The Jamaica Inn, Bolventor
Brett
"Disappointing if you've been before"
Jamaica Inn has always been a favourite of ours when visiting Cornwall. Its charming character and good food meant we always visited multiple times during our stay.
Whilst the food remained good quality, several changes by the new management appear to have removed some of the character and charm of this beautiful inn.
It starts at the door, where you are no longer welcomed and shown to your table. Instead you have to go and find someone, to find your table.
The menu seemed underwhelming compared to previous versions and staff seemed harassed and busy, despite the inn being noticeably quiet. During previous stays we have always booked in advance as we knew it to be a popular place and the likelihood of getting a table, even on a mid week lunchtime could not be guaranteed by just walking in. What a shock when we arrived to find the whole place largely empty. I'm guessing we aren't the only ones disappointed. Gone is the carvery area and in its place more empty tables.
Most disappointing of all was a table placed over the plaque to Joss Merlyn in the main bar. This small thing really summed up our overall feeling, that the new owners don't seem to appreciate the history of the inn, which was one of its attractions.
Instead of quality merchandise, a large part of the gift shop is now stacked with cheap plastic toys and poor quality giftware, with lots of the original merchandise appearing to be low on stock as if it is being withdrawn. The glassware is the same mass produced, cheap stuff you find in any gift shop, rather than having that slight touch of class it once did. Again, the glassware no longer carries the logo as it once did.
These are all small things on their own, but instead of a welcoming lunch in a bustling inn where quality seeped in to every area, the inn felt more of a shadow of its former self and so we decided not to return as we normally would during our trip.
We will return next year, although this time rather than trusting to the inn of the past, we will approach our visit with hesitation. I have no doubt further changes will have taken place, whether they will be for the better or worse remains to be seen.
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