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About
The Start Bay Inn is a family run unspoilt pub right next to the beach which specialises in seafood.It has been run by the Stubbs family since 1977.We serve fish and chips to die for with a portion size to suit any appetite. We also serve an extensive choice of locally caught seafood which is displayed on our specials board. The scallops are hand picked from the Start Bay sea bed by Paul Stubbs the previous Landlord and dressed by either Clair, or Gail his daughters or Stu who are partners in the business. All the crab is dropped off live in the back yard where we dress it. We serve non fish choices with local steaks and burgers being favourites. Vegetarian options are also available.A children's
PRICE RANGE
£4 - £18
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, After-hours
CUISINES
Bar, Seafood, British, Pub
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Waterfront
Reviews (1,364)
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1,356 results
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LanguageEnglish
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Traveller rating
708
348
146
83
71
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All reviews fish and chips salad monkfish ice cream jacket potato crab steak the pub sea wall family area slapton sands specials board car park large portions medium devon pint
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Reviewed 3 days ago

Have eaten here over many years and whenever I've been in the area it's been a highlight. Not any more. Arrived with friends at midday, three of us ordered the sole to be then told there was just one, then to be told there was...none! Cod was full of bones, not what you expect from a quality pub restaurant. My gurnard was so overcooked it was inedible and the baked potato was so undercooked it was hard. So sad to see a place that's been a legend in our family to fail so badly.More

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 1 week ago

Dinner for 2 couples on a Saturday night. Service great, friendly and good humoured. The haddock in batter was amazing. They offer small, medium or large, we chose the medium and my goodness it was very generous! Wine good value. We loved the evening so...much we booked the same table for the following Thursday. We were so disappointed. The table we had requested was already occupied by 2 people (although we arrived a few minutes early) and the table we were then given had an icy draught from the window behind two of us. This needs fixing, 4 coats and scarves had to be piled up and we were still uncomfortable! I ordered pie of the day (beef) and the other 3 stuck with the fish - wise choice! The pie was lukewarm, the beef tough and the gravy that accompanied it was lumpy and glutinous and also rather cold. Service was slow too. Okay, it was a midweek and we know that it is so hard now to get staff, but no excuse for serving such an awful pie dinner in a pub!More

Date of visit: March 2024
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Reviewed 4 weeks ago

Have been here a few times now and the food is always excellent, however today's food was mediocre, the gravy was very watery and the chips bland . Our main niggle was the tall gaunt guy behind the bar who needs to brush up on...his customer service skills , a please and thank you when ordering and paying would be a nice touch sir , not just a grunt and no smile .More

Date of visit: February 2024
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Reviewed 4 weeks ago

I was bitterly disappointed as I have such fond memories of eating here. But I had one of the worst meals I’ve had for years. We were only allowed to eat in one section as we had children and a dog with us. The area...lacked character and felt like the cheaper end of the pub. Every order I seemed to place seemed to have run out only after some confusion was I to be served one of the meals I was told previously had run out. When I did get mine, it arrived some time after the rest of my family’s. The fish was very disappointing and my husband, on being given more cod than any human could eat in one sitting, had to wade through a mountain of bones, not what you expect from a battered cod and chips. My eldest son ordered food he never received and also had to wade through bones. Everything felt and tasted frozen and tasteless, not what you expect from a pub sitting on the beach. Gone are the days of the owner going out in his boat for fresh scallops. Bring back the Start Bay Inn of old, that one was brilliant this one is not.More

Date of visit: February 2024
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Reviewed 30 December 2023 via mobile

Nice little pub.. Been coming here for years and usually always enjoyed it. Fish and chips very tasty. I recommend stopping by if you're in the area :)

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed 6 December 2023 via mobile

What better way to spend a stormy winter evening. Lovely fires, lovely local beer and excellent fish and chips. If you rented out a place nearby you could find nowhere better to eat and drink during your stay

Date of visit: December 2023
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Reviewed 26 November 2023

We had an amazing luch at the Start Bay Inn. Our dogs were welcomed, the seafood starter was fresh and tasted great, the mains were plentiful, you don't get out hungry, that's for sure. Would go back without hesitation.

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 13 November 2023

We visited the Start Bay Inn over the weekend for an evening drink and again the following day for lunch. The lunch was absolutely delicious; the fish and chips were perfect and the mangalore seafood curry did not disappoint. Exceptional, as was the service by...the young front of house staff. Thank you. Super food. Sadly however, the policy of dogs not allowed in the main bar or table area lets this pub down. Arriving with our very well behaved dog, we were quickly advised that the dog ‘could not be in the bar area due to the carpet’. An understandable request had the carpet actually been clean! It looks like it has not seen a hoover, or indeed carpet shampoo, in a very long while. I’m not sure the dog even wanted to actually sit on the carpet! That aside, the bar manager, Lottie, was apologetic and explained the reasoning- that some dogs might be sandy from the beach. If you want a good, hearty, reasonably priced meal and you don’t own a dog- this place is worth a visit.More

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 7 November 2023 via mobile

Beautiful fish & chips and ale. Lovely, welcoming staff, and great ice cream. Also, if you go for a walk on the beach, you may see a seal that visits regularly.

Date of visit: November 2023
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Reviewed 27 October 2023 via mobile

We stayed in Torcross and had dinner twice at The Start Inn and it was lovely. Fresh seafood, great service, and great atmosphere!

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 27 October 2023

Another lovely lunch, fresh haddock perfectly cooked and a cosy open fire to sit in front of. All the staff are friendly and attentive. Thank you.

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 26 October 2023

Fabulous Lemon Sole and Goan Fish Curry. We shared a prawn cocktail to start, which was HUGE! Friendly service and hot, tasty food. The Lemon Sole deserves a special mention. It was fresh, perfectly cooked and an absolute bargain price

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 18 October 2023

We walked from Bee Sands all the way along the beach while the tide was out and went in for lunch! Loved it! Very welcoming and still as nice as when we were last there in 2016. We were allowed in with dogs this time...which was a great comfort as it was quite windy out that day.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 16 October 2023 via mobile

Visited on a Sunday lunchtime, so very busy, we were just in for a prawn sandwich and pasty with a couple of pints of Otter beer. Bit slow on service, they were very busy though, sandwich on the dry side, pasty ok. Other food being...served looked ok, good portions. I suppose location causes price which we thought slightly up. Staff very polite. Was ok.More

Date of visit: October 2023
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Reviewed 8 October 2023

Been coming over 20 years no visits more service was excellent food not so .The server informed me that there was no dark crab meat which was fine but didn’t expect to leave hungry a slice of bread and butter didn’t suffice as the only...carbs on this £19.90 crab salad.More

Date of visit: September 2023
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Questions & Answers
Ask a question
BRISTOLGANGONTOUR
4 October 2016|
AnswerShow all 11 answers
Response from Janeen E | Reviewed this property |
We stayed outside and all those with dogs did so too. If you want to be inside there are other options in the area
2
Votes
Jannerbloke
21 January 2016|
AnswerShow all 6 answers
Response from LES N | Reviewed this property |
Others replies probably cover the issues raised well enough. I would only add that I would not consider the Inn as providing fully accessible service for the disabled especially as there are internal steps from the family... More
0
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THE START BAY INN, Torcross - Updated 2024 Restaurant Reviews, Menu & Prices - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Start Bay Inn

Yes, The Start Bay Inn offers takeaway services.

The Start Bay Inn is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travellers:
  • Food: 4.5
  • Service: 4
  • Value: 4.5
  • Atmosphere: 4