skip nav  
 


Dolphin, Penzance

back to pub details

user reviews of the Dolphin, Penzance

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Certainly a lovely pub both inside and out and a fine location.

Being a St. Austell house I knew it would be expensive which it is.

Food also looked very good but again pricey.

Quite a pleasant place.

7/10
montie49 - 16 Oct 2019 17:50
Not sure the latter comments regarding sizzling food dishes are still relevant... I only had a pint of Tribute and enjoyed the sun on the front, however the beer was good, the bar staff attentive, and whilst I didn't eat, the food looked good... Mostly fish dishes, priced around £12... Other beers were HSD and Best..
Barrow_Beer_Hunter - 2 Jun 2018 17:00
Revisited after several years. Oh dear. As mentioned the bar was filled with smoke from the 'sizzling' dishes and the smell of fried food, not necessarily what you want when going for a beer. What really shocked me was the price of a drink, okay, so its in a popular seaside town but even given this it was very expensive compared to other pubs nearby and the pint of Tribute could best be described as very ordinary. This pub has sold its soul to the diners leaving the drinkers short changed.
doctorpint - 27 Aug 2016 16:06
Recently refurbished.

Only 2 beers on Tribute and Dartmoor the latter of which was a bit wishy washy.

OK
Illavhalf - 28 Nov 2013 13:27
A bit of a shock on entering they were meant to serve a sizzling platter and it looked like the whole place was on fire,I couldn't find the bar for smoke, my lad waited outside and took a minute or two to realise that it was just a case of over exuberant cooking! The beer was really good.
slerpy - 15 Jul 2013 19:49
Sad to find it closed for a refit, last visit in October, all ales in excellent condition and its dog friendly
chiefknut - 11 Feb 2013 21:26
Nice pub with decent pub food. Solid.
kon23uk - 25 Nov 2012 13:26
This is a big building which needs to be maintained hence the importance of the food. Excellent atmosphere and food. It tails off near the end of the season as the pool table is replaced and a more 'pubby' atmosphere. the foodies and drinkers don't get in each others way. Contrary to some opinions you can pop in for a pint and be very welcome
jannerfcukpig - 5 Sep 2012 14:08
Decent pub with a nice traditional interior although very food-centred... not the type of place you'd just call in to for a pint. Good pint of Tribute, though, to wash the food down!
alexw - 10 Jul 2012 22:15
Wonderful character and excellent beer - loved all the maritime memorabilia around the pub! Friendly staff too.. Definitely to be recommended.
jfrebrycn - 23 Aug 2011 17:36
Love this pub, and visit every time I'm in Penzance. Can't understand Steveexpopes comment - this pub is nothing like Wetherspoons - no sticky tables for a start and no drunken tramps loitering about! Food is always excellent for me, as are all the ales - never had to take a pint back here. Staff friendly and efficient. Good location for a post-dinner walk along the seafront and only about 10 minutes walk from the railway station. Recommended.
amosbriz - 23 Nov 2010 17:32
Enjoyed the St Austell beers here and the B&B was very good with an excellent breakfast, a good foundation for a "sloppy" rock'n roll trip on the "Vomit Comet" out to the Scilly Isles.
JBGatelad - 31 Jul 2010 13:18
We visited Penzance for the first time last weekend (Fri-Mon) and ate in this pub 2 nights running. We were very pleased with the welcome received from the staff, they were most accomodating when we asked to mix some seafood dishes, so that we could sample a variety, this would tell us that the food does not come from the microwave and we can assure anyone that it has no resembalance to a 'Watherspoons' (THANK GOD).
A good selection of local beers & ciders could be consumed.

We stayed in a B&B and not all holiday makers feel the need to return to B&B to watch TV as per 'Steveexpopes' comment, if this person is a local, these sorts of comments will not encourage the tourist trade..........

mel.n.daz - 22 Jun 2010 19:45
Almost a Wetherspoons clone but unlike Wetherspoons the staff are friendly. Also unlike Wetherspoons the food is expensive but like Wetherspoons it's very mediocre. Beer o.k. (I stuck to Tinners) although nothing to write home about. Cliental seem to be mainly holiday makers who couldn't wait to get food down their necks and get back to their B&Bs to take their brains out and be mesmerised by Deadenders or Bore-inaction Street.
Steveexpopes - 17 May 2010 11:57
I've been visiting this place on and off for over 25 years. It has certainly gone up market in the last few years. The menu is much more extensive (and expensive!) than it used to be but always looks good - I haven't eaten there for sometime so can't attest to the quality.

The beer on Monday when I visited was St Austell Tinners, Proper Job and Tribute. In the past, the quality has been variable but no complaints this time although I consider �2.80 for Tinners rather expensive for the area.

There are much better pubs in Penzance, unless you like the up market experience. such as The Dock or Sir Humphrey Davy.
cheshirecat - 30 Dec 2009 12:59
The Dolphin did me an excellent curry. Had a couple of pints of Tribute to go with it. Friendly and effecient service. One of the better pubs I've visited during my visits to Penzance.
Jonnysaint - 28 Nov 2009 20:24
Enjoyed my visit here. Nice roast, welcoming service and good drinks. Will return.
Gola - 31 Oct 2009 21:01
stay away from this pubs food hated it, cheap and you can tell why the produce they must use is not the best or the chef cant use the microwave properly. sorry did not like it at all
Foodiefood - 24 Oct 2009 14:44
A nice-looking pub situated next to harbour and therefore ready to help relieve tourists of their spending money at source.

To be fair, it does a decent job - whilst the beer (3 from St Austell, condition average on my visit) isn't necessarily particularly inspiring I'd rather have that than the normal dishwater served up in similar situations. The food again is decent - nothing to write home about but ticks the box. The interior is spread over two levels and - as pointed out below - is big on the nautical theme, but in a more sanitized and ordered manner than its rougher-and-readier neighbour, The Dock.

Whilst I wouldn't necessarily advise you go out of your way to drink in the place in in Penzance, you should pop in for a quick half if you're nearby and haven't yet had your fill of St Austell beer.
Quinno - 14 Apr 2009 19:10
Situated on the harbour front, the Dolphin plays into the hands of the tourists that are ferried from the quay opposite to the Scilly Isles and back. It is interesting to compare the interior to that of the Dock inn next door. Where the Dock has a tatty, thrown together look, the Dolphin is more spacious but feels much more contrived and orderly. There are plenty of ships dials, compasses and a capstan with porthole windows and bits of rigging between some of the seating and the ceiling and lots of old photos (note the old black and white photo of the pub looking rather run down). The main bar is in the centre of the pub whilst to one end is a pool room with TV and at the front of the pub, some steps down lead to a front bar. Beers are from the St Austell range � 4 handpumps, 2 with tribute and 2 with Tinners so not a vast selection. Whilst I can�t speak for peak periods, the atmosphere appears fairly laid back, genial and civilized. A decent enough place but I prefer the more traditional feel of its neigbour.
RogerB - 19 Mar 2009 13:52
Very kind and courteous staff.
Excellent food and drink.
Took my 85 year old grandmother there this weekend.
Even she loved it, and doesn't usually have many good words to say about anywhere.
Thank you so much.
I'll be back.
Recommend the Sunday roasts.
india99 - 6 Jan 2009 21:07
A nice welcome - Good afternoon sir -
I had a nice pint of Tribute here and a decent lunch.
I am not always a fan of St Austell pubs but this one is good

cornwalltour2008 - 24 Jul 2008 20:51
Soon became my favourite pub in Penzance during our one week stay in town. Fresh Tribute and HSD, HSD even served in proper HSD-glasses. Tasty food. Lots of indoor space, tables for larger groups at one level, separate room for families with small children. Outdoor area facing the street.
hgr - 11 Jul 2008 19:30
A great pub with fantastic views across the bay serving very good beer. Mostly St Austell brews which I couldn�t fault a very nice pint indeed. Well worth a visit.
sootythebeerbear - 2 Jul 2008 06:20
Stopped off here just before closing time for a quick few pints while on holiday in July 2005. Nice drink, atmosphere and friendly staff.
phoenixashes - 25 Apr 2006 23:31
Regular eating and dining place for my annual Scilly trip for at least 10 years.

Beyond me this pub never gets in the Good beer guide as the beer's always been good as has the food.

Changed hands when I was last there in October and went to the old landlord Bob's last night. Looking forward to being back there on the 6th of October and seeing what its like under the nouveau regime.
Fenlander - 1 Feb 2006 21:06
great pub, good food, excellent staff nice range of drinks the service is great.
anonymous - 30 Jan 2006 20:06
A nice place with sea views. Good choice of drinks. Quieter because it's a few minutes' walk from the town centre but no less enjoyable because of it. I recommend HSD if you want to sample the ale. Nicely furnished and worth a visit.
redboy - 26 Dec 2005 22:24
good foodie pub, great choice of drinks. nice atmosphere and well positioned for everything
theresaharris999 - 15 Dec 2005 21:59
Pub has just changed from a managed house to a tenancy. New Guvnor seems OK. No changes to the pub itself, but the menu's changed. Food still good, and they still do the sizzling steak & stilton (unbeatable - you can feel your arteries clogging as you eat it!)
Kernowman - 1 Dec 2005 20:54
Not a bad wee pub, only popped in for a quick visit but had character and was good food!
Randy_Campbell - 19 Aug 2005 13:06
One of the best pubs in Penzance, nice accurate bar staff, great pint of HSD (5.0%), Tribute(4.2%) and a good 3.7%. Two resonable pool tables, No TV. Easily the best pub in the area
zagreb - 19 Jun 2005 15:39
This is a lovely pub. It is just around the corner from the sea front. It is out of the way of Market Jew Street and the main shopping area and can be a bit quieter because of this. It does great food, HSD - once tasted you need never drink any other liquid even again - has a juke box with a good range and a pool table. These two last features are in a small room at the back, which means that neither interferes with the main pub area, should you want a quiet pint, or meal.
paulgough - 25 Feb 2005 16:57
Large St Austells pub on the front at Penzance - nice location and an all round good drinking and eating experience. Watch out Hicks Special Draught.
Olly - 25 Jun 2003 15:19

got anything to say about this pub?

Please read our reviews policy before posting.
Only registered users can post reviews. Please log in. If you don't have an account yet, register here.