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The Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth
Plymouth
PL1 2LS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Dolphin Hotel
Classic basic alehouse. Less rammed on this visit (though still very busy) so I got a better feel for it. Opened-out a little but retains bags of character. Blue and white colours, coal fire, leaded front windows. Bulges in the ceiling betray a problem with water ingress. Six cask (five local) and two ciders. I only had eyes for the stillaged Bass which was exemplary (NBSS 4.5) - I now realised I missed it last time as there's no PoS pump but a jumbo sign behind the bar instead. Detractions are the piped music (pub doesn't need it) and a large screen showing nothing in particular. It's a quality pub though and probably the best in the ‘Muff. GBG’23 listed, as standard. 8.5
December 2016
Basic but popular drinkers pub with slate flooring, whitewashed walls, Octagon Brewery stained glass windows, ale direct from the cask, bar blockers, disgusting slush green ceiling and faintly chaotic service. Knocked-about inside but retains a harbourside character. Ales on were all regional staples – 2x St Austell (Tribute and a good drop of Proper Job), 2x Sharps (Doom Bar and Atlantic), Dartmoor Jail Ale and Skinners Betty Stogs – no sign of the Bass mentioned copiously elsewhere. The busiest pub we did on Saturday night, with a mixed clientele and a raucous atmosphere. Whilst the ale choice wasn’t much to get excited about, it’s certainly one of Plymouth’s more distinguished watering holes. Rated 7.5
On 21st June 2023
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Dolphin Hotel
The Dolphin has a U shaped bar on the right hand wall with an area out of sight behind where the gravity fed cask is stored. Sharp’s Doom Bar and Atlantic, Dartmoor’s Jail Ale, St Austell’s Tribute and Proper Job, Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and two Thatcher’s ciders from their Stan’s range were the cask options during a recent Tuesday afternoon visit. A standard and premium keg range was also available.
The frontage with the leaded windows is inviting, but the interior is pretty basic, although it very much feels like a coastal pub. The seating is found around the walls and there is plenty of standing room in the centre, so no doubt this place gets busy at weekends. I’m sure that I’d use this pub if I lived locally.
On 22nd August 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5252 recommendations about 5220 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Dolphin Hotel
Great place for people watching and real ale - although most was gravity fed - which is not my preferred.
Draught Bass and Dartmoor Jail Ale were two on offer and in good nick.
Perfect place to sit outside on a summers evening.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2MsN5nm
On 8th August 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Dolphin Hotel
Small building wedged between others overlooking the marina but looking a bit worn. Its very basic inside, with a flag/tiles floor, ill fitting furniture and little comfort, but with very good quality beer, deserving an extra mark
On 11th October 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Dolphin Hotel
Called into this 2013 Good Beer Guide pub while in Plymouth for the beer festival. It is an old pub with character and well situated in the popular Barbican area. We had the well kept St Austell Tribute.
On 29th July 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Blue left this review about Dolphin Hotel
A real drinkers' pub in the heart of the Barbican, full of local characters and very friendly with it. Basic, unspoiled interior. For many years renowned for an excellent pint of Bass straight from the barrel behind the bar, it now also has Tribute behind the bar, and Summer Lightning, Doombar and Abbott hand pumps. The hand pumps aren't connected to anything, so if you order one of these the staff will go round the back and get it out of the barrel for you. Undoubtedly one of the best pubs in Plymouth.
On 11th May 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 271 recommendations about 270 pubs]