Look for a white three-storey building with bright blue trim and golden dolphins above the door, right on the Barbican-its sign hangs invitingly, reading "The Dolphin Hotel."
Welcome to the famous Dolphin Hotel-never, ever call it the Dolphin Inn, unless you want the regulars to give you sideways looks! Standing here, you’re in the presence of pure Plymouth history. Just imagine: this pub, with its tall, plain walls topped by a slate roof and a chunky blue trim, has seen more stories than a pack of old sea dogs. If you peer up at the white plaster above the door, you’ll spot dolphins swimming in relief-though I’m not sure they’ve ever served fish fingers to the real thing.
Now, step inside with your imagination. The fuss-free wooden floors creak, and there’s the mellow smell of cask ale poured straight from the barrel-draught Bass, the pride of the pub. It’s the kind of place where you expect to find poets scribbling away, salty sailors telling tales, and maybe, just maybe, a ghost from Plymouth’s past slipping in for a quiet pint.
Back in 1838, weary and worn out after exile, the Tolpuddle Martyrs-heroes fighting for workers’ rights-stayed right here as they returned triumphantly from Australia. At the time, a Mr. Morgan kept the bar, probably pouring them a celebratory drink and listening to stories that could make your hair stand on end.
The Dolphin also became famous through the eyes of the artist Beryl Cook, whose wild, joyful paintings were set right inside these walls. People with rosy cheeks, bursting out laughing, clinking glasses-Cook’s art made this no-frills pub the lively heart of Plymouth. Even the BBC couldn’t resist-though their animated comedy Bosom Pals didn’t exactly win awards, the voices of Dawn French and Timothy Spall echoed the Dolphin's lively spirit, starring the real landlord Billy Holmes as himself.
So whether you’re here for the history, the Bass, or the chance to eavesdrop on modern legends, the Dolphin Hotel is where Plymouth’s past and present swirl together. Just don’t ask for a trendy cocktail-you’ll get a story instead!
