Name: Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character
Address: Princes Square, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 2EP
Price range: US$152+
Rating: 7.1

Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character Exterior photo

Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character People photo

Key details

About the Hotel

Princes Square, Looe, PL13 2EP

Close to East Looe Beach

Perfect

9.4

/10

4.4

4.7

Loved by Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character guests

Cute atmosphere

Delicious breakfast

Comfortable room

Friendly staff

Excellent location

Fresh produce

"Every Thursday is sing-a-long night with a group of singers, we enjoyed this."

tripper51 from United Kingdom

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"Being able to go to the bar and take beer to the room was great"

Carol from United Kingdom

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"The Chilli is very tasty it's good home cooking."

Bmoe

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The Oldest Pub in Looe: A 500-Year-Old Family-Run Inn with Live Sea Shanty Nights

The Inn & Rooms

Jolly Sailor Inn is the oldest pub in Looe and dates back 500 years. The inn has 4 room types, including King Room, Large Double Room, and Standard Twin Room. Rooms 3 and 4 sit at the top with views over the river to Looe; some rooms have four-poster beds, settees, and baths with showers.

Dining & Breakfast

Breakfast is included in the room rate and pre-ordered the night before; the cooked-to-order menu includes a full English and the Salmon Bomb, a smoked salmon creation filled with scrambled eggs. The pub serves Sunday roast dinners in giant Yorkshire puddings, alongside beef lasagne, pizzas, and vegan ravioli. The bar stocks Cornish ales, ciders, wine, and rum, with special diet menus and packed lunches available.

Entertainment & Activities

Thursday nights bring live sea shanty performances by the Minor Quay group in the pub. Monday nights offer pizza and quiz entertainment, and the inn also has a games room, evening entertainment, and live music. Guests can join the pub quiz, listen to folk and sea shanty music, and use board games and puzzles available at the inn.

Location & Parking

Jolly Sailor Inn sits close to the quay in West Looe, with the waterfront a short walk away and Plymouth 21 miles from the property. A bus stop just outside the inn and a train station down the road provide links around Looe. Free roadside parking spaces next to the hotel and opposite are available, while pay-and-display spaces along the quayside cost £2 overnight between 6pm and 8pm.

Amenities & Services

The inn offers luggage storage, packed lunches, and private check-in/check-out. Kids' meals and special diet menus are available for guests with children or dietary needs. A snack bar, wine and champagne, CCTV, and smoke alarms are provided.

Highlights

Rooms: 4 room types including King Room with four-poster beds

Dining: Breakfast included with pre-ordered cooked menu

Entertainment: Thursday sea shanty nights with Minor Quay

Location: Close to West Looe quay, Plymouth 21 miles away

Services: Luggage storage, packed lunches, private check-in/check-out

Must-do experiences

Walk the beautiful South West Coast Path for stunning views.
Sample a fresh crab sandwich at The Coddy Shack on the beach.
Visit the Looe Island nature reserve for wildlife and scenery.
Explore the quirky Old Guildhall Museum for local history.
Catch a live band at The Ship Inn for authentic local music.

Location: Perfect

9.6/10Review score

View hotel location

Highlights from guests

DiningBreakfast Bliss

Breakfast offers a great choice, including a tasty full English with locally sourced bacon and delicious veggie sausages.

Olivia from Canada

Review on

Room FeaturesSpacious Comfort

The king room was incredibly spacious and cosy, with a super comfortable bed and a warm duvet.

Noah from New Zealand

Review on

Guest ParkingParking Convenience

Free parking spaces are available near the fire station, and affordable overnight parking is available at the quayside.

Emma from Sweden

Review on

Media & EntertainmentShanty Nights!

Thursday evenings bring sea shanty music, creating a wonderful atmosphere, but book a table as it gets busy!

Ethan from Australia

Review on

Select your preferred room

Choose from standard rooms, family suites, or deluxe options — with breakfast and flexible rates

Large Double Room
2 persons
19 m²
1 Double bed and 1 Sofa bed
Heating
Shower
room details
King Room
2 persons
15 m²
1 Queen-size bed
Heating
Shower
room details
Standard Twin Room
2 persons
12 m²
2 Single beds
Heating
Shower
room details

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Hotel facilities and services

Each hotel provides modern amenities for a relaxing and pleasant stay

Facilities: Perfect

9.2/10Review score

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Off-site car park
VIP check-in/ -out
No pets allowed
Security
Luggage storage
Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers

Services

Welcome drink

Dining

In-room breakfast
Snack bar
Bar/ Lounge area
Packed lunches
Special diet menus

Children

Board games
Children's menu
Game room

Spa & Leisure

Live entertainment

Room features

Heating
Sitting area
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Self-catering

Electric kettle

Media

Flat-screen TV

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character Location

Princes Square, Looe, PL13 2EP

Map view

City landmarks

Landmark

The Monkey Sanctuary

1.59 km

Landmark

Looe to Polperro walk

690 m

Landmark

Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol

690 m

Landmark

The Old Sardine Factory Heritage Centre

690 m

Island

Looe Island

1.19 km

Beach

East Looe Beach

690 m

Farm

Greeb Farm

1.59 km

Landmark

Kilminorth Woods

2.14 km

Church

Talland Church

2.93 km

Landmark

Sclerder Abbey

3.55 km

Landmark

Pelynt and the St West Looe Valley

3.67 km

Landmark

Saint Martin-by-Looe

3.73 km

Church

St John the Baptist Church

4.08 km

Museum

Polperro Harbour Heritage Museum

4.91 km

Landmark

Polperro Arts Foundation

4.96 km

Harbour

Polperro

4.89 km

Nearby

Holland Road

South West's Inflatable Theme Park

470 m

Restaurants

Sarah's Pasty Shop

630 m

6 Buller Street

Daves Diner

710 m

The Quay East Looe

Sarah's Cake Shop

670 m

2 East Quay House Buller Street 2 Buller Street

The Cornish Bakery

730 m

London House Fore Street

Loowena

660 m

Higher Market Street

Ye Olde Fishermans Arms

630 m

Higher Market Street

The Pier Cafe

1.05 km

Churchend

Cornish Bakehouse

600 m

Fore Street

Explore Looe

Local Experiences

Looe to Polperro Walk

9 minutes' walk

A scenic coastal walk offering breathtaking views of the coast and access to charming villages and beaches along the way.

Old Guildhall Museum and Gaol

9 minutes' walk

Local history museum showcasing Looe's heritage with interactive exhibits. Family-friendly with regular free entry days.

The Monkey Sanctuary

5 minutes' drive

Home to rescued monkeys, this sanctuary offers guided tours where visitors can learn about conservation and animal care.

Looe Island

15 minutes' walk

An uninhabited refuge with diverse wildlife; accessible via boat tours during the summer months for tranquil beach escapes.

South West's Inflatable Theme Park

6 minutes' walk

A fun-filled inflatable park for all ages. Perfect for families seeking adventure with its colorful inflatables and slides.

Beach Yoga at East Looe Beach

9 minutes' walk

Relaxing yoga sessions held on the beach; ideal for unwinding with the sound of waves. Classes available seasonally.

Sarah's Pasty Shop

8 minutes' walk

Casual eatery famous for traditional Cornish pasties, offering a cozy atmosphere and locally sourced ingredients.

Daves Diner

9 minutes' walk

Relaxed diner experience with a varied menu including burgers and breakfasts, excellent for casual family dining.

The Fish Market Bar

8 minutes' walk

Local bar with a friendly vibe, live music nights, and a menu of craft beers. Great for casual evenings with friends.

Looe Cinema

10 minutes' walk

Charming local cinema showing the latest films; a family-friendly venue with regular screenings of popular movies.

Getting around the city

City Centre
Looe 6 min · 500 m
Airports
Newquay (NQY) 93 min · 61.4 km
Penzance (PZE) 160 min · 106.5 km
Train
Looe Train Station 10 min · 800 m
Sandplace Train Station 6 min · 3.8 km

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Property information and rules

Check-in

from 16:00-22:00

Check-out

from 08:00-10:00

Internet

Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free.

Breakfast

A full breakfast is served at the price of GBP 0.1 per person.

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Guest ratings and detailed reviews

Feedback about Jolly Sailor Inn - The Oldest Pub In Looe - Family Run And Full Of Charm And Character from previous guests about their experience.

Review summary

Based on recent reviews

The Jolly Sailor Inn, in a fabulous location close to the quay and just 100 yards from the bus stop, offers spacious and clean rooms, some featuring a sofa, a large comfortable bed and a huge shower. Guests rave about the generous portions and value for money, particularly mentioning the enormous pizzas, and some found the hearty English breakfast delicious and plentiful. While parking on location can be limited, many appreciate the excellent food, and the real ales available. Don't miss the Thursday night entertainment with Sea Shanty Singers!

Review score

Based on 7 verified reviews

7.1 /10

Very good

86%

Recommend

Staff

9.9/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Facilities

9.2/10

Value for money

9.2/10

Pros

Great location

Comfortable bed

Spotless bathroom

Full English breakfast

Helpful staff

Cons

Steep stairs

Limited parking

Brian from United Kingdom

Couple

King Room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: January 23, 2026

6/10

poor mattress expensive parking

The mattress in my room was not good and offered little support. The toilet also had issues. It flushed very slowly. Parking was a real problem. I could not find a spot at the location. This resulted in having to pay for expensive street parking nearby. Sea gulls made a lot of noise outside.

0 Helpful

zoe from united kingdom

Couple

king room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: January 03, 2026

7/10

friendly hosts varied choice limited parking expensive street

garry and zoe were friendly hosts the breakfast had varied choice all cooked perfectly i found the room to be comfortable and warm i also liked the pub's position in a friendly neighborhood

parking at the location was limited this led to expensive street parking i found seagulls to be a nuisance i wish i had known this before i arrived at the hotel

0 Helpful

rowan from united kingdom

Single

king room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: December 09, 2025

9.5/10

helpful staff room view comfy bed fantastic price

i noticed the helpful staff right away. they showed me to the room and explained key functions. the room offered views of the river leading to sea and it had a comfy bed. breakfast included very good ingredients, cooked beautifully. the price was fantastic too.

i experienced limited parking at the location. it resulted in expensive street parking for me

Rooms

9/10

The room included a large, comfortable bed and a sofa. there was a tv, wardrobe, and chest of drawers, providing plenty of space for my belongings. the ensuite bathroom was super clean. it also featured a massive shower. Such a treat!

Service

10/10

the staff was friendly. they were helpful right from arrival. zoe served breakfast. she answered my questions about local attractions. she provided maps and leaflets. the team..

0 Helpful

Toby from United Kingdom

Single

King Room

3 nights in November 2025

Reviewed: November 16, 2025

7/10

Acceptable Stay

friendly staff helpful staff good breakfast springtime offer good deal uncomfortable mattress limited parking expensive street parking

I appreciated the friendly and helpful staff . The breakfast included good choices and filled me up each morning. The springtime offer for two meals was a good deal with a decent selection.

The mattress was not very comfortable unfortunately. I found parking at the location limited. This resulted in expensive parking on the street.

0 Helpful

jeffrey from united kingdom

Single

king room

4 nights in August 2026

Reviewed: November 09, 2025

5/10

poor mattress expensive street parking

the location was great i suppose.

the mattress felt awful. the toilet barely flushed, and parking near the inn was very limited i had to pay a lot for street parking. those seagulls are a damn nightmare.

0 Helpful

Emerson from United States

Single

king room

3 nights in August 2026

Reviewed: November 02, 2025

6/10

noisy seagulls parking issue

the home cooked breakfast was good, i must admit.

I found some aspects disappointing. The room was quite small and the bed wasn't very comfortable. also, the seagulls were noisy early each morning. parking was also a real issue. There were very few spaces available.

0 Helpful

Grace from United Kingdom

Couple

King Room

2 nights in August 2026

Reviewed: October 28, 2025

9.3/10

Charming Stay at a Characterful Inn

comfortable bed river view quality ingredients

The staff showed me to my room. They clearly explained the keys. The room faced the river. The room included a large comfortable bed and a nice sofa. It also had a huge shower. Breakfast included top-quality ingredients and careful preparation. I was not rushed.

Parking availability was limited on location. I had to use expensive street parking. It was inconvenient.

Location

9/10

The inn is near a ferry. This ferry provides access to the other side. The inn is also located on the quieter side. It suited me. The bus stop was approximately 100 yards away.

Dining

10/10

The food was of great quality! The meals looked home-cooked and generous. Many beer and cider options were available! The pub seemed alive with locals and visitors.

Rooms

9/10

The bedroom was huge. It included an en suite bathroom. A sofa was available, along with ample storage! The room had good quality toiletries. Tea and coffee were available in the room.

0 Helpful

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