The Riverside Inn

We went for a ladies who do lunch following good review in the local press. Very disappointing with the service and the food. There was a wake on in the adjoining room and a wedding reception being prepared in the other room. At no time were we made to feel welcome, neither person serving smiled, the scampi was not appealing as overcooked and the sausages were deep fried and not pleasant. Fully understand why table tabs are not available. All in all very disappointing lunch out. Cannot recommend unfortunately. As an aside downstairs was blocked off and wondered if this is a permanent thing and used for guests only but could not find anyone to ask

A warm sunny afternoon off exploring led us to Saltford on the A4 between Bristol and Bath. We turned down Norman Road which leads onto Saltford’s old high street. From there we took The Shallows which follows the River Avon downstream back towards Bristol. We were just continuing to explore the area and at this stage we hadn’t, as yet, encountered this Inn. Parking at the Riverside Inn would not have been a problem as, a bit further-on, there is the Inn’s private carpark with an entrance off-of The Shallows. We had parked on the limited on-road parking located just where the river is closest to the The Shallows road. There is also a free off-road carparking area a few metres further-on from where we parked. We walked along the grass verge, past some lovely-looking residential riverside properties and past the Saltford Brass Mill. It was at that point that we saw the Inn. Just past the Brass Mill there is a narrow public footpath from The Shallows that leads to the riverbank and then onto the Inn itself. A pleasant walk (but watch out for the nettles). The Inn is quite extensive offering a considerable number of tables (we saw numbering of over 360). There is a shaded patio area near the rear entrance to the ground floor bar, that overlooks the river and weir. Further-on the public footpath passes a kids patio, and large up-market venue room and outdoor space, ideal for weddings, wakes and birthday celebrations. We back-tracked and ventured inside the ground floor bar; my immediate reaction was, that it was a bit gloomy. I ordered a dry white wine for myself; no wine list available, but the barman offered a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. That is a no: as I have yet to find a Tarapacá offered in any pub; and when drinking Chilean Sauvignon Blanc that is the only one I like. The offer of an Italian Pinot Grigio was far better, and I had a 175ml glass costing circa £7. My Partner wanted an Americano Coffee with hot milk. The request was accepted, but the vending machine didn’t have a button for ‘Americano’. I asked if there was a button for an ‘Expresso’, the barman confirmed it did, so asked him to press that button and then add hot water (a button for which was available on the vending machine). He obviously didn’t know what an Americano Coffee was! Adding hot milk was another ‘no button’ problem: so he kindly went upstairs (presumably to the kitchen) to get some. The coffee was ready at last, but it was practically tasteless and only warm at best. Oh dear, oh dear. We sat outside in the last of the sunshine of the afternoon, and enjoyed some of the views along the river, and the hills of Kelston beyond. By the time we made the 20 minute drive home it was completely clouded-over.