Britannia Arms

Barman Steve has excellent customer service - attentive, friendly, and always with a smile. Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA is a gem that I haven't found at any other pubs in the area. Steak & kidney pie was ok - needs a bit more sauce and flavor to equal those in the UK. Three stars anyway as I wasn't expecting to have happy hour pint and grub at a British pub in oh-so proper Capitola.

I had a terrible experience here today. My sisters and I decided to take our Mom for lunch on the beach, her favorite beach.
We ordered drinks first; for me, a Guinness, my favorite. Mom, an iced tea. I was served a terribly flat Guinness, little to no head and dull tasting.
Mom was never offered a refill, in fact, our waitress reached over her empty glass to set down the bill. To make that offense worse, a couple newly seated at a nearby tale were given refills back to back then the pitchers of tea and water were left with them for them to help themselves.

Of the four of us, three asked for waters, only two got them, one in a plastic cup. My sister's "plain" burger was brought with all the trimmings and had to be taken back. The rest of our food was great, especially the fish and chips, the portion was huge.

I was absolutely willing to discuss what was wrong with having flat beer on my tab with the responsible party, until the bartender poured a bit, sipped some Guinness and handed me the same glass expecting me to drink. He then handed the same glass to a regular customer and she drank the rest, declaring the Guinness just right.  

I've read that soap residue will cause the head to dissolve, and results in a flat taste, and this would explain why regulars think it tastes normal, but i could not tolerate it. He took the flat beer off my tab with much grumbling and was completely unprofessional about the whole thing.

As an English mum, the steak and kidney pie was a joke. It was mostly gravy, with perhaps a 1 X 1 inch piece of kidney cut up inside. Suggest a new British purveyor of Bangers and beans (Canned pork and beans? Really?) for more authenticity. Will not be returning - very disappointing.