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Picture of Crafty Isaac Merritt
Image posted by Aqualung .
Submitted on Tuesday, 21st November 2017
With picture contributions to 1729 other pubs
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Crafty Isaac Merritt, Paignton

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
54-58 Torquay Road
Paignton
TQ3 3AA
Phone: 01803556066
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of Crafty Isaac Merritt (Average Rating: 8 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Isaac Merritt

This is a deceptively large former Wetherspoons pub located at the top end of town and benefitting from more of a local’s pub feel by virtue of its distance from the tourists at the seafront. You enter to the carpeted main bar area, with the servery running down the right-hand wall. The bar has a tiled counter front and plain mirrored bar back, with a classic old-school ‘Spoons seating area opposite – all wood panelling, carpet and a row of pillars to break up the sightlines. It’s a pleasant spot with high tables and stools through the centre and a long row of padded bench booths along the left wall, each separated by simple frosted glass partitioning screens. A few tub chairs fill in any remaining gaps, creating an almost lounge bar feel to the space – an impression further enhanced by the décor which includes a collection of old sewing machines, broach and necklace display cases and a number of large panels with William Morris-style prints on them, including several suspended from the ceiling. Moving to the rear, some nice stained-glass windows can be see over to the left, before the room extends into a rear space beyond the end of the bar. This sizable area offers plenty more seats, including a few more booths. The place still feels a bit like a 'Spoons but has done its best to add some quirky features such as a collection of board games and numerous large potted plants to give the place a slightly different vibe. There was also a 70’s pop soundtrack playing in the background, which seemed age appropriate for the clientele and acts as another point of difference from the old chain.
Bizarrely, there were three regular ‘Spoons ales on at the bar, along with three others from quite large nationally available breweries, plus a real cider option. The lone barman was very friendly and poured me a very good pint of Greene King Yardbird Pale Ale, which tasted a lot better than I’d expected. The pub was nowhere near as busy as the actual 'Spoons, down by the seafront, benefitting from a much more relaxed atmosphere that was a lot more conducive to an extended session.
I really liked this one, which on first impressions, seemed to be yet another ‘seen-one, seen-them-all’ chain pub, but after a short while, revealed itself to be a nice, comfy place with some good seating areas and a few unusual features. I’m guessing that I got a little unlucky with the pedestrian ale selection and could well imagine this would be a good place to settle down and work through the pumps if the right beers were on. A pleasant surprise.

On 28th March 2022 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Isaac Merritt (JD Wetherspoon)

Standard 'spoons with the rear section being slightly raised and both parts have the old-style wood-panelling, peripheral booths and dark wood furniture. More interestingly, there is a really wide selection of real ales in a variety of styles from the two banks of six handpumps, mostly priced at just £1.99.

On 8th June 2019 - rating: 8
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about The Isaac Merritt (JD Wetherspoon)

This is an old school medium sized Spoons that retains the old dark blue and gold JDW signage on the exterior. Inside it's a typical open plan shop conversion that extends back to the right and has a patio on the rear left.
The attraction here is the beer choice as there were no unused hand pumps, no duplicates and no available soon. The choice consisted of the JDW Trio Of Doom, Salcombe Gold & Lifesaver, Bays Gold & Crocodale, Cameron's Motorhead Road Crew, Exmoor Stag, Cotleigh Barn Owl, Teignworthy Old Moggie and Dartmoor Jail Ale. I went for the Salcombe Lifesaver (£2.49) which was in excellent nick. I thought this was a very good Spoons and is rightly GBG 2017 listed.

On 22nd May 2017 - rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


View more reviews of Crafty Isaac Merritt (7)
External web links for Crafty Isaac Merritt

No known official website for this pub.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Ale Monster
Paignton, 0.29 miles, 5 min walk (show)
Torquay, 2.31 miles, 44 min walk (show)
Torre, 3.16 miles, 1 hr 0 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for Crafty Isaac Merritt, Paignton
30th Apr 2023, 15:05
Request to mark pub as open by Jonathan Wilde approved
 
30th Apr 2023, 14:42
Request to mark pub as open submitted by Jonathan Wilde, with included notes: Reopened as sat in it having a pint

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Beer Garden : No - Patio - last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Car Park : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Child Friendly : Yes last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Darts : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Dog Friendly : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Function Room : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Jukebox : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Karaoke : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Live Music : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Micropub : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Pinball : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Pool Table : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
  • Real Cider : Yes last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 22 May 2017 by Aqualung .
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 16 July 2013 by Dave McNally
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