The Volunteer Inn — Restaurant in England

Fantastic if your a local apparently.

I'd like to start by saying that I've loved this bar for many years and whenever myself and the family have visited Lyme we have always popped in for pint. We've always found the atmosphere welcoming and the staff incredibly pleasant we loved the rustic/ close feel of the bar and the friendly staff.

Unfortunately just now we have had a terrible experience (21/11/21).

We entered the bar to find it completely empty with every table reserved. The female bar staff was lovely and welcoming. We said we would only like one drink before we headed home and the staff member agreed so we sat down at a table.

After ordering our drinks and settling down the bar manager loudly rebuked the staff member for allowing us to sit at a locals only table and they reserve the tables for locals only not visitors.

Some locals did come in and sit at the bar. I must say the atmosphere we received from the manager and locals was so hostile. I feel so sorry for the female staff member to be so loudly and publicly shouted at, she apologised to us.

Again another couple came in for a drink to be told they can't sit anywhere and should be sitting next door because that's for non-locals and food.

We were made to feel very unwelcome by both the manager and locals.

I'm sorry to say this has tarred our many fantastic experiences...

Do not go here 😤 had a video call from my disabled daughter who unfortunately couldn't join us and was letting us know she was safe and her carer had turned up ( another story) anyway unbeknownst to us the landlady and a group of her friends were sat on table next to us, for the landlady to then approach us to ask to end the call as we were disturbing them fair enough but we also heard all about the new kitchen and all her about her friend etc etc we were not talking especially loud just normal on a call so unless u have 0 kids or don't talk to eachother when out and about avoid avoid otherwise this is the place for u just remember no talking!! And here's me thinking it was a public house for talking and socialising how silly am I! This place is for u if u don't want to socialise or...

I have never ever in my life felt so welcome in a pub that I had assumed was just for locals.

The service was outstanding and pairing that with a great selection of beverages I really enjoyed my drinking time at the Volunteer Inn (maybe a bit to much).

The food I had there was served to me piping hot, fresh and was delicious.

A good traditional english pub witt the good traditional values so many pubs have lost.

The highlight of my visit was when the most beautiful barmaid I have ever clapped eyes on gave me a lesson in the history of the Volunteer Inn, where to go and what to see in Lyme Regis.

I would definitely recommend this establishment to everyone passing through lovely Lyme Regis.

I will definitely be going...