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Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth

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14 The Barbican, Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2LS (View on Google Map)
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An unpretentious hostelry steeped in history, the Dolphin is a Plymouth institution. Up to 8 beers are dispensed by gravity straight from the cask, with Thatchers Cheddar Valley for those who like cider. The character of this establishment is charming, with tiled floors, well-used wooden benches, together with a real open fire, all adding to the ambience. The walls are adorned with paintings by local artist, the late Beryl Cook, who painted many of the characters she encountered in the Dolphin. Plymouth CAMRA City Pub of the Year Winner 2020 & 2022 and Runner Up 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023. The pub does not serve food, but you are welcome to bring in your own from nearby takeaways.

CAMRA Member Discount 15p/pint off real ale may be available here.

Historic Interest

Grade-II listed 1/5/75, exterior listed. List Entry No 138 6442, Legacy System No 473829. Public house. Early C19 with possible earlier core. Stuccoed front; slate mansard roof behind a tall parapet with a moulded cornice; 2 dormers and rendered end stacks. Deep irregular plan. 3 storeys plus attic; 2-window range. Horned sashes with glazing bars. Ground floor has segmental arch over late C19 stepped shopfront with 2-light central window with twist mullion and flanking doorways with panelled doors and plaster reliefs of dolphins above. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORY: reputedly associated with the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Information for this venue is provided by the Plymouth Branch of CAMRA
Previous Names
Local Authority
City of Plymouth (B)
Last updated
13/07/2025
Last surveyed
28/12/2024
Leasehold owner
unknown
Freehold owner
Heineken UK
Pub ID
PLY/A-01-41
Asset of Community Value

Early 19th century pub with good frontage including 'The Dolphin Hotel' and fishes picked out in stone. Note the 'OB' stained glass windows as this was an Octagon Brewery pub. inside it is now just one large room but two front doors indicate it was originally two rooms at one time but has been one room since the early 1950s. It has been run by four generations of the same family. It was extended to the front right in the 1970s by purchasing the former post office, a flat roofed building. In 2010 the red screeded/stone floor was replaced with slate looking tiles with new red and black quarry tiles near the bar at the insistence of 'the authorities'. It still retains a Victorian counter painted blue on the front. The bar back fitting is mainly a stillage with some shelving on the top of it and is also old. Inevitably a fridge has replaced a small part of the stillage. The stillage is protected by unique screens advertising Draught Bass dating from the 1980s when the pub was sold by Courage. Old dado on the walls on the left and the leatherette benches may be old. Note the lovely Victorian coloured glass on the door to the private quarters and the piano here is still played. The Tolpuddle Martyrs are reputedly to have stayed here - when they returned to England in 1836 they disembarked at Plymouth.

Early 19th century pub with good frontage including 'The Dolphin Hotel' and fishes picked out in stone. Note the 'OB' stained glass windows as this was an Octagon Brewery pub. inside it is now just one large room but two front doors indicate it was originally two rooms at one time but has been one room since the early 1950s. It has been run by four generations of the same family. It was extended to the front right in the 1970s by purchasing the former post office, a flat roofed building. In 2010 the red screeded/stone floor was replaced with slate looking tiles with new red and black quarry tiles near the bar at the insistence of 'the authorities'. It still retains a Victorian counter painted blue on the front. The bar back fitting is mainly a stillage with some shelving on the top of it and is also old. Inevitably a fridge has replaced a small part of the stillage. The stillage is protected by unique screens advertising Draught Bass dating from the 1980s when the pub was sold by Courage. Old dado on the walls on the left and the leatherette benches may be old. Note the lovely Victorian coloured glass on the door to the private quarters and the piano here is still played. The Tolpuddle Martyrs are reputedly to have stayed here - when they returned to England in 1836 they disembarked at Plymouth.

General information about historic pub interiors
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Monday
10:00am - Midnight
Tuesday
10:00am - Midnight
Wednesday
10:00am - Midnight
Thursday
10:00am - Midnight
Friday
10:00am - Midnight
Saturday
10:00am - Midnight
Sunday
11:00am - 11:30pm

TasteMatch

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Current beers

This Pub serves 2 changing beers and 6 regular beers.

Regular and recently seen

Dartmoor - Jail Ale TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Dartmoor Jail Ale Pump Clip
Dartmoor - Jail Ale Premium Bitter • 4.8% Spotted 25 times.
Dartmoor Jail Ale Pump Clip
Dartmoor - Jail Ale

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 25 times. recently. Last spotted 1 day ago at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4.8%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Draught Bass - Draught Bass TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Draught Bass - Draught Bass
Draught Bass - Draught Bass Premium Bitter • 4.4% Spotted 11 times.
Draught Bass - Draught Bass
Draught Bass - Draught Bass

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 11 times. at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4.4%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Premium Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Sharp's - Doom Bar TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar Session Bitter • 4% Spotted once.
Sharp's Doom Bar Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Doom Bar

This beer is served regularly and Spotted once. at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

St Austell - Proper Job TasteMatch Prediction

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St Austell Proper Job Pump Clip-2
St Austell - Proper Job Premium Pale Ale • 4.5% Spotted 10 times.
St Austell Proper Job Pump Clip-2
St Austell - Proper Job

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 10 times. at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4.5%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Premium Pale Ale
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Timothy Taylor - Landlord TasteMatch Prediction

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Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord Session Bitter • 4.3% Spotted 13 times.
Taylor's  Landlord Pump clip
Timothy Taylor - Landlord

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 13 times. at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4.3%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No

Sharp's - Atlantic TasteMatch Prediction

View beer
Sharp's Atlantic Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Atlantic Session Bitter • 4.2% Spotted 10 times.
Sharp's Atlantic Pump Clip-1
Sharp's - Atlantic

This beer is served regularly and Spotted 10 times. recently. Last spotted 1 week ago at Dolphin Hotel, Plymouth.

ABV 4.2%
Dispense Gravity, straight from the cask
Style Session Bitter
Colour
Vegan No
Gluten Free No
Changing

Changing beers typically include: Otter - Ale , Sharp's - Sea Fury , St Austell - Tribute

Source: Regional


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Facilities
Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
Real Fire Real Fire
Smoking Smoking
Features
Cask Ale Cask Ale
Real Cider Real Cider
Varies
LocAle LocAle
Joined 1/7/19
Cask Marque Cask Marque
Beer Festival Beer Festival
Easter
Member Discount Scheme Member Discount Scheme
15p/pint
Cask Marque Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating
Cask Marque: Beer and Cellar Hygiene rating 5 out of 5
Transport
Close to bus routes (5m)
Plymouth City Bus: 25
Closest station (1300m)
Plymouth

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