Dartmouth Arms, Dartmouth

Another first for this intrepid pub explorer ! Occupying a prime position on an attractive cobbled street - Bayards Cove - on Dartmouth's quayside is The Dartmouth Arms, a smallish traditional pub affording splendid views across the estuary to Kingswear and the comings and goings of the river traffic, including the car ferry. A rather underwhelming exterior leads into a cosy and comfortable wood panelled interior featuring much nautical memorabilia. Note in particular, the photographs on display evidencing that filming of Kidnapped and The Onedin Line, amongst others took place outside and inside the pub. Further inside, and towards the rear of the pub, we see some framed autographed photos of old England cricket teams - eg MCC Tour to India, Pakistan and Ceylon in 1972/73 when Tony Lewis was captain. There's also some interesting ( well, I thought so anyway ) signed scorecards of matches in 1935 and 1936 featuring Harold Larwood amongst others. A smallish seating area on the quayside in front of the pub bears a plaque commemorating the sailing of The Pilgrim Fathers from this port in The Mayflower and Speedwell in August 1620. Note also the old Courage lantern by the entrance to the pub and, more obviously, the leaning Tudor building next door. On the beer front, Bombardier, Doom Bar and Bay's Devon Dumpling ( 5.1% ) were available on my recent lunchtime visit. The Doom Bar - served in a plastic glass for outside drinking - was reasonable. A reasonably comprehensive food menu is offered, reflecting the fact that we're in the heart of tourist country, but this seems to be first and foremost a pub that does food, rather than a restaurant with a drinks licence, if you get my drift. I don't know what any of the other pubs in Dartmouth are like, but this one gets the thumbs up from me.