The Jolly Sailor, Saltford - pub details
Address: Mead Lane, Saltford, Bristol, Gloucestershire, BS31 3ER [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 11534) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Keynsham (2.8 miles), Oldfield Park (3.8 miles), Bath Spa (4.7 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Food served
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> Current user rating: 6.4/10 (rated by 17 users)
other pubs nearby:
Swan Inn, Swineford (0.6 miles), Bird In Hand, Saltford (0.6 miles), Old Crown, Kelston (0.7 miles), Riverside, Saltford (0.8 miles), Crown, Saltford (0.9 miles) - see more nearby pubs
user reviews of the Jolly Sailor, Saltford
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 19 shown - see all reviews
| Made my maiden visit to this canal-side pub opportunistically last Thursday lunchtime, en route back from Bristol with 2 narrowboats' full of punters. We moored up at Saltford Lock and trusted that overlooking (or not being close enough to) some other classic pubs (the Crown at Kelston, the Swan at Swineford et al), we hadn't made a poor choice. Certainly on such a fine sunny day the pub was a sure-fire winner; a charming soft-stone double-fronted exterior was complemented by a well-tended front garden with plenty of sun-trap seating. Business was booming and it was little wonder given its prime pitch. The question was, is the pub allowing itself to complacently coast along with a guaranteed audience, or is it pulling out all the stops? I suspect the opinion amongst my compadres was mixed. But for my part, by and large I was not disappointed - at least not with the quality of the food, which was plainly king. My grilled plaice topped with cheesy prawns and a variety of veg went down very nicely, and whilst was perhaps pushing it at over �11, it was an antidote to the triumvirate of burgers, pies and ham egg 'n' chips. Saying that others enjoyed the gammon, mussels and other dishes. It's no gastro-pub, but then I didn't sense any pretensions to being so. I don't think you'd be troubled by the food quality. However, ale-wise, I must tell a slightly less-encouraging story. The initial pints of Butcombe Best and Wadworth's 'Sailors' (a rebadge of one of their regulars though we weren't sure which) were satisfactory but they soon turned, to the point where the 6X was the only cask option remaining. It wasn't THAT busy, and the ale wasn't THAT good! We left slightly deflated by both the range and cellaring of the beers, which was a shame and would undoubtledly influence any of us if deciding whether to return in future. I should make mention of service standards. Ostensibly, they were terrible: we waited 45 minutes at least for our meals, which is unacceptable even when cooked from scratch, and it was fortunate we had plenty of time to while away. Expectations could've been managed better as regards the backlog and likely waiting time. However, I suspect this failing lies with the kitchen staff; it was a bustling shift and clearly they'd become a victim of their own success. I shan't have a word said against any of the 3 barmaids, whose service was polite and efficient, and whose presence actually made the wait all the more charming. Well done for having to cope with what clearly was a difficult predicament. So, some good things, some bad here. I'd implore the licensees to just raise their game a little and iron out the rough spots here. Yes, you have a great pub in a cracking location, but that doesn't afford complacency. TWG - 20 Sep 2012 18:03 |
| A recent visit on a Thursday evening revealed all tables taken by diners. On approaching the bar a distinct whiff of vinegar was rising, the vinegary stench of stale beer and a poor cleaning regime behind the bar. Most off-putting. I was served a very ordinary pint of Butcome and a glass of draught coke which cost almost the same as a pint of beer. A couple at a nearby table covered up their half-finished meal with napkins and proceeded to fill up on bread. I've been visiting here since Roger was the Landlord, but this was the Jolly Sailor at its most soulless, given over mostly to diners who did not seem to be entirely enjoying their meals. Trunky - 3 Apr 2012 10:29 |
| TheFoodDevourer is correct - the Jolly has been slipping away in recent times, and not just the food. They do of course attract a huge amount of trade when we have good weather, mainly due to their superb location, and I suspect they've become a little complacent as a result. In all honesty the Bird in Hand beats all the other Saltford pubs into a cocked hat whether you're talking food or beer, which is why I tend to use it pretty much exclusively these days. jq000004 - 10 Nov 2011 23:08 |
| visited for sunday lunch 23oct11, ordered lamb roast, potatoes were really just boiled with a slight roast on one side and still hard in middle..hadnt been turned over ; broccoli was raw and gravy tasteless..the one and half slices of lamb were ok but only a childs portion..i used to come here years ago when it used to do good food! TheFoodDevourer - 23 Oct 2011 16:45 |
| Visited the Jolly Sailor twice recently and found that there seems to have been a change on the beer front. Butcombe is still present but the other three real ales are now all Wadsworth - 6X, Henry's and Old Timer. I don't know if this means Wadsworth have acquired the pub - no change visible on the signs - but it seems the variety they used to offer has gone - which I suppose is no problem if you like their beer. The pub is still well run and worth a visit regardless. MarinerBill - 20 Feb 2011 17:44 |
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