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The Cherub, Dartmouth
Dartmouth
TQ6 9RB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Cherub
Nice old pub in the town, still traditional and with real ale
On 27th June 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Cherub
The Cherub is a 14th Century Grade II listed pub that is documented to be the oldest building in Dartmouth. However, it has only actually became a pub in the 1970s, and a small one at that. The name Cherub is taken from the name of a boat rather than a flying baby.
The bar area has a serving counter against the left wall and seating with tables under the front leaded windows. Seating also runs across an inglenook in the right wall and along the back wall. The ceiling includes wooden beams taken from Tudor ships and there are a few cherubs dotted around, as are a few horse brasses. Some old exposed brickwork adds to the oldie worldie atmosphere. By the entrance is a flight of treacherous stairs that lead up to a dining area with four or five tables. This is where a tiny little kitchen is located; I’ve no idea how they manage to prepare the food on the menu. The food isn’t cheap, the cheeseburger is priced at £17. Further up the stairs are the toilets that are guarded by a very short knight.
There were 15 people in attendance during a recent Tuesday lunchtime visit and the place felt very busy. The cask options from the bar were South Hams Brewery’s Stumble Bee, Prescott Brewery’s Super 6, St Austell’s Tribute and Otter Ale. One handpump was off and one was unused. There is also a limited keg selection.
The atmosphere was good with a mix of locals and holidaymakers as well as some background music from the likes of Prince. The governor was polite, but I did fell sorry for him having to keep walking up and down the stairs to collect and deliver food. I liked it in here, in fact I stayed for five pints of Tribute so it must have been good. Recommended.
On 16th June 2022
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Cherub
Very attractive little pub, both inside and out, with a half-timbered façade and exposed beams in the bar. There is also a dining room up the spiral staircase. Decent selection from the six handpumps, as you would expect from a Good Beer Guide listed establishment, with the 'house' (St Austell) Cheeky Cherub, Proper Job, 'Fraid Knot (£4.20) and Tomahawk from Exeter, Black Tor's Pride of Dartmoor and Old Rosie cider.
On 8th June 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Cherub
Located up a narrow side alley off the main road (or through the back street if you’ve gone off-piste). From the main road you’d easily miss it but the Higher St side shows this as an aged black and white timber building (parts of which claim medieval heritage). There’s a single small bar (you’d be lucky to get more than 30 in here) with diamond lead latticed windows, wonky wood beams (old ships timbers, apparently), padded settles. Steep, twisty and rickety stairs lead up to a restaurant area. A nice old atmosphere with plenty to keep your eyes occupied. On a busy summer’s Sunday I appeared to be the only obvious tourist - I guess it's not an obvious location though it's very simple to get to! Six pumps with five on: Hanlons Blend, Exeter Lighterman, Cotleigh, Salcombe Lifesaver and St Austell Proper Job. Halves of the latter two got me really good beer, impressively cool on a day where the temperature outside was well-over 30 degrees. Also St Austell Stout available on keg. If I hadn’t have limited time I would have stayed for another. Dartmouth is a lovely little place and this pub should be an intrinsic part of any trip there. 8.5
On 24th June 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ale Monster left this review about The Cherub Inn
This is a free house owned by Singer Inns and Taverns, a fantastic olde worlde pub and a fascinating building, it is the oldest building in the town and was built using reclaimed ships timbers, parts of it date back to 1380 so it is literally medieval. There is a single very small room which has a bar counter along the left hand wall, a large stone fire place on the right, genuine low beams and brass decorations on the walls. Immediately opposite the entrance on the right of the room is a very dangerous looking spiral staircase which leads up to a small restaurant and the toilets, I would not recommend having too many beers then visiting the gents in this pub.
Regular ales are St. Austell Tribute and Proper Job, Sharp’s Doom Bar and house beer Cherub Bitter (brewed by Otter) with two changing guest beers from local breweries, which on this occasion were Otter Bitter and Dartmoor Best Bitter (GBG 2011). I tried the Cherub and Dartmoor which were very good.
Other than this being a great traditional pub, it is also a magnificent building with history and character that is well worth a look. The owners have done a lovely job of retaining a genuine olde worlde feel. Only draw back that I can think of is that the pub only seats about twelve people at the most. If visiting Dartmouth I would pop in here every time without doubt.
On 1st January 2011
- rating: 10
[User has posted 199 recommendations about 199 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Cherub Inn
Definitely the best pub I experienced during my visit to Dartmouth. A grade II listed building allegedly dating from 1380 and still retaining some of its original features, including some old ships timbers.
Small but perfectly formed one bar pub with a restaurant accessible by a tricky spiral staircase. Oak beamed period featured bar with wooden floor set around a large stone fireplace.
Six handpumps on the go during my visit and these were Otter Amber, Sharps Doombar, Dartmoor Best Bitter, St Austells Proper job, and then nice to see real cider in the shape of Addlestones Cider. And what I guess was the guest beer was surprisingly The Physics from Brew Dog of Frazerburg. I steered clear of The Physics at 5% but the other beers I tried were well kept.
So in conclusion , an excellent pub, well worth hunting out...
On 30th October 2009
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]