The Steam Packet Inn, Totnes

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.