The Lobster Smack, Canvey Island - pub details
Address: Haven Rd, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 0NR [map] [gmap]
Tel: 0871 951 1000 (ref 4636) - calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras
Benfleet (2.5 miles), Pitsea (4.1 miles), Leigh-on-sea (4.4 miles)
Pub facilities/features:
- Wireless internet access (provided by The Cloud)
Pub suggested by elizabeth on 28 Sep 2003
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> Current user rating: 6.5/10 (rated by 15 users)
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other pubs nearby:
King Canute, Canvey Island (0.8 miles), Haystack, Canvey Island (1.8 miles), Monico Hotel, Canvey Island (1.8 miles)
user reviews of the Lobster Smack, Canvey Island
please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
5 most recent reviews of 13 shown - see all reviews
| Visited this pub for lunch while circumnavigating the sea wall of Canvey Island. It's a really pretty 18th century tavern which supposedly inspired Dickens when he wrote 'Great Expectations'. Sadly the 1950s sea wall blocks the view of the sea, and the nearby oil refinery, sewage works and caravan park don't add much to the charm, but it's still worth a stop. Clientele seemed to be mostly elderly cockney diaspora talking about the days of Ronnie and Reggie, or fishermen/merchant marine workers. Only one real ale on tap, English Pale Ale, but well kept and poured. Atmosphere was rough and ready but friendly. A word on the food. My friend and I had been walking for seven miles and wanted a hearty lunch, and we got one, at a good price. This is not a a gastro pub, it is cheap pub grub so please don't expect more for the price. I'm perfectly happy to have microwaved scampi and chips and a sticky pudding for less than a tenner. This was normal pub fare a few years ago but nowadays people seem to expect Cordon Bleu cooking everywhere they go. If you want that go to France and leave the cheap and filling pub grub and real ale for the rest of us! Hugh1971 - 5 Apr 2012 14:56 |
| Used to enjoy taking my kids there for dinner but on my latest visit I won't be going again. Food was rubbish... curly fries -overcooked egg on my mixed grill - overcooked Steak (rare) - well done The dessert I ordered for my kids, some sort of knicker-bocker glory thing. Basically was two scoops of (old) ice laden ice cream, 2 fudge brownies from Morrisons and have a pint of squirty cream. Shame really as this used to be a great all-rounder but all the pub seems to give a toss about are the 3 or 4 every day drinkers. mrsteadyhands - 12 Oct 2011 12:39 |
| Lovely old 17th century building situated by the sea wall on the south side of Canvey Island. Pleasant, timber-framed interior with plentiful seating available outside as well. Although it was the only hand pump ale available at the time, a cool, refreshing pint of Young's bitter was just what I needed midway through my walk right round Canvey Island on a hot summer's day. beermann - 27 Jun 2010 13:48 |
| A lovely building, but we tried three doors and still couldn't get in! The barmaid had to open a door for us, so not the best of starts. We went for lunch, based on the strength of reviews on this site. Sadly to say, we left very disappointed. Firstly, the menu asks you to go to the bar to order but when I did the barmaid said she would come to our table. She followed me through... then left us waiting. She stopped to serve other people who had arrived after us who'd made no previous attempt to order, so I thought this was rather rude. We also had to watch as others who came in ages after us were served with their meals first. We had to chase up a starter that had not been put through to the kitchen and I had to remind them about a side order that didn't arrive. The food is dead cheap (£1.85 for nachos, £3.99 for gammon, egg & chips) but I'm afraid you get what you pay for. The gammon and curly fries were both overcooked and my cheese bap looked as if it had been stored way too long in the freezer because its texture was revolting and its top half just broke off and disintegrated into dried-up pieces. I think even my dog would have turned his nose up at it. We drove a long way to have lunch at this pub but we certainly won't be going back. One of the worst pub meals I have ever had. poorlittlefish - 2 Jan 2010 15:21 |
| My pub for over 30 years. Love to go back. My ashes will be scattered from the jetty nearby.....not for a while I hope. Great pub, good food. Scoops - 21 Jul 2009 20:38 |
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