Hidden off the A39 and nestled beside a Travelodge, The Pearl and Trawl at Wadebridge is certainly the definition of a hidden gem.
On the 29th of June, Life Community Media were invited to attend the grand re-opening and re-branding of the Marston’s group pub.
The outside seating to the side of the pub boasts extensive views of rolling hills of farmland which compliment the new ‘country chic’ interior. A woodburner sits nestled inside an exposed brick fireplace; books and curiosities sit on shelves against wood panelled walls; leather and fine fabric upholstered chairs are tucked into exposed wood grain tables, and soft, warm lighting all contribute to creating an atmosphere that feels more like a cosy sitting room in a country estate than a pub chain dining room.
We were greeted by extremely friendly staff who promptly showed us to our table. However, like us, you may find yourself getting completely distracted and excited by the offer of blankets, should you get cold; a water station, where you can help yourself to a glass of cool water steeped with fresh strawberries and mint; a large jar of sweets on the bar next to a sign that reads, ‘sweets for my sweet’, and a ‘dog station’ that is stocked with bowls, water, dog blankets and dog treats! Now, that is a dog friendly pub!
This wonderful attention to detail can also be seen in the execution of the beautiful cocktails and mocktails, food presentation and in the skill of the staff. Seb, our waiter for the evening, was professional but friendly and down-to-earth which put us at ease. He was extremely informative and prepared for our dietary requirements, he made sure that the table was clear, that we had the right cutlery for each course and checked in that we were happy with our meals - which we certainly were!
The menu has a range of different options for all, without being too busy. The Pearl and Trawl did a wonderful job accommodating our dietary needs. There is a decent and thoughtful selection for vegetarians, which includes a ‘Thai Style Vegetable Curry’ and ‘Halloumi and Veg Kebab’ alternative. The menu doesn’t offer many options for vegans, however the staff were so helpful around our need for dairy-free, coeliac and vegetarian options that we’re sure they would be more than happy to discuss the vegan alternatives they could provide.
The meals were very well presented, the food was delicious and the portion sizes were very generous. After a starter and main we were left with just enough room for dessert - because the desserts were far too good to miss out on!
Again, the desserts were an extremely fair price for the size and quality. We had the ‘Chocolate Praline Torte and Cherry Sorbet’, which is a scrummy vegan option, and the ‘Melting Chocolate Dome’, a brownie-based dessert that hides a scoop of Irish cream liqueur flavoured ice cream under a dome of chocolate, melted away by a hot fudge sauce. The servers even offer to pour the sauce! As exciting as the pageantry was, it was also a perfectly balanced dessert, with a rich but light brownie that was complimented perfectly by the refreshing ice cream.
While dining, we were treated to the incredible voice of Josh Curnow. We understand he may not be a regular fixture at The Pearl and Trawl, but as his music carried beautifully across the dining room, he demonstrated how this pub would make a fantastic local live music venue, which we hear is within their plans for the future.
We would like to say a huge thank you to Gail Morris, manager of The Pearl and Trawl at Wadebridge and her exceptional team for a lovely evening and wonderful experience. We look forward to going back! We certainly have more desserts to try! After peering over at other tables it was clear we must head back to try the ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ and the ‘Lotus Biscoff Gingerbread Sundae’ or maybe we will just keep going back until we’ve tried all the desserts... and then do it all over again!
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