The Start Bay Inn in South Hams

Great late lunch with family, biggest haddock I have ever seen. Had that locally caught ling, calamri and my wife just cheesy chips. All with crispy fresh batter, chips golden but soft inside. Even cheesy chips were top, 1/2 chips, then cheese, more chips and topping of more cheese. All top quality, even the ice cream and with nice pints of Otter, bitter & ale on tap. Great way to end off long walk on the beach. You won’t be disappointed..

We’re here again for the week and always come to the start bay inn, fantastic cod and chips and a delicious prawn sandwich, would recommend to anyone who visits Torcross ,

Famous for its fish and chips apparently so had to try them whilst in Devon for a few days. And yes, they were excellent. We went for the haddock and it was delicious. Great atmosphere, very busy, and staff were all very friendly. Would go again if in the area.

Yeah, visited, not impressed, waited, left, won’t visit again, shame, expected more than being sent to the back room for dogs and then ignored

We just love this place. We have been coming to Torcross for over 15 years and the Start Bay Inn has been a constant of excellence. How a pub should be run. Great team and owners.

Had chicken goujons and scampi and chips plus bread on the side. All cooked beautifully and delivered quickly to our table. Sat outside on benches with lovely view of sea too. Had ice cream ( whipped) for afterwards, also really good.

Went for a walk on the beach and decided to stop here for an evening drink, saw the menu and decided to eat here aswell. A good choice of food including vegan options and very good size portions. The medium fish and chips was huge, and the vegan chilli was delicious.

My experience was horrible. Went in with my dog , looked a bit like a cafeteria but ok and the menu was pleasant enough but nothing special. It was really horrible weather outside, pouring with rain. We had come from Dartmouth and my dog was really thirsty . We had hired a place here in Slapton sands for 3 weeks . The elderly blonde waitress informed us that we could not pour water into a bowl for our dog . We left and will not return due to her behaviour

We have been visiting for fish and chips for many years and still recommend as the very best in the South Hams area - first choice every time !

Dinner on a very busy Sunday evening. The place was packed. Put our name down for a Dog friendly table and sat at the bar waiting. It was well worth it. I had a medium Haddock & Chips. The portion was massive and tasted lovely. Best Fish & Chips I’ve had for ages. The staff were first class despite the fact they were rushed off their feet. Highly recommend.

Very friendly pub, right on the water. No reservations but we didn't find that a problem on the three nights we dined here during our week (plus one takeaway) as the staff are so helpful. Highlights were the fabled fish and chips (for my wife) and the standout dish for me was the seafood platter which at £25 was great value, so much so that I had it two nights. One night I chose the fishcakes and thought them a little overcooked and was disappointed with the takeaway burger but otherwise I recommend this pub wholeheartedly.

You can’t come to the Devonshire coast without sampling the delicious seafood and we knew this was the restaurant to go to. The Start Bay Inn is a lovely thatched pub/restaurant right on the seafront with just a walkway between the establishment and the beach and sea. It has lots outdoor seating with a serving area for those prefer al fresco dining. The inside of the building keeps with tradition with lots of quirky rooms. We ate in the bar area which was buzzing and full of atmosphere. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My husband chose the seafood platter from the specials board, and it was truly amazing. There was so much seafood and salad on his plate it would be difficult to describe it all. I stuck with traditional fish and chips, the cod was enormous, beautiful white fish and gorgeous crispy batter, fabulous chips and a healthy’ salad. Unfortunately there was no room for dessert but the ones we did see coming out from the kitchen looked superb and served with clotted cream if requested!!! We can throughly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the area.

Service for meals very quick . Meals are fresh . Waitresses very pleasant . Normal run of the mill pub grub . When we asked to see the Dessert menu , the waiter asked us to get us to get up and have a look in the cabinet ! When the table next to us asked , the waitress politely brought the menu over to them . Maybe the waitress needs to give the waiter more pointers on good service to paying customers.

Walked from Strete on the hottest day of the year, so we needed a cold beer once we reached Torcross. Sat inside out of the sun. Pub was busy but most people were outside. Had a Jail Ale each. Perfect pint, well served at the right temperature. Had a Mr Whippy style ice cream (a 99) from their serving hatch for £3.40. Mastercard cards accepted.

Another visit to this fine eatery just by Slapton Sands. Sylvia first came here just at the end of the 1939-45 War… many visits since. Just checking haddock and chips up to standard!!!

Pros: • friendly & efficient service • their own bitter’s worth a try • very clean • lovely piece of mackerel to start with • tremendous large haddock & chips for main course * my family can also recommend the scampi and cheddar ploughman’s • great value for money Cons: • the area where you can take dogs is functional rather than cosy, though you can perhaps understand why. N.B. When they said it was a large haddock and chips, they weren’t messing about. I don’t remember having such a large portion elsewhere and the same could perhaps be said about my son’s scampi and chips. They were both fabulous but we couldn’t have faced a dessert for love nor money afterwards.

Re - visited the pub after many years to find the fish and chips as good as ever. Over the years we have eaten here many times and never been disappointed. Friendly staff, quality product, reasonable prices with good service make this place a pleasure use. Thankyou and keep up the great work.

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.

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!

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 .

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.

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 :)

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Lovely restaurant/bar for a casual lunch. We had mains of calamari and monkfish in garlic. Lovely portion and reasonably priced. I needed help with the calamari, no extras needed. Local cider was a great addition

The staff where very welcoming and friendly, offered us table service or we could go to the bar ourselves, food really good quality and good value if your in Slapton sandx its worth a visit, it's the best vusyomer service we have gad since arriving

Had a lovely meal here last week. We came early so no problem to get a table at 6pm (although it did fill up while we were there). The pub is in a lovely location right on the beach with its own car park though the public car park is just across the road it that’s full. The pub has two distinct areas - carpeted area next to the bar and a hard floor area which is designated as dog friendly - and everyone had a dog except us. Staff were friendly and service overall was quick. There is a printed menu to look at and a blackboard with the days specials (changes essentially with the availability of the different fish they could serve). My Mom and I ordered the fish and chips and I had a portion of mushy peas. The fish was cooked to perfection and a nice crisp batter. The fish (so often cooked poorly in my opinion) were really good and obviously just cooked. My wife had the seafood platter which had a good selection of crab, prawns , clams etc and a nice salad accompaniment . I thought the price of the meals was about right for the quantity and quality of the food. We left feeling full and content

We stayed locally and found this pub on the first day and returned everyday for food and a drink on the way back. This is an amazing place the fish and chips were the BEST would highly recommend and the staff were so polite and friendly. Opening times are great you can get food and drinks every day brilliant service thank you 👍

The pub is well run, the staff are friendly. It was very busy , but no one seemed to wait for anything. I ordered the grilled Brill I very much looked forward to it. I was however disappointed that what was served was certainly not...

Called in on a grey dull Saturday lunchtime. We chose the fish and chips, I had the small portion, fish lovely but could only eat half of the chips. Hubby had the medium F&C and struggled, would love to see how big the large portion...

This is a very busy pub that serves excellent food but at the expense of good service. Order through a hole in the wall where the staff don't even look at you, 45 minute wait for food, dirty tables, staff who are too busy even...

Wonderful food served quickly by friendly, efficient staff on a busy early evening, who had to put up with one very rude, stupid customer; hats off to them. We come here every time we're down this way and will continue to do so. Thanks

Beautiful setting by the long beach. Quick friendly service and free parking!! Plenty of comfortable seating indoors in this historic Inn!!

Myself and my partner came here for a little bite to eat. We ended up having just chips which were very nice. We ordered from a little hatch outside and waited around 10-15 minutes for our food. The food was lovely and fresh if we...

We visited twice during our holiday in Devon. Max served us the first time and Will and Lou the second time. The food is excellent. What stands out as well is the service. Friendly, Professional and Efficient. Not so many places that get it right...

The fish was very nice, the portions are a good size and great value. The staff are friendly and attentive. A pub/Restaurant with a good atmosphere..Definitely worth a visit.

We hadn't booked but they found us a table anyway. Gorgeous fish and chips, huge portions and swift service. Pretty awesome puddings too. Highly recommended.

Brought a friend for fish and chips after saying how good it is. Sadly not today. Perhaps should have had the medium haddock instead of large cod as First mouthful was full of bones and she had to pick through the whole thing to eat...

I guess it didn't help that the day was bucketing down with rain. The food was good enough. We didn't try the cakes which looked nice. They require you to pass over your card as soon as you get there. I guess they've been bitten...

Absolutely brilliant meal had rump steak done to how I like it and fish & chips amazing the staff are lovely nothing to much trouble thank you very much to you all 😊

Beautiful old thatched pub by the sea. Good Old fashioned menu with a couple of modern twists. We had fish & chips Tartare sauce home made HUGE portions SUPERB!

Very friendly polite staff and really great food. Everything was cooked fresh and there was plenty of it. We chose medium portions with sides of either bread and butter, mushy peas or salad and there was so much food. Very reasonably priced considering the location...

I was taken here for lunch by friends that have visited in the past. Service was good and the food was also good as pub lunches go.

Popped in this evening for dinner and the food was exceptional! The fish was freshly cooked and full of flavour, I had a lovely salad with a great dressing also. My friends had fish and chips and the chips were also fresh and tasty! Great...

Fish and Chips is a meal so easy to churn out and get wrong but this was superb. Beautiful cooked and presented, it was a delight. The venue was clean and the staff efficient and cheerful. Excellent.

Lovely fish meal the at The Start Bay Inn. The gurnard fish course was lovely. Scallops starter was good too. Service was really good. We were staying in a tree house of all things a mile or so away, so had no power. But the...

Been coming here for more than thirty years. Happy to say, unlike quite a few places in Dartmouth, this pub has maintained a constant standard and is now one of the best value places around. Simple food, fresh, good quality and competitively priced in a...

Restaurant/ pub aan de kade met uitzicht op zee. Eenvoudig goed eten met ruime porties. Medium fish & chips is...

We were staying close by so had a couple of meals here. The first evening I had the veggie burger and my husband had fish and chips. Both thoroughly enjoyed our meals! We then returned another evening and I had the Thai red vegetarian curry...

Tried getting a takeaway. Place is quite big inside and very busy. They couldn’t cope with doing takeaway as well. Incompetent staff who can’t take an order correctly. Takeaway order goes to back of queue of everyone in restaurant. Left after nearly half an hour...

Whilst camping at Slapton caravan site, we called in here almost daily. Twice we had lunch on the benches outside - great food and good sized portions at a reasonable price. They have a good range of beers, and cider. Lovely place to sit out,...

This is one of the best fish and chips we have had in a long time. My husbnd and i sat outside facing the beach. We both ordered cod and chips. Food was fresh, tasty, white meaty fish with light batter. Could not fault the...

Good fresh food as ever, and lovely friendly staff, but toilets are badly in need of an upgrade/deep clean. Good idea to hold cards in safe for running tabs.

My wife and I had a lovely day out in Torcross . And was recommended the fish and chips at this establishment. I asked if the fish would be boneless and the standard reply you get everywhere, it should be , but you might find...

I recently purchased a prawn mayo sandwich and chips to eat out. Very very disappointing, the chips were far too undercooked and really stodgy. The prawn sandwich was flavourless and the mayonnaise was watery, I expect much more for £8.50. In fact you’re better off...

Sad to say it’s not as good as it used to be. No cod available only haddock. My local chippy always has good. The specials board was very disappointing. Hake in batter or wich sole. They used to have bream, brill, monkfish, gurnard, bass all...

Found this place with no expectations as hadn't researched prior to visit, but very pleased and delighted with choice on menu. None of us are what you'd call small eaters, we were actually pretty peckish but chose mix of starter and child portions, gladcwe did...

I had scallops and chips which I recommend. It’s a friendly place with outside seating by the sea wall. There is an extensive menu not just fish and chips. They have specials. It is a pub with open fire and friendly ambiance. Good choice of...

We were quite a large party and the young staff were so amazing at looking after us. Food came out perfect and promptly. All the fish meals were beautifully cooked and delicious, and they accommodated our 4 young grandchildren superbly. We have been coming here...

This little thatched roof pub sits right on the ocean front in a beautiful little town of Torcross on the south coast between Brixham and Plymouth. We had the best fish and chips since arriving in the UK from Australia.

Friendly staff nice atmosphere. Small bar area. Busy venue for fish and chips and local ice cream I did not eat here.

Amazing location right on the seafront of Slapton sands. Had the legendary Fish and chips . Really good giving you size options as even the small is a decent size, Uber fresh fish and spot on chips. Get there early as always busy

Best ever fish and chips, really !! Small haddock and chips for a quick lunch, perfect. Lovely staff, service with a big smile.

We had excellent takeaway food from here three times during our holiday in Torcross. Delicious fish & chips, sausages, chicken and calamari.

This place is so good! The food was amazing and the customer service was excellent. Myself and my husband both ordered the cod and chips which was incredible! The price was really reasonable too! Would absolutely recommend if you’re passing.

Absolutely banging fish and chips at the Start Bay Inn, Slapton sands, Only complaint, need a bigger plate. 🤪🤗

I had the prawn cocktail and the pea fritters. The food was average but the service was 5 stars 10/10. The lady with the blue hair was very attentive.

Great friendly pub in Torcross. Great food and plenty of it, great service and clean and comfortable - what is not to like! Good veggie and vegan options too. Best side salads we've ever had!

We have been coming here for years but this visit was a disappointment. No cod available, probably not their fault but what has happened to the plates? They have shrunk, I wouldn't serve a first course on them! No room for many chips either. Service...

Lovely restaurant, been coming here for years on holiday, and never had a problem. Hopefully it stays busy and wish the business all the best.

Ate there twice in mid-Nov. Really good fish, including stuff you don't often see like ling. Friendly staff and decent pint of Badger and Proper Job.

Ok but won’t go back. Couldn’t sit in the bar because we had a dog !!! Not sure why,but hey ! The room we where in is could do with a revamp, very poor it like a kids room you would have to go to...

Visiting for just one night, popped in for a quick meal, ended up staying for a few hours. Food was terrific (haddock piping hot with excellent batter) scampi was great and chips were perfect. Service was nicely attentive and quick. Atmosphere was so nice -...

Superb location, staff very helpful and food excellent ! One of the better crab sandwiches I have enjoyed. Kids and adult meals good value

We took our business elsewhere when we were told by a young member of staff that kids are not allowed to sit in bar even though we were there to eat.

We've been here before and have always been very impressed. The difference this time was that we were allowed to take our dog in. We will return.

I just loved it so much at The Start Bay Inn that we ate there two out of three nights of our holiday. Gluten free catered for, kids happy and the tastiest crab I have ever had in my life!

The food here was outstanding. A local had recommended the fish and chips, they did not disappoint. There was a choice of fish on offer, my daughter had the cod, my husband the gurnard. The portions were generous and everything was beautifully cooked. I had...

We visited for lunch having been told there was a gluten-free menu for a member of our family who is a coeliac. When we arrived, we saw a sign that no chips were available gluten-free as a fryer was broken. We were given a menu...

We ended up at this waterfront place after telling our English friends were in the mood for fish & chips with mushy peas. They live in nearby Dittisham and they chose this place. It was just what we were looking for. Huge platter of perfectly-made...

We visited the Start Bay Inn pub to get some takeaway fish and chips. It was handy that you could choose the size of your fish rather than having a massive piece of fish like you normally would expect from a takeaway. The fish itself...

Haven't eaten here for sometime but this place never disappoints. The pub has a lovely atmosphere, the fish and chips were delicious, perfectly cooked and the service was friendly and excellent. It's in a stunning location, prices are reasonable, would definitely recommend, looking forward to...

Absolutely stunning fish and chips. Stumbled upon the Inn last night and with having a dog we found them really accommodating, friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Word of warning - Go Hungry as portions are very large! Fish extremely fresh but the batter...

Great place to eat or meet friends Good selection on menu. The fish and chips are really good. They do a loyalty card which you get stamped when you have med or large fish and chips after 8 stamp you get free fish and chips,...

We stopped here at the end of our walk back from start bay lighthouse and was treated to the most delicious fish & chips. We ordered at the hatch and sat outside in the sunshine. I had the haddock which was large - they advise...

Not particularly a fish & chip/ seafood fan but having read the positive reviews thought we’d walk down to try it in the rain…Very disappointing: not quite the worst fish & chips we’ve had but not far off… Cod was very thin with slimy skin...

Came here a few years ago and the food and service were great, fast forward and I’m not quite sure what has happened. Visited on 2 consecutive nights (Saturday and Sunday). The Saturday was ok, we had fairly quick table service, everyone ordered fish and...

Stopped here for some takeaway fish and chips, the wait on food was over a hour long, which is understandable as it is august and the place was full of people wanting to sit in the sun or on the beach. So we decided to...

Lovely fish and chips from the take away, had to wait quite a long time but they were worth the wait

It used to be good, not anymore. Barely any salad, chips that taste frozen and microwaved, bones in the (subpar) fish, absolutely no carbs and little salad for the one of us that didn't order chips. Service so slow that we left without dessert, after...

This is the place to have seafood, amazing starters we had smoked mackerel and prawn cocktail then main meal seafood platter and I had a steak I should have had fish !!! Steak was ok with pepper corn sauce the fish looked amazing never mind...

This place is a must as is Torcross if you are in the area. Gorgeous village, very child and dog friendly. Wonderful local pub, great grub, great beer, great staff! Thanks ! 😊