Brixham Pub Explorations

Another coastal stop in Devon, this time at the old fishing port of Brixham, which may possibly be my new favourite Devonian seaside town.
Not just because it's got lots of chip shops.

Like this one...

Always trust a chip shop run by Nick - a very reputable name.

Brixham harbour was a delight, bustling with cheery tourists in the sunshine, fish markets, the eye-catching replica of the Golden Hind, and some modern bars and bistros with an Adriatic vibe to them.

 
Traditional as ever we were making our way to an old-school inn, just a few steps from the waterside, nestled between the ice cream emporium and Hans Gifts with its nautical mural.

Blue Anchor (83 Fore Street, Brixham, TQ5 8AH - web)
The doorway leads through to a pleasing no-frills drinkers bar with bench seating along two walls, small tables and proper dumpy pub stools.  Being a pub by a fishing port, there's the obligatory framed display of knots and other seafaring decorations.
This part of the pub was a sail loft in a previous life.  Through a mind-you-head gap in the wall is a second room which used to be a fisherman's cottage.

Divided by a giant fireplace in the centre, a beamed ceiling and thick whitewashed stone walls give this an olde-world feel, the effect marred a little by the fairy lights.

A not uncommon South-West cask selection was on the bar, although this was the first time I'd seen Sharp's summer concoction 'Solar Wave'.  And that's what we ordered - a beer full of tropical and citrus fruit, ideal for folks who usually say that they don't normally like that real ale stuff.

The bench seating in the bar was busy enough to make it odd if we squeezed into the remaining spaces, leaving us sitting in the quieter side room under the signage threatening to sell badly behaved children to pirates.

When we passed by an hour-and-a-half later the place was packed, a crowd spilling out onto the pavement.

We moved on, tempted into more chip shop photography by the great decorations above Rio's.

Then onwards up Fore Street as made our way to the Beer Guide listed Wetherspoons...

The Vigilance (5 Bolton Street, Brixham, TQ5 9DE - web)
This is a single level L-shaped room with the usual mix of Spoons booths, lines of dining tables and high stools for the professional drinkers by the entrance.
But not every Spoons has a glorious ship's masthead as part of the decorations... 

Nice little collection of Beer Guides next to it as well.

There's another maritime theme here, the pub being named after a 1926 sailing ketch built in a Brixton shipyard.

After a couple of uninspiring Wetherspoon ale line-ups, I was pleasantly surprised to see the usual suspects joined by guest ales from Keltek ('Grim Reaper' and 'Phoenix') and - my pick -
Bays ' Wild 100', brewed to celebrate the centenary of Paignton zoo.

Mrs Prop Up the Bar had spotted the promontory of Berry Head on the map and insisted we make the walk to it once we'd finished our drinks in Spoons.  She does like a promontory.

We headed around the southern side of the harbour, past the saltwater pool, then up a short climb to the headland which houses the remains of a fort.
Probably some great scenic picture opportunities here, all missed by me as I photographed the cold war bunker.  Cold war bunkers aren't very photogenic, are they?

Back in the town on the quay, it was time to reward ourselves for the walk to the headland with chips.
Brixham Fish (award winning) was quite busy and our order seemed to be taking some time. So I took the opportunity to sneak away and nip into the Crown and Anchor next door for a cheeky half pint.

 

Crown & Anchor (23 The Quay, Brixham, TQ5 8AW)
A handwritten 'polite' notice that toilets are for customers only; fresh crab sandwiches for £9.50; karaoke with DJ Nick at the weekend.  
Ales from Dartmoor, Bays and Red Rock on the bar.
The Scissor Sisters emanating from the speakers.

The pub is made up of one narrow room, decorated with pictures of fishing vessels, and was occupied by what seemed to be a good mix of locals and visitors.

I spent my brief visit sat by the window, supping a decent half of Red Rock 'Lighthouse IPA' and keeping my eye out for indication that my chips were ready.
A lovely little harbourside pub.

Our final stop of the day involved a walk up the steep narrow streets of Brixham.

Queen's Arms (31 Station Hill, Brixham, TQ5 8BN - web)
The Queen's Arms is the local award winner - South Devon CAMRA Pub of the Year in 2014, 2016, 2020 and 2023.
And it was somewhere that I'd very happily settle down and spend an evening. 

The single room has lots of character, with all manner of curious decorations, old brewery signage, and a good range of books about beer and Devon on the shelf next to our table.

Plenty of ciders on offer, alongside beers from Butcombe, St Austell and Teignmouth Brewery.
My pick was the St Austell 'Vista', as I was suckered in by the pump clip informing me it was part of a limited edition cask club range.

A brilliant pub which I was sorry to leave, as we reached our time to depart from Brixham.
Shame - I'd like to have stayed and watched the band who were setting up in the corner and make my way through all the ciders.
Although if I did that I'd be in danger of striking up a conversation with these folks in the window...