The Old Smithy Inn, Welcombe

I had a really horrible experience in this pub two years ago courtesy of the rude proprietor. Thankfully he has now moved on and the business has been sold to an extremely friendly and enthusiastic young couple. The beer was well kept, the atmosphere was great and there was live music. I even sang a song with some friends, quite badly I admit, and was rewarded with a pint on the house for my efforts! My faith in 'The Old Smithy' is fully restored.

7 Sep 2010 08:12

The Old Smithy Inn, Welcombe

We always go to this pub when we are on holiday in August. 24 of us booked for dinner and the staff were polite and helpful. Food was very good except my battered cod and chips which was sadly overcooked and thus a little dry, not silky and flakey as a properly cooked piece of white fish should be. As the rest of the food was good I felt that sending it back was the only thing to do, and did so with no fuss and a quiet English apology, fully expecting my meal to be replaced with another. Instead an aggressive chef marched into the dining room carrying the offending plate and basically told me that the there was nothing wrong with this piece of fish that had languished so long in the fryer that the once delicious batter was a very dark brown.I let him get away with it, not wishing to make a scene in front of so many people. There was no offer of a different meal, a glass of wine on the house or removing the cod from the bill; all standard ways of dealing with a mistake. The chef turned out to be the proprietor and we heard locally that he is going out of business. Not surprising really when he treats his seasonal custom so badly.

21 Aug 2008 17:31