The Dolphin Inn♡

Excellent

10.0

We had a very nice stay at the Dolphin Inn. Room, dinner and breakfast were to our complete satisfaction. The new landlord took very good care of our concerns. We wish the new landlord all the best for the future of the Dolphin Inn.

Bad

1.0

The room was not available. The landlord was most helpful

Avoid

1.0

Quaint English pub.

− Booked breakfast for 08:00 after discussions with the landlord, and waited outside for 30 minutes. The accommodation is across the road from the pub. He agreed to make sandwiches to take away as I am walking the south west coastal path and I needed to get away early. I Knocked on the front door several times and the curtains moved but nothing. Really terrible to be honest and I rarely write reviews but felt it necessary to on this occasion. Wouldn't recommend staying here.

Guest review

2.0

The Dolphin is a lovely olde pub, full of character and lovely, friendly local people (thanks Guy & Vanessa for your extraordinary kindness). The food menu was very basic, but the fish & chips were good. The real ale was kept very well too. The reason for the 1* rating, which is being generous .... unfortunately we were staying the night, and the accommodation (in a separate building) was absolutely disgusting. The room was dirty, mould on walls of bathroom and bedroom, carpet filthy, nothing privided other than a kettle and bath towels, no cups/tea or coffee/milk or glasses provided, no room facilities information and no fire safety instructions! (To be fair the bed was quite comfortable and thankfully bed linen was clean). When politely asking for the basic, missing room items, the temporary manager said " its nothing to do with me, I'm just temporary"!!!! We had breakfast included, but declined, as we just wanted to get out ASAP. I am really angry, having paid £120 for a filthy room which resembled a derelict 1970s holiday camp chalet room. It's a disgrace this can be allowed, the accommodation should be condemned. STAY THERE AT YOUR PERIL!! The local people really support their village pub, however the pub management company/owners don't, and it is a classic example where the community should be given the opportunity to purchase the pub to lovingly restore it and bring the life and soul back into these fabulous old buildings, and make them great again.

Very disappointing indeed

2.0

Potential to be a lovely country pub. However see below...

− Sadly the rooms (our Double room at least) was shabby, dirty carpet, door didn't fit the frame or close properly so drafty night, there was mould all over the walls outside. Really quite grim. And it cost £130... We had spent the night before at the Hope and Anchor in Hope Cove which was an incredibly comfortable, atmospheric and stylish pub - and only cost £40 per night more

Not a facility I would recommend

2.0

The bed was comfortable and the water was hot.

− This Inn is owned by the Punch group, who say they intend to renovate it. The question is 'When?' The Inn is in a very rural area and I doubt has the patronage to support a profitable venture. However, given that that is where it is, more should be done to make it attractive, and the Inn itself is attractive in a quaint way, but the whole offering needs a substantial make-over. I understand there is a management Company looking after the facility and if this is so, Punch needs to take a long hard look at their efforts. I find it hard to believe that for the investment needed this is a profitable venture for anyone. The access from the car park at the rear to the three rooms they offer is very poor. The waste bin outside was overflowing and the garden area was depressing and untidy. The entrance to the rooms was depressing to say the least. There is little or no space within the bedroom. There is a disabled toilet at the bottom of the stairs which I guess they are required to have by law but it was untidy with things lying on the floor. In the bar area, the entrance to the kitchen is on display and does not inspire confidence. There is no wi-fi. For the money we paid, we had better hotels elsewhere in the area. Punch really need to determine if any money they spend on renovation is worth it, because it does need a lot. When we arrived and enquired about dinner we were told it was limited as the beer had not arrived. What beer had to do with meals is difficult to understand. The laundry is in the downstairs part of the building across from the Inn, which is where the rooms are also situated on the upper floor. The laundry door was open and again it just looked a mess. What is it with British Hospitality that they seem to think it is alright to treat guests to this sort of accomodation. All in all, we would not recommend this to anyone.