Steam Packet Inn, Totnesback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Steam Packet Inn was my first port of call in Totnes on Saturday evening. A visit here saves you having to climb up the hill, as it's by the riverside. Some kind of fun run with torches was being held nearby. But I opted for the more sensible option of the pub, which appeared more focused towards diners than drinkers. Doom Bar is the regular ale. But they also had two guests fro Salcombe - Seahorse & Devon Amber. In addition, I was pleased to see a sign for medium dry and medium sweet ciders from Ashridge. So I opted for one of those, whilst admiring the comings and goings. There are better places in Totnes though.
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I really liked this pub. Took the family and we had a nice meal - tasty, decent sized portions and pretty reasonably priced - sat by the river watching the world float by.
Had a really nice drop of Jail Ale which was well kept and hit the spot. Friendly staff, clean bogs, decent clientele - would recommend it, particularly to those with hungry kids!
8/10 from me.
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A decent place in a great location next to the river dart.
We visited on a Tuesday lunchtime in season and the place was busy.
There are various seating areas in the pub which is a cosy place and also a conservatory eating area.
There is a sizeable outside area which is great to watch the boats go by as it is right next to the river Dart, one group of people even left by boat!
Nice ales and ciders on tap didn't try the food so unable to comment on that.
8/10
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reasonable enough pint of doom was quaffed in the sunshine overlooking the river,other two ales were Dartmoor jail ale and a hunters ale brewed specially /re badged for the pub,7/10
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I've been coming here for 7-8 years and its had some times better then others, with obvious changes of ownership or management. But it is reasonably consistent and in the past 3 years the food especially has been consistent:-its my first port of call for eating out. in Totnes. Nothing too fancy but well cooked , well presented food of consistent quality and decent portion sizes. Most of the itnerior looks as though it was modernised/refurbished at some point. But the wood floor, stone walls and fireplace give a nice feel to the bar area, which also has bar stools (beloved of the solo drinker). At least four ales with, I think, Dartmoor Jale Ale the house ale and the others rotated. I tried said Jale Ale and White Horse brewery Giant. Both were clean and well kept and full of flavour.
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The Steam Packet benefits from a superb location situated right on the banks of the River Dart & just five minutes walk from the centre of the town of Totnes. The pub is named after the steam packet boats that used to bring mail up to Totnes, which is the furthest in land you can go up the Dart by boat due to weirs above the town.
The hostelry dates back to at least the mid-nineteenth century and the main bar area is an excellent place for a pint, with two stone walled rooms each with large fireplaces, which I guess they have going on winter nights. There is now a large conservatory style dining room built on the back which, if you are staying in one of the four B&B rooms as we were, also provides great views of the river and the Vire Island opposite whilst you are having breakfast.
I cannot pass comment on the evening food menu as we did not try it, due to it being aimed at the more expensive higher end, and reviews on other accommodation web sites had intimated that the quality and service were not representative of the high prices. This was a sentiment echoed by other guests we met at breakfast, but I will say the breakfasts were excellent and the conservatory was always full with locals dining in the evening during our stay.
But I can comment on the beer as I made sure I sampled all the ales. They have Courage Best Bitter, Dartmoor Jail ale, and an Otter ale as house beers and then a guest ale which was Sharps Doombar at this time. The Otter on during our week was Otter Bright and although I had better kept beers in other pubs in Totnes during the week, these on offer at The Steam Packet were perfectly acceptable.
But finally, a real positive feature of the Steam Packet is the huge outdoor area equipped with several large Jumbrellas which provides an excellent place on a sunny day to have a relaxing beer whist watching all the �boaty types� mucking about on the River.
And finally, if you stay here in a room on the first floor, make sure you shut the window at night, unless you don�t mind the very large pub cat kipping down with you.
(P.S. Review is from a visit in August 09. Yes that's right, it really has taken that long for BITE admin to load this pub. )
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