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Steam Packet Inn, Totnes
Totnes
TQ9 5EW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about Steam Packet Inn
A pleasant and good sized pub in a great spot alongside the river, with a terrace right by the river’s edge to make the most of the outlook as well as a conservatory at the rear which also looked as if it would offer good views.
Internally it’s something of a U-shape, and is quite traditional in style, although it has clearly been renovated at some point, so perhaps modern traditional would be more apt. There was wood strip flooring throughout, with the main bar at the front of the pub having white plasterwork on the walls as well as a plain whitewashed ceiling, dark blue wood panelling on the lower part of the walls, and further dark blue wood cladding on the bar counter. A bookshelf ran around the top of the room and there were a few prints on the walls. A smaller room to the right was a little more attractive perhaps, although broadly similar in terms of décor it had an old fireplace stacked up with logs, and oil painting or two and a pile of board games stacked up in the corner. A snug at the other end looked to the best spot with exposed stone walling on one side, a fitted book shelf completely filling another wall, and a stone chimney breast with a couple of horse brasses dotted around, although the large TV mounted up above it jarred somewhat. Fortunately, this was not in use on our visit.
Beers on tap were Doom Bar, Exeter Brewery’s Ferryman and Dartmoor Jail Ale, with the Salcombe Gold appearing to have run out. Ciders meanwhile were Henry Weston’s Vintage, Inch’s Medium Apple and Old Mout Berries & Cherries.
On 17th May 2026
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2125 recommendations about 2021 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Steam Packet Inn
Situated on the banks of the River Dart. A dining pub really but the cheerful young barmaid poured a really good half of Exeter's Falls Over Xmas ale (NBSS 4) with Salcombe, Dartmoor and Sharps as the other options. U shaped interior with a passage to the rear and done to a nice standard. I preferred it to the King William and Albert, but maybe on another day when full of diners that might not hold – but you play the cards that are dealt and this was a good hand. 7.5
On 22nd April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6166 recommendations about 6146 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Steam Packet Inn
To the right of the entrance in the Steam Packet is a serving counter that faces banquettes with copper topped tables along the front wall. To the left is some seating behind a weirdly placed curved waist high wall and a fireplace sits on the left-hand wall that is stacked with lots of chopped logs. At the rear is a dining area and out back is some riverside seating that I didn’t visit due to my visit being late on a winter evening. Premium keg was available alongside Brixton Lager and three of the four hand pumps were in use drawing Jail Ale, Salcombe’s Devon Amber and Doom Bar. The Amber was a very good pint. I liked it in here and can see why there were so many other customers when the other pubs in the area were maybe not so busy.
On 9th December 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6674 recommendations about 6636 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Steam Packet Inn
The Steam Packet benefits from a superb location situated right on the banks of the river Dart & just five minutes walk from the centre of the town of Totnes. The pub is named after the steam packet boats that used to bring mail up to Totnes, which is the furthest in land you can go up the Dart by boat due to weirs above the town.
The hostelry dates back to at least the mid-nineteenth century and the main bar area is an excellent place for a pint, with two stone walled rooms each with large fireplaces, which I guess they have going on winter nights. There is now a large conservatory style dining room built on the back which, if you are staying in one of the four B&B rooms as we were, also provides great views of the river and the Vire Island opposite whilst you are having breakfast.
I cannot pass comment on the evening food menu as we did not try it, due to it being aimed at the more expensive higher end, and reviews on other accommodation web sites had intimated that the quality and service were not representative of the high prices. This was a sentiment echoed by other guests we met at breakfast, but I will say the breakfasts were excellent and the conservatory was always full with locals dining in the evening during our stay.
But I can comment on the beer as I made sure I sampled all the ales. They have Courage Best Bitter, Dartmoor Jail ale, and an Otter ale as house beers and then a guest ale which was Sharps Doombar at this time. The Otter on during our week was Otter Bright and although I had better kept beers in other pubs in Totnes during the week, these on offer at The Steam Packet were perfectly acceptable.
But finally, a real positive feature of the Steam Packet is the huge outdoor area equipped with several large Jumbrellas which provides an excellent place on a sunny day to have a relaxing beer whist watching all the ‘boaty types’ mucking about on the River.
And finally, if you stay here in a room on the first floor, make sure you shut the window at night, unless you don’t mind the very large pub cat kipping down with you.
On 6th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2351 recommendations about 2197 pubs]