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Thistle Park Tavern, Plymouth

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user reviews of the Thistle Park Tavern, Plymouth

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

A bit out of the way and, as the Sutton Harbour footbridge has been out of action for ages, it's currently a bit of a trudge from the Barbican (20 mins at least to walk all the way around the harbour). As a result, it's worth the walk as most people can't be bothered to walk all that way. Pleasant staff and customers, good priced beer but possibly could do with a bit of a tidy up. Live music most Fridays & Saturdays. There is (apparently) a well regarded Thai restaurant upstairs. The South Hams XSB which we had was excellent.
Trequites - 10 Aug 2017 22:08
My experience was almost identical to that of pccmp17's all be it six years later!

I had high hopes for this place as it is in the good beer guide.
True enough it had a couple of decent ales on but other that just forget it.
The lady behind the bar was very odd indeed towards us and it was really quite off putting.
The place is more of an evening venue so was very quiet when we visited on a sunny mid week afternoon.

Oh and one more thing where the hell is this rooftop garden thing i keep reading about as the only outside area we saw was a dirty back yard filled with logs!

3/10
montie49 - 24 Sep 2014 19:07
Disappointed with beer quality, coming up cloudy.
Bar staff friendly enough, will try again if in town.
pwilkins - 19 Aug 2011 12:31
Visited here again last month after a long absence with a mate, we intended to start here and visit a few establishments in the city centre, we never got any further. The Sutton Brewery beers were as fantastic as ever, the pub seems to have been extended a bit, but essentially its still a bare wooden floored ale house, we liked the friendly but quite sweary barmaid too, its still one of those pubs that you could sink into for a whole day! Long may it continue.
Hodge1 - 1 Jun 2009 02:54
Always enjoy Brewery taps. The South Hams Beers were very good I enjoyed the Plymouth Pride the most.
As for the pub well it had a great atmosphere with each room being a complete contrast on the next but all still needing a bit of TLC. Well worth a visit.

trains2064 - 27 Mar 2009 08:38
Popped in recently on a trip back to Plymouth. I'm a local boy who moved away, and had never visited the pub, so I gave it a go on the back of the BITE reviews.

Admittedly I was there on a mid-week day, but I was the only person in the place, and I got the feeling that I wasn't at all welcome. The girl on the bar seemed to consider me a rude interruption to her telephone call. Another chap, who I took to be the Landlord / Manager, skulked around in the rear area looking miserable.

The South Hams beer that I had wasn't particularly spectacular, got the impression that it had been sitting in the pipes for far too long.

I love the decor and undoubted atmosphere of the place when it is busy - the Country needs to support this sort of Boozer and make sure it survives - but I got the impression on my visit that the staff just don't really seem to care.


pccmp17 - 5 May 2008 00:36
Once home to Sutton Brewery, it is still the tap for their beers now brewed as South Hams. Quiet when we were there, but I imagine it will be a lively pub in the evenings.
gillhalfpint - 15 Aug 2007 09:23
Have just opened a Thai restaurant at the back. Good if visiting the National Marine Aquarium as jsut a few yards from the car park. Live music most weekends
Ihateskimmers - 8 Apr 2007 19:17
As an update, I had to leave this pub after less than an hour recently. The overwhelming cloud of cigarette smoke drove me out of the door. Absolutely repugnant!
longhotsummer - 18 Dec 2006 13:00
Great pub. Loads of good beer. Friendly staff.
A bit shoddy looking but in keeping with the atmosphere.
Basically a proper pub.
woody42 - 3 Aug 2006 12:13
The only place I know in Plymouth, where you can get a selection of traditional, cloudy ciders. Almost everywhere else, all there is on offer is fizzy, chemical-ridden, mainstream muck. Good on it for that! Only real drawback - as with every pub - is the stench of cigarette smoke. ROLL ON THE BAN!
longhotsummer - 8 May 2006 12:08
Not bad for beer, bit of a skank-hole.
anonymous - 4 Jul 2005 01:45
This is without doubt the best pub in Plymouth. The range of draught ales is excellent, as are the obscure (and often unpronounceable) bottled beers. The ambience is very laid back during the week. Saturday nights usually boast a live band of some sort, and the place can be rammed as a result. However, since this pub attracts the more mature drinker, the atmosphere is friendly and sociable. That's the great thing about this place - you can have a chat with anyone. This pub is a haven in a world of chromed up mega chain bars.
gravedigga - 24 Apr 2005 12:53
Thank god for the Thistle. I think it's the only decent ale pub in Devon that stays open til 2 on a Saturday. Chilled, and usually pretty quiet on weeknights, unless theres a band playing. Unexplained paintings of Nadia Sawalha on the wall though.
Mel - 2 Feb 2004 01:13
Old-stlye pub, lively at the weekends (sometimes with live music). Rough n' ready but allways sell good range of real beers, including guest brews. Good for serious beer fans.
Steve - 30 Jan 2004 19:32
More than just the best real ale pub in Plymouth (City centre) but also good for live music and a late license at weekends. Brewery next door and idiosyncratic but v friendly Springbok landlord. If in the suburbs also try the Prince Maurice at Eggbuckland if you're into ale.
Joe C - 4 Oct 2003 18:15
The best real ale pub in Plymouth
Chris - 22 Sep 2003 09:27

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