Jamaica Inn
We were beyond disappointed with our visit to Jamaica Inn.
It was Wednesday, Jamie's birthday, and yet another location we had seen on Most Haunted and really wanted to visit, Lauren also wanted the book by Daphne Du Maurier so that was yet another reason.
We ordered two starters, Jamie wanted to try the Burata, Lauren wanted to compare the Frickles here to that of the George & Dragon. The Burata was brought out, and 10 minutes later when the sever arrived to clear the empty plate we were able to ask where the other starter was. They checked 3 times that we'd actually ordered a second plate of food before it came and we were told it wasnt on the system. Okay, mistakes are made no problem. No apology mind you, but the Frickles were decent enough (G&D were better).
Then came the mains, Jamaica Inn burger for the birthday boy. Came out without a hitch, nothing special just a few chips and a burger with the tiniest amount of the sauce that made it special. Overpriced for sure but as it was his birthday it was free so didn't matter. In retrospect perhaps that's why there was the bare minimum on the plate.
Then they brought Lauren a Chicken Milanese when she'd ordered the Beef Shin Lasagne. Was she sure she was asked. Yes. Quick check of the system, oh it's not on there. They bring the Crab Mac & Cheese we had for a side and eventually a quick haphazard Lasagne was presented to Lauren.
We asked the way to the giftshop and was told it was closed so Lauren couldnt get her book, she was told if it as important to her to come back the next day before 3. Right.
Now Jamaica Inn markets the fact they are haunted. They've been on Most Haunted, Weird Britain, and even have their own Youtube channel dedicated to their ghosts on camera. Not to mention the ghost nights they host. Yet when asked, the employee told us he doesn't believe in the supernatural so doesnt know anything and the people who did know have all left.
This upset Jamie enough that we skipped both pudding and entry to the museums. It was such a shame especially as we had actually witnessed a supernatural occurrence while eating our dinner. Lauren glanced over Jamie's shoulder to see smoke being blown in the centre of the room as if from a cigarette or a pipe. When looking Jamie just saw a wisp which is what encouraged him to ask about the ghosts. What annoyed us more was the fact that another couple came in and asked about the location of the ghost 'Jack' and were led to the same employee who said he knows nothing about it to be guided to the spot Jack was currently in! Either he couldnt be bothered with us or that other couple were scammed.
A sad end to Jamie's birthday for sure, but it wasn't over yet. Jamie, being the ever loving partner he is, convinced Lauren to go back with him the next day to get her book as she was so looking forward to adding a copy of Jamaica Inn from Jamaica Inn to her personal library. Initially she refused and stayed with Yogi in the car, but once her hero returned with her book, he urged her to go in and have a look as the giftshop was full of cool knickknacks.
She picked up her items and was forced to wait 10+ minutes to be served. She rung the bell 6 times, looked in another location for someone and returned back to the desk. She was just about to dump her £64 worth of giftshop junk back where she found it when another customer of all people took pity on her and found someone to help them (sounds like she gave them a stern talking to as well). Why so long? The bell wasnt working apparently and had been playing up for days, it must had given out completely. Jamie was ready at the door to go and complain but what use would it have done? Lauren was so upset by the shocking service two days in a row that she just wanted to leave and never come back.
Lauren: the giftshop was nice though, there was even a farmshop with fresh produce. I got a glass skull, wooden keyring similar to my EH ones, 2 magnets for family members, some Jamaica Inn fudge, a Jamaica Inn figure for Jamie, a wooden Magnet, and some Jamaica Inn Rum. £64 later and could have been more as the shop was stuffed with cool stuff from all manor of books to witch items, jewellery, food, the usual souvenirs, stuff for the kiddies, just a shame the service was poor.
We may as well discuss the history of the Inn which drew us in to begin with. Jamaica Inn has an infamous history with smugglers as does Cornwall as a whole. The rocky edges and many caves were perfect for smugglers to use lights to draw in ships and have them smash upon the rocks below. This association was heightened following Daphne Du Maurier's novel of the same name as she had used this as her setting to tell a tale of a smuggling ring. The book shot to fame and the popularity of the Inn stayed.
The name 'Jamaica Inn' has two influences. The first is that it was taken from the goods such as rum, smuggled from Jamaica to Cornwall. The second was that it was named after two members of the Trelawney family who were an important local landowning family, these two members happened to be governors of Jamaica in the 18th century.
The Inn itself is cosy and comforting. There is money from around the world pinned to the wooden beams and there are corners of the interior dedicated to characters both fictional and real. Jack who we mentioned earlier is one such 'character', his ghost is often seen sitting on the wall outside or causing havoc within the bar. He is known for pinching bums and smashing glasses. The video on Youtube of the phone flying off the hook in the bar is meant to be his work as he is a prankster.
We like to believe that it is Jack's prankster nature which led to us having such a bad experience. It softens the blow rather than thinking the people just couldnt be bothered. Perhaps he knocked off the Frickles, changed the Lasagne for the Milanese, and broke the bell when Lauren walked into the shop (the bell worked fine when Jamie went in).
No one knows his real name, 'Jack' was seen at the bar nursing his drink when he was called outside, he wasnt seen again until his corpse was discovered on the moor the next day. Of course his murder was unsolved but Jack seems to have been haunting his favourite drinking spot ever since.
Other ghostly occurrences is of a child in one of the rooms who has toys in the cupboard, and the ghostly clattering of hooves and carriages from outside when nothing is there.
A very special touch which we would have liked to enjoy was the plaque naming the space where Joss Merlyn was murdered within the Inn. We were one table over from this tile in the floor but there was a table on top of it so you dont get to notice it very easily. It's our view that if you go to the trouble of putting down a bronze plate to commemorate an event, even a fictional one, you leave it on display.
It is possible we'd visit again if Jamie ever succeeds in changing Lauren's mind, just for the museums mind you as we would like to see the history there. But hopefully in future the Inn takes on its negative comments and improves as trip advisor is rife with bad feedback since the place changed hands.
Would we recommend it? Not for food, just for a looksie inside as the place is stunning. Once again it is only the people who let it down as there is no passion in the people here anymore, they just want you fed and out, you cant soak up the history.
DISCLAIMER: Now for the official bit. This blog does not receive any paid promotions from the places mentioned above. We have not been approached to promote or act as spokespersons for any attraction mentioned within this post and this is simply a post intended to act as a day in the life of a couple on a cute date. All photos included are taken by ourselves and as such the rights for these images our ours, no links, brands, or companies mentioned otherwise belong or are associated with Phantom Adventures UK. We are responsible only for this blog. Opinions are our own and not influenced by any third party source..
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