🍺 Best Pubs in South Hams
Post-surf pints, waterside sundowners and proper local boozers — the South Hams has some of the best pubs in Devon. These are the ones worth knowing.
🏄 Post-surf
⛵ Waterside
🎣 Fishermen's favourites
🐕 Dog friendly
🍔 Good food
🗺️ Find a pub by activity or area
You've had a good session at Bantham. The car park is emptying. Here's where to go next.
Post-surf
Dog friendly
Good food
Real ale
The Sloop is the one. A proper 16th century thatched pub right in the village, a 3-minute walk from the beach. It's been the post-surf pub of choice for Bantham regulars for decades — sandy flip flops and wetsuits left at the door are perfectly normal here. Roaring fire in winter, beer garden in summer, local ales on tap year-round. The food is genuinely excellent too — fresh local seafood and proper pub classics. If you only go to one pub in South Hams, make it this one.
post-surf pint, winter fire sessions, local seafood
Epic view
Post-surf
Dog friendly
Real ale
One of the most unique pubs in England — a 14th century smugglers' inn on a tidal island, only accessible on foot at low water or by the famous sea tractor at high tide. It's small, ancient and full of character, with stone floors, low beams and views across Bigbury Bay that are hard to beat. Walk across at low tide, have a pint, watch the tide come in. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon. Note: it's a pub, not a restaurant — if you want a meal, book ahead or eat at the hotel.
tidal island adventure, views, unique experience
Real ale
Dog friendly
Good food
A proper hidden gem — tucked in the tiny village of Ringmore, a mile's walk from Ayrmer Cove. One of Devon's most characterful old pubs, dating back to the 13th century, with flagstone floors, exposed beams and a genuinely warm welcome. It rewards the effort of finding it. A lovely post-walk or post-surf alternative when the Sloop is rammed in summer. The beer garden is lovely on a sunny afternoon.
post-walk pint, hidden village gem, quiet drink
The Sloop Inn gets absolutely rammed on summer weekends after a good surf day. If you're heading there in July or August, either get there before 6pm or book a table in advance. It's worth the effort — don't just walk past when it looks full, ask if there's space.
Just picked up a mooring, dropped anchor in Bag End, or pulled the dinghy up? Here's where to head.
Waterside
Estuary view
Good food
Dog friendly
Right on the waterfront with a terrace that looks straight up the estuary — this is the classic Salcombe sailor's pub. Afloat or ashore, it's the natural first stop. Watch the boats coming and going over the bar, cold pint in hand. Gets lively on summer evenings when the racing fleets come in. The food is decent — good crab sandwiches and local fish. One of the best pub terraces in South Devon for watching the water.
post-sail sundowner, estuary watching, seafood lunch
Sailor's pub
Real ale
Good food
Dog friendly
The Fortescue is Salcombe's proper local — a proper pub in a town that can feel a bit boutique-hotel in summer. Good selection of real ales, lively atmosphere when the racing fleet comes in, and a genuinely warm welcome. It's been the de facto yacht club overflow bar for years. Less touristy than the waterfront spots, more locals. Excellent for an evening when you want proper pub rather than a wine bar.
proper local, real ale, evening pint with sailors
Waterside
Estuary view
Dog friendly
Real ale
Across the estuary from Salcombe on the East Portlemouth side — you either dinghy across or take the passenger ferry. Worth every bit of the effort. Quiet, unspoilt, with one of the best views in Devon looking back across at Salcombe. A world away from the busy Salcombe waterfront. Perfect for a lazy lunch at anchor or a sundowner after exploring the creek. Don't miss it.
dinghy trip, quiet anchorage stop, best view in the estuary
If you're anchored in Bag End and dinghying ashore in Salcombe, tie up at the town jetty near the Ferry Inn rather than the RNLI slip. The Ferry Inn is 30 seconds from there. Don't try to row to the Fortescue — it's a hike uphill from the dinghy landing.
Two of the most unspoilt corners of South Hams, with pubs to match.
Fishermen's local
Real ale
Dog friendly
Good food
Hope Cove is one of the most unspoilt fishing villages left on the South Devon coast, and the Hope & Anchor sits right at the heart of it. A proper fishermen's pub — low ceilings, nautical bits and pieces on the walls, good local ales and simple, honest food. Very popular with walkers on the South West Coast Path. Get there early on summer evenings or you won't get a table. The crab sandwiches are exceptional.
coastal walkers, fishermen, crab sandwiches
Real ale
Dog friendly
Good food
Post-surf
Thurlestone is a gorgeous little village above the cliffs between Hope Cove and Bantham. The Village Inn is a classic South Hams local — nothing fancy, exactly what it should be. Great for after a walk from Bantham along the coast path, or as a more relaxed alternative to the Sloop when Bantham is busy. Good beer, friendly staff, proper pub atmosphere. The walk from Bantham beach to Thurlestone along the coastal path is one of the finest short walks in Devon.
coast path walks, quiet pint, Bantham overflow
The market town at the head of the estuary — proper Devon pub territory.
Waterside
Estuary view
Good food
Dog friendly
Right on the Kingsbridge estuary with a large waterside terrace — The Crabshell is the place for a lazy lunch watching the boats on the upper estuary. It can get very busy in season but the location is unbeatable. Good fresh seafood, decent selection of drinks, family friendly. A great stop if you're exploring the estuary by dinghy, kayak or SUP — you can pull up to the pontoon at high water. The upstairs restaurant has arguably the best views in Kingsbridge.
estuary lunch, SUP/kayak pit stop, family meals
Real ale
Dog friendly
The proper local's pub in Kingsbridge town — none of the tourist fuss, just good beer and good company. If you want to know what's happening in the South Hams — fishing reports, local gossip, what the surf's been like — this is where to come. A good wet-weather option when the coast is battered and you need somewhere to wait out a blow before heading out.
proper local, real ales, waiting out bad weather
🏝️
Burgh Island — The Iconic One
Burgh Island is only accessible on foot at low water — the sand causeway from Bigbury-on-Sea is walkable for about 2 hours either side of low tide. At high water, the sea tractor (a unique Devon institution) will carry you across for a small fee. Time your visit around the tides using our
live tide times.
🏄 Post-Surf
The Sloop Inn, Bantham
3 min walk from the car park. Always the right answer.
⛵ Post-Sail
The Ferry Inn, Salcombe
Dinghy ashore, tie up at the town jetty, pint in hand in 5 minutes.
🏄♂️ Post-SUP
The Crabshell Inn, Kingsbridge
Pull your board up to the pontoon at high water. Job done.
🎣 Post-Fishing
The Hope & Anchor, Hope Cove
Fishermen's local. They'll appreciate your story about the one that got away.
🚶 Post-Walk
The Journey's End, Ringmore
13th century inn at the end of a beautiful coastal walk. Deserved pint.
🌅 Sundowner
The Victoria Inn, East Portlemouth
Best view in the estuary. Ferry or dinghy across. Worth every minute.
🌊 Check conditions before you head out
Live surf, sailing, tides and wind — updated every 20 minutes. Know what you're getting into before you leave home.
South Devon Pubs — From Bantham to Kingsbridge
South Devon pub culture is a big part of what makes the South Hams special. The area has an outstanding collection of pubs from coastal surf bars to ancient coaching inns, with a strong tradition of locally-brewed ales and exceptional seasonal food menus making the most of South Devon's produce. After a surf at Bantham, a sail up the Kingsbridge Estuary or a walk along the coast path, the right pub is all part of the South Hams experience.
In Bantham and Bigbury, the post-surf pub session is practically a local tradition — wetsuit marks on the bar stools and boards propped outside are a common sight. The pubs in this area tend to be no-nonsense, friendly and welcoming of sandy visitors. Moving to Salcombe, the vibe shifts slightly — the sailing crowd mingles with holiday visitors in the harbour-front bars, with a good selection of craft beers and excellent seafood. Kingsbridge has several reliable locals serving the year-round community, away from the tourist trail but well worth seeking out.
The South West Coast Path links many of the best South Devon pubs — planning a walk around a good lunch or evening pint is one of the great pleasures of South Hams life. Several pubs are dog-friendly and a number have stunning sea views that make them destination pubs in their own right.