Old Market House, Brixham

This pub is an old stone building which was used for sorting and storing fish caught by the Brixham trawler fleet, it was built in 1799, is grade II listed and was converted and opened by St Austell brewery a couple of years ago. The interior is one long, narrow room, there is a small dark wood and riveted iron counter with a white tiled bar back opposite the main entrance, between the door and the bar counter the floor is stone and there are high tables and chairs. The left of the room is a seating area that has a bare wood floor with two dark brown leather sofas either side of a real log burning cast iron stove in the middle of the front wall. There is a lower level down a couple of steps at the far left end of the room which has two light brown leather booths which flank double doors in the far left external wall. The walls are mainly rough stone painted white, but the right hand side of the room has log cabin style walls where the toilets have been located. There are a couple of RSJ's and some reclaimed timber beams across the ceiling and in the middle of the back wall is a wood frame stair case which leads up to a restaurant area with the open kitchen servery at the far right of the building and a long balcony with glass panels across the entire front of the building with modern steel tables and chairs providing an interesting view out over the replica of Drakes Golden Hind in the harbour. Regular ales are currently St Austell Tribute and Dartmoor Best. I tried both and found them to be in good condition. Bit daft that you can get a better selection of St Austell beers in other pubs that are not owned by the brewery, it’s almost as if they don’t think much of their own beers! A decent mix of drinking areas on the ground floor and a dedicated eating area on the first floor. The public bar area is fairly pleasant with some interesting features and tasteful modern furnishings. It hasn’t got much genuine character but it’s clean, tidy and conveniently placed for tourists. Beer selection is a bit run of the mill but tasted good, I would pop in for one if in the area again.

Official site of the Old Market House - www.oldmarkethousebrixham.co.uk

Official site of the Old Market House - www.oldmarkethousebrixham.co.uk