Christmas at the Jolly Fisherman on the Newcastle Quayside

Continuing my mission to eat as many Christmas meals before 25th December as possible, earlier this week I enjoyed Christmas at the Jolly Fisherman on the Newcastle Quayside with my friend Kelly.

The Jolly Fisherman is a great spot for a festive celebration. With its beautiful fairy lit entrance, wooden interior and comfy corners I felt like I was snuggled away in a festive ski lodge rather than sitting on the Newcastle Quayside. The Jolly Fisherman really is made for Christmas - warm and cosy is definitely my favourite way to celebrate the festive season.

 At Christmas time there's only one way to look through a menu and that's with a glass of Prosecco in your hand. The Christmas Menu at the Jolly Fisherman offers a three course dinner for £32 (or £28 for a three course lunch) with a choice of four dishes for each course and plenty of festive favourites making an appearance there were some difficult decisions to make.

With orders placed I took the opportunity to explore. I can't believe that the Jolly on the Quayside has been open since the Summer and this was my first visit. Having walked past it so many times I had no idea how much big it would be on the inside.

The large bar area is great for week day dining with comfy booths for friends, smaller tables for romantic date nights and stools for those that like to prop up the bar. I was surprised to discover a lounge area away from the main bar with plenty of comfy seats which looks like the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine.

Our tour finished with a little look at the upstairs restaurant which opens at weekends. Running the whole length of the building it's a beautiful space offering fantastic views of the Quayside. I can't wait to go back at a weekend and reserve my spot by one of the windows.

There are four choices for Starters on the Christmas Menu - Classic Smoked Salmon, Jerusalem Artichoke & Chestnut Soup, Chicken Liver Parfait and Whipped Goats Cheese.

I chose the Chicken Liver Parfait which was served with Homemade Chutney and Toasted Artisan Bread. The rich pate was so smooth and was delicious slathered onto my bread with the tangy homemade chutney. My only criticism was there wasn't enough bread but maybe I'm just greedy.

The Christmas Main Course at the Jolly Fisherman is a well rounded choice of  Roast Turkey Crown, Bistro Rump Steak, Pumpkin Tarte or Roasted North Sea Cod.

No prizes for guessing my choice, I ordered the Roast Turkey Crown without hesitation. Served with Forced Meat Stuffing and all the Trimmings including Parsnip, Carrots and the all important Pigs in Blankets - Christmas had well and truly come early!

The traditional dish was beautiful with tender turkey and perfectly prepared veg, I wolfed down the whole lot apart from the sprouts of course. It doesn't matter that I'm now a grownup, I will never understand sprouts.

As I mopped up the last bit of gravy I was beginning to wish I'd worn my baggy Santa pants but we took a deep breath and ordered dessert. With Classic Christmas Pudding, Warm Pear and Frangipane Tart, Candied Clementine Chocolate Pot and a Selection of British and French Cheese on the menu, I wanted to try everything!

Chocolate and clementine are both flavours that remind me of Christmas so I decided to order the Chocolate Pot. When my dessert arrived a few moments later I was shocked by how big the pot was, it felt never ending as I battled my way through it. The chocolate mousse was naughtily rich and indulgent - just what you want at the end of a Christmas feast.

 We left the Jolly Fisherman on the Quay feeling very satisfied, full of festive cheer and with a promise to return with our husbands for a double date after Christmas.

If you want to book a Christmas meal at the Jolly Fisherman on the Quay then call the restaurant on 0191 261 7011 - just make sure you wear stretchy pants!

The Jolly Fisherman provided us with complimentary meals for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.