Open again after extensive refurbishment
The Peacock Inn offers the same great fish in new surrounds.
If you’re looking for signs of the old conservatory and bar in the ‘Famous Peacock Inn’ you’ll be out of luck.
This Newhaven gem opened again on Monday and is completely unrecognisable from its former look, but the famous peacock fireplace is still there, albeit in in a different guise.
Eager to see if their fishy menu was still as good as I recall from many visits over the years, I popped along this lunchtime with the intention of having a sit-down lunch.
I was warmly welcomed by a waitress, who told me that the manageress would be with me shortly. Fans of the Peacock had also obviously been waiting for the renovations to finish, as there was barely an empty seat in the main restaurant at 12.30pm.
When I finally got the attention of the manageress, I was less than impressed with her attitude. She had already dismissed a party of four completely as they were ‘fully booked’. No offer to wait at the bar and seating area until one came available, so the people duly shuffled off and must have chosen to dine elsewhere.
“Yes?” she asked me. “I’d like a table for one please”, I replied. “Not possible”. Mmmmm, this less than warm welcome was slowly putting me off my food. “Can I not eat over there?” as I gestured to one of the six empty tables at the other side of the bar. “Yes, you can have light bites there, pay and order at the bar, no table service” as she dismissed me and proceeded to deal with her oh-so-busy booking sheet.
The new Peacock bar
I made myself welcome at a table and asked the barman for a menu and enquired if the food available there was the same as in the restaurant. He was lovely in comparison to his colleague, as was every other member of staff I encountered. The menu was indeed the same and looked delicious as I perused through the starter sections which included ‘crispy haggis bon bons’ and ‘posh prawn cocktail’, both £4.50.
Because I was sitting in the back of beyond, I couldn’t enviously look on other diners’ plates to see what looked good. Surf clams (£8.50) and grilled langoustines (£6.95) made starter appearances on the menu, but I decided to head straight for the main event.
What better way to try out the new Peacock than to have their famous beer battered haddock? ‘Ladies portions’ have gone, with the choices now being tiddler, angel and whale sized. I chose the angel sized portion, £9.95 (and paid at the bar) which came with homemade chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce and lemon. There are vegetarian options, as well as beef and pork dishes for those not in favour of fish.
Five minutes passed before my lunch was served at my table and I immediately confirmed the chips were indeed homemade by sneaking in a quick one, before asking for vinegar and tomato sauce. Disappointment took over at the portion of the peas that were anything but mushy but the tartare sauce and lemon was soon lathered over the meal and the whole plate devoured.
Angel sized fish in beer batter
The picture doesn’t do justice to the thickness of the fish, it really was a size-able chunk of haddock, perfectly cooked and delicious with the beer batter. The Peacock fish is still as good as I remember. Hooray!
I didn’t particularly want to linger over dessert today, but the pear and almond tart and 24 carat chocolate brownie (both £4.50) looked appealing on paper. Several groups of people came in whilst I was eating and ordered a drink whilst waiting on a table. If you’re planning on a visit, I would definitely book ahead to ensure of a space in the main dining area.
Since I had paid the bill as I ordered, I just got up and left. Nobody noticed or enquired as to how my dining experience had been which was a very mixed one.
Perhaps the Peacock have been overwhelmed at how busy they’ve been in their first week, but the attitude of the manageress needs to change pronto, otherwise I won’t be heading back.
Their website still relates to the old premises. No facebook or twitter as yet.
100 Lindsay Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 4HZ
0131 552 8707
Opening hours – 12noon – last food ordered at 9.30pm, Sunday – Thursday and last food ordered at 10pm, Friday and Saturday.
Private area through the back seats 24 (old conservatory section).
Suitable for disabled? yes, full access via ramp and accessible bathroom.
Main dining area
Map of this location
Tags: Edinburgh, Newhaven, Peackcock Inn, review
I was there on Wednesday with my 2 children, and have to say that the food was superb! I really don’t have any complaints other than the fact (yeah call me old fashioned) but normal bread and butter to be served with the fish and chips! The fish is still as fabulous as before and the new new decor is brilliant! Although, one down side is that I miss the the “old fashioned feel” to the place! Will still go back though! ……ps a wee bit more selections for kids (maybe the haggis parcels with chips as a kids meal?)!
Normal bread and butter is the way to go! How can you make a chip sandwich with chunky bread?
i just wanted to point out that they do state on the menu that kids can have anything as a half portion!
which i think is great, and i like the way that they have chosen a few ideas for kids dishes so you dont have read the whole menu out to hungry, fidgity little ones.
I ate here earlier this week and faced the wrath of the maitre ‘d you mentioned! Someone needs to smile a little more in that job.
I am with Christine in that I do like the new place, but it’s lost the old fashioned feel that was always there before.
I do think it’s good value and the waiters and waitresses were really friendly and the fish as good as ever.
Just been to the Peacock, rather disapointed. They failed to bring the wine until well into the meal, had the same fish mentioned above, the peas were less identifyable than in the photo, the Tartar sauce fairly tasteles, as was the house white when delivered. Left some of the wine and the chips unconsumed, fish was fine. When we said no thanks to the sweet we got a bill rather than asked if we wanted coffee etc. I’ve eaten in the old Inn many times, the new one seems to have lost direction, hope they find it out before too long. Curiosity from the old customers will not keap them alive forever.
The ‘famous’ Peacock Inn will not be famous for long at this rate! It was ‘famous’ because it was a Newhaven tradition – good food, good service, olde worlde feel, good staff…. Now it’s just like any other over-priced eaterie with uncaring staff wanting to get home asap. Don’t waste your time and money – go to Porto & Fi just along the road – excellent, like the Peacock used to be!!!!
Very disappointing! Myself and my family – (12 adults, 3 kids) went back to the Peacock Inn for a family birthday night expecting it to be as good as it used to be but we were all sadly disappointed. It has lost its character. The warm friendly atmosphere was completely gone. The food which used to be amazing was really poor now so much so some of us left the majority of it and that is not how it used to be usually you struggle to clear your plate in the old peacock inn. Service was not as friendly as it used to be and some of the staff quite frankly looked so unhappy. The bar is very poorly stocked, has very little selection nowadays. We spent over £300 and were never even asked if we wanted a coffee to end our meal. Overall our whole party were VERY DISAPPOINTED with the whole night and will not go back – such a shame to see what once was a brilliant place go so downhill.
As a regular at the old peacock i was looking forward to seeing what the new restuarant looked like and was suitably impressed by the decor, but there it ended the for one thing the old character had gone the menu was much reduced gone was my favourite home made steak pie and many other dishes i opted for the famous haddock which i had enjoyed many times not this time the fish was fine the chips dreadful and oily with a very small amount of mushy peas i did not even bother with a sweet as on of my favourites had also gone from the menu, i will not be back and that applies to many of my friends who were regulars five out of ten how sad.
Two of us went for lunch the week after it opened and though we got the restaurant full welcome from the manager, she did show us to the bar and said that we could order from small bar menu. The barman came to the rescue and said we could have anything !
The food we did have – 2 bowls of mussels with different sauces. Mine was chilli based and had a lovely kick. The chunky bread was most appreciated to mop up the sauce. Price was most reasonable at £5.95
We were there last Friday 6th May for my mum and dads 50th wedding anniversary – pre-booked the private room for 18 people – very disappointed – over-priced. over-rated and unfriendly. 3 of the party had upset stomachs after eating the ‘whale’ – the fish was undercoked, batter soggy and bland. The chicken dish was nothing more than a sparrow leg on a lump of white pudding in a very large bowl. No-one asked if our meal was ok – i will not be recommendng the Peacock in the future – i am a 4th generation Newhavener – brought up on fish and the Peacock!!! They seriously need to re-think the chefs way of cooking and the atitude of some of the staff.
Agree that surroundings are beautiful and the food is equally delicious however the service is hit or miss. I had a similar experience in the “light bite” section however I sat for a good 20 minutes before asking a passing waitress for a menu whereupon I was told to pick one up at the bar and when I asked for a drink I was told to “order t” with a point to the bar. Maybe they are overwhelmed but deal with it – you’re in service industry.
DISAPPOINTING is an understatement! Having dined at the Peacock for many years – I cannot recommend the ‘new & improved’ resataurant. Menu -downsized. Price – increased. Service – unfriendly. Bring back the traditional fayre!
We(4 adults) ate at the Peacock this evening.
We ordered 3 tiddler fish & chips and 1 smoked haddock risotto. 50 mins after ordering the meals were served. The smoked haddock was delicious but as a main meal it was sufficient for a 5 year old but certtainly NOT an adult. The chips with the other 3 meals were disgusting. Clearly made with rotten black potatoes. The chief agreed they should never had been served – so why were they? The bill was reduced by £2 each but the tiny portion of smoked haddock was charged in full.
On a positive note we all commented on how lovely the place was.
However we will never go back
Jan
ps We bought a Fish Supper each on the way home.
Visited Saturday 12 pm only a few tables were occupied. Waitress took our order, we waited and waited then saw a couple further down the restaurant who’d arrived after us, get served with the same meals as we had ordered.I noticed they were not eating their meals (but obviously bending over the food in order to talk to each other). After 6min the waitress came over lifted their plates and deposited them on our table with no apology. When I refused them she took them away and said we would have to wait another 10min for a new order.The fish was OK, the peas were freezing and the chips hard and slightly burned. We were never asked if the meal was OK. However as customers of many years of the Peacock we will NOT be back.I suggest staff need health/hygene training. PS Decor nice, but lacks ambience
Just had a nice meal but eevening totally ruined by the bill. Glass of sav, blanc was 7 pounds 40!!!……unbeleiveable…..guess I should have checked but really do not expect that price…sorry unacceptable…….not going back
Just been to Edinburgh for the weekend, myself,my wife, my son and daughter-in-law, we had a superb meal at the Peacock inn at Leith on Friday evening, It was that good that we booked again for Sunday evening. The Chef really knows his stuff, we could not fault anything. KEEP IT UP
It’s a restaurant and it’s been brought into the 21st century.
p.s. As for the person who wanted bread to make a chip buttie, what’s wrong with the local chippy
Just been to the Peacock with my elderly parents, it was so cold that they had to keep their coats on throughout the meal, whilst the rest of us had our coats on our laps. The radiators were on but the place just wasn’t heating up.
The service was good and we were happy with the food but it’s certainly not the cosy atmosphere that were remembered from the old Peacock and we actually though the colour scheme was very drab.