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Hours
Sun
12:00 - 22:00
Mon
12:00 - 22:00
Tue
12:00 - 22:00
Wed
12:00 - 22:00
Thu
12:00 - 22:00
Fri
12:00 - 22:00
Sat
12:00 - 22:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
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PRICE RANGE
£3.00 – £18.00
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
meals, features
Details
About
The Smugglers Inn provide a full lunch and evening menu alongside our famous 'Farmers Feast Carvery' every day of the week. Situated in the beautiful town of Dawlish in Devon, you can expect to be surrounded by stunning panoramic views of the ocean and the surrounding countryside. A view that is not to be missed. We are also home to some of the best Real Ales and cider on the market including Dartmoor Legend, Teignworthy Reel and our guest pump which changes on a regular basis. We also have a full wine list and a fantastic variety of soft drinks. There is something for everyone. If you would like to book a table with us you can do so in a number of ways: - Telephone: We don't always get a chance to pick up the phone, so please leave a detailed message. We go through our answer phone messages twice daily. - Email: We respond to emails every morning. NB Please don't assume that your booking is confirmed until we have confirmed until we have actually called you back. Thank you.
PRICE RANGE
£3.00 – £18.00
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Free off-street parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly
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4.5
2,405 reviews
Excellent
1,630
Very good
444
Average
145
Poor
93
Terrible
93
Jazzy J
Poole62 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
Called ahead to make sure we could park up the camper for the night. Had a great meal pizza and a pie and a few drinks, great value, really friendly staff, made to feel welcome.....would definitely recommend as a stopover (with a meal) or just if you're passing. Lovely atmosphere. Thank you all
Written 29 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra M
2 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
We popped in on Sunday on the off chance they had a table free for walk ins and we got lucky, the lovely man behind the bar got us a table for 2. The carvery had options for small appetites to extra large appetites and the price was very reasonable. We both opted for the pork and it was the best pork we have had in years with the most amazing crackling. Our server Ruth was very welcoming and attentive. My husband was on crutches and they were very accommodating to help him. Thank you for a lovely lunch for his first day out in months.
Written 25 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Corrine
Bristol52 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
Wow The Carvery was absolutely amazing !
Roast potatoes were banging! really good quality fresh food all served hot and good value for money.
Service was the best we arrived early all 7 of us not realising that carvery didn’t actually start until 5.30pm but chef pulled the roast forward for the children so we could all eat earlier. Would definitely eat here again. Everywhere was spotlessly clean including the toilets and we enjoyed the meal.
Only improvement suggestion for me personally nut roast was made up of rice and nuts and dislike rice! Nicer either compressed vegetables and nuts or breadcrumbs
Written 7 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manager The Smugglers Inn
Glad to hear you had a nice dining experience with us during your visit, thankyou for the compliments on the food and the pub as a whole.
Hope to see you again soon for another pleasant dining experience.
Kind regards The Smugglers Team
Written 15 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emily
11 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
Food was excellent and the female member of staff that served us was excellent, but unfortunately the Manager treated us very badly.
After questioning why the free dessert couldn't be a Sundae (as advertised on their Facebook page) he just laughed and said "Misleading hey!" We said it was bad that they advertised it and he said "Well that one we don't even do" when showing him the post. We gave in as he said "It's my decision", 5 minutes later he came back and said we were being aggressive to him and we were not getting any desserts. We were SHOCKED!
We are all over 40, never ever had a situation like this and been there for years. I have worked in hospitality for over 20 years and the way he dealt with the situation was awful. We have been visiting for years, but won't be returning.
Please train your Manager in Customer Service and don't advertise desserts that are not part of the deal.
Written 17 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
costablanca2014
Alicante3 contributions
Jan 2025 • friends
We took a friend here for lunch. We have patronised this pub since it first opened 22 years plus. We were looking forward to a lovely carvery, which we all chose. All of the meats and vegetables were barely warm, bordering on cold! I called over the chef, who was tall and well built, no name badge. I commented on the food and he said he would check it. He tested all of the food with a probe and then adjusted the settings on the hot plates. He then came across and reported that one of the hot plates was not working. They should have known that when they set up for lunch. He was very brash and no apology given, he just walked away! A waitress came to our table and asked if everything was ok, she suggested I spoke to the manager. He said they were having trouble with the hot plates. I asked him to put my dinner in the microwave as it was inedible as it was. He said he would offer us complimentary coffees. We sat at our table long after we had finished eating and drinking. No member of staff asked if we wanted coffees or desserts, we were ignored!
The Smugglers Inn after 22 years of brilliant service and quality food was sold in May 2023 to South Devon Hospitality Ltd. Ever since then, the waiting staff and the quality of food has been far from satisfactory. Having visited several times since it was sold, regrettably this will be my last ever visit. To add insult to injury, their pricing structure does not reflect the quality of food.
The behaviour of the Chef, the inattentiveness of the staff, the manager defending faults rather than passifying us all added to the bad experience. If they knowingly had a problem with the hot plates, they should have managed the quantities better, ensuring our food was hot.
We were sat in the restaurant area, the rest of the pub was cold, smelt bad and on one of the coldest days this year, the woodburner was not lit, yet there were logs in the fireplace!! There were staff idle, so why were they not more attentive, why was our table which was reserved only partly set prior to our visit? Sloppy service by all concerned and for me it was the final strawer. I felt embarrassed for the friend who we took there.
It is very noticeable how customer numbers have fallen dramatically since being sold. Let's hope South Devon Hospitality Ltd wake up and restore this business back to its former glory.
Written 4 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard H
37 contributions
Mar 2024 • family
We have travelled down to Dawlish and stayed around the corner. I booked in advance and they situated my family and I, in the prime seat overlooking the sea and countryside. The views are wonderful.
We started off with some wings, along with pork belly as a side. The wings came out wrong, but they tasted great. The pork belly was tasty, crispy and melt in your mouth. Wonderful start.
For mains, my daughter (6 years old), had pizza, I had the Sirloin Steak and my fiancé had the carvery.
My daughter's pizza, looked fresh, but upon inspection towards the end of the meal, the dough was raw in the middle.
My steak was ordered Medium, it took nearly an hour to come out and unfortunately the steak was well done. I let the waiter know, he took it back to the kitchen, came out and said it is going to be a while as we have to make your order all over again. No apology.
About 25 mins later, it came out and this time it was Blue.
The carvery; the meats were 10/10. Great produce and cooked to perfection. The sides did however let it down, frozen Yorkshire puddings and reheated roast potatoes.
Upon paying for our food, the waiter asked how our meal was, which we fedback about the steak waiting time and how it came out wrong first time. The managers comment (male with glasses);
"The steak was cooked fine first time and we cooked it again as a 'goodwill gesture', so there's nothing else I can do."
I'm not looking for a freebie, but not even an apology, it's just really poor.
As a result we have avoided going back there for the rest of our break.
It's a real shame as the customer service, really let the side down.
(I will highlight the young waitress with blonde hair was very courteous and the service for drinks were very prompt)
Written 31 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manager The Smugglers Inn
Sorry to hear about you had a bad dining experience with us when you last visited. I can assure you this is not our normal standard of service and is normally a lot better then that.
Hope to see you again soon so we can prove that!
Kind regards The Smugglers Team
Written 15 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
chriswood11
Taunton30 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
i had a carvery, thought for the £16.95 price it was very poor quality . they only give 2 slices of meat, very limited veg selection. the gravy is not even homemade it is cheap gravy granules. the ham egg and chips was not very nice ever. found service to be poor and slow. they even pour water over the red cabbage.
Written 19 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dawlishtraveller
Dawlish255 contributions
Jan 2025 • friends
Visited this pub/restaurant so many times in the past, and had wonderful experience, and amazing food. However, it has recently changed hands.
So we decided to give it a try. First member of staff we encountered, a young lad was helpful and polite. When we had cause to speak to the manageress she was disinterested and dismissive.
The carvery vegetables, what I had been looking forward to, were a disgrace. Every single dish was swimming in oil/butter/grease. It was pooled in the bottom of each serving dish. The vegetables were ruined.
I decided not to bother, as it made us feel nauseous just looking. My friend just ordered a sandwich.
There is absolutely no need to put any kind of fat onto vegetables, let alone this amount.
Needless to say, we won't be returning, which is unfortunately a sentiment shared by a lot of locals.
Written 7 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fettywraps
Gretna Green14 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
So thoroughly disappointed! We have eaten here for many years from both the menu and the carvery, having seen the recent reviews we thought we would give it the benefit of the doubt, surely the new management couldn’t have ruined such a lovely place so quickly, unfortunately we were wrong and they have! Many favourites have been removed from the menu and you are left with only a few (expensive) dishes to choose from. We eventually managed to find the children’s menu, for some reason fish, vegetarian and smaller appetites follow puddings and coffees!! My partner ordered the ham, egg and chips, my daughter small appetite sausage and chips and myself small appetite chicken goujons and chips and a side of garlic bread. After an hour of waiting (we were not told of a wait at the point of ordering) of the very few chips given even less were edible in any of the plates, the egg on the ham, egg and chips was raw and more fat than meat on the ham, the sausages over cooked, at least the goujons were ok. It was pot luck as to weather you got a cooked slice of garlic bread or not. Not only was the food over priced and to be honest virtually inedible, they have taken out any palatable lager. The cutlery was filthy as were the tables in the garden, few were cleared and when they were they were never completely clear, always leaving some debris and not once was a table wiped, there are multiple cigarette butts on the grass, not particularly conducive to a nice family atmosphere. The owner was heard slagging off customers in the restaurant with absolutely no regard to who could be listening. Until these current managers leave we will not be coming back.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Geoff N
Walsall9 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
Extremely disappointed, food appeared to be microwaved. I ordered Steak and Ale Pie, the pastry was tough and stodgy, as if it had been reheated in a microwave, my wife had Hunters Chichen that she said was "all right" at £17.00 each meal it should be more than just "all right". Needles to say we will not be eating there again, which is as pity as we only live 10 minutes walk away.
Written 22 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
willhawkins
62 contributions
Dec 2023 • family
We had pre booked a Christmas dinner for nine of us and were required to pay a deposit, followed by full payment before the meal. Why a credit card number couldn't have been taken is a mystery. The pub had details of the courses we had ordered but we still had to wait almost half an hour before the starters were served. One our number had not ordered a starter but changed his mind only to find they could not provide one. Why not?
There were no decorations up in the dining room, which rather spoiled the atmosphere. They had my favourite cauliflower cheese in the carvery veg, but some of it had thick stalks which were not cooked enough. Similarly with the roast parsnips. The roast potatoes were not great, not roasted enough. The carvery food had been on the hotplate for too long and was not particularly hot.
The cutlery for the starters was taken from a separate table and given out individually to those of us having starters. Why did the waitress not put them on a tray and bring them all over at the same time? This comes down to poor training.
The service by our waitress, Kira, was very good.
Written 5 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bear
Dawlish11 contributions
Nov 2024 • friends
Well done Team Smugglers for putting on free fireworks and entertainment for your first Smuggle Fest. Great to see so many people enjoying the evening. The queues for food and drinks were very long but the staff remained cheerful under stressful conditions and provided service with a smile. Served by Keira just before the firework display when the bar was packed with waiting customers, most of who were in good spirits, and could see how hard the Smugglers Team were working. Well done on you first Smuggle Fest and looking forward to Smuggle Fest next year.
Written 5 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Relax52565544308
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • couples
My wife and I live in Poole Dorset but once a year stay for a week in Dawlish. We love it here . One place we always go to eat during that week ( several times in fact) is The Smugglers Inn. We have always had a warm welcome there and the carvery is a joy and amazing value . The atmosphere is warm and friendly and the staff are attentive and friendly , nothing is too much trouble . Our waitress last night ( Ruth) epitomises The Smugglers customer care being friendly and professional and doing everything apart from paying the bill 😆😆which by the by was fantastic value for such lovely food . We will always make it our go to Restaurant when we are lucky enough to be in Dawlish.
Written 4 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andy x
Bristol26 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
We’re a local family who have used the smugglers lots of times over the years and have always enjoyed a decent pub meal here with a warm welcome, not the case this time, waited well over 40 minutes for below par pub food, overcooked frozen chips that were inedible and cold. Very fatty ham, dirty cutlery, pathetic portion sizes for the newly inflated prices & cigarette butts in the grass under the tables, no check back by staff to give us the opportunity to mention any of the above. Shame as we only live 5 minutes away and would have used this place more in the winter. Staff behind the bar were absolutely brilliant mind you. But won’t bother again unfortunately.
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnetteG0509
Birmingham44 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
As a family we have been going to the Smugglers Inn for many years on our visits to Devon. Our latest visit on our Anniversary wasn’t up to its usual standard. I now read that it is under new management, it says it all! The menu has had favourites removed and an XL carvery added, the standard carvery used to be sufficient but now they can charge more I suppose. Where has the home made cottage pie gone? The staff seemed forgetful and the meal took forever to arrive (I think it had been missed) Such a shame as we took someone with us who we had raved about the place to. Please consider putting the menu back to how it was.
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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