The best pubs in Saltash: where to drink by the Tamar

Saltash sits just across the Tamar from Plymouth, with the Royal Albert Bridge and Tamar Bridge shaping the view from the town and waterfront. Its pubs range from riverside locals to a small, characterful micropub, making it easy to plan an evening around a drink, a meal and a look at the water.

Down on Tamar Street, The Union Inn is one of the clearest choices for a waterside pint. Its Union-Flag frontage is hard to miss, while the outdoor seating looks towards moored boats and the bridges. The pub serves real ales and changing guest beers, and live music nights are part of its programme. Dogs are welcome, and the pub is wheelchair accessible. For a more food-led visit, The Two Bridges is close to Saltash station on Albert Road. Named after the crossings linking Saltash with Plymouth, it has exposed beams, outdoor seating and views towards the river. Its menu includes gourmet burgers, beer-battered fish and chips, vegetarian dishes and desserts, alongside local and craft beers.

A short distance away, The Ferry House Inn at Saltash Passage offers a different kind of Tamar setting. This free house and restaurant is about five minutes on foot from the Royal Albert Bridge, with river views, cask ales, ciders and a whisky selection. Food is based around produce from Devon and Cornwall. It also has en-suite rooms, although the pub itself is the main reason to make the riverside walk. The address is 888 Wolseley Road, Saltash Passage, Plymouth, PL5 1LA.

Back in the centre, The Cockleshell Micropub at 73 Fore Street is aimed at people who want to concentrate on the beer and conversation. It opened in 2020 in a former convenience shop and has no television or gaming machines. Inside, old furniture, brewery memorabilia and antiques give it a distinctly traditional feel, while the beer list leans towards local producers including Atlantic, Castle, Treen and Willful Beer Co. It serves cask ale and real cider, welcomes families and dogs, and uses table service. CAMRA-listed hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 4pm to 9.30pm, Friday from 2pm to 9.30pm, Saturday from noon to 9.30pm and Sunday from 2pm to 8pm; it is closed on Mondays.

For a longer-standing community-pub atmosphere, The Ploughboy Inn on Liskeard Road has been serving Saltash for more than 200 years. It has a large bar, several seating areas, a beer garden and food served throughout the week, with real ales, craft beer, wine and spirits. The pub changed hands in March 2025, with the new owners setting out to restore its role as a family-friendly local. Live music, sport, parking and wheelchair access are among the facilities listed, and dogs are welcome. It opens from 11am Monday to Saturday, with later closing on Friday and Saturday, and from noon on Sundays.

The Brunel Inn is another option for a meal and drink beside the Tamar. This family-run pub occupies a 17th-century building on the edge of Saltash and has a riverside terrace. It is listed in both the Good Pub Guide and the Good Beer Guide. Taken together, these pubs give Saltash a useful mix: bridge views at the Ferry House and Union Inn, a central beer stop at the Cockleshell, and more traditional food-and-drink settings at the Two Bridges, Ploughboy and Brunel Inn. Opening times and food service can change, so checking directly before setting out is sensible.