Sawmills Free House
Quick info
About Sawmills Free House
Sawmills Free House is a pub on Watermouth Valley in Ilfracombe, with a menu spanning 75 dishes. Starters include the Classic Prawn Cocktail, Potted Devonshire Crab, and Charred Octopus, alongside Rosemary & Lemon Marinated Olives and a Soup of the Day. On Sundays the kitchen offers a roast with a choice of beef, pork, or lamb. Dogs are welcome both inside the pub and in the outdoor areas. The pub operates on a walk-in basis, with no reservations taken.
Good to know
- ReservationsWalk-in only
Menu & Prices
75 dishes · mains £3–218- Classic Prawn Cocktail£10.75
- Potted Devonshire Crab£11.00
- Charred Octopus£12.00
- Sun Blushed Tomato & Mozzarella Arancini£9.50
- Rosemary & Lemon Marinated Olives£7.20
- Soup Of The Day£7.00
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, dog-friendly seating, shell on prawns and gluten free options.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sunday roast, dog-friendly seating, shell on prawns and gluten free options.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday lunch draws consistent praise, with diners calling it "brilliant" and highlighting excellent service and atmosphere, though one reviewer found the £22 roast pricey for small, lukewarm portions with reheated-tasting potatoes and called the £10 desserts overpriced for what arrived. Close behind, starters get singled out, with shell-on prawns and potted crab described as well presented and tasty. Several note the dog-friendly setup, with outdoor seating and a shaded area welcoming pets, and staff praised for going out of their way, including preparing a coeliac-safe gluten free meal after chatting with the chef. A group breakfast for twelve came out cooked perfectly and served together. One reviewer found the dinner menu offerings generic, and another mentioned a dirty floor in their accommodation room despite otherwise enjoying the stay. Most describe friendly, helpful staff and a good range of drinks as consistent strengths across visits.
Customer Review Summary
Sunday lunch draws consistent praise, with diners calling it "brilliant" and highlighting excellent service and atmosphere, though one reviewer found the £22 roast pricey for small, lukewarm portions with reheated-tasting potatoes and called the £10 desserts overpriced for what arrived. Close behind, starters get singled out, with shell-on prawns and potted crab described as well presented and tasty. Several note the dog-friendly setup, with outdoor seating and a shaded area welcoming pets, and staff praised for going out of their way, including preparing a coeliac-safe gluten free meal after chatting with the chef. A group breakfast for twelve came out cooked perfectly and served together. One reviewer found the dinner menu offerings generic, and another mentioned a dirty floor in their accommodation room despite otherwise enjoying the stay. Most describe friendly, helpful staff and a good range of drinks as consistent strengths across visits.
Featured reviews
- Sara Rouse-Heales
“We had a lovely stay at Sawmills. Manager Ryan was extremely friendly and welcoming, which made us feel comfortable straight away. The accommodation is very dog-friendly, which was perfect for us, and the room was warm, inviting, and had …”
- Philip Ohagan
“we made a booking for dinner around 7pm. this was a lovely setting and a welcoming environment. We then had our drinks and a copy of the menu. I was quite disappointed in the on what was on offer..its the same old generic offerings that you …”
- DAVID LAWRENCE
“Fabulous pub in a nice location. Good range of drinks and the food choices were good and very tasty. The room was nice to stay in apart from the dirty floor throughout which had …”
- Andy Lee
“Returned three nights on the trot. This places can get really busy but still offer a great vibe with indoor and outdoor seating. A great selection of drinks at the bar and a solid menu with the classic on all the food we tried was well cooked and presented well.”
- Jano sandell
“Lovely pub but I felt that £22 for a Sunday roast was a bit pricey… food came out within 5 minutes of ordering and wasn’t fresh. We went at around 6pm and the roast potatoes were either reheated or had just been kept on a hot plate as certainly weren’t fresh and the rest of the dinner was only just warm & not hot & nothing special. The options were either beef, pork or lamb & all 3 options were £22. Portion sizes were also small. Was still starving after it! Desserts were also quite expensive! I had a sticky toffee pudding with custard & my other half had chocolate brownie with custard… both were £10 each and nothing special at all. I felt like it was a £5 dessert that they were charging £10 for. It’s a shame as it’s a lovely pub but they’re charging too much for what you get! Unlikely we’ll be back purely as it’s overpriced.”
Location
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