Places to Stay With a Bar in Salcombe

If you want a drink at the end of the day without having to drive or hunt for somewhere open, a stay with its own bar makes sense. BritStays currently lists 7 places to stay with a bar in the Salcombe area of Devon. Six are in Salcombe itself and one is in Plymouth. Five are hotels and two are campsites, so there's more choice than you might expect for a small set.

What the numbers tell you

Every stay on this page has a bar, and six of the seven also have a restaurant. That matters if you'd rather not plan every evening meal. Beyond that, these are the facilities that come up most often:

• Pet friendly: 5 of the 7
• Swimming pool: 4
• WiFi: 4
• Sea views: 4
• Gym: 3
• Spa: 3

Two things stand out. Dog owners are well served, with most of the set welcoming pets. And roughly half have sea views, so if a view from your room or table is important, filter for it rather than assume it.

Choosing the right stay for your trip

Couples after a treat. Several hotels here pair the bar with wellness facilities. Burgh Island Hotel lists a swimming pool, a spa and evening entertainment, which suits a trip where the evenings matter as much as the days. The Retreat has a swimming pool, hot tub and gym. Brightham House combines a gym with its bar and restaurant.

Families. A pool often makes or breaks a holiday with children, and four stays in this set have one. Wilton Farm Campsite is worth a look if you want a more relaxed, outdoor base. It lists a swimming pool, a bar and toilets, so you get campsite freedom without giving up a drink and a swim.

Accessibility. The Cottage Hotel and South Sands Boutique Hotel and Restaurant both list disabled access alongside a bar and restaurant. Always check the specifics directly before booking. 'Disabled access' can mean different things at different properties.

Dog owners. Five of the seven are pet friendly, but the listing data doesn't say which five for every stay. Confirm the dog policy, any charges and whether dogs are allowed in the bar area itself before you pay a deposit.

Basing yourself outside Salcombe. Boringdon Hall in Plymouth is the only stay in this set outside Salcombe. It has a swimming pool, hot tub and gym. It could suit you if you're combining a Devon break with time in Plymouth, or if Salcombe options are booked up.

Coast or countryside?

The listings don't break the region down into smaller areas, so it's hard to say which stays are rural and which are by the water. The best clue is the sea views facility, which four stays list. If being near the coast matters, prioritise those and check the location on a map. If you prefer somewhere quieter, a campsite like Wilton Farm Campsite may give you more space than a hotel.

Things to do once you're there

Close to the stays, Overbeck's Museum and Gardens, a National Trust property, makes an easy half-day. The wider area has a mix of attractions for different interests:

• Animals: Paignton Zoo in Paignton, Shaldon Zoo (Shaldon Wildlife Trust) near Dawlish, and The Tamar Valley Donkey Park near Looe are all good with children.
• Heritage and museums: Plym Valley Railway, St. Lawrence Chapel, Church House, the Monastic Way Exhibition and the Site of Old Torbay Aircraft Museum in Paignton.

Some of these are a fair drive from Salcombe. Check travel times and opening hours before you set off, and consider grouping attractions in the same direction into one day out.

When to book

With only seven stays on this page, choice runs out quickly. Six of them are concentrated in one town, so there's limited spillover if your first choice is full. As a rule:

• Book well ahead for school holidays and bank holiday weekends, especially if you need a pool or a dog-friendly room.
• Specific requirements, such as disabled access, a sea view or a pet-friendly room, narrow your options further. Secure these early.
• If you're flexible, midweek and quieter months usually give more choice, but check that bars, restaurants and pools are open year-round, as facilities can change seasonally.
• Ask whether the restaurant takes bookings for residents. Even with an on-site restaurant, tables can fill up.

Before you confirm, check cancellation terms and dog policies. Make sure the facilities you're choosing the stay for will be available on your dates.