The Jolly Fisherman Inn

A cold Wednesday lunchtime in January and the restaurant was full. The bar was warm,inviting and dog friendly and we had a superb meal and booked the restaurant for Thursday. Can't choose ? Have the fish platter as you get a bit of everything.The mussels were so soft and sweet and the smoked salmon was the best I've ever tasted! I could gave eaten the crab toast all day- great balance of crab,cheese and jalapeños. No room for dessert unfortunately. Do not miss a meal here, or a visit to the smokery opposite the pub. PS the view from the restaurant alone is worth the visit 😁. You can tell we loved it 🤣😍

We booked the day before and requested a table by a window and were lucky that one was available. The food was excellent and fresh. We think we could see the fishing boat through the window, which brought some of the fresh fish to the restaurant. Lovely atmosphere and great sea views. We had perfectly shucked Oysters and Moules Mariniere.

Excellent lunch following a walk to Dunstanburgh Castle. The Whitby scampi was the best I’ve had and I wish they’d sell their homemade tartare sauce because it’s amazing! The crab sandwich went down very well as well. Friendly service. We will definitely be back :)

Lovely lunch. Friendly efficient service. We weren’t rushed at all. The moules starter was excellent and the crab salad huge. Would definitely go again. Fantastic view from our table.

The setting is stunning, the staff were friendly and very attentive. The food was mediocre, the more complex the dish the more disappointing. The oysters were fresh and tasty. The mussels were good, the quantity was small. The mains were a let down. I had the lobster, I think it was reheated so not so good. The lamb was tough. The burger was below average and our youngest said his pizza was not good at all, he didn't finish it. The deserts were okay. The simpler the food the better the taste, the more complex the less good. It was also expensive compared to other places in this area. So much potential, yet so much more effort needed on the food.

Wow! Possibly one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. Gorgeous location, dog friendly in the bar with a dog menu! Beautiful beer garden if you have the weather, but very cosy in the bar area too with a roaring fire. The fish pie was amazing and to die for 😍👌 followed by the walnut tart which was also delicious. Staff were very very friendly and welcoming and we had a lovely time. Would definitely recommend and return!

cracking little pub. we turned up around 1pm without a reservation & sat at the bar until a table came free. we didnt have to wait very long & was worth the wait. The staff cannot do enough for you - very attentive, polite & know what theyre doing. Food was lovely - my wife had mussels & I had a burger, although I wish I had gone for the local kippers. Definitely worth a visit if you are visiting the castle or area. We are staying near Bamburgh castle, so walked to Craster along the beaches & coastal path & then got the bus back (bus stop is round the corner located behind the art studio & although there are infrquequent services, it turned up on time at 3.13pm, so perfect time after a big lunch at the Jolly Fisherman). Note, we took our dog & the main restaurant dogs arent allowed, so our table was in the bar, which is small (there are about 6 tables), so advise booking in advance & letting them know you are bringing a dog, if you are taking one, so that they can fit you in on a table that works. There were a lot of other walk ins & everyone that requested a table did get one eventually - just have to be prepared to wait some time (waiting at the bar , ordering their fab beer isnt much of a hardship however!) Thanks for a lovely lunch & looking after us so well!

A lovely evening overlooking the harbour. Restaurant is tastefully decorated and peaceful. Food was tasty and beautifully presented. Recommended

After walking from Craster down to the castle, and before we walked further south along the coast, we came in to try some of the seafood that this area is known for! The Jolly Fisherman has some outdoor seating above the water, and on a cold day you can just admire the coastline out the big windows. In terms of scenery, it can't be beat! You order at the front and then they bring you your food. I hope they have a fire going in winter, because this pub was absolutely freezing on a mild day in September, colder inside than out. My fiancé and I split the Jolly Fish Board: crab Pot, fillet of fresh salmon, kipper pate, smoked salmon, prawns and herring rollmop, side salad and sour dough bread. We also had a crab sandwich to share as well. Everything was fresh as advertised, and though it was my first time trying some of these foods, I was really impressed. The kipper pate especially was so wonderful, and the crab pot too! Wonderful smoky salmon. The only thing I couldn't bring myself to try was the rollmop. All that skin! While the prices seemed quite fair, £8 for the sandwich and £10 for the fish board, the meals aren't filling and we did get hungry again a few hours later. So order a bit more than you think you can eat, maybe! Anyway, the atmosphere is good here and the seafood is wonderful, I'm sure we'll be back the next time we're taking a scenic walk on the coast!

Lovely pub in the picturesque village of Craster.We visited on a Thursday lunchtime in October and it was buzzing. Snug bar area and also plenty of tables with panoramic views of the sea. It appears that its popularity centres around the food as almost everyone was dining. Craster is famous for its kippers and the Jolly Fisherman continues that theme with the emphasis firmly on seafood. Crab sandwiches, North Sea prawns, mussels, kipper pate and salmon all starred on the lunchtime menu together with the option of a portion of beef dripping chips. I didn't notice any local beers at the bar but maybe I missed them as I fancied a lager when we visited. I can imagine how busy this place must get on a sunny Sunday in the summertime but I'd still have to pop in anyway if I was in the area. One downside is that it has a very small car park and parking is severely limited in Craster, there is a pay and display car park just outside Craster though or maybe at a push you could park on the small housing estate nearby although I'm not sure whether there are restrictions there. Fortunately we landed lucky on our visit and there was a free space in the pub car park which was a bit of a miracle really. I'll be back! :-)

Fantastic, really fantastic. I visited here on a Saturday lunch time, they don't take reservations so be prepared for a wait, but seriously wait it's so worth it!! We managed to get a seat at the back with an amazing view over the north sea out of their beautiful big glass windows ( I think in summer this place may be ever more special sitting on the balcony!!). So onto the food the famous crab sandwich- amazing, it's not a gigantic meal, just a nice little snack to keep you going during the day, my mam had the crab toasts which couldn't be faulted. The beef dripping chips are something spectacular. I'm so excited to return.

Excellent pub, good service, interesting menu, mainly fish as would be expected. Fish stew slightly disappointing as served with too much tomato & ketchup which was overpowering but friend's choice was excellent. Good wine list, reasonable prices for both food & drink. Busy when we were there so booking advisable.