Pub near Portland Marina

[richardbrennan]

Having had an absolutely awful meal in "the Boat That Rocks" in Portland Marina last year; we are looking for an alternative place to eat when we stop there this summer on our annual pilgrimage to the West Country. I understand that there is a pub nearby that does decent food; does anybody know what it is called?

Many Thanks

 

[Angele]

There is the Cove House Inn, which I think was the one that got damaged by the winter storms. Looks nice from the outside, but I've not been in.

On the main road, nearer to the marina, is The Little Ship.

 

[Fergus]

Walk up chesil beach to the crab house cafe - best seafood for miles but booking at least 1 week in advance essential!

 

[TimH]

Boat that Rocks....hit the rocks. Now opened as Harbour something or other. Not eaten at it. Cove Inn...solid pub food, beer good. Crab House. Excellent, not cheap though. Blue Fin (or something like it) on right just before Cove, had one good meal, one so/so.

Portland does have a one horse/tumbleweed down the middle of the road feel, but an impressive marina. Weymouth short ride by bus or taxi, but no stand out places to eat.

 

[ANDY123]

Boat that Rocks....hit the rocks. Now opened as Harbour something or other. Not eaten at it. Cove Inn...solid pub food, beer good. Crab House. Excellent, not cheap though. Blue Fin (or something like it) on right just before Cove, had one good meal, one so/so.

Portland does have a one horse/tumbleweed down the middle of the road feel, but an impressive marina. Weymouth short ride by bus or taxi, but no stand out places to eat.

Had a really nice meal at Malloms on the quay in Weymouth

 

[chanelyacht]

Having had an absolutely awful meal in "the Boat That Rocks" in Portland Marina last year; we are looking for an alternative place to eat when we stop there this summer on our annual pilgrimage to the West Country. I understand that there is a pub nearby that does decent food; does anybody know what it is called?

Many Thanks

My old local, the Cove House Inn just across Victoria Square and along the sea wall.

Cracking food, great atmosphere and good company.

 

[richardbrennan]

From what I can see on line, the restaurant has re-opened as "The Harbour Lights". Reviews on Trip Advisor are a bit mixed; has anybody tried it?

 

[forelle541]

Get a taxi and go to the Pie and Ale restaurant or the stables both sell good food in Weymouth.

 

[temptress]

Having had an absolutely awful meal in "the Boat That Rocks" in Portland Marina last year; we are looking for an alternative place to eat when we stop there this summer on our annual pilgrimage to the West Country. I understand that there is a pub nearby that does decent food; does anybody know what it is called?Many Thanks

ImO skip Portland and go into Weymouth. Much nicer in there and more good pubs and restaurants to choose from.

 

[choppy]

Just spent weekend there (Didn't move onto Weymouth as that "tubmblweed" atmosphere quite refreshing) Cove house inn was worth 2 visits - proper basic pub, Nothing flash - food good & reasonable. Magic setting nice people. (Not pretty pretty though)
There is also a café restaurant (Fishy ?) just down looked popular & heard good reports but price looked enough for what & where. Other end of causeway is crab shack (Has its own rep(v.good) & vibe) also last winter had a drink in Ferrybridge inn food looked pretty good there. Oh & also tandoori - good.

Keep Portland Weird as a sticker in a front window says.

 

[SimonFa]

Walk up chesil beach to the crab house cafe - best seafood for miles but booking at least 1 week in advance essential!

+1 but it is expensive and you need to book as far ahead as possible, especially if you want to eat late.

I've had a couple of lunches in the Harbour Lights when my boat was ashore there and they were quite good, but the service was at best chaotic. They've also done away with the D&R discount so that makes them quite expensive.

Personally I would sail in to Weymouth as I think the old harbour is beautiful and I always enjoy going through it when I'm leaving and returning to my berth. When returning I often get in to the harbour early so I can enjoy the view while I wait for the bridge lift. However there used to be a problem with the Condor Ferry running its generator all night so I'd check up on that one with the Harbour Master first.

 

[prv]

there used to be a problem with the Condor Ferry running its generator all night so I'd check up on that one with the Harbour Master first.

Is the Condor back there now? Last time I was at Weymouth the Condor had decamped to Poole because its quay in Weymouth was falling apart (and falling apart it was, very obviously, as we went past it).

Pete

 

[richardbrennan]

I would agree that with all other things being equal, I too would prefer Weymouth. However, preferring to stay in a marina, when heading west it's easier to time one's passage round the bill without having to worry about bridge times, especially if one needs an early departure.

 

[SimonFa]

Is the Condor back there now? Last time I was at Weymouth the Condor had decamped to Poole because its quay in Weymouth was falling apart (and falling apart it was, very obviously, as we went past it).

Pete

They fixed the Quay last year and its back there: I watched it sail out at 14:00, but I'm not sure if it still runs it's genny all night. (I got p!$$3d with one of the engineers on a the way back from a Twickenham 6 nations game game last year and he told me why they did it, but I can't remember the answer )

It winds me up that they have a 2pm departure when that's one of the bridge lift time, could they do it 15m later when we've all cleared the harbour.

Simon

 

[Fergus]

Yes condor is unfotunately back in Weymouth and it's nicer than Portland - you don't need to go under the bridge to moor! They are also offering 4th night for free (loyalty scheme with a stamp)

 

[Tempus]

+1 for Weymouth and the Crab House Cafe

Having spent too many nights than I care to think about in Portland watching my kids sail in various dinghy events, my suggestions would be

1 - Crab House Cafe, but book a week ahead and not open Sun, Mon or Tues - also it always feels further walking back along the causeway tipsy in the dark than it did on the way there!
2 - Get a cab to Weymouth Town Quay if you don't want to go there on your own keel - very boaty and lots of restaurants - I think it's a hidden gem. Try the fish sharing platter followed by the Moroccan fish stew in Oasis on the Quay. Taxis are a fixed price from Portland (£9 each way iirc)
3 - The new Harbour Lights is a rebrand of the "Boat that hit the rocks" - inexplicably busy on a Saturday night, so you'll need to book (and wonder why)!
4 - Some decent Fish and chips in Portland and the pubs as suggested.

Hope you enjoy

 

[chanelyacht]

Yes condor is unfotunately back in Weymouth and it's nicer than Portland - you don't need to go under the bridge to moor! They are also offering 4th night for free (loyalty scheme with a stamp)

Unfortunately?

It brings £7m a year into the town, believe me, Weymouth needs that!

There were plans to relocate the berth to Portland Port, but of course the council have now built on what would have been the new access road

 

[Fergus]

Unfortunately?

It brings £7m a year into the town, believe me, Weymouth needs that!

There were plans to relocate the berth to Portland Port, but of course the council have now built on what would have been the new access road

Nothing against the ferry but why do they have to keep generators running all night?!!

 

[LadyInBed]

Nothing against the ferry but why do they have to keep generators running all night?!!

To stop the batteries going flat

 

[prv]

To stop the batteries going flat

Does Weymouth charge them extra for shore power, like Poole Quay marina?

Pete