please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Correction...change hours to house in first line
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We thought we'd come back here for old times sake but it's definitely lost that atmosphere it had as a free hours before Youngs. The food on offer was generally a bit heavy for a hot summers day. The Pork Pie was fine. We had a dryish farm cider and one of the (only) 3 ales on offer. Due to there only being one light one on I resorted to having one of the so-called Youngs beers which is no longer even a brewery, just a pub owning company. Shame as we had great memories of the DL and given it's location it should be stunning.
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A shadow of it's former self but still worth a visit. An ideal location (canal side and nearly two acres of garden) for summer but they have begun to close early in the evenings in winter. This practice only deters winter visitors as one simply doesn't know if they will have a full evening in the pub or be told to leave at 7-45pm.
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This pub suffers from its location (rather like the Trout in Wolvercote, Oxfordshire). The location is fantastic, by the canal, lovely trees and a playground for the kids. This means that the pub can get away with expensive, mediocre food and drinks. The place is heaving with dogs, including large numbers of small yappy ones and their irritating owners. A stressful, pricey experience.
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This used to be a great pub with tip top beer and good food.Unfortunatly it has gone down hill or "up the river" over recent years. Ate there recently and food only average at best.My first pint and had to be taken back as it was the end of the barell.The replacement was OK but nothing special.Someone needs to really get hold of this and pull it around.Still great potential in brilliant setting.
Roden - 13 Oct 2012 19:47 |
Had a terrible experience in here at the weekend. Made to feel like a hindrance and a burden by the staff. Manager was rude to us and when this was politely pointed out to him he kicked us out and barred us. I don't like whinging, but this was completely uncalled for and smacks of a petty autocrat with no idea of what running a pub is all about.
Past experiences have not been much better - poor attitude from staff, ropey over-priced food (how hard is it to get pub grub right?), and downright hostility should you be unsatisfied in any way.
Such a shame, because in the right hands this could be one of the top pubs in Britain due to the location. Beers are ok, though nothing to write home about.
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This pub is overated.
Ok so it is in a great location next to the canal but really that is about it.
The inside is tatty, it's often too busy and takes ages to get served and for some reason this pub does attract the lowlife at times.
The ales that i had were average so 3/10 from me!
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Another return visit was again a little disappointing (last week), had two pints of Branoc, just tasted watery, def had better Branoc elsewhere. Asked for beer in handles. Was told 'no, chucked em' quote. Regrettably might have to consider giving it a swerve in future.
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So, nothing to say about the Double Locks, then?
Could we have some information about the pub here, please?
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Littledrummerboy: 'Old Bastard' was rebadged Everards Old Original, and had been since 1987. When Smiles bought the pub their own three ales kept their own name. 'Old Bastard' continued to be sold until 1999. It vanished when Youngs bought the pub and began running the place down to it's present state.
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Just to add my two-penneth to this debate, all that I meant with my earlier comment re:Wells/Young's was that I come from Bedford where Charles Wells have their Eagle Brewery and have thus got a MASSIVE stranglehold on the local beer scene along with Suffolk brewing giants Greene King and it's damned hard to find a pint that doesn't come from either in pubs for miles around. With the merger of Youngs and Wells, I now have a couple more pints that are ubiquitous to almost every pub that I go in in the shape of Young's Bitter and Special. When I go away I like to seek out a good local or regional beer and Exeter has many fine outlets to try these in. Sadly, I now go in the City Gate and The Double Locks which were Smiles pubs back in the day (with their fantastic Exhibition, Heritage and Imperial Porter beers) and now find beers that I've had many, many, many times before in pubs nearer home - CW's Bombardier and Eagle IPA, Young's Bitter, Special etc and I just want something LOCAL. That's it - nothing more, nothing less. The last time that I went in here, ALL that they had on was Well's/Young's beers. (That was my only gripe - I still think that this is a great pub). All of the other pumps, casks on stillage etc on my last visit were not in use and I just missed the old days of asking for a pint of "Old Bastard" (which used to be re-badged Smile's Exhibition at 5.2%) and not having to put up with the over-branded trash that Well's/Young's produce with nothing else as guest beers.
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Spam80 i know better than you could imagine that there is a stillage behind the bar. Ok so i missed the "seven different local ales" but in my defence, the bar staff failed to spot them too!
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What are you talking about darkestdevon? The Locks has a stillage on the back of the bar selling up to 7 different local ales which include Otter, O'Hanlon's, Branscombe, Gidley's, Bays etc.... You may find that in the winter when there are fewer customers that there are fewer beers on and that Young's ales are the prefered choice for the pub. I suggest that next time you stand at the bar you look up beyond the pumps at the front and choose from the many quality beers on the back.
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Youngs DON'T make their own beer, and haven't for some time (Since they sold the Ram Brewery for redevelopment).
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My point was that Youngs do not produce a decent range of beers and as the remaining Locks regulars have frequently suggested the pub would be a lot more popular with other beers on the menu. A bit like going to a supermarket and finding only 'Happy Shopper' products on sale; You would shop somewhere else, as has happened.
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Dear oh dear. For anyone wondering what darkestdevon and littledrummerboy are on about when they go on about Smiles, I can inform them that Smiles was a Bristol brewery during the last century. They sold all of their pubs, (apart from one) including the Double Locks, to Young's about 10 years ago and closed down a few years ago. And it doesn't do to complain that there are too many of Young's beers in a Young's pub either - they own the pub - they make their own beer - why shouldn't they sell their own product? (As an aside, I can remember when the Double Locks was possibly the only Young's pub in the country which sold a decent range of beers apart from their own.)
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Rumour has it that the Locks is still for sale.........
Don't know if this could be true but let us hope that something is done soon....This pub is sinking fast!
Youngs, get out of here and give us our pub back.
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The once great Double Locks... With that oft used sentiment it was with some reluctance that i found myself there with a large group recently. Beer was actually not as bad as i've been led to believe! Too much of it was Youngs though but one can always rely on Branoc instead.
Maybe it's me but i've always found it sends the wrong signal to the customer if the barperson is seated whilst serving behind the bar! A minor gripe i know but it's 'not the done thing' and, alas, this is what happened. Still the pint was almost to the brim and my request of a full measure was answered.
The food was fine (although we'd been warned that we should sneak in our own pasties).
Staff were chatty which is an often neglected aspect of a successful pub.
It remains to be seen how the management would cope if the pub reached the busy heights of the pre Smiles days but let's be honest here; that will never happen as long as it remains a 'chain' pub.
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Whilst this place used to be better when it was run by Smiles way back when, it's still a great pub. The beers are always on good form, but it's a pity that - coming from Bedford as I do - the place is now run by Wells Young and the range represents a few more of their beers than I'd like. The food is usually good, but can get a bit iffy when the place is over-run some Sundays and Bank Holiday weekends. It's also a nice place to go mid-week evenings if you fancy a quiet pint and a read of the paper or a book - as I do when the wife and her Mum go out for the evening when we visit. If staying late or going back in the darker evenings of winter I'd recommend a torch.
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quality pub, great setting, the view was awesome. A good traditional pub with some good quality beers. A must visit if your about that neck of the woods.
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Spectacular on a sunny day. Decent beers. Food not bad for a Youngs pub, although there was a SLUG in my salad last time. They refunded the meal and gave me a free one, but still not impressed.
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I LOVE this pub.
Just do yourself a favour and go there.
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Like many other Exeter residents, a Boxing Day trip to the Double Locks is part of Christmas - so I wasn't too surprised to find a rather long queue at the bar.
What was a bit surprising was the small notice on the bar to say that the toilets weren't working.
NO TOILETS???!!!
For those that don't know, this is a pub where the nearest public toilet is a good 3/4 hour walk away, on Exeter's Quay.
What do they expect their patrons to do, use the canal?
To be honest, I am surprised that a pub (or anywhere serving food and drink) is allowed to operate nowadays without working toilets for their customers.
We hurried back to the Quay for some relief, before finding somewhere else for out Boxing Day pint.
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My infrequent experiences with this pub seem to follow the path of the yo-yo - sometimes great, sometimes disappointing.
On the plus side it's a solid real ale pub in a fantastic location. Although owned by Young's they do let in some local beers - last week 3 from O'Hanlons and 1 from Otter. The Yellow Hamnmer I had was superb.
Our slight disappointment this time was with the food. Once again the adventurous menu has disappeared to be replaced with a rather cut-down selection of standard items. My wife and I both had the steak and ale pie which in itself was OK but a bit salty. Having previously enjoyed generous portions at this pub we were amazed at the size of the vegetable accompaniment - 1 small broccoli floret, 1 small cauliflower floret and 10-ish tiny chips. It was a good job my daughter didn't want all her food... Three evenings earlier I'd had a similar meal in a London pub that was twice the size and one pound cheaper.
I still love this pub but with the food situation it's getting harder to persuade my wife that we should eat here when in the area.
One other thing: Admittedly it was raining when we went on a Saturday lunchtime, but I've never seen this pub so empty before. It used to be hard to get a seat - where is everybody?
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The Double Locks is now owned by Youngs (should that be Wells and Youngs) but nothing has changed. Still a great oasis in the middle of one of Exeter's largest industrial estates. But don't let that put you off. There is always a generous selection of local ales, good food, warm cosy fires in the winter and the huge garden and canal frontage to enjoy in the summer. Make the effort to seek it out, real pub lovers won't be disappointed.
Proper Job!
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What a cracking pub! After a 2 year absence it was time for a re-visit, and i see they have now added a 'barn' bar out the back. Good ploy, as the bar serving area inside the "Double Locks" is tiny, and getting served there can be difficult when its busy. So when the internal bar is full up, wander out the back, towards the massive garden area, and you may get served quicker in the 'barn' (which is actually a temporary, white plastic markee, attached to a barn where the staff serve you from)! But on a sunny day its brilliant. (But what was that awful noise playing in the barn bar..?? Was that music..?? I don't think so..!!) Fantastic location though. There must have been a hundred people sunning themselves in the grassy garden area at the back, beside the canal, and it wasn't crowded, thats how big the grounds are here! Kids can run around & play. Blokes can kick a ball around, there's even a volley-ball net set up. Plenty of wooden picnic tables strewn around, or seating by the canal to just watch the boats... idyllic. If you're living or staying in Exeter, its a 20 minute fast walk from the quayside to this ideal pub. But if you're really thirsty, or can't walk quite that far, you may get diverted into the 'Port Royal' pub on the tow-path along the way. Check out the plaque outside the 'Port Royal' anyway, its named after the town that used to be there, an interesting little legend is told about the area, which was apparently destroyed by a freak tsunami a few hundred years ago..! And now the pub is all that remains as a stark reminder...! Hope i haven't scared you off now...!! We luv Exeter! TJ
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What a cracking pub! After a 2 year absence it was time for a re-visit, and i see they have now added a 'barn' bar out the back. Good ploy, as the bar serving area inside the "Double Locks" is tiny, and getting served there can be difficult when its busy. So when the internal bar is full up, wander out the back, towards the massive garden area, and you may get served quicker in the 'barn' (which is actually a temporary, white plastic markee, attached to a barn where the staff serve you from)! But on a sunny day its brilliant. (But what was that awful noise playing in the barn bar..?? Was that music..?? I don't think so..!!) Fantastic location though. There must have been a hundred people sunning themselves in the grassy garden area at the back, beside the canal, and it wasn't crowded, thats how big the grounds are here! Kids can run around & play. Blokes can kick a ball around, there's even a volley-ball net set up. Plenty of wooden picnic tables strewn around, or seating by the canal to just watch the boats... idyllic. If you're living or staying in Exeter, its a 20 minute fast walk from the quayside to this ideal pub. But if you're really thirsty, or can't walk quite that far, you may get diverted into the 'Port Royal' pub on the tow-path along the way. Check out the plaque outside the 'Port Royal' anyway, its named after the town that used to be there, an interesting little legend is told about the area, which was apparently destroyed by a freak tsunami a few hundred years ago..! And now the pub is all that remains as a stark reminder...! Hope i haven't scared you off now...!! We luv Exeter! TJ
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Superb pub serving a selection of Devon beers. Gets busy at weekend, traditional pub food without a 'jus' in sight. Cracking location spring & summer, log fire autumn & winter. Wheelchair accessable too.
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Granted, it's been 10 years since I last went to this pub. But it left an indelible impression on my mind as an archetypal idyllic Summer pub. We had thick doorstep cheese toasties sat on the benches outside, in the sun, while boats passed by on the canal. There's a beach volleyball court there too! Live music, real ale, and it's out of the way too, which makes it quiet and a little bit magical.
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I was there last summer (2006) and was very impressed. I cycled from Steps Bridge youth hostel, and was glad to see lots of bike racks outside the pub. There was a great selection of real ales, some served from the pump, some direct from the barrel. Two or three superb pints later, I started the ride back in a great mood.
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A bonus trip this time on the way to somewhere else but did have time for lunch. Food generally seemed OK.
Beers good as usual. I actually saw someone buying a Young's beer - makes a change.
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The pub garden was very busy when I visited last Friday afternoon - hardly anyone inside.
Got served quickly for the beers - which tasted good. Didn't have food this time but what I saw looked OK - the burgers looked real rather than frozen.
This pub can't be beaten for its location.
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This has always been one of my favourite pubs. I was therefore extremely disappointed to find a queue for the bar that went all the way down the corridor, through the back room and out of the door. The two bar staff were working hard but really needed more help. It was fortunate that we did not require food. Those people that were ordering were told that there would be an hour wait (even for a bowl of chips). One poor guy had been waiting 1 hour and 20 minutes. What has gone wrong? This used to be such an efficiently run pub. On a plus side the beer and cider tasted fine.
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What a dissapointment. Having read the reviews above we decided to give the pub a go as most were positive. When we arrived it appeared to be amazing, incredible location right on the waterside. However when we went inside we were suprised to find that it was unclean, with an unpleasant stale odour and sticky dirty bar. It only got worse when we tried to order food. Half the menu was unavaiable and I wish we had decided at that point to eat elsewhere. What we were served was by no means the "home cooked food" that was promised. Microwaved burgers, stale re-cooked chips and limp, pathetic "token" salads. The only plus was the service-our food arrived within about 3 minutes, proof in itself that none of it was freshly prepared.
This pub was clearly great once-it has a huge seating area and great potential. Sadly we will not be going back unless we hear things have vastly improved.
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Used to be a stunning pub, up until a couple of months ago. New managers with zero personality and a rude manner. Good luck ordering food as on the three occasions I've been recently food has been shut, apparently it's been too busy.
Hopefully a starting glich to be worked out but am wary that it's going to turn into another of those Young's branded pubs a la London.
Fingers crossed.
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Great, great pub. Many a summer's afternoon has been whiled away here! You always sit outside, which is a shame, because if you look inside it's a treasure trove of interesting stuff - eg. the cider kegs that hang from the ceiling for a start!! Don't drive here - either ride or take a canoe (both available from a place on the quay so no excuses!), follow the canal and you can't miss it. The service is a bit slow but if you were in a rush, why would you go to the Double Locks?!
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Food used to be excellent - and is still good but the portion sizes have been significantly reduced - no more Bangers and Mash Challenge!! Always a great way to while away a sunny afternoon though and Beer straight from the Cask. Eclectic clientelle is probably the best description!
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Fantastic pub - I could stay here all day. Canoe down the canal from Exeter (holding your nose at the appalling smell from the factory) then get merrily trolleyed on the Gray's Farm cider from polypins above the bar. Decent food too. What's the beer like? Who cares?
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Trequites has got to be the only person in Exeter who has a problem with the Locks not serving as many Young's ales! Most people, me included, are glad to see more of a range from local breweries rather than just Young's beers, nice as they are.
And to visit the City Gate instead, well that's just a joke!
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A year ago I said that this pub was 'a great disappointment' - primarily because it was the only Youngs pub I've ever visited that didn't have Youngs Special.
Well, I can report that it's still the same. The only Youngs beer that it had on this Boxing day was Ordinary - No Special, no Waggledance, no Winter Warmer, no Christmas Ale. As far as I'm concerned, as a Youngs pub it's still a great disapointment - John Young is probably turning in his grave. I returned to Exeter without stopping and had some excellent beer in the City Gate instead.
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Apologies.. to all readers..! It is in fact a canal here beside the pub, and not a river! (Its difficult for us townies to tell the difference..!!) And yes, I too noticed the notice, that was not really too noticeable, giving notice of a notice-worthy event coming soon to the 'Double Locks' if you notice...! an open-sided building or 'lean to' presumably to be attached to the side of the pub, for an increased seating area outside & under cover. That could enhance the venue in the good weather. I shall have to return here again, to find out. Happy drinking punters!!
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Ah, the 'Double Locks' pub. A great find by the river! Where have you been.. canooing probably!! We saw a two-man canoe capsize here last Wednesday.. right infront of the 2 swans & their 3 cygnets resting on the large 'step' beside this pub. But they didn't panic.. unlike the 2 teenagers in the boat! Still it was a nice day for a swim, I'm sure they loved it! As did I inside the 'DL' which has a very small bar (big enough for about 7 oarsmen to stand side by side at the bar..!) 'How strong is the local cider?' I asked, but the young bar girl did not know! Never mind, it tasted good ("Long.." something..)!
Apparently although quaint, according to locals, this pub is not as good as the 'Turf Locks' pub further up the river (a fair walk, maybe 3miles from Exeter quayside, so a boat or bike might be in order there)! TJ
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Just to reassure the nostalgic students, the Double Locks is still agreeably shabby and making the most of its wonderful location. How long it'll stay agreeably shabby is debatable - I noticed today that there were planning applications in to extend it. Mess with it at your peril!
Food was good, service friendly and prompt, beer OK - both the O'Hanlons beers were a bit flat, and if I were cynical I'd accuse Young's of keeping the guest beers a bit ropey to maximise sales of their own...
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Used to go here when I was a student in Exeter.Generally speaking the pubs in Exeter are crap but this is (well was no idea what its like now) an exception.Very fond memories!
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The double locks is the best pub i have ever been to. i live just round the corner and it used to be just for us local people. shame its now more well known. The food has gone downhill since new management but at least its clean. I can take the dogs there for a swim too which is a bonus.
definitly a good pub and well recomended. GO THERE!
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I am a regular at this pub and have been for the last 10 or so years and cannot honestly see why everyone is moaning about change.
The ales are now well kept and varied, the staff are friendly and efficient (you used to have to queue for hours to get a beer), the food has gone back to home-made and everyone is now made to feel welcome. Bank holidays here are now a joy rather than one long queue!
The only thing I can think of is that long gone are the days when customers and staff could quite happliy get stoned and wasted in the pub until god knows what time of the morning.
As far as I can see the pub is now going back to what the 'Double Locks' should be i.e. Jamie's era and not Tony or that other lady who was way too fierce to get to know properly.
Seriously, if you don't like it, find another nasty pub to frequent and make space for the rest of us who love this pub.
Good job guys!
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I used to live in Exeter in the late 80s and early 90s, first as a student and later as well. The Double Locks is one of my favourite memories of that time, it was magical! Am coming back to Exeter for a nostalgia trip next month, and also to show the city to my partner, who's never been.
I'm a bit alarmed by some of the comments about the Double Locks having declined in recent years. Is this really the case? I don't really want to go back there now and be disappointed - my memories of it from before are too fond!
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Yo yo yo! Dis place is the shizzle bon dizzle. It was an amazing place to go. I went last week end and the sun was blazing and everyone was just having a wicked time. I ate an amazing burger from the amazing BBQ with that amazing fit looking chef guy. Jason..Yeah thats his name. He's so hawt. Damn i'd love to love him so hard. lol. But yeah it was an excellent day out and i really enjoyed myself on the climbing frames...(Not that i'm that young hehe) Friendly service with a smile and great food and great location..What more could you ask...Except maybe a chimp that could do backflips..Yeah..That would be nice. See ya soon.
anonymous - 2 Jul 2006 13:22 |
First visit in over a year. Glad to relate that it seems to have improved again. The food was much better and really seemed to be quality stuff - better than the warmed up supermarket fayre last time.
The beer selection also seemed to be bigger than last time with four or five guest ales alongside the Young's regulars.
There is a good play area for kids in the garden - our 18 month old daughter loved it. Unfortunately none of the rooms inside are non-smoking.
Overall - a pleasure to come back after worries of a downward slide.
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This is our lunch pub on the way to Cornwall. The first time we visited, it took ages to find, the directions in the AA pub guide were particularly bad. It was well worth the effort though, the cask ales leading to a change of driver for the afternoon shift ;)
Food was OK, much better than stopping on the motorway, the location is glorious, our dog loves it.
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Unfortunately this pub has gone downhill in recent years. Now offers a vastly reduced range of food and beer.
This used to be a fantastic pub 10-15 years ago when I was a semi-regular visitor. Now all it really has going for it is the situation - which is why I give it a rating of 5 and not less.
As for the "home made" food, I can't imagine that this is true at all - it seems to be the typical mass-produced microwaved dishes you can get in any pub, with the addition of an hour's wait to get it.
anonymous - 16 Apr 2006 12:30 |
used to work here had some of the best times of my life. moved away now but will be visiting next week. got the job by chance, it was a busy summers day and the queue was about 8 and a half miles long and the barman shouted "can anyone do bar work" so i said yes i have experience and he said could you come round here and help us out then. that was that a chilled out day with my mates turned into a full time job and i enjoyed every minute. such a good atmosphere. i would like to say that my friend andy shepard whom i was with that day has now sadly passed the way he wanted to go, on a ducatti 996 it holds many memories for me and i reccomend this pub to any one visiting the south west coast. see you soon guys.
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I feel i must question the judgement of the Waggledance fan,it's like drinking the soft centre from a packet of Lockets cough sweets.
We went to the Grove in Exmouth a few years ago when it was launched,and they were giving away scratchcards with every pint to win a tee shirt.
I had six goes b4 i couldn't stand any more, and went back on the "proper"ale.
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Excellent pub. Visited a few weeks ago for the first time.
Great food and beer. Missing out on Special is no great loss considering the other great beers they had on offer.
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I don't agree with the comments below. I visited on Boxing day as well as numerous other times over christmas and new year and found the pub to be as great as it always is.
The beer was great, they even had Waggledance, not usually available this time of year. There was a great selection of food on offer, the entire menu plus snacks and a specials board. The staff were helpful and polite and even found time to chat to my kids about christmas.
I do agree that the toilets are old and decrepid and I hope that Youngs do something about them soon as they spoil an otherwise fab pub.
anonymous - 1 Jan 2006 14:32 |
A great disappointment. A boxing day walk to the Double Locks has been one of our family traditions for years, but going by today's experience we'll be looking elsewhere in 2006. The food menu seems to have been vastly reduced (not that I could really afford to eat at the Double Locks anyway)as has the beer range. I can't comment on the quality of the food, but it's one of the few times that I've been there when more people seemed to be drinking than eating. The toilets are still a disgrace - I thought that they'd applied for planning permission to put in some new ones years ago?
The most damning thing, however, is the lack of Young's Special. Once before in my beer drinking life I've been in a Youngs pub where they didn't have Special because the bar staff were incapable of changing the barrel, but this is the first one that I've ever been in where they don't actually stock it.
If you are passing by you might want to stop and have a beer here, but I wouldn't bother making a special trip to what was once a magical pub.
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Fab pub. I believe they are planning a refurb soon to correct it's tired state. Great selection of ales and good home-made food. Well worth a visit especially on a warm sunny evening.
anonymous - 5 Sep 2005 20:13 |
great ale. nice food. fab location. building looks rundown. shame its owned by a brewery. but i allways go ther when im in exeter
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excellent venue food live music great unfortunatly the facilities ie toilets were a discrace both inside the pub and the ones outside should be condemmed immediatlly. one other point they ran out of stella and scrumpy jack by 10pm which was a nightmare. there was a lot of students staying there playing music and pratting about getting stoned until 4am and if i had a pint every time someone fell over my tent guidelines i would have been well pissed counted at least 10 times which kept us awake.not a place for children in my opinion!!!!
anonymous - 19 Jul 2005 18:55 |
Just another student haunt where they can show off their latest BMW's.
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Visited this place a couple of years ago, so my comments are probably a little out of date, but:
Truly incredible! Everything about this pub was fantastic, the enormous selection of kegs and casks behind the bar; The beardy, cheery, rugby-shirted staff; the quality food; the beautiful location; the free camping in their garden.
It may just be me, but I fetishise this pub as being the finest I've ever visited.
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Visited last weekend. This is still one of my favourite pubs, but the menu selection has become very disappointing. It seems the days of the huge and varied specials board have gone to be replaced by a bland standard pub menu. Allegedly Young's have forced this on the pub. The food itself was OK - average but not special like it used to be. Perhaps that's why the pub was empty for a Saturday afternoon.
The beer selection is still quite varied (also apparently despite pressure from Young's) and they are generally well kept. One obviously 'off' pint was replaced without fuss and the beer in question removed from sale.
The pub has a good vibe and is certainly worth a trip. It has a great location and I aim to visit again in the spring.
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fine if your an old fart and doesnt like lager
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I was a student at Exeter Uni until 1992. Each time I've popped back down to this neck of the woods (7 or 8 times I guess) I've always managed a lunch and a beer at the Double Locks, as it's one of my favourite pubs in the country. Good food (the chicken and mushroom pie tasted as good as ever on last visit), and a very user-friendly beer menu with real ales listed on the board by order of ABV% - and a good range of ales, well kept. And yes, user comments that the photo on this site don't so the pub's beautiful environment justice are spot-on.
One minor gripe however - my last visit was in July last year and the infamous STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING wasn't even on the menu. WHAT??!!! I'm somewhat of a connoisseur of this particular dish and the Double Locks used to beat any competition hands-down. Please re-instate STP on the menu if this hasn't been done already (along with the massive dollop of clotted cream and the excessive amount of toffee sauce, obviously).
Get your pudding menu sorted and I'll see you again the Summer. Cheers!
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Cidre Merveilleux De M�tier Disponible Ici. Chat Sup�rieur
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Great location, average food & good beer. Nice place to relax, but could be really incredible....
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Quite a dissapointment as it could be so much more, however it is a good pub in its own right, in a beautiful location, and the beer is good enough to match, i think the food is a little average an uninspiring, but for the price its hard to complain.
A very relaxed atmosphere, and a nice group of people working there, inlcuding Tom the excellent bar man, and Amy the head chef. Since the take over from smiles to youngs it has gradually lost some of its character, still, on a hot summer day with the pub and garden full, and kids (and adults) jumping in the canal it still has a magic quality.
anonymous - 20 Dec 2004 14:46 |
its a great summer place, its a family pub, u can take you dog/s they love it, it does have a great bbq & it may of changed now but you use to always see people from wherever stayin in a tent on the imbankment. i agree the pic shown of the dbl locks is just wrong, but take my word for it, the inside and garden are wonderful.
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Just a quick note for site-admin / designer
Do this excellent venue a favour and submit a photo taken from the other side of the canal!! The photo could be almost anywhere and does not show the venue's decking or huge "garden" area with mature trees!
And yes, it is an excellent pub, complete with open fire in winter and good BBQs over the summer.
The guset ales are also worthy of a visit!
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Big menu changes planned. I hope that this will please all who come. The new landlady is trying very hard to attract locals and new people to the pub in an attempt to make it as bustling as it used to be. A lot of people have been grumbling, but it is still the best place to sit in the sun and have a pint. Yes, Youngs have taken over, but the bar has been painted and looks cleaner and there are still a few of the old faces. Come and see for yourselves. If you are disappointed let us know why and we shall try to improve things!
a evans - 21 Oct 2004 15:12 |
One of my favourites - great beer (Otter especially), great food and a great place to enjoy them both.
Mike Temple - 10 Aug 2004 10:47 |
A pleasure to once again visit this old favourite. Still the same as it ever was, and Young's hopefully have the sense not to tamper with it. Plenty of non-Young's beers on last weekend - including the fabulous Royal Oak (now from O'Hanlons). Try the jacket potato with goats cheese and spoil yourself.
Graham - 25 Mar 2004 14:32 |
Visited this pub last week. Nothing has changed, food still good and beer although now mostly Youngs brews, is still of good quality.
paul - 26 Feb 2004 15:26 |
Fantastic pub, one of the best. Granted the food isn't what it used to be. However on a recent visit I heard that Youngs plan huge changes which are likely to destroy its unique charactor, these include removal of the large trees in the playground and an end to camping. They have to be stopped!
Jon Smith - 15 Aug 2003 21:25 |
There's no point pretending the Smiles takeover hasn't taken it's toll. Still worth the long trek from civilisation if you're not in a hurry to get served.
Graham - 1 Aug 2003 02:27 |
Superb quality pub, all round goodie!
Stephanie - 31 Jul 2003 00:54 |
I used to live nearby, it is a pleasant walk along the canal. When Smiles took over all the old regulars said "it's not as good as it used to be". Did they say the same after the Youngs takeover. Excellent Beers Old Bastard is Everards in disguise. Grays Cider on offer both Medium & Dry.
If you do come at the Bank Holiday it might be worth taking along a container as you always used to have a long queue.
Tim - 30 Jul 2003 13:00 |
Visited recently whilst on holiday in West Country. It was the first time I'd been since it was taken over by Young's and I was a bit concerned that it may have changed. However it was as good as it ever was - great selection of beers, great food, and the best location. It's a shame that Brian Foulkes had a bad experience, but I'd say that was unusual, and I'd urge him to try again.
Graham Armfield - 2 Jul 2003 15:33 |
I have just visited this pub and will not be going again. I waited 45 mins for an overcooked baked potato, with no apology forthcoming for the delay.
brian foulkes - 24 Jun 2003 14:37 |
fantastic all the ales are local and all the food is freshly cooked, good pub, good people, cold canel what more can someone want
Kate - 16 Jun 2003 22:06 |
Best Pub I have ever been to..and I have been to many!!!Always vist on my trips to the UK
Sue - 19 May 2003 04:19 |
The beer (cask ale) selection and condition is fantastic; the food is great. The staff are rude about german sweet white wine. On the short list for best pub in the world?
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The best place in the country to enjoy a jar in the sun!
Absolute gem of a pub - off the beaten path which generally means it avoids the local wide-boys and clubbers. Set along the canal with a fantastic beer-garden/field - ideal for kids - rope swings/tree-houses etc, which means they're not getting under everyones feet. Great food and well kept real-ales. Staff usually stoned or drunk - but is all part of the charm of the place. Have a barbeque in the summer and is a mecca for the locals on bank-holidays - esp Mayday. Just a bit of a pain to get to. Can drive in from Marsh-Barton Ind - otherwise a 45 min walk from Exeter quay or 10 min from the Swing Bridge. Well worth checking out
Fred - 8 Apr 2003 13:34 |
difficult to find but a wonderful canalside pub. the landlords dog Boots is a boxer who attract lots of visitors. Great for walkers/dog walkers/everyone welcome especially real ale drinkers.
cath - 10 Feb 2003 14:45 |
