The Volunteer Inn, Lyme Regis

Fantastic cozy old pub! Always friendly with a great mix of young and old. The pub has strong Irish links so the Guiness is the best for miles! You'll lose hours here!

A traditional pub just up the hill from the centre of town, this seems to be a decent boozer with a more traditional feel than many of the nearby options which on the whole seem to be rather down at heel or overly touristy. Only a wet dog smell subtracted slightly from the ambience. The main bar to the right is a long, carpeted room with the walls being a mixture of exposed stone work and black wood panelling. The ceiling was a mustard colour and had plenty of black beams which were all adorned with blue and white fairly lights. A stone fire-place was on the right and the bar counter was opposite this, clad in what appeared to be some sort of wood effect Formica. A large mirror and a few old black and white pictures of the local area completed the decor and the seating was wooden benches with green cushions and green padded stools. The other bar to the left was an entirely different, contemporary affair with more of a bistro like feel to it. I assume this is for dining, although nobody was in here on a recent visit. The floor here is sanded wood, there is a white-washed brick fire-place with a wood burning stove, pale blue/green wood panelling on the walls and chunky pine tables. Beers on tap were Adam Henson’s Rare Breed from Butcombe, Tribute and Dartmoor Best. Ciders were Ashton Press, Cornish Rattler, Thatcher’s Dry and Thatcher’s Copper Press which was a new one on me – slightly embarrassing that I have to come all the way to the south coast to find it when I only live about ten miles from the brewery (cidery?).

A bit dingy and grubby and full of very loud (and half-pissed - at lunchtime) locals who like to dominate the room. Beers were OK but the lasting impression is that it's a bit of a dive.

The Volunteer is a very nice looking pub that is not too far from the sea front. I went in a nicely furnished lounge which had low ceilings and felt quite cosy. There were three real ales on the bar i had a drink of Otter Ale which was a decent drink the other beers were London Pride and Bass. This pub was fairly quiet on my visit and i was very happy having a drink in here. Pub visited 23 August 2000.

This is a terraced pub , with a pebble dashed exterior, with black paint work and an outside bog. The interior had two rooms; the lounge was dark and seemingly closed, which was strange considereing the bar was rammed full to the point that i only had a half and necked it quickly, being a miserable person that doesnt like ordering from behind people and having to stand in an awkward space just to drink. The decor was a brick and stone look, which looked clean enough to me, with some brass ornaments. Service was fine and a mixed clientele. Beer; usual tap stuff, with St Austell Tribute, Yeovil Stargazer and Sharpe's Own, which was very good and made up for the muck i had at the Rock Point Inn. I would love to try it again, assuming i could breathe. The bar was central, so why that rammed when half the pub is empty?