...

First time here, after being told by my brother we had to go try it, so he treated us to a mini family catch-up meal whilst we were back visiting Kernow, well we weren't disappointed, the place felt safe, it was welcoming, the staff were...

Nice welcome, pre booked table, good food great service had a really nice server. Would come again but only here for a week. Good fun place to go and kids welcome

Absolutely lovely even if only a takeaway is available due to the Pandemic. Phoned, got a collection slot for 30 minutes later. Arrive on time and everything was waiting nice and hot. I wish you all the best for when you finally open back up....

We only stopped in for a drink, but thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Perfect view over the harbour and very nice gentlemen behind the bar.

On arrival we had a warm welcome & Covid rules explained. The ambiance was perfect and the food is plentiful and absolutely delicious....if it’s too much for you then ask for a takeaway box or just don’t bother with a starter. Everyone adhered to the...

This place is beyond exceptional. You not only get good value for money, you leave the place wanting to go for a walk or jog, as you get massive amounts of food. Excellent service and try the Meads- there are so many varieties, you need...

Thank you so much for our gorgeous meal last week. I had just moved 300 miles to Penzance and was very excited. My visit with my son just ended the day perfectly. Staff were very friendly and welcoming and the food was excellent as ever,...

Expensive meal, portions far too big (and we eat a lot!), chicken was dry and the special coating: not so special. My children enjoyed their ribs and the cod bites (Cod tasted nice!). We ordered children portions: but again massive meals came out! Chips did...

During COVID we have been having take away from here, Excellent service the food order is always ready to collect at arranged time. It’s freshly cooked and piping hot when we get home. A brilliant service and the food is delicious as always. Well done...

We got two chicken salads to go and the portions were huge, we got about half a chicken each. The salad was hearty and had a lot of coleslaw with it (so if you're not a fan it might be best to ask about this)...

family meal for a special birthday. we've been many times before, this was the first since the lockdown was eased. so very pleased to see the social distancing measures were adhered to. food as always was plentiful, and big portions of it. lovely staff, just...

Lovely rooftop views of the harbour with plenty of seating. Amazing staff, very friendly and knowledgeable. Will make this a regular stop whilst in Penzance.

Eaten at the meadery many times and this time was typically very good . Very well organised in respect of covid restrictions , hand sanatizer , tables being kept empty between parties. Menu not vast . Great eating on wooden plates, dark lighting and no...

Love eating here! Lovely food and atmosphere. Due to the small but popular menu, the food always arrives soon after ordering which is great when you have a young family to entertain. Staff are always helpful and friendly, would highly recommend.

Must be over 10 years since since was last here but so pleased that it is as good as ever and the quality has remained perfect as well. Staff so helpful and nothing is any trouble even when having a last minute order change. Great...

I started going to Cornish meaderies since I was a kid with my family. It's now in the blood! Though I sadly don't live in Cornwall any more, I HAVE to visit one of these amazing meaderies every trip, sometimes twice if I'm lucky. My...

I really liked it here. Look, I have been to Paris and Lyon and Florence and Venice, and this is not like that, but it's fun and it's tasty and it's a big medieval style hall where you drink mead and eat chicken with your...

We attend this meadery monthly and are never disappointed! The staff are always welcoming and friendly. They are brilliant with children and hand out colouring to amuse them whilst waiting for the food. Its a lovely atmosphere! A brilliant place!

I have been here fair few times over the years but hadn’t written a review ! You can’t go wrong with eating here, tasty dishes, service is good even when busy they do their best to make sure you’re enjoying your food and drink !...

Took my father in law for a meal here for his 90th birthday, it was as always outstanding there was 8 of including 2 toddlers the staff was incredible and the food was generous in size and very very good no complaints at all we...

Other meaderies are available - trewellard & Newlyn. both are far superior Staff are inexperienced, rude & disrespectful Food - ok

I’ve eaten here twice in a month and won’t be going back. Food is dry. The bar man tried to give me change for a tenner when I’d given him a twenty pound note, then looked at me as if I was lying. On entering...

Service was fast despite it being very busy, portions are huge and the chicken and ribs were well cooked. 4 year old loved the ice cream bee for desert. All in a all a good experience & a good meal for the price.

Great meal tonight. Between us, chicken in the rough, fish bites and breaded much rooms all good. I had ribs which were a good sized portion and very good. Good setting on the harbour.

This used to be a very good meadery in past years however the portions have shrunk and the cost increased, staff are friendly but there are better Meadery's around.

We often visit a Meadery when having a family celebration. On this occasion a wedding anniversary.. Although the food is uncomplicated, there seems to be something for everybody. Between us we had Chicken in the rough (Deep fried chicken and chips on a wooden platter...

Typical meadery food, great for party atmosphere, lively and friendly staff, good bar on first floor and rooof terrace with a super view. Food whilst basic is served hot and is good value..

Tonight we had probably the best meal we've ever had here! It was amazing! Service was lovely, didn't get the lady's name (French plaits,brunette hair) absolutely loved the food! Top class, will be back again soon!

This is a restaurant we have visited many times in the past. Always the offering is a large, good quality and simple meal - typically half a crispy chicken or large prawns in batter plus chips. You are expected to eat with your fingers (a...

I used to come here with my parents about 33 years ago so I wanted to return and bring my daughter for the same experience. The lanterns hanging off the wall and the dark environment give it a medieval theme which is great. The food...

I've been going here since I can remember as a child and have always loved the decor, atmosphere and food. If I'm in Cornwall I have to get my scampi fix from here, there's nowhere that does it like the meadery does! The portion sizes...

This place does not have a big enough Car park for the cover it caters for. So we luckily managed to park in the height of season a Ten Minute walk away. The place looks clean enough although it is difficult to tell with the...

My first time in a Meadery, and I thoroughly enjoyed it I had the chicken which was cooked perfectly whilst the rest of the family had various other dishes,all of which were very well presented. the service and prices here are not bad at all....

I have been visiting here for over 20 years and still as excellent as the first time. My favourite place to eat in the whole country! 10/10

Wow! Absolutely fantastic place. Decor is great, meals are huge and service was excellent. Opens at 6pm - Six of us arrived at 6:15pm and were seated straight away. Prawn cocktail starters and fish cakes were delicious. Our main meals were 2 Scampi’s, 3 Ribs...

Roof top bar lovely evening. Perfect weather could be abroad. Waiting for Band across the road. Glow am festival

Medieval styled eating. Lovely food and blackberry mead wine. ‘Yum yum’ small portions also for smaller appetites.

Sea front meadery, old building made attractive inside by low lighting and wooden beams with whitewashed walls. Finger food and mead available of course

On Wharf Road, the nearest easy parking is at the parking by the Yacht Inn also on Wharf Road about 300 yards away (free after 16:00) Nice welcoming staff and a wide choice of starters mains and desserts and an interesting choice of drinks -...

Been coming here for years, the small portions are suddenly gone very very small. Nowhere near worth the money. Terrible attitude from owners, when complaining. Feel sorry for staff.

Was told I was being treated to my first ever visit to a Meadery for our third anniversary by my Fiancee and was really looking forward to our night. What can I say, a really disapointingly bad place to eat and also very expensive for...

A perfect place for an evening out. My wife and I went to the meadery and I had chicken and chips my wife had chicken chips and a side dish of salad. As usual the service was excellent and the food perfect.

We use to live in Cornwall over 30 years ago and visited the Meadery frequently. We try to come back every few years for a holiday and ALWAYS go to the Meadery. We are here for two weeks and have visited 4 times. So I...

Great little place, good service and great food. Enjoyed the atmosphere we were the last ones in that night!

Look if you are looking for master chef cooking don't bother. It's Chicken and Chips, scampi and Chips, lasagne and chips or you can have salad and there is a vegetarian choice. But if your looking for a unique experience and something a little different...

Visited all the meaderies over the years but hadn't been to this one for a long time. Nice big table and absolutely lovely staff who were really nice. Unfortunately the food was very average. The Chicken in the Rough was great but the chips were...

How can you cook good food and make it taste grim Chips dry inside them how do they do that ?? Smoke mackerel dry and tasted like cardboard. Salad just chucked on the plate with no thought at all. and all for a bargain price...

We booked this place for a family celebration as we have been gone by here for over 30 years and I have never had a bad meadery.... Until now. The 12 meals started to be brought to the table, when my scampi and chips was...

really pleasantly surprised regarding this inn it is a beachfront inn with pool table and machines but the eating area is nice and the food very good value try their fish the landlady was very helpful and pleasant goo all rounder

Como de costumbre, fuimos a la cinama y nos pareció una comida para terminar la noche sería estupendo. Nos fuimos a la meadery frente al mar y no nos decepcionó ya que llegamos nos preguntó si tenían una mesa y nos dieron una mesa. Una vez más, la comida era excepcional y la camarera SND de personal nos dio un muy buen servicio muy atento y la comida estaba caliente. Tuvimos una cena de tres platos y vinos. El ambiente era oscura, pero nos gusta esto ya que proporciona el ambiente ideal para la noche. Gracias a todos en el meadery frente al mar.

We had a great night here the food was amazing the service Was second to none. Good value for money and a great experience for the children. Can't wait to visit again. ☺

Friendly great atmosphere like going back in time this is our family treat when we holiday in cornwall we have been going there on and off For over 25 years the staff are always the same friendly happy and they make your visit a happy one food is geared up for eating medieval style with your fingers but of course you get cutlery as well garlic mushrooms for starters a must portion sizes are more than ample sometimes it's worth having to starters and a sweet to enjoy a selection as a starter and a main would leave no room for a sweet inside it's set up like a old smugglers Inn old and dimly lit which adds to the fantastic atmosphere do not drive here if you wish to sample the wonderful mead we look forward to the next 25 years awesome place

comer con un grupo grande había un montón de espacio con nosotros sentados arriba, esto también le da la opción de ir al bar y tomar sus bebidas. pollo en bruto estaba caliente, un montón de patatas con ensalada y una ficha toffees rocosa de postre. hacen la opción de una pequeña porción, con 20% de descuento en el precio, para aquellos que no dan la comida tamaño completo. Nada que diferente de otros lugares similares en el área, pero el servicio fue bueno, precios razonables tanto para las bebidas y comida. valen la pena si estás en la zona.

La comida en el muelle es muy bueno y las porciones son enormes. Hay una acogedora atmósfera encantadora aunque un par de mesas están en camino y no tan relajante. Yo pediría que no sentarse en uno de estos para asegurar que realmente se puede disfrutar de la comida y un delicioso vino Mead.

Limited menu, but loads of tasty food, a lovely atmosphere, a truly Cornish experience right by the side of the harbour. Good place to take the family.