The Passage House Inn, Exeter

This is an old pub overlooking the estuary so is one that appeals to tourists and the yachting brigade. You enter into a wide open plan area with tables for food on the right, a small bar area in the middle and a further area to the left of that. It's obviously old with beams but a more modern wooden floor. On my Saturday midday visit they were clearly geared up for food orders rather than old soaks after a pint. There are five hand pumps and one for cider. The beers were Otter Bitter & Amber, St Austell Tribute, Dartmoor Jail Ale and Bath Gem. I went for the Tribute (£4.00) which was in good nick but expensive. I thought this was a nice enough place but the beer choice is unadventurous and it's too expensive and food orientated for me.

Official site of The Passage House Inn - passagehouseinntopsham.co.uk

As below, with further comment that they offer a couple of beers from the barrel during the summer season - Summer's Hare and Liquid Sunshine at time of visit, although not convinced about the quality.

Attractive old inn, with various rooms and part of the bar down several steps at one end. Hint of gastro-pub about the furniture, decor and menu. A few wooden benches out front, but many more across the road on the wintertime car park with a view of the river. Four handpumps, offering Otter Bitter and Amber (£3.60), Tribute and Dartmoor Jail Ale. Overall, worth a visit if in the area.

Official site of The Passage House Inn - passagehouseinntopsham.co.uk

This pub could be lovely - it's trying to appeal to well-heeled market, but is let down on the details. Staff were pleasant but disinterested, 4 ales on (2 Otter ales, Adnams Broadside and Butcombe Bitter). I had the Butcombe - no complaints but not worthy of the hefty £3+ price tag. Food was top-end pub/restaurant (steak & ale pie, scollops and chorizo salad, lobster rissoto) and was expensive for what it was (poorly cooked/reheated, old salad for around £13) Bare brick and timber walls, lovely tables and chairs, open plan with partition walls. Chaulkboards advertising pitchers of pimms and lager. It's a very good looking pub - Try it - a table of 4 and ourselves were the only people in, which may explain the bored looking staff, but the place didn't have any of the finishing touches to justify the prices. Could be so much better!