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Jolly Sailor, West Looe

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user reviews of the Jolly Sailor, West Looe

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

All four ales the same as three years ago.
Looked the same six customers as well!
fugglehops - 28 Jul 2018 16:05
Best pub in Looe (East & West). Good selection of beer inc Proper Job and Dartmmor Jail Ale. Friendly, even the locals would cherio when you left. Visited several times at Easter.
addlened - 27 Apr 2016 11:54
Not too bad for a quiet drink.
Four ales on; Tribute, Jail Ale, Doom Bar and Proper Job.
The latter probably the best ale in Cornwall.
fugglehops - 28 Jul 2015 20:46
The pub didn't look that special from the outside but once in it is a very cosy place my kind of pub with old beams and a real oldy worldy feel to it.

Three or four decent ales on too.

My only complaint is a very rude local who was staring quite a lot at us, surely they must get plenty of tourists in here even on the quieter side in West Looe so not like it was a village pub where i have come to expect that sort of thing.

Still one of the best if not the best pub in Looe.

8/10


montie49 - 3 Nov 2014 18:19
Pubs in East Looe tend to be a bit visitor oriented but, thankfully, over the river in West Looe is The Jolly Sailor, the antidote to wide screen TVs and pub food. Tourists are made welcome but this is primarily a locals' pub and all the better for it. It is an old building as the beams attest and has real atmosphere. The beers are well kept and served by friendly bar staff. St. Austell Proper Job and Tribute are alongside Dartmoor Jail Ale and Doom Bar. I drank the Proper Job and found it excellent. I can't praise this pub too highly, we went in on our first night in West Looe and kept returning each evening for the rest of our holiday. The owners can be proud of managing to keep this place as a proper, traditional pub in a seaside location.
doctorpint - 27 Jul 2014 12:14
Good range beers. Doom,Tribute,Exmoor Gold,TimothyTaylorLandlord. Good bar staff. Warm atmosphere. Fun singing.
southfields - 14 Jun 2012 10:44
midlandale, why would i stay there for a week if i was a regular?? good grief, don't join the police will you as detection is obviously not a strong point. as it's been pointed out, yes there are locals there but that's what you would expect surely? i can only say that we found them all to be very friendly and would definately stay there again. great room and fabulous breakfast too.
mph - 16 Mar 2011 23:19
I am a regular in the Jolly for a reason...it's a blooming good pub which is frequented by not only locals but people from all over the country who come back time after time for the great beer and friendly atmosphere. Check out the other comments (if any!) of the negative posters and draw your own conclusions as to whether they are a genuine beerintheevening users.
dagenhamdave - 2 Mar 2011 21:57
Very old, traditional pub in a fishing town. I can understand what some posters are saying, there was a "gang" at the bar, but then all pubs have this to some extent - what's the problem. Didn't have a problem joining in with that.

They have tried to make one bar the Family Room with the pool table, but I would never say that this is a "family" pub. It's still an old building, with a traditional view, and I for one want more of these places to stay.

It needs a bit of loving care, and if the outside was more eye-catching across the water at night (maybe floodlight the outside), they might pull the punters across from the East side.
Lord_Jeffers - 2 Mar 2011 17:54
This a great pub and we found it very welcoming ... see my review of 5 Oct 2009.

I'm not a local as you can see from my comments history.


Pat_Bateman - 24 Feb 2011 09:45
Sorry to upset dagenham dave and mph who are obviosly locals in pub but on my visit I found it very clicky, if you were in the gang it was fine but any one not known wwere treated with disdain. Beer was Ok but not the best and no food barmaid Trina was the best thing about the pub, otherwise found it very un welcoming could be so much better. In short pub a little better than Harbour Moon which was awful.

midlandale - 23 Feb 2011 19:43
No idea why people register on this site just to be nasty. All I do know is the Jolly Sailor is very friendly and welcoming to all, indeed most people in the pub are not originally Cornish but certainly embrace Cornish hospitality. It is a home from home local that visitors return to time after time. The beer? Well, it is certainly the best kept and most consitent in Looe and I can't wait for my return in a few weeks.
dagenhamdave - 31 Jan 2011 22:16
the review below is utter rubbish. we've stayed there for a week and been in numerous times. it's a very welcoming pub.
mph - 30 Jan 2011 18:04
where do i start
without doubt the most friendly pub in looe NOT the big tall guy who calls himself a bar man, is defo not, bone idol and stronger words come to mind.
if you are not from looe ie not cornish you wont be welcome in there, dress a little diffrent than the norm you will be looked at like you are from another world, take your kids in there like i did and your kid will be asked if he has taken a mobile phone, yes i kid you not, all in all a crap pub crap beer crap bar staff, defo worth a miss, dont go out of your way to go there, go play bingo you will at least get a smile from the people you at the side of, i was told only the other week when on bussness in leeds the pub is up for sale, as bernard manning would say.
not worth a bang. rate the pub - 1,00000000000000000000000000000000

tothemoonandback2112 - 27 Jan 2011 21:43
This is reputedly the oldest pub in Looe, and it�s easy to believe that this is indeed the case. It�s an attractive old pub from the outside with white stonewashed walls and plenty of hanging baskets and inside it continues the olde worlde theme with a haphazard arrangement of slate tiles on the floor and lots of black, bowed beams on the ceiling.

There�s a long wood panelled bar in the main room with a row of bar chairs along the front. Off to the left there�s another bar with a pool table, and a further room beyond that which although we didn�t go in there seems to lack some of the atmosphere of the main bar. Landlord seemed friendly enough.

Beers on tap were Exmoor Gold, Abbot Ale, Doom Bar and Spitfire. Ciders were Strongbow and Addlestones.
Blackthorn - 21 Sep 2010 18:32
This site says the pub serves food and the board on the pub says it serves food.............it doesn't.
It looked like it might be worth staying for a drink but I was hungry, so looked elsewhere.
fugglehops - 26 Aug 2010 21:29
A locals pub seemingly frequented mainly by the fishermen, nevertheless a warm welcome was found here. Likewise an excellent pint of Tim Taylor Landlord. Also available was Abbot and HSB (refreshing to find a Looe pub that doesn't just do Doom and Betty Stogs). The salty tales being swapped amongst the fisherfolk was very endearing and we really took to the place. Certainly seems to be the best pub in West Looe.
keystone - 17 May 2010 22:49
Much like the Fisherman's Arms in East Looe, this is my idea of a proper pub.
Flagstone floors and wooden beamed low ceilings make for a really nice atmosphere.

This is by far the best of the few pubs in WEST Looe.

I'd strongly recommend popping along on a Thursday (double check that) evening for the Sea Shanty / folk song evening.
Each singer performs a song in the back part of the pub, then it moves onto the next singer.
We had a top night and really loved the Cornish songs, especially after a few ales and Jack Daniels.
Pat_Bateman - 5 Oct 2009 16:36
when we come to looe again, this will be our destination. just had a week there, b and b, and it was faultless. wonderful pub, so atmospheric. the staff were fantastic and so friendly. the room was more like a little apartment and the bed was the comfiest i've slept in away from home.
tasty breakfast set us up for the day. all this for �60. absolute bargain. watch out for the water pistol when you leave the bar! pool table and sea shanties on a tuesday and thursday. we cannot wait to stay there again.
mph - 23 Aug 2009 22:24
Never had a poor pint here (and I've had a few!). Should be in the good pub guide. A lovely old and very friendly pub.

Try it, you won't be disappointed.
dagenhamdave - 4 Aug 2009 22:54
Watch out for your pie Murray the Reigate boys are coming to town! proppa pub
scooterroy - 11 Jul 2009 10:00
Landlord mmmmmmmmm
aletransporter - 26 Jan 2009 19:04
Love this pub , but very quiet lunch times both days we went in. The bar staff here are cheery and the beer is fantastic!
irishcream - 10 Nov 2008 20:08
Just had a weekend break in Looe. Smashing pub, excellent beers and friendly bar staff.
Cleggy - 26 Oct 2008 22:49
great boozer that dont try to be anything else other than a watering hole
anonymous - 23 Oct 2008 09:49
Nice pub, lacks lunchtime atmosphere. Went there for a lunch bite and a beer, no-one else in the bar, did not do food at 1pm. Bar staff advised us to go to another pub, not surprised there were no other customers. Very disappointed as this could be such a nice place to have a stopover.
stanley.griffin - 30 Sep 2008 18:22
Stayed in a B&B close by, made this pub our local. The best pub in Looe for us, and we visited them all. We were immediately made to feel welcome by Tina and the landlord, and the drunken butcher from next door. So nice to visit a pub where you could get a good drink and that was not dominated by food sales. We will definately be propping up the bar again on our return.
muzzyofrotherham - 13 Aug 2008 11:37
Always have a few drinks here wehn visit Looe. Landlord is a good guy and his beers are great too.
bettystoggs - 15 Jun 2008 10:47
Enjoy a pint of doom in here every time I visit. never lets me down. Friendly staff.
cornishcream - 13 Jun 2008 20:52
Fanatastic proper pub with top class real ales and friendly bar staff. As a newbie to Looe I was made to feel welcome and chatted to by locals and bar staff alike on my first visit. The landlord obviously takes pride in his beer, the Doom Bar was to die for. Nice old cosy pub where you can sit at the bar and feel involved in the hub-bub of Looe or tuck away in a corner for a quiet drink. After trying some of the other pubs on offer I have made the Jolly Sailor my local when I am in town.
dagenhamdave - 12 Jun 2008 20:31
My wife and I have just returned from a 4 day B&B stay at the Jolly Sailor. We loved it: the breakfast was excellent, the beer, Doom Bar, was in top condition and the barmaid T*** was one of the most professional I have ever come across. Our room was spotless and very comfortable. A lovely "laid back" atmosphere and a good crack with locals and visitors alike. We laughed a lot, drank a lot and soaked up the atmosphere, which was brilliant. The landlord is to be congratulated. Go and stay there.
"Anonymous" - you don't bear a grudge by any chance, do you?
markjohnson - 25 Apr 2008 18:38
gone downhill fast. no food when last down there and lack of interest from bar staff. we went in for the folk music night and couldnt hear them for the bar music. good beers though
hellsbelles - 14 Apr 2008 22:01
pretty quiet when i sloped int he other day, but a lovely building, friendly lanlord and a nice pint of doom bar were all on offer.
Mattclary - 25 Dec 2007 17:15
Have to totally disagree with the last two reviews, this place used to be a great pub with a buzzing atmosphere (especially on a Friday) and was probably my favourite pub in Looe. How times change, it is has now stopped doing food, the staff are rude/indifferent and most of the regulars seem to have departed. Give it a miss: 2/10
anonymous - 5 Jun 2007 16:25
Just returned from a great break, situated right on the quay, the Jolly Sailor wan an ideal spot to stay.
Lovely friendly staff who gave us a warm welcome and a cooked breakfast that set us up for most of the day.
Our room was great and immaculate, infact the cleanest pub in Looe.
We even had live music one night with singers and what an happy atmosphere with people asking for more.
Thank you Jolly Sailor you ticked all our boxes.
walkers - 27 May 2007 15:15
What a fantastic pub!!! When visiting Looe you MUST visit The Jolly Sailor. Stuart, the landlord gave us the warmest welcome we've ever experienced anywhere in the world, (and we're great travellers). He has a fantastic sense of humour and offers everyone who walks into his pub a friendly smile and great service. We were so impressed, we felt others must visit this amazing pub for its great character, atmosphere, friendliness and of course wonderful landlord, (its okay Stuart we'll expect free drinks next visit!!!!!). Happy drinking!!!
kk19155 - 22 May 2007 16:29
Smashing pub, cosy and friendly. The beer tasted good and the barmaid was always smiling.
londinieres - 22 Jun 2006 17:33
correction 2 prev- only 2 ales on......
fat_beer_badger - 8 May 2006 13:46
Quite a small low -ceiling type pub. Only ales on when visited. pub looked virtually closed from exterior.Not Looe's finest.

My Rating 6/10
fat_beer_badger - 8 May 2006 13:45
Been here twice after walking from polperro and on both occasions was very good beer and an oasis for a weary walker
old_speckled - 23 Apr 2006 18:29
Stayed there recently and it was briliant. Ancient and friendly and the rooms were good as well, proper Cornish pub
TSW - 22 Mar 2006 13:01
Lovely traditional, oak beamed pub on the less crowded west side of Looe harbor. Friendly staff, mainly local customers, good food and the best real ale in Looe, in fact the Doom Bar Bitter served here is among the very best pints I�ve had in Cornwall and better than the Doom Bar anywhere else. Also does accommodation.
DaveC - 19 Jun 2004 10:58

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