The Dolphin Inn

Having booked before reading the reviews I was a little concerned about the availability of food. I duly wrote an E-mail to check but receiving no response assumed there was no problem. Arriving at what was undeniably a lovely old pub, we were told that the it was the chef's day off so no evening meal. The rooms are in a somewhat down at heel building opposite. Our room was very basic but seemed clean. The price was a good £ 40 more than it should have been. In the bathroom we noticed there was no soap. going back to the bar we were told that soap wasn't provided. That is a first for me. The previous evening we had asked for an early breakfast, 8.00am as we had to catch the Bantham ferry. We were assured the pub door would be open. Going down at 8 it was locked and remained so until we gave up and left at 8.30am despite the fact that a light was on upstairs. So no evening meal or breakfast despite the fact we'd paid for the latter. The impression I have is that they don't really want to accommodate people but just keep the pub side going. I would recommend that anyone considering the Dolphin assists them in that respect. It could be so much better and the accommodation that followed just accentuated how poor this was.

We had an amazing meal here. The menu included an 8oz sirloin which was cooked to perfection, as I asked, rare. Mega compliments to the chef which wete passed on. Lovely ambience which is all credit to the new owners. They made us very welcome. What a gem of a find.

The Dolphin Inn is set in a pretty South Hams village just outside Kingsbridge. After a lovely coastal walk, coming to the Dolphin for food & drink is just perfect. This is a village pub with everything you’d expect from a very traditional public house.

We arrived after a 2 hr walk from Bigbury- on-Sea with a VERY DIRTY Springer Spaniel. I asked the landlord to refill our drinking bottles and explained that I was attempting to wash off our muddy dog, he kindly offered the use of a hose pipe which was really appreciated. The food was great and the pub itself is full of character. We had a genuine and lovely welcome and will definitely revisit the next time we are in the area. The current landlord and landlady have only been running the pub for 4 weeks and if my experience is anything to go by they will have a thriving business in no time.

Hard bed, broken shower head height adjuster, breakfast left outside room. No table in room to use for breakfast. Had to sit on bed for breakfast. Room not serviced overnight so had to ask for new toilet roll. A 2 inchx2 inch block of eco soap was the only item to use in the wash basin and shower. Only two sockets in the room so had to play plug roulette with TV, hair dryer, kettle and chargers. Ate in the pub one night. Choice of fish, scampi and squid each with chips and peas. Nothing else. No dessert or coffee offered . At £115 per night I could have stayed in Plymouth in a chain hotel with better service and facilities for less and travelled to the memorial service I was in the area to attend. Price gouging based on scarcity of hotels in immediate area. Only bright spot was the quality of the breakfast though greatly lacking in quantity. 1 croissant, 1 muffin per person though plenty of cereal. Have been staying in hotels of all standards all over the world since being a child 70 years ago and was a professional conference organiser so well used to dealing with and staying in hotels. If this stay had been on the 4 in a Bed TV show where BandB owners visit and rate each others hotels, I would have deducted £30 a night. Next time I visit the area I’ll look for an Air BnB where eating breakfast can be on a chair at a table and I won’t end up with indigestion.

We booked two nights but left after one. We were so disappointed with the accommodation and breakfast. The rooms are in a building across the road from The Dolphin, with no secure outer door. A very dark room and minimal facilities. The shower was broken and the toilet also broke, we had to use the toilet in another room. The breakfast was left on a table outside the room. Cold pastries, no plates or butter and no where to sit. We had to perch on the bed to eat the breakfast. We were so disappointed and decided to leave. We tried to find someone to speak to but there was absolutely no one on the premises to register our disappointment and request a refund for the unused booking. We have emailed “The Dolphin” several times and have had no reply!! We booked with ********** and have registered our complaint. We do not understand how this property can achieve the ratings you have given it.