"Sunk" at the Shipwreck!

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Last night I went to the Shipwreck at Shotley Marina and booked a table for 4 at 1915 for 1945 -2000 hrs, having just arrived after a smashing sail down from Bradwell. The Manager took the booking. Just after 1945 our party of 4 arrived to be told the restaurant had been closed through "lack of food" by the young waiter. When I remonstrated that the Manager had taken the booking he checked in the book and then referred me back to the Manager. As I started to ask for an explanation his phone rang and he said, "excuse me" and walked off to chat with someone rather than ask the caller to wait whilst he provided me with an explanation.

Disgusted, and with some difficulty since one of our party was having difficulty with walking, we decamped to the Bristol Arms where two of the party had excellent steaks, one an excellent fish pie and the other an average ham, egg and chips.(eggs and chips fine, but ham dried out)

I would simply advise to check very carefully that the Shipwreck will actually feed you if you make a booking! I suspect the Chef never turned up; I cant believe they ran out of all items on their menu!

 

[Marmalade]

something's not right.

We arrived back from Oostende on Monday and went to the Shipwreck to find a notice on the door (bank holiday Monday) saying that they were not serving food. An enquiry inside brought no explanation - just a confirmation of the situation. We too (knackered after an 11hr sail) walked to the Bristol Arms and had a very average fish and chips.

What's going on???

 

[Leighb]

It sounds as if, a not uncommon phenomenon, the chef has decamped at short notice leaving them unable to provide food.

Chefs seem to be a temperamental species and often go off in a huff.

This has happened at a number of local yacht clubs over the years and undoubtedly affects pubs/restaurants also.

 

[Marmalade]

Could be - although Alex (the guy who took over the Shipwreck after Sue went up the road to Shotley village) told me his wife was the chef...

 

[David2452]

Could be - although Alex (the guy who took over the Shipwreck after Sue went up the road to Shotley village) told me his wife was the chef...

Sue????? Shirley you mean Sarah, you are correct that Janie (Alex's partner) is the cook. If you want good beer, something wholesome and well prepared call Sarah at the Rose in Shotley on 01473 787237, also does nice take away on Friday evenings, ideal on the way to your boat.

 

[Stork_III]

Sue????? Shirley you mean Sarah, you are correct that Janie (Alex's partner) is the cook. If you want good beer, something wholesome and well prepared call Sarah at the Rose in Shotley on 01473 787237, also does nice take away on Friday evenings, ideal on the way to your boat.

Not just on Friday.

 

[CliveG]

If there are a few of you and you call Sarah and ask nicely she may come and pick you up from the bottom of Shotley Hill and give you a lift back later.

 

[DavidofMersea]

Could be - although Alex (the guy who took over the Shipwreck after Sue went up the road to Shotley village) told me his wife was the chef...

When you say "Was the chef", is that past tense, as in "buggered off"?

 

[Marmalade]

Sue????? Shirley you mean Sarah, you are correct that Janie (Alex's partner) is the cook. If you want good beer, something wholesome and well prepared call Sarah at the Rose in Shotley on 01473 787237, also does nice take away on Friday evenings, ideal on the way to your boat.

sorry - yes of course Sarah

Alex, when he first arrived explained that he was front-of-house and his wife was the cook - so no idea whether past or present tense is warranted...

 

[David2452]

On a more positive note we went in as a party of four on Saturday evening and had a really nice dinner with no cause for complaint at all, even had limes available for my G&T(s) That was the experience last time we visited too, it has improved a lot since last year but I wonder if the improvements are patchy when reading other reports.