The Crabshell Inn in South Hams - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

We’ve been coming to the Crabshell for about 4 years every summer and we love it. We booked a table for our first night in Devon this year and I’m very sad to say it has changed. The menu is much more of a generic pub menu than it used to be. Not nearly so much seafood (ironically enough). They’ve ditched the delicatessen and had a DJ blasting out tunes at 6 in the evening. Fine for later but it was mainly young families. Appreciate that some might like that, but not what it used to be. We found out since that it has been sold to a pub chain, so I guess that explains it. Very sad.

First time visiting this restaurant this bank holiday weekend. Had lunch on Saturday with my Husband, not that impressed with the staff felt as though they were not interested in taking our order too busy chatting to each other! Ordered the crab sandwich which came very quickly and makes me think it is pre made and the bread was slightly hard again as though it had been made earlier. Husband’s baguette was mediocre salad was gritty so obviously not properly washed. Drinks were London prices good selection of wines & beers. Lovely location on the river. Would I go again possibly give it one more try.

Been here a few times and generally good .. nice bar staff coping well with busy times. The food is mostly good but we were there last night and the salad leaves had not been rinsed and it was very gritty and perhaps I should have asked a waitress to sort it but then it was late so didn’t. Wasn’t just my salad another person’s was the same .. shame as it doesn’t take much to wash a salad!

We’ve visited the crab shell numerous times for the past 10 odd years, mainly because it has a GF option for my son. Since we came last year, it’s gone downhill. The restaurant itself is lovely. The staff are pleasant and friendly but the food has definitely gone downhill….. the pizza I ordered was that thin that as soon as it started cooling down was like a large crisp. My sons child’s fish and chips tasted like salt and not much else and my other sons child’s pasta meal tasted like it had just been mixed with passata, no flavour whatsoever. I feel like we’ll go elsewhere from now on.

We were on holiday for the week in Kingsbridge, staying in a small cottage. In order to cut down on costs, we took packed lunches on days out and cooked our own meals in the evening. However, we decided that we would 'push the boat out' and eat out on the last evening. After lots of research, we settled on the Crabshell Inn. It definitely looked like the loveliest place to go and crab would certainly be on the menu for both of us. We struggled to get a booking (which made us think that it must be a very good restaurant to be so popular) there was only 8.45pm left. We arrived at 8.30pm and were pleased to be able to sit at the table and order straight away. The food was mediocre. To be fair, we had had much better meals cooked by ourselves in the self catering cottage. The chips were cold. The crab linguine was lacking in flavour or excitement. I would love to know how much is cooked from fresh ingredients? We had our starter and main but then, as soon as the plates were taken away, we were presented with the bill. We didn't ask for it, no one asked whether we would like a dessert or not. We overheard another customer ask for a dessert and they were told that the kitchen was closed. If that's the case, then why accept bookings at that time?? We spent over £80 on a meal for two that promised so much and delivered so little. What a disappointing 'special' meal for the end of our lovely holiday. Just to add context, this is the first time I've ever written a bad review for anywhere. Come on Crabshell - you've got such a lovely location and lovely building - but you need to make people feel special, not like they're an inconvenience and you want to get off home.

Food was deliciuos it just we were expecting more seafood to choose from the meniu we just got 3 varieties of fish to choose off no prawns crabs or other seafood we did not see on the meniu. Overall nice cosy place to eat.

We had a brilliant lunch at the Crabshell. I booked in advance and sent a message to say we were coming with our three autistic and ADHD boys and it would be great if we could sit somewhere a bit quieter as they can be quite lively. Once we arrived we had a great table in the corner with a lovely view over the river. The staff were fast and friendly and the food was really good. It was my wife's birthday too and we don't go out to eat often as the boys find it a bit overwhelming. But this was a total success. There is parking but it fills up quick, but there are spaces a short walk away closer to town.

We popped in after visiting Garage rock beach. Would highly recommend a visit. Setting and the food lovely . Staff were very good and friendly too. Thanks 👍

Very tasty pizzas, great vibe by the water, cool staff, nice place to eat out, grab a drink and have a smiling time

Sadly an underwhelming experience. Overpriced, slow service, small portions and the food when it arrived was poor. Had to send back some elements.

Lunch for four in the sun, next to the Kingsbridge estuary. Coronation chicken, prawn baguette and crab sandwich all went down very nicely. Slightly on the pricey side but you get what you pay for 😎

Lovely birthday lunch for our granddaughter

Nice location beside the estuary particularly at high tide. Has a sun terrace. Reasonable food and the usual selection at the bar. A little pricey but decent food.

Absolutely stunning pub. Very peaceful and calming. Well worth a visit when you're in Kingsbridge.

Called in for a couple of drinks with my husband beautiful outdoor views on a sunny day friendly staff

Lively pub on the riverside, loads of space, people arriving on boats, covers band were playing on a Friday night, good pizzas and beers!

Delicious food awesome staff great views.

Great restaurant on the estuary. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and the menu is divine with options to suit any food mood! The kids' menu was especially 👌 with meals to satisfy even the most fussy eaters. The bar staff were excellent in recommending the best of local tipples. Great atmosphere for a relaxed family lunch.

Super position and lovely atmosphere.

Delicious food and very kind and welcoming staff. There were lots of noisy kids around but all round a great experience

Breathtaking views of the Kingsbridge Quay, it’s the perfect spot to unwind and soak in the natural beauty. The outdoor seating area is spacious and offers a lively ambiance that’s hard to beat. The drinks are reasonably priced, making it an excellent spot for both locals and tourists. The pizza is a standout—delicious and freshly made, as were the prawn starter and the squid starter. The staff are exceptionally friendly and knowledgable, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. We went when there was a live DJ set up outside, which made the outside very lively and sociable - but only added to the atmosphere. Plenty of space for families to get away from the busyness upstairs. Overall, a great place with great views, tasty food, and a fun atmosphere, The Crabshell Inn delivers on all fronts.

Insta vs reality moment for us sadly! Our last night in the area and I was after some pasta, we saw it was a special at the Crabshell from their Instagram so settled on here for dinner. After a 55 minute wait it arrived and was massively underwhelming. Can't complain about the staff who were willing to help, the setting is also lovely especially at sundown! Table next to us got pizzas and these looked great, plus came out after 15 minutes! Would recommend coming for drinks, pizza and atmosphere, maybe we just got unlucky with our choice this time

Lovely setting overlooking the estuary. We really enjoyed our lunch here yesterday. The band of waitresses were very attentive & helpful. We stopped off on our walk back from town for a drink & ordered a takeaway.

Excellent staff, very helpful and friendly, the food is to die for, as are the views, highly recommend

Very busy but under control...food tasty but not amazing...staff ok

I only came down for a drink, but food smelt exceptional and looked amazing, when I arrived to the bar I was greeted by a very nice blokes, I believe there names were jack joe and Luke they were very helpful in my drink choice and I couldn’t choose between one of there cocktails and they helped me choose a really nice one think it was called I <3 NY was very nice and looked amazing and tasted great ! Will definitely be making another appearance to the crabshell Yours sincerely sam pedrick

Very busy pub with excellent food. The service is excellent and very friendly

Great spot, atmosphere. Food was good. Staff super friendly. Get yourself there.

I had a really really good pizza and the service is sooo nice here and it is such a nice view and atmosphere and over all amazing.

On our first visit, the food was excellent so thought we'd return today, but what a mistake that was! Starters were great, however we then waited over an hour for our mains, which after we asked where they were, told it would be 5 mins... 25 mins later they finally arrived. Mushroom wellington didn't mention onions on the menu description, however onion was the main ingredient. Roasts looked good, however veg was hard, potatoes were leathery and only lukewarm and cauli cheese tasted like double cream, not a bit of cheese in sight. My main was refunded as I couldn't eat any of it, and then was offered a dessert on the house which I gratefully accepted... only for the rest of the party to receive their desserts and mine turned up when they'd finished. I understand it was busy, but to forget our mains (which I wish they had) then forget my comped dessert is just shocking. Sorry to say we will NOT be back.

Food is huge portions! Chips and dough from pizza is good. Fish tastes fresh. However use too much batter for the fish and the mushy peas tasted dry. Service was friendly but not readily available. Parking site is a good size.

Wonderfully positioned pub towards the top of the estuary with outside seating on the water. Food looked good and the place had a good vibe. Idyllic really and makes you feel at one with the world.

First time visiting The Crabshell Inn. Friendly, welcoming staff. We chose to eat outside, as it was a beautiful sunny day. The inside is just as nice. You order your food and drinks at the bar. Food came out quickly and was delicious. Will definitely return.

Very nice pub pleasant surroundings down by the river well worth popping in for food an drink most definitely will return if we're back in the area 😋

Definitely the best location for a drink whilst in Kingsbridge with fantastic views over the estuary.Great food and friendly service. Highly Recommend

Lovely place but cold ☕️ coffee

This pub has upped standards since bought by St Austell brewery. Food is excellent. Good range of beers. Serving staff need to be more sociable. Be prepared to have a good sized wallet!

Lovely views for a quick coffee stop

Great birthday meal. Good food and friendly staff. Definetely worth it.

Lack of service, leaves a lot to be desired. Such a shame 😕

We sat outside with a view over the estuary. My prawn sandwich was a bit tasteless but the others loved the food particularly the chorizo bites.

Food disappointing. Fish and chips were just ok but not worth the money. Soup starter …bland. Had a lot better and cheaper. .

Great place overlooking the estuary. Good choice of food which was great value for money. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and provided excellent service. Car park is not huge and spaces can be a bit tight.

Beautiful place, lovely staff, fantastic drinks selection, outstanding view. A must if you're nearby...

Great setting, great atmosphere, great staff.

Good food on a lively atmosphere. Staff very helpful

Inn on main road out of Kingsbridge, views of the estuary,small car park, had to park quite a walk away, food not bad,good quantity, nothing out of the ordinary pub food.

We had a beautiful lunch with family. Great views and amazing food. The staff couldn't do enough for us.

A wonderful location, unfortunately ruined by a complete lack of service. We ordered our food, the starter came out after 15 minutes, then despite tables around us having their tables cleared and food delivered, no-one came to our table, our plates sat there for 45 minutes. I went to ask when our main course would arrive and could someone please clear the table..15 minutes later..nothing..went back in and was told the kitchen had a lot of tickets...our table was then cleared but no food arrived..went back in and was told the manager was coming to talk to us..he never arrived..went back in 15 minutes later to be told it was being plated up...10 minutes later nothing had arrived..so we decided to leave...we got a refund (reluctantly given) and no apology. Its such a shame as it could have been a great experience, unfortunately there seems to be a complete lack of training and a General Manager lacking any sort of empathy when things go wrong. Great place for a drink but unless you have time to kill avoid the food. Also why have barcodes on every table linking to an app that you should be able to order through yet when you try and use it it doesn't list any of the tables you're sat at?

I'm not reviewing the rooms just the pub. It's gone really downhill. We have been coming for years and since being taken over it is rubbish. Talk about resting on your laurels! Yes the location is fabulous but that's not down to them, that's nature. Service is non existent. You have to do everything yourself - get a menu, get cutlery, order at the bar. Well on a fairly quiet Monday I still had to queue at the bar with 5 people in front and wait 10 minutes to order a drink (rather than enjoying said location). The prices they charge are top end and for that I would expect some service. The food was just average to poor. My wife had the driest burger ever. £19.50. Overpriced and under delivered. Shame. This used to be a regular spot for us either on the way to, or from, the beach, but sadly we will find an alternative.

Lovely food and wine in great location

Lovely coffee, pefect relaxisng spot, great staff, no longer doing cake.

Lovely spot, great staff. One of my fav places 🥰😍🫠

Lovely dinner with the mrs, pints bleedy gorgeous fresh from the tap and the young chap Marcel I think was his name provided impeccable service to us both thanks again for making it such a special evening for our 25 year anniversary

Enjoyable meal and drink with a da tasting outlook over the inlet

We came to celebrate our son’s birthday. We were only shown the adult menu and were not aware of a Childrens menu. We had a long wait of 1 hr in a midweek quiet evening. My son was so hungry at this point. Pizza bases were excellent but hardly any topping. I had a meat feast with hardly any meat on it priced at over £20. A mid week pizza meal cost over £80. The whole meal was pricey for what it was with slow service. Setting however was excellent .

May 2024 Sunday lunch - absolutely lovely. Moist veggie option. Succulent with a rich gravy. Dessert was sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. Sponge was light and not overly sugary - spot on. Plenty of seating on the terrace, inside and out by the river. Parking directly outside. Our service hosts were really good - polite, prompt and knowledgeable. Thank you Ollie for looking after us 😊

The food was delicious and the views over the river were amazing. There was an issue with one of our meals however the staff swiftly resolved the issue and offered us a refund to apologise. Excellent service despite being busy, would highly recommend!

The seafood sharing platter was the best we have had out of the three we have had so far on holiday. Would definitely recommend.

Friendly and comfortable. The fish and chips is excellent. Good choice of beer and nice atmosphere.

Lovely lunch at the crabshell. Fish and chips very nice. Didn't realise that it was under new ownership, so unfortunately no scampi on the new menu. Staff very friendly and helpful. Will visit again.

Amazing food. Great location. Service not bad.

Have always loved visiting The Crabshell, great food and staff. Keep up the good work.

Thank you so much for hosting our group of 16! We all felt wholly welcomed, looked after and the food was delicious!

Lovely family meal at Crabshell. Second time visiting. Seafood platter was tasty (more lobster butter fries please) and the kids were happy with their burgers and pizzas. Easily accessible and easy to park. Nice location by the water. Some reasonable white wines by the glass. More IPA options on tap please. We’ll be back.

Perfect location - only eatery in the area with evening sun. Good food, good service and reasonable prices

Great views, good location for visiting the area - nice flat above the pub/restaurant but you can hear the hubbub coming from underneath you (and the cleaners/deliveries in the morning)

ordered at the bar for two people they left one order out steak baguette and crab sandwich the steak came out and they didn't put my partners crab through so by the time it came out my steak was cold. plus £19 for a crab sandwich complete rib off!! considering they get a whole tub for around £15 or less

Very pleasant visit, view outside made it a fabulous treat

Fantastic pub. Great selection of drinks. The food is delicious.

I'm a local, not a tourist. Very blustery and windy last night, party of 5 arrived for beer/pizza. No availability in restaurant and bar tables full. Went to sit outside on covered terrace. Back inside whilst ordering drinks, a free table appeared in bar and I politely asked if I could take it (should've just sat down tbh). Waitress 'checked' and said it was reserved, so back outside into the dark windyness I trot. 5 mins later, another party outside directly alongside me note the empty indoor table, ask the same staff member if they can take it, and sure enough, now it's suddenly available and they head on in. Very poor show, and probably favouritism. Twas a very different story when my family spent a fortune on a wedding here last summer..... Very cliquey

The staff, service, food and the atmosphere are perfect. Every time we visit it feels like the staff care and value you as a customer. Vicky is amazing she is so good at her job and she has great people who also do work so well together the customer certainly feels as they are the most important people. They pizza is the best and we love going there as often as we can.

This used to be my favourite place to eat but really dissapointing to find they've changed owners. Menu is no different to any other pub menu now and expensive, without many allergy alternatives. The wine list has gone down the plug. Staff are lovely and great location but please bring back the old menu and while you're at it bring back the old owners.

Makes a difference knowing they have room for the many visitors to this estuary, well good.

The atmosphere was wonderful with stunning dining views. We arrived on Easter Sunday at 1630, to not be given a roast menu. After asking to see the Sunday menu we were told 'oh there isn't any roasts left, it's been SO busy today!' Disappointed is an understatement. There is nothing to indicate that roasts may run out on the website towards the end of service and of course it will be busy. Its Easter Sunday so a little more preperation espeically with bookings throughout the day might be worth looking into. We then continued to order, despite the slight dissatisfaction with not getting our Sunday roast and we were told by the waitress 'oh we don't have that either!' Despite the lack of comminication with the menu she was very friendly and attentive. Just unfortunately the bearer of bad news as we went to order. This could have been helped with a transparent apparach when we first sat down, with regards to what they had and didn't have on the menu.

Charlie was great! Thanks for a lovely meal.

A lovely birthday meal, excellent service

I attended with my family on the 13th February 2024 at lunchtime. We have visited on numerous occasions over the last 10 years when in the South Hams area of Devon. This time the food was good but not great, especially considering the prices charged. We also found that the food did not all arrive at the same time with nearly ten minutes elapsing between the children’s meals arriving and the adult meals being served. In a restaurant at this price point, this is unacceptable. Despite the food timing issue, the waitress that served us was polite, great with the children and had a kind manner about her. When I came to pay the bill, it quickly arrived on the table but the card machine was a long time coming. This proves problematic with regards to entertaining children of four years old. When it did finally arrive, I was presented with the option to leave a tip. The tip options on the card screen were 13%, 15% or 18%. At lunch times I still feel a 10% tip is adequate, even generous (call me old fashioned). The way the tiny card payment screen was configured however, made the 18% option look like 10%. I’m sure this is a clever ploy by the card payment provider or the restaurant, to try to squeeze a little more cash out of you and I fell for it, thinking I’d selected 10%. This made me feel cheated after paying an already large bill at what I once considered to be a reputable business. Our problems were not over. I arrived back at my car parked in the tight and awkward car park, to find that one of the other customers has collided with the rear bumper and kindly left without leaving their details. There was a white scrape from the offending vehicle left on our grey car. Having identified a security camera overlooking the car park, I returned to speak with the staff who were all young but polite and professional. They referred to their duty manager who was a male sat at the bar on the customer side looking very casual. He did not move from his seat but he consulted with them and I was then offered the details of the general manager, Gareth Head who was not present. I was told that the access to the cameras was only available through the brewery head office but Gareth would be able to deal with this on my behalf. I emailed Gareth on the same day and received no response. Three days later, I contacted Gareth by phone and he assured me that the brewery head office was looking into it. To this date, I have heard nothing and lost hope of any resolution. The Crabshell used to be a well run, honest feeling business that was good value and unpretentious. Unfortunately, like so many restaurants in the UK, it has now become a highly marketed, Brewery owned cash cow that when you scratch off the shiny veneer of upmarket interior décor, expensive food options and cocktail drink options, you find a business devoid of any moral compass with no interest in customer value. Beware this place. You’ll sit in a pleasant environment and eat reasonable food but they’ll fall a long way short if you require anything more from the business than simply eating and paying.

Love the setting, and a great deal of attention and detail has been put into the decor and layout.

Called in for coffee and cake… coffee tasteless, cake good. Took 15 mins to serve although the place was empty apart from the league of 20 year olds who seemed to be staffing it. None of whom seem to have the social ability to smile. Not even a thank you as we left. Had visited many times in the past and liked, but since the refurb, it now seems soulless and ‘trendy corporate’ in feel. Did have a table booked in a few weeks with family but thinking cancelling it now

We came here at short notice booked it at the last minute but I must say Ollie was superb always happy to help and engaging to his guests food is plentiful for its price also well done team we enjoyed ourselves

First visit Quick service Lunch including dessert We will be back Thanks

Fantastic food in a real destination pub in Kingsbridge. Lovely nibbles to start and all the mains went down really well with all the family. Not great weather on our visit but on a sunny day, this would be a stunning place to visit. Highly recommend

The meal was fine but I came here to comment on our server who was really brilliant! I really appreciate good service! Thank you

Lovely lunch in beautiful surroundings

Having been contacted by the new owners, I am updating this review to meet my latest experience of The Crabshell. For the last 7 years or so the crabshell has been out goto place for food and drinks, either by ourselves or with family. It has always been consistent, the original review is below. Since being taken over, the service has gone to pot. We visited with out two Sons for an early evening meal, and have not been back since. The service was appaling, no one could be bothered to take orders, assist with anything. Then, when the food came, only half was ready! 2 of us had most of the ordered meals, and it was 40 mins before the rest came out. By that point, our time was running out, the kids were past it and just wanted to go. We left what had just came out and two of us ended up eating at home. The staff, well they were all busy just sitting in the Deli, chatting, whoever was in charge was being loud and obnoxious. We couldn't get any answers as to why the food had this massive delay in coming out, no apology, nothing. We won't be returning after wasting our money. Shame Simon sold it, RIP The Crabby. Old review: "Always love a Crabby visit. Simon and his team never fail to make you feel welcome whilst serving a darn fine selection of meals and drinks. We have two younger children who are never made to feel like they shouldn't be there. In fact quite the opposite! No one should eat anywhere in Kingsbridge until they've visited here."

Lovely atmosphere and fabulous meal, right next to the river. Unfortunately cannot rate the rooms as I didn't stay there. However, the atmosphere in the restaurant was excellent

Lovely location by the water. Great welcome and attentive staff. Lots of options, including pizza, for a GF vegetarian! Very happy

Great pub and food. Our experience.was not so good as group of 4 blokes sat close by on roof terrace who were drinking slot and kept swearing and using inappropriate language for my family. Hopefully this was a one off. Good luck to the new owners.

Lovely establishment. Really good service and delicious food. Only ordered a few dishes to share with a group as a snack with drinks and the portion sizes were very generous.

Set along the Kingsbridge & Salcombe estuary, it's the perfect place for a meal or just a drink. The food is excellent and the service is perfect.

Lovely restaurant with great views, nicely decorated interiors and welcoming staff. Fish and chips were light and delicious! There's a small car park which was full when we were there but there was other off-street parking we were able to find nearby.

Myself and my husband had an evening meal and the service and the food was exceptional! We also had our 2 dogs with us that they couldn’t have done more for

Absolutely beautiful location, with the estuary right on the door step it makes for a really nice waterfront lunch or dinner. The staff are all bubbly and very friendly... as someone not from the area I always felt welcomed here 💃 and the pizzas really are something to write home about !! As well as the cocktails. Definitely on the bucket list for my next visit to Devon

Terrible service, complained told that the manager would come to us but didn't. Menu very poor and expensive.

Ate at The Crabshell last night, first time since their long-overdue refurb, & it didn’t disappoint. The refurb is really lovely. It’s warm & welcoming & the decor has improved immeasurably. There were plenty of staff & the place was packed. The menu has also improved & we had a great meal. We will definitely be going more often now.

I had the bouillabaisse which was plentiful and tasty. The new refurbishment looks incredible and the staff as always were exceptional. Well worth a visit! Fish normally comes with chips but the wife fancies fries! The views of the estuary are lovely too!

My wife and I have just enjoyed a wonderful lunch here. The food was lovely, beer great and the service couldn't have been better. They even gave our little girl a Christmas gift as we left. We will definitely be visiting again soon.

What a brilliant evening from start to finish! Staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable, especially Liv and Millie who served us. Great atmosphere and delicious food. We'll definitely be back. And a big thank you to Alice the manager too!

It’s not a hotel, just great pub food right by the quay side. Good service too. Highly recommended.