Jamaica Inn, Bolventorback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Obviously of some interest to Du Maurier fans and well exploited by the pub owners. Handpulls today were Dartmoor's Jail Ale, Sharps Original, Bude Brewery's Black Rock and St Austell's Jamaica Inn Ale (re-badged Trelawny). Its historical connections mean it has to be worth a visit (even if the pub now seems to be a rather small part of the overall enterprise).
|
Stopped off here on way back from Newquay. It was relatively busy for a monday afternoon. It was a bit pricey but beer was good. Had a pint of jail ale which was really nice. Usual tribute on offer and Jamaica ale as other real ales.
|
Stayed for a night but didn't see any ghosts. The pub is a old fashioned but the beer was well kept. Menu unexciting. Please get rid of the wax dummies!
|
Historic, unspoilt and atmospheric. Daphne du Maurier would be proud.
|
Arguably one of the most famous old road houses in Britain - there are not many famous enough to be marked on AA road atlases...
This is one massive pub, mainly catering for restaurant custom, presumably during the main summer season. That said, it was still warm and welcoming when we visited in November, with a very nice open fire in the front bar.
There were three ales available, all of which were tried and kept to a satisfactory standard. The food wasn't the best I'd ever had (steak and ale pie), but certainly not the worst either, and definitely not so bad that I wouldn't go back. Portions were of a good size.
Unable to fault the friendliness and efficiency of the staff. I would also say this is a convenient place to stop off if you have children. As mentioned in previous reviews, it's only around 30 seconds off the main A30.
|
High up on Bodmin Moor and just off the A30 is The Jamaica Inn.
As if we didn't already know, on approaching the pub, we quickly realise that this is no ordinary Cornish moorland village inn. The car park is probably about the size of a football pitch and - here's the real giveaway - there's designated parking bays for coaches.
On my recent visit, the pub was relatively quiet - no coach parties, thankfully - but that didn't stop a rather officious looking jobsworth in a fluorescent jacket from eyeing me suspiciously as I drove in and then checking, none too subtly, that I was actually visiting the premises ( as opposed to walking off in entirely the opposite direction to absolutely nowhere, presumably ?)
The Jamaica Inn was, of course, made famous by the writer, Daphne du Maurier, and 18th Century smugglers tales and legends connected with this pub abound. No one could possibly accuse the pub's management of underplaying the connection nowadays - there's a separate museum attached to the pub ( admission charge - � 3.95p ) and a gift shop, where you can buy just about anything, seemingly, with The Jamaica Inn name on.
As you walk across the smallish cobbled courtyard to the main bar - predictably named The Smugglers Bar - you see an inscription above the door telling you that "through these portals passed smugglers, wreckers, villains and murderers, but rest easy - t'was many years ago". The pub interior is very much what you would expect - dark, low beams with pots and pans and plenty of pictures of nautical / smuggling activities. There's also an old banknote collection on the beams. A plaque on the floor tells us that "on this spot Joss Merlyn was murdered", although I didn't immediately see anything telling me who Joss was or why he met such an unfortunate end. There's no TV's, but I did see a couple of electronic game and fruit machines.
There's a dedicated restaurant area - The Pedlars Bar - which, perhaps not surprisingly, accounts for much of the floor space. A leaflet about the pub refers to "a children's play area with pirate ship", which is presumably round the back of the building as I don't recollect seeing it. There's some seating outside in the cobbled courtyard at the front of the building.
Accommodation is offered - 16 rooms in total - in what is evidently an extension to the original building, but it does seem to blend in reasonably well. Needless to say, overnight guests have the possibility of being visited by one of the resident ghosts.
The 6 handpumps were serving Tribute, Dartmoor Jail Ale and Legends. The Tribute, perhaps cheaper than might be expected at � 2.90p, was pretty good.
It's only a short detour from the A30, and not exactly short of signposts to help get you there, so you might want to pop in out of curiosity if passing by.
|
went to this pub for lunch on a hot weekday, have never been there before and thought that a spot of lunch in the sun would be nice. we asked about food, and were suprised when we were told that the only option was carvery. This suprised me, as i thought they would have at least had something cold seeing as it was so hot! That said, the bar staff were friendly, and the beer was very welcome! would reccomend this pub, as it is a beautiful location and on a sunny day it cant get much better!
|
|
