We had been to the Harry Potter exhibit nearby and were searching for a place to eat. In reality on a cold wet day we wanted a cosy pub meal. That’s when we spotted the Retreat Hotel.
There were tables set up outside but on a cold, wet and windy day they were not the place to be.
It was quite dark upon entering and as we had no idea about the pub we wandered into the Public Bar. Just one “bar fly” was sitting at the counter having a drink. We checked that the kitchen was still open as it was 3pm. Luckily for us it was. We decided to sit at a table towards the back and have a beer to start with. I had a lager while hubby had a pale ale.
The bar staff advised that there was a bistro at the back if we preferred to sit there but we decided to stay in the public bar as we preferred the atmosphere.
We ordered lunch. I had the Schezwan chicken wings with chips. Hubby had the schnitzel. Both were delicious and a satisfying pub feed.
It wasn’t busy in the public bar with only a party of 1 and a party of 4 arriving towards the end of our visit.
A very nice pub indeed.
Nikki McWhinney · 2025-11-15
Saw a band here. Tight & sweaty. Fairly mucky unisex toilet (separate womens but no mens). Parking difficult. Didn't chance the food.
Andrew Saint · 2025-12-01
Saw Sure Boy here a couple weeks ago, this place is great as a venue, but the upstairs stands out as a great place to chat and hang with the intimate rooms and cool atmosphere! Also the Pog sour rocks!
Mp · 2025-10-28
The food itself was decent, and I genuinely couldn’t fault the service — staff were attentive, polite, and did a good job.
Unfortunately, the overall atmosphere let the experience down. In particular, the gender-neutral toilets were frankly unacceptable. I found the toilet seat covered in urine, which is not something anyone should have to deal with. It was uncomfortable and embarrassing to even leave the space in that condition.
If toilets are going to be gender-neutral, they need to be designed and maintained properly. There were no urinals, which clearly contributes to the issue and makes it unhygienic for other patrons, especially women.
Despite the good food and service, this aspect of the experience means I won’t be returning.
Mark Griffiths · 2026-01-16
The parma is huge, mostly to distract you from the taste.
The chips were soggy and I had to wait 5 minutes extra for tomato sauce.
The salad on the other hand had too many tomatoes.
Good selection of beers.
Three stars.
John Watson · 2025-12-07