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Disappointment of the week with Gann
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Sunday, 10th October 2021
With picture contributions to 5136 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (6 more images)
Detail Pages
The First & Last Inn, Exmouth
Exmouth
EX8 1PE
Served areas
Reviews of The First & Last Inn (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Danny O'Revey left this review about The First & Last Inn
Not much to look at outside, to the extent the area and look is unwelcoming. Better inside, lower bar and sports area t the rear and courtyard outdoor space. Real ale
On 27th June 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The First & Last Inn
This place came to my attention as the birthplace of the Checkstone Brewery in 2016, although they have seemingly now moved to a new premises, leaving behind a spacious, sports-led pub with an opened out interior across split levels. You enter the pub through a courtyard seating area with plenty of picnic benches but not that much of interest to look at, before emerging into a large, open plan, bare boarded room with the bar directly opposite the entrance and sizable seating areas to either side. The servery is along the rear wall and has a very plain counter front and uninteresting bar back with a couple of plain mirrors and a few miniature bottles. The space opposite is relatively open, with a row of pillars through the middle and high tables and stools in between each. A drinking ledge on the opposite wall had one of several TV screens above it, showing live football, whilst over to the left of the bar, there is a lower carpeted space which is very much empty except for three tables around the perimeter and a stage in the far corner, which was being set up for live music. There is one large pillar in the middle of this part of the room, which might impede your view of the live music, but a few folk were arriving in anticipation of the evening’s entertainment and I could imagine it working well as a decent venue. To the right of the bar is a large raised area with comfy lounge furniture to the front and a pool table and dartboard to the rear. Any background music that might have normally been playing, had been turned off in favour of the Cup Final commentary which was playing to a small interested crowd, whilst most other punters were content just playing pool.
I’d hoped to find some Checkstone ales on the bar, especially having seen the large brewpub sign outside, but there was none to be found, with the handpulls instead dispensing Otter Ale, Teignworthy Neap Tide and Dartmoor Jail Ale plus a real cider and two unused pumps. I took a half of the Neap Tide, which was a decent enough drop, served to me by a rather disinterested barman, and watched a bit of the football whilst chatting to some of the friendly locals.
I wonder if this place has passed its prime as a destination for ale drinkers, now that the brewery isn’t featured so much, or whether I just caught it at a bad time, with the Cup Final dominating proceedings and no Checkstone beer in sight. It seems like a decent enough place with a few decent beers to go at, but the all-conquering TV screens and live music may be off-putting to some.
On 5th June 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The First & Last Inn
Two Brew pubs in a single town. This is home to Checkstone Brewery.
We picked a right night to come in.... 7pm and its barbara's 60th in the bottom area - the place is going mental to very loud 50s and 60s music and not all the people jiving could have been guests. No one goes to a party in walking boots, do they?
Upstairs was dominated by people watching the end of the Liverpool Arsenal game.
We couldn't get a table and had to bar hang - which provided plenty of time to see what was on offer. I went for an Xmas Ale called Warm Yer Cockles and it was excellent.
The bar was a perfect place to people watch. And boy, were there some interesting people to watch.
GBG 2022 entry and I loved it.
On 21st November 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
View more reviews of The First & Last Inn (7)
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - First and Last Inn
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The First & Last Inn - whatpub.com
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 09 October 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes - courtyard - last updated 09 October 2021 by Graham Coombs
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Darts : Yes last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Function Room : No last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 14 October 2009 by Will Larter
- Jukebox : No last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes last updated 09 October 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 09 October 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Micropub : No last updated 09 October 2021 by Graham Coombs
- Pinball : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 10 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 05 June 2022 by Pub SignMan
