Where to Eat and Drink in Dawlish
History | The Route | Special Trains | Sea Wall Freight | Where to Stay | Publications | Live Departures
Where to Eat & Drink in Dawlish
The town of Dawlish and its surrounding area, as one might expect, has a large number of pubs, cafes and restaurants. We are often asked 'where is it best to eat or have a drink'. So, we have put together a basic guide to what is on offer in the local area, this is by no means an exhaustive list and the recommendations are of a personal nature. For a town of around 13,000 residents, to have more than one pub per 1,000 head does seem to be a little excessive, however the visitors and seasonal trade seems to keep most in business.
In the main all the pubs in and around Dawlish are of a good quality, none could be described as 'rough' and visitors to the area will be made welcome (well usually), the days of the locals shutting up when visitors arrive has thankfully gone.
On a personal note if its just a good clean, swearing free atmosphere with what is now viewed by many as the best real ale in town by the locals - you need look no further than the first entry on the list below.
Public Houses in Dawlish
The Marine Tavern - Located at 2 Marine Parade, this pub is now the site owners 'local', it offers perfect views of the railway line. The establishment is of very high quality and is often favoured by railway enthusiasts who can eat, drink and watch trains at the same time. Excellent hot food is offered. The Marine also has accommodation of a good standard. Pop in and find the site owner taking a pint and holding court on railways!
The Gresham (previously The Laffinn Pig) - Located at 1 Commercial Road, a local pub, light bar food available. Excellent real ale. Bed and Breakfast available. Well worth a visit
The Railway - Situated in the very narrow Beach Street opposite the station this pub offers a good range of beers and other drinks and does low cost meals of a good quality. Not the quietest pub in town but good.
The Teignmouth Inn - Located just to the rear of the Marine Tavern on the hill out towards Teignmouth at Brookdale Cottages, the 'TI' as its usually known is very much a 'locals' pub, offers limited real ale and food, another pub worth a look.
Brunswick Inn - Found mid-way along Brunswick Place this is a large town pub offering a wide range of real ale, general drinks and food. The pub also has a large skittles alley to the rear. This pub being right in the town does get very crowded in busy times. A limited amount of open air seating is provided at the front.
The White Hart - Situated towards the back of the towns shopping streets at 6 Albert Street, this pub offers the usual array of food and drinks, usually quiet and old worlde.
The South Devon - Located on the junction of Strand Hill and High Street, this is another 'locals' pub, limited real ale and food. Frequently has theme nights, especially for sporting events.
Landsdown - This is the 'in location' for the towns younger drinkers, offers an excellent selection of real ale, provides food and carries all major sporting events on large screens. Has limited outside 'terrace' seating. Very popular location with locals and visitors but can get a little noisy. Located towards the rear of the town at 8 Park Road. Remains open VERY late.
The Swan Inn - Located at the back of the town on the junction of Old Town Street and Church Street, this is a quiet village style pub, offering good real ale but sadly no food, has a nice beer garden which in summer months has occasional music evenings. Popular with locals and visitors. Restricted opening hours.
Clubs
Towards the back of the town in Park Road, three 'clubs' are located, the Conservative Club, Royal British Legion Club and the RAF club, All are available to members.
Public Houses in the surrounding area to Dawlish
Between Dawlish and Teignmouth is Holcombe, traveling from Dawlish via Teignmouth Hill The Smugglers is to be found at 27 Teignmouth Road, this is a large cliff top pub and a quality restaurant with seating for large number of people. This is mainly an eating house, but does have an excellent bar. This is a very busy establishment even in the low season and visitors would need to book to make sure of a table. A little further on the same road the village of Holcombe can found, this village has one pub The Castle, this offers some excellent food and a good bar well stocked with real ale. The pub has a good mix of locals and a number of holiday makers pay a visit each year.
Heading from Dawlish towards Dawlish Warren, 'The Warren' has four pubs. The largest is The Mount Pleasant Inn, this offers a wide selection of food and drink including some good real ale. It gets very busy in peak periods and offers a superb view over Dawlish Warren including excellent views of the railway. Lees Bar on Mount Pleasant Road offers a good selection of real ale and food, very popular with locals and holiday markers from the surrounding holiday parks. The Welcome Inn also on Mount Pleasant Road offers a wide selection of drinks and can get very busy. On the Warren itself The Boat House is located, a pleasing establishment offering good drink and food and nice views over the water towards Exmouth.
For those who visit Cockwood to watch and photograph trains, two excellent pubs exist. The Anchor, right on the harbour side is large, offers good real ales and general drinks and a wide menu, especially sea food. Just around the corner is The Ship at Cockwood, this establishment is probably the best food pub in the area and offers some fine drinking with a large selection of real ale. The food is of the highest standard and booking is a must at busy times.
Looking at Cafes and restaurants, Dawlish has a number on offer. In 'The Strand', our main shopping street, The Ugly Ducking, Bow Windows, Taylors Restaurant and Jack Sprats can all be found offering good food. In Queen Street, The Witches Bowl is an excellent 'old worlde' Restaurant, frequented by many locals. On the corner of Queen Street and The Strand in Cafe No. 1 a high quality coffee shop and cafe. If Indian food is your taste then try The Gurkha at 30 Park Road, Dawlish EX7 9LJ (01626 862266) for top class eat in and take-away Indian and eastern cuisine.
The town of Dawlish and its surrounding area, as one might expect, has a large number of pubs, cafes and restaurants. We are often asked 'where is it best to eat or have a drink'. So, we have put together a basic guide to what is on offer in the local area, this is by no means an exhaustive list and the recommendations are of a personal nature. For a town of around 13,000 residents, to have more than one pub per 1,000 head does seem to be a little excessive, however the visitors and seasonal trade seems to keep most in business.
In the main all the pubs in and around Dawlish are of a good quality, none could be described as 'rough' and visitors to the area will be made welcome (well usually), the days of the locals shutting up when visitors arrive has thankfully gone.
On a personal note if its just a good clean, swearing free atmosphere with what is now viewed by many as the best real ale in town by the locals - you need look no further than the first entry on the list below.
Public Houses in Dawlish
The Marine Tavern - Located at 2 Marine Parade, this pub is now the site owners 'local', it offers perfect views of the railway line. The establishment is of very high quality and is often favoured by railway enthusiasts who can eat, drink and watch trains at the same time. Excellent hot food is offered. The Marine also has accommodation of a good standard. Pop in and find the site owner taking a pint and holding court on railways!
The Gresham (previously The Laffinn Pig) - Located at 1 Commercial Road, a local pub, light bar food available. Excellent real ale. Bed and Breakfast available. Well worth a visit
The Railway - Situated in the very narrow Beach Street opposite the station this pub offers a good range of beers and other drinks and does low cost meals of a good quality. Not the quietest pub in town but good.
The Teignmouth Inn - Located just to the rear of the Marine Tavern on the hill out towards Teignmouth at Brookdale Cottages, the 'TI' as its usually known is very much a 'locals' pub, offers limited real ale and food, another pub worth a look.
Brunswick Inn - Found mid-way along Brunswick Place this is a large town pub offering a wide range of real ale, general drinks and food. The pub also has a large skittles alley to the rear. This pub being right in the town does get very crowded in busy times. A limited amount of open air seating is provided at the front.
The White Hart - Situated towards the back of the towns shopping streets at 6 Albert Street, this pub offers the usual array of food and drinks, usually quiet and old worlde.
The South Devon - Located on the junction of Strand Hill and High Street, this is another 'locals' pub, limited real ale and food. Frequently has theme nights, especially for sporting events.
Landsdown - This is the 'in location' for the towns younger drinkers, offers an excellent selection of real ale, provides food and carries all major sporting events on large screens. Has limited outside 'terrace' seating. Very popular location with locals and visitors but can get a little noisy. Located towards the rear of the town at 8 Park Road. Remains open VERY late.
The Swan Inn - Located at the back of the town on the junction of Old Town Street and Church Street, this is a quiet village style pub, offering good real ale but sadly no food, has a nice beer garden which in summer months has occasional music evenings. Popular with locals and visitors. Restricted opening hours.
Clubs
Towards the back of the town in Park Road, three 'clubs' are located, the Conservative Club, Royal British Legion Club and the RAF club, All are available to members.
Public Houses in the surrounding area to Dawlish
Between Dawlish and Teignmouth is Holcombe, traveling from Dawlish via Teignmouth Hill The Smugglers is to be found at 27 Teignmouth Road, this is a large cliff top pub and a quality restaurant with seating for large number of people. This is mainly an eating house, but does have an excellent bar. This is a very busy establishment even in the low season and visitors would need to book to make sure of a table. A little further on the same road the village of Holcombe can found, this village has one pub The Castle, this offers some excellent food and a good bar well stocked with real ale. The pub has a good mix of locals and a number of holiday makers pay a visit each year.
Heading from Dawlish towards Dawlish Warren, 'The Warren' has four pubs. The largest is The Mount Pleasant Inn, this offers a wide selection of food and drink including some good real ale. It gets very busy in peak periods and offers a superb view over Dawlish Warren including excellent views of the railway. Lees Bar on Mount Pleasant Road offers a good selection of real ale and food, very popular with locals and holiday markers from the surrounding holiday parks. The Welcome Inn also on Mount Pleasant Road offers a wide selection of drinks and can get very busy. On the Warren itself The Boat House is located, a pleasing establishment offering good drink and food and nice views over the water towards Exmouth.
For those who visit Cockwood to watch and photograph trains, two excellent pubs exist. The Anchor, right on the harbour side is large, offers good real ales and general drinks and a wide menu, especially sea food. Just around the corner is The Ship at Cockwood, this establishment is probably the best food pub in the area and offers some fine drinking with a large selection of real ale. The food is of the highest standard and booking is a must at busy times.
Looking at Cafes and restaurants, Dawlish has a number on offer. In 'The Strand', our main shopping street, The Ugly Ducking, Bow Windows, Taylors Restaurant and Jack Sprats can all be found offering good food. In Queen Street, The Witches Bowl is an excellent 'old worlde' Restaurant, frequented by many locals. On the corner of Queen Street and The Strand in Cafe No. 1 a high quality coffee shop and cafe. If Indian food is your taste then try The Gurkha at 30 Park Road, Dawlish EX7 9LJ (01626 862266) for top class eat in and take-away Indian and eastern cuisine.