Dolphin Inn, Thorpenessback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
I don't really have any history with this pub; my first visit was today, so can't comment on reviews below. Firstly, I loved Thorpeness... It has an 'other worldly' feel... part film set, part historical drama, but all with that ever changing light and great beach.. The Dolphin is an attractive pub with a lovely garden. The beers were the Suffolk/Norfolk staples; Woodford Wherry, Adnams Southwold, Green king IPA and Lacons Encore.. I had Wherry which was as Wherry is, light, crisp and easy drinking. Cider was Aspalls. The whole place was well kept, so I can't complain.. looking at the size of Thorpeness and amount of rentals, I don't find it surprising a few comments mention lack of locals...
|
Really disappointed in this pub as it has a lot of potential. The atmosphere was poor and the staff were incredibly rude. We were planning on staying the day and only stayed for a pint. The only thing going for it is it's the only pub within walking distance of the area, but you are probably better off just staying in.
|
Well, we visited this pub for lunch today and the food was very good and all very reasonable prices as well, plus the staff were friendly. Beer was on the expensive side with Adnams bitter at �3.40, but what is unforgivable is they charge exactly the same for Adnams Sole Star! Sole Star is one of a new brew of beers which fall below the duty threshold the government set for low alcohol beers so there is none or very little duty on them. The idea is that pubs can then sell these beers at a cheaper price so they can attract customers. So most 'normal' pubs sell these beers for �2.50, not �3.40 as they are charging here. It beggars belief that a pub charges �3.40 for a beer with a 2.7% alcohol level!
The government brought in this legislation so that pubs were able to sell a beer at a very reasonable price in order to help the pub trade. It is no wonder more and more pubs are going under if they just see this as a way of making a quick buck!
A big shame as otherwise it is a nice pub.
|
well we popped in around a month ago - and the usual landlord and lady were not there - dont know if they have left - but to be honest they werent terribly chatty or welcoming in anycase. We ordered food and drink and again my opinion hasnt changed. It still has no atmosphere as there are NO LOCALS. But its clean, the food is good - and to be honest the last entry - they charge aldeburgh prices and seeing as there isnt too much competition in thorpeness they can get away with it. It's not a pub to spend any longer than your meal in as it has no soul.
|
Thorpeness is one of our favourite places & on each of our many visits we called at the Dolphin & received good service & food, that is untill our last visit on Friday 4th April 2008. Despite the pub not being busy we waited 40 minutes for our order. We had ordered two cheese & two beef sandwiches, we were served thickly sliced sandwiches without garnish such as one would expect at a greasy spoon cafe plus a chipped plate. We were shocked at being presented with a bill of �32.95 for two J2O's one pint of bitter & pint of lager shandy plus the sandwiches.
|
Has fairly new landlord and lady - a huge chunk of the beer garden has been sold off to build four houses which now overlook the rear of the pub - saying that still a huge garden and not spoiled. The food is actually quite pleasant and improved - i believed they finally managed to get a chef - after some time looking for one and the standard of food has gone up and is not obviously microwaved.
Only pity is there isn't an atmosphere - due i suppose to a transient clientele and being such a huge pub - if you do want some kind of atmosphere go to the small snug on the left with the pictures of the pub before it burnt down and was rebuilt.
|
Seems to change hands fairly regularly. Good, if inconsistent food. Summer barbeques. Dog-friendly place. Huge garden, comfortably away from the tourists enjoying the Mere. Nothing special on the beer front. The food is far better than most places locally (stretching to Aldeburgh), but it's not a beer drinker's pub.
|
|
