Red Barn, Woolacombeback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited during the summer holidays which was an obvious mistake from me.
The pub serves the purpose it is there for to serve the massive tourist trade in the area.
Inside is a very bland affair, not muck character at all. Maybe it gets better in the evening but I will be tucked up in bed by then.
Good place for many, just not me.
4/10
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Have been going to Woolie for a number of years, and this was our first visit to the Red Barn, mainly because at high season it`s difficult to get in. The Tribute was fine, the meals were fairly standard pub fare. It was steadily busy, but the tables were herded up to one end of the floor, leaving the huge bar area and because it was busy, and the building has a high ceiling (is it a former chapel building?) it has a loud and impersonal feel. The staff were a bit morose too.
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Visited on the Friday just passed and whilst the exterior didn't promise much, I was impressed with the place. As a group of blokes we were advised of their policy towards 'stag' groups at the outset which was just fine. The beer was in good nick with Dartmoor Best, Black Sheep and Tribute all drinking well. We ate there as well and the food was ok pub grub and perhaps not much more. One chum of mine had the halibut which was declared very gay! They also had a band on who were very good. It's good to see pubs supporting live music when they have the ability to host it! Nice feel about this place and I'd return again!
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Not a traditional looking pub and without reading the reviews on here we would have walked on by.That would have been a big mistake as the Red Barn had an excellent selection of well kept ales,Thatches pear cider and a good German pilsner.
Very clean,excellent location and views and although we didn't eat the food looked good.
We returned later in the week and loved watching the rain roll in across Woolacombe Bay.
Recommended.
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without the red barn life would not exsist,
im a brummie and travel 200 miles every week to be there and class the barn as my local.
great food great beeer great staff and the views are to die for.
fo9und the barn six yeras ago and never looked back,
thanks to all at the barn for treating me so good see you all next week cheers ray
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Glad that the Red Barn has kept the spirit of Woolacombe....Good place
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In response to a few of the other postees I feel i must defend certain points made.
Firstly the Red Barn is a staunch supporter of LOCAL music, and with that in mind give most bands a try. Unfortunately they do not always sound like Pink Floyd or Snow Patrol. The variety throughout the year is how you should judge {also that its always free entry with no supplement on the bar either}. The bands are paid good money even in winter when they may be playing to a handful of people.
KEEP MUSIC LIVE!!!
Secondly, as regards the stag/hen nights. I agree that Woolacombe seems to be the new Newquay at times but I can assure tourists that the locals in Woolacombe have been quite outspoken about this issue and hopefully the number of these parties will lessen in the future. It is wrong to hold the individual establishment responsible. The Red Barn policy for dealing with Stags and Hens is quite strict.
The party are made aware on arrival that it is a family bar and no misbehaviour/foul language or drunkenness will be tolerated. After the food side closes at 9 o'clock the goalposts change slightly as the music gets louder and people are now out to let their hair down but they are still controlled. The managers now wear polo shirts with the word manager on them and as such should be approachable, but, alas even they don't have eyes in the back of their heads. It is obvious from the decor that it is primarily aimed at younger folk at the weekend, the surf boards etc. Finally though, the main problem with the british public is their inability to complain. It's always either too late (I've eaten all I can off it), or in the wrong way, agressive and abusive, which gets us nowhere.
End of rant.
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Great pub in a great location frequented by surfing wannabies/fancy dress or whatever. Good for people watching and having a bit of a chuckle at some of the people dressed as surfers who dont actually go near the water. Most do and some appear quite good at surfing. The pub itself is full of character and the food is of good quality.
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I have been frequenting the Red Barn for a number of years now and have to say it gets better and better. When I first visited there was only Tribute on tap but since then more and more beers have appeared. The pub has a very good relationship with St Austell Brewery and serve a number of their beers as well as other local ales. It is the only place where you can enjoy St Austell Clouded Yellow - a delicious wheat beer - on tap, as it is usually only available as a bottle conditioned ale.
As well as fine beer the food is brilliant and good value. Highly recommend the steak and the breakfast. You always get a l good portion and the pub allows families. The only downside is that the bar area is fairly small with limited seating for those not wishing to eat.
As for hen and stag parties - we usually go during the quieter times of the summer season when this is not really an issue. The pub can hardly be blamed for it's client�le though, and it is down to local authorities to try to counter problems from the stag culture.
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i wish they would get some decent music!been in there a cpl of times when we stay in woolacombe but both time there was some awful locals wailing out someold c+++ folk music, cant remeber what theycalled them selves, the old men or some thing, the dead men would be more fitting!could,nt sing or play, no one seems to enjoy it ,we saw people leaving! seems to be the same people going round and round same pubs etc, should have some thing more family friendly.the staff cant be bothered much ether, shame nice place etc staff and music let it down tho, will go up to the old mill in future , better service and decent music in the summer!
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Me again,
Regarding the comments by ,bobbones'.
I have to agree with him as well regarding the very annoying Hen and Stag parties that frequent this place almost every Friday, why they have to do it in 'fancy dress' amazes me.
The thing that really annoyed me on two occasions were when the hen parties start getting a bit merry and vocal they don't care what they get up to. They have to bear in mind that this is classed as a family pub, hence the children's meals and high chairs. So why do these PRATTS who celebrate their hen parties take it upon themselves to openly do lewd acts with a banana, cucumber and condoms and sexual acts with some of the male customers??? The managment at this place have a duty of care regarding public decency and at this point they should step in. If hen parties want to behave like 'Vicky Pollard' they should go to places where all the customers are over 18 and NOT where these disgusting acts are open for children to see.
I'm not a prude and I don't mind anyone enjoying themselves before they get chained to the sink but come on THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THERE.
Woolacombe is a wonderful place all year round but sometimes I feel it is being let down by a small minority of local people who frequent the Red Barn.
They are going the right way to to make people NOT want to go in the Red Barn.
If it wasn't for holiday makers and tourists who spend a small fortune in there this place wouldn't survive on hen and stag parties alone. So, if whoever is left in charge to manage this pub/shed/barn or whatever, it would be nice to see if someone ACTUALLY did.
I have both of these lewd acts on video on my phone, let's see what they feel like when they can see it for themselves on 'Youtube', I bet they don't let their kids see it!!!!!!
ggbix - 26 Sep 2008 09:43 |
I've always found the food very tasty and reasonbly priced (big portions as well). They also have a fantastic range of well kept ale (also resaonably priced). Service has always been fine when I've been there!
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this pub/bar is ok by normal standards its amzing but thats only because there naff all else in woolacombe. the staff are mostly half pissed while working and on weekend its full of annoying stag and hen parties who think that their fancy dress is so hilarious and original
good selection of ales and ciders if a bit over priced, id avoid the food if you have any sort of notion of what good food tastes like but if your like most of the plebs that frequent the place the go for it
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Third holiday at Woolacombe in July and the weather was appalling, cold, raining, windy, had to wear a winter Berghaus with fleece everyday for 2 weeks, well 11 really we'd had enough by then and came home to nurse our heavy colds.
Right, the Red Barn, I like this place mainly because you can take dogs in (the four legged type!!). Depending on what time of day you go in the tables and carpet can be clean and acceptable, other times, oh dear, just like a chimps tea party, food everywhere, even on the seats, parents to blame for that though.
The service: what you see is what you get, they refuse to modify and meal, I went in for a full English breakfast and asked if the sausage could be replaced by bacon and got an abrupt 'NO', he wouldn't give an inch so I asked him if he sued them, when he said 'Who?' I said 'the charm school', he was speechless. Some of the staff even smile, some walk round like they are waiting in a magistrates court for their case to come up.
One thing that really did annoy me was what appeared to be selective serving of customers at the bar. You could be stood there when it was 3 deep yet people behind you get served first, especially those on first name terms, how strange.
On a number of occassions the so called'beach bums' came in with the obligatory west suit hanging off from the waist, and dripping water all over the smooth wooden floor yet no attempt to ask them to move outside or place the H & S sign showing to customers slippery floor, had I have slipped on it I would have been in the solicitors within 5 minutes.
Bare feet are not permitted in bars due to the risk of cut feet from and remains of broken glass that may have been missed, but no one's bothered.
Another gripe: I feel sorry for anyone that is disabled, there has been no attempt at all to install an access ramp at any door for wheelchair customers, there are single steps everywhere, in fact it's quite easy to go arse over head if you don't know where they are, I've seen many people literally launch themnselves throught the front door after hitting a very low step. Come on Red Barn, be equal, get your finger out and don't just cater for long blonde haired drop outs with a plank of fibreglass under there arm and a VW keyring.
I may even approach the local council regarding the disability access, it's not fair.
I'll still keep using the place, it's the only place in Woolacombe where you are guaranteed a laugh.
I still want to know how I could drink 12 pints of their Carlsberg and still walk home sober,hmmmmm
Good luck.
ggbix - 23 Jul 2008 19:34 |
If you're partial to the colour red - you can't go far wrong with the Red Barn.
If you're used to the manoeuvrability afforded by a straight jacket, then the Red Barn is definitely for you.
The beer was alright but the floors and tables were constantly littered with dinnertime jetsam.
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I love this place! the food is really good and at reasonable prices. It's really chilled out although it does get really busy in peak seasons. The views from the front window seats are fantastic,we always try to get a seat there.In fact we love the place so much my partner proposed to me in there last november and we will be visiting again this november with our children to celebrate with our favourate dish,the burger with chilli topping. how romantic!!!!
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Popped in here whilst on Tour in August 2005 for something to eat initialy and found it to be the more "touristy" of bars in Woolacombe. Its OK, but the atmosphere isnt great as its mainly people who dont know each other, we ended up leaving and heading up to a surfing bar about 200meteres away which was better.
anonymous - 27 Jun 2006 02:26 |
full of tourists and surf bums. bar service very poor. very convenient for the beach. food pretty good though fairly basic. lots of seating outside but right by the road.
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