I can’t imagine the number of times I must have passed the Royal Maritime Club over the years without giving it any thought. So, when Lou told me recently that it’s actually open to the public as the Royal Maritime Hotel with a bar and restaurant, I was intrigued to find out more.
The club is located on Queen Street, within spitting distance of the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf. Its history as a hotel goes back some 175 years, having been established in 1850 as a Sailors’ Home to host mariners who were ‘between ships’.
After being destroyed in the Second World War, the club was completely rebuilt. But behind today’s nondescript 1950s façade, there are several interesting nods to its naval heritage to discover. These include an elegant atrium with a tiled compass floor; a model of the HMS Victory above the bar; and an interesting historic ‘menu’ on the wall of the restaurant of a sailor’s weekly rations (which included 6oz of rancid butter and 7lbs of ship’s biscuit complete with weevils!)
We arranged our recent visit in time for the Sunday Carvery, and the warm welcome we received immediately assured us that our experience would be in a different league to that of those poor sailors! The Sunday Carvery is served from 12pm to 3.30pm in the club’s Horatio Restaurant (£15.95). There were two roast meats on offer on the day we visited – beef and turkey – and we were offered slices of both by the chef at the carvery, before helping ourselves to potatoes and vegetables. The servings of meat were generous, and the roasties and mash were just how they should be!
The selection of vegetables was particularly impressive – and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. There were carrots and parsnips (both roasted to perfection and also served as mash), leeks au gratin and cauliflower cheese, plus sautéed beans and courgettes.
As someone who eats gluten free, it isn’t always easy to find a good Sunday lunch. However, the Royal Maritime makes a point of catering well for us. The only item I couldn’t have from the carvery was the Yorkshire pudding, and the chef made some gluten-free gravy to order, which was willingly brought to the table.
Although we ate well, we couldn’t resist pudding after looking at the menu. The chocolate torte and the crème brulee (which was large and came chilled) were both gluten free and tasty (£6.50).
The restaurant itself is simply decorated and spacious, with plenty of space between tables. We found all the staff very friendly and efficient, and It was clear that the carvery has built up a loyal following of locals.
Before we left, we took the opportunity to have a look at the restaurant’s main evening menu too which offers a great selection of meat and fish main dishes, starters and puddings. The prices are very fair and the number of gluten-free options is impressive, so we’ll definitely be back – although if it’s a Sunday, I’ll find it a challenge to resist the carvery again!
In short, The Royal Maritime Club is an interesting venue well worth visiting whether you’re looking for somewhere ‘new’ for Sunday lunch or fancy dinner from the a la carte menu. I particularly thought the restaurant represented good value for money – and if you eat gluten free you’ll be well looked after too.
Thank you to the Royal Maritime Hotel for offering the food free of charge on our visit.
