The Dolphin, Dartmouth

The Dolphin was certainly the busiest pub I visited during my recent stay in Dartmouth. Lots of people were standing on the path around the pub and the inside was packed, but I was served straight away by the attentive bar staff. The two handpumps on the L-shaped bar were drawing St Austell’s Tribute and Westons Old Rosie Cider. A standard and premium keg range was also available alongside some scrumpy ciders, which I think may have been the main draw. There is a pizza menu, but I didn’t see anyone eating during my late afternoon visit. There was some background music playing but is was hardly audible over the chatter. This is a friendly boozer that had a good mix of pubby tourists and locals. I would return.

This pub is owned by Venture Inns who also own the Bridgetown Brewery near Totnes. The pub dates from around 1838 and was formerly named the Royal Union Inn which is still displayed in the gable end of the building. The exterior is unusual with roof slates on the front and right hand side of the building and some interesting detail on the ground floor such as a lovely Ionic column supporting the front right corner entrance way. The interior is a single L shaped room with an L shaped bar counter in the back left corner, there is a chimney breast in the middle of the room to the right of the corner entrance with a stone fire place and cast iron stove, above the fire place is a dart board. The area immediately by the entrance has a stone flagged floor, old bench seating and wood settles. The area behind the chimney breast has more modern leather bench seating and a large wood staircase which I think leads to a restaurant area on the first floor. There are various national and naval signal flags pinned to the ceilings with old navigational maps on the walls and nautical bits and bobs such as lobster pots and oars dotted around. Regular ales are currently Bridgetown Whaler and St Austell Tribute with an occasional guest beer which wasn’t on during this visit. The Whaler was an interesting choice and a very nice drink. A decent pub with a mix of traditional and modern décor which has a bit of character to it. The exterior is worth having a closer look at with old tiles advertising Star Ales Plymouth Breweries. There was a friendly atmosphere and the barman was chatty. Clean and tidy, the kind of place that the mrs would like. I wouldn’t especially search this place out but my beer was good so I would pop in again for a quick one if in the area.