Reviews - The Quay Inn

#22 - Seafood - North Devon, Vegetarian, Steak

Reviews summary

Nestled on the beachfront in Instow, The Boathouse offers a delightful dining experience characterized by stunning ocean views and a relaxed vibe. Diners rave about the diverse menu, highlighted by exceptional seafood dishes like the seafood platter and crab thermidor. While service experiences varied, many praised staff attentiveness and warmth. The dog-friendly atmosphere adds to its appeal, allowing guests to bring their furry friends along. Whether enjoying a leisurely lunch or a quick bite after a beach day, The Boathouse stands out as a must-visit culinary destination in the area.

Overall Total Score
4.3 out of 5
Impressive | 6674 reviews

Was Anonym at The Quay Inn a mag?

The boathouse has a fantastic location right on the beach and is dog-friendly. With balcony seating overlooking the ocean, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a drink or meal after a day at the beach. The service was good and the food was typical for the area. View all feedback.

What Shane Haigh dislikes about The Quay Inn:

The service was appalling. We waited 45 minutes for three breakfasts, despite there being only 10 other diners. When our meals finally arrived, they were incorrect! View all feedback.

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Reviews from various users

Google

Last update : 28.03.2025

4.6 ★ from 1 reviews
basserm55-maddocks
28.03.2025

Most favourite pub of ours, highly recommended. Price per person: £10–20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips

laura-twomey-4
28.03.2025

A good pub, didn't have food only drinks after a bike ride. They serve Sam's Cider from Winkleigh which is amazing, well worth trying. The poor chap behind the bar was on his own dealing with the entire bar and all the diners, so wait times were understandably a little long. Gorgeous views right by the beach/estuary. Price per person: £1–10 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes: English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Sunday Roast

ana-terra-azpilicuet-2
28.03.2025

If I could, I would give it no star. I recently moved to Bideford. Something easy to notice every time I walk around here and Instow is that I'm the only Latin around. Once, I decided to follow the Tarka, and after walking, I stopped at this pub. As soon as I entered the place, a big group sitting straight in front of the balcony (six or seven people) went utterly silent. That was uncomfortable already, but I was thirsty and needed a glass of water. So, I asked the young man for a lager and a glass of water. He filled the glasses and put them on the balcony. I reached my Amex credit card to pay for my order, but their machine couldn't accept my card. For me, it was not even a problem because I had my phone and could instantaneously transfer the money from my account to the pub account. I asked for their bank information, and the person serving me said they did not have an account! THE-PUB-DOESN'T-HAVE-A-BANK-ACCOUNT! All those people in silence who could quickly have helped me and accepted the bank transference I was offering to pay for what I ordered kept quiet. A lady washing the dishes beside the man came behind him, whispering something and could not even look me in the face. The young man then got both of the glasses back and preferred to throw the beer I ordered in the drain rather than give me the option to pay and consume my order. I had to ask the water to walk back because I was dead thirsty. He finally gave me the glass of water; I turned to the big group and calmly drank it whilst everybody insisted on detouring the looking, disguising the awful environment and everything that just happened before anybody's eyes. Did I mention I was the only black/Latin person there? Food: 1 Service: 1 Atmosphere: 1

jamie-uning
28.03.2025

Had a wonderful day good Excellent service second to none I would definitely recommend this pub Great Price per person: £10–20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5

alan-cosh
28.03.2025

5 runners running the south west coast path so hungry! Had food in this pub for 3 nights all 5 of us had great food every night highly recommend. Price per person: £20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4

Tripadvisor

Last update : 20.02.2024

4.0 ★ from 1981 reviews
terry4800
20.02.2024

This restaurant is absolutely outstanding. Situated directly on the beach in Instow, it offers a laid-back vibe along with stunning views, excellent service, and delectable food. Even though the weather was dreary during our visit, we happily spent three hours there and left feeling rejuvenated. It was the ideal way to savor a leisurely lunch. We shared four appetizers—Maldon Oysters, Whitebait and Crab, Scallops, and Atlantic Prawns—all of which were of exceptional quality.

louisehertfordshire
20.02.2024

Every time we visit Instow, we make sure to eat at this restaurant. The service is incredibly fast, and the food is both tasty and beautifully presented. Thank you! We will definitely be back next year.

Facebookpag

Last update : 25.12.2023

3.4 ★ from 12 reviews
matthew-epworth
25.12.2023

While football might not be everyone's cup of tea, for me, there's nothing better than ending the day with a cold beer and a delicious meal!

shane-haigh
25.12.2023

The service was appalling. We waited 45 minutes for three breakfasts, despite there being only 10 other diners. When our meals finally arrived, they were incorrect!

claire-scott-3
25.12.2023

Had lunch here a few times and it’s always delicious. Much more of a local vibe than the tourist centric larger places on the beach front and the food is much better! Steve and his team recently accommodated my fathers wake. Nothing was too much trouble, buffet was great, room upstairs was perfect for a small gathering and had gorgeous views, although the sun shone and we spent our time out on the quay, a beautiful setting. It was perfect, we were so well looked after. Couldn’t have wished for more or recommend any better.

angela-maddocks
25.12.2023

A welcoming local pub with delicious food and a dog-friendly atmosphere.

alan-sandford
25.12.2023

We have dined here several times at various times of the day, and each experience has been fantastic. The service is excellent, and the food is highly recommended. Be sure to try the menu and enjoy a drink or two. The view from outside is amazing as well. Overall, I would rate this place a perfect 10 out of 10!

Int Restaurants

Last update : 15.12.2023

4.1 ★ from 2348 reviews
benjamin-obrien
15.12.2023

If you're looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy a meal, The Boathouse in Instow is definitely worth a visit. The building is beautiful and the view is simply stunning, providing the perfect backdrop for your meal. While the breakfast and lunch menus may be somewhat limited in terms of options, the quality and flavor of the food are both good. While prices may be on the higher side for pub grub, the view and great taste make it worth it. The staff are also friendly and welcoming, making for an enjoyable overall experience. So, if you're looking for a great place to enjoy a meal with a view, The Boathouse is definitely worth checking out.

elizabeth-jarvis
15.12.2023

We visited the boathouse twice during our visit to devon. The first was a sunday roast on our arrival day as it was reccomended by a family member what a delight. The peach glazed gammon was amazing! We immediately booked to come again a few days later and had pollock and mussels off the specials menu. The curry sauce that the mussels came in was divine. We also ordered the miso corn ribs both times as they were so good! Lovely staff, lovely resturant.

lydia-goodfield
15.12.2023

During our holiday in the area, my family and I had lunch at The Boathouse Inn. We all agreed it was our favorite place to eat, as the food was amazing. The mussels were large and delicious, the fish finger sandwich and fish and chips were light and not greasy at all, and the cheeseburger was very tasty. The service was excellent, even accommodating our 4 dogs. The atmosphere was delightful as we sat on the balcony with a stunning view of the beach. We are excited to return and enjoy more fantastic food.

amanda-gardner-teach
15.12.2023

I highly recommend the seafood platter - it was fantastic. I have visited this restaurant twice and both times the staff were very attentive. The view from the restaurant is beautiful. Overall, it was a lovely dining experience. An added bonus is that the restaurant is dog friendly as well!

ali-akhtar
15.12.2023

We had a fantastic Saturday lunch at this restaurant. Despite the threat of rain, we had booked a table on the uncovered deck. The staff were thoughtful enough to also reserve a table for us indoors just in case. Luckily, the sun ended up shining and we didn't need the indoor table. The customer service was outstanding. The crab thermidor I ordered was delicious and perfectly cooked. The view was amazing, the food was incredible, and the staff were lovely. I highly recommend this place. Just a heads up, you can still enjoy a view of the estuary from inside downstairs.

Menu

Last update : 20.12.2022

4.8 ★ from 10 reviews

Great location. Sit outside in the sunshine with a view over the estuary watching the wildlife. The beer is good and the staff are friendly. Worth a visit.

Great food and beer. Service was good too. Excellent place to stop when cycling between Bideford and Barnstaple.

I had an excellent experience with the daytime service. I truly enjoyed both the food and drinks. The two resident terriers were absolutely adorable and managed to steal my heart—they're also quite fond of a tasty treat! It’s a very dog-friendly pub.

Fantastic food and service. Beautiful views over the estuary. What more could you want

This is a fairly standard pub that welcomes both children and dogs. The menu offers a range of options, from sandwiches to classic pub dishes and daily specials. There's a nice selection of local ales, as well as some lagers.

Facebook
4.6 ★ from 289 reviews
Restaurantguru
4.3 ★ from 238 reviews
Gastroranking-uk
3.9 ★ from 1795 reviews

FAQ

Alternatively, there is also another parking lot, Sandhills. This lies only 676 m away from The Quay Inn.

From North Devon, these Photos of The Quay Inn were shared by the members of Menu. They display the dining hall at The Quay Inn, the interiors, the location and naturally, superb Captures of delicious dishes from The Quay Inn.

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