Pub with fair access, serving food with outdoor seating overlooking Dawlish Brook
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: September 2018
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
Friendly, traditional pub on the main street in Dawlish, which serves delicious food. The outdoor seating overlooks the Brook.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The outdoor seating in front of the pub is step free and consists of fixed picnic tables and benches. Entering the pub involves a single, small, low step and 2 sets of double doors, which were slightly tricky to negosiate with a crutch. Inside there is a central bar at standing height. There are free standing tables and chairs,which are quite close together. On the evening I visited it was busy and it was slightly difficult to get to a free table. The pub is on the ground floor. I didn't notice any upstairs seating.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
The pub is a level 5 minute walk from Dawlish Railway Station. The station has step free access to platform 2, with trains heading towards Exeter/ London. Platform 1 with trains towards Paignton/ Torquay is accessible via a railway bridge with stairs only. However through Special Assistance they can arrange and accompany you to cross the railway line. I found the special assistance excellent at Dawlish Station. There are local, step free buses that stop nearby.
Accessible Toilets
0I'm sorry I'm unable to comment as I didn't use the toilets, but there are 2 accessible, public toilets within a couple of minutes walk, although the nearest is closed of an evening.
Staff
Good
Staff were friendly and welcoming. Food was ordered at the bar and then served at your table. As a solo traveller with a visable mobilty disability I found it difficult to get from my table to the bar due to the seating layout. It would have been nice if the bar staff had been a bit more proactive and more disabled aware by maybe offering me table service, and as a result of that after having my main course I decided not to go up to the bar and back again to order a dessert or more drinks as it was a bit of a hassle to ask 2 or 3 tables if they could move so I could get through to the bar, so I just left. This is a very personal observation and it wouldn't stop me going back to the pub again, it would have just been helpful. Next time I'd try to arrive earlier so I have the option of more free tables and pick one with earier access to the bar.
Additional Information
The food was really delicious and the portions are huge. The pub felt welcoming and safe for me as a solo female customer. In Dawlish there are very few eating places open on Monday evenings serving food. I will certainly return next time I'm in Dawlish.
