Costero Lounge, Paignton

This is a family restaurant type pub owned by The Orchid Group, The pub is part of the modern art deco style cinema complex on the sea front. If you enter the pub from the town side of the building then immediately on your right is the entrance to a large children’s soft play area, straight ahead is the entrance to the large U shaped open plan pub with the bar counter on the right (in the middle of the U), a brick fire place opposite that has a painting in it rather than a fire! A few fake beams and large plate glass windows on the left, the room is on two levels with many tables set out for dining, wood and stained glass partitions between some tables. At the back of the room just past the bar on the right is a small area which has a nice cast iron fire place decorated with ceramic tiles and a large flat screen TV on the wall above. Regular ales are Bays Gold with either Bays Breaker or Devon Dumpling rotating as guests. The Orchid Group operate their pubs as food led free houses, so its nice to see that the landlord has gone with the local brewery instead of some common national beers. A decent family food orientated pub with a couple of nice beers on the bar and an excellent kid’s play area. The food was ok and there were various offers on seven days a week. Despite the prime location the view wasn’t great as the pub is in a bit of a dip, although there appears to be tables and chairs on the roof which should have a better outlook and the beach is a stones throw away so not a massive problem. Not really my kind of pub but I would return with the family.