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ROUTE 1
17 PUBS
Stoke, Keyham & Ford
Stoke Inn
Oddfellows Arms
The Blockhouse Inn
Masonic Inn
Indian Inn
Firkin Scholar
Millbridge
The Lounge
Pheasant Plucker
Railway
Keyham Vaults
Herbert
Three Ferrets
Queens Dock
Royal Navy Arms
St Levan inn
Ford Inn
You’ll find a tight-knit cluster of locals that are exceptionally easy to navigate on foot. The Stoke Inn, Oddfellows Arms, The Blockhouse Inn, Masonic Inn, and Indian Inn are all situated within a few hundred yards of one another, making for a seamless walking circuit.
As you head slightly south toward the Firkin Scholar, The Lounge, and the Millbridge, the stroll remains manageable though these sit on the fringe of the main village hub with a long hill.
Transitioning towards Keyham requires a bit more legwork. Moving down Albert Road from the Pheasant Plucker to the Railway and the Keyham Vaults, you’ll then move up to the Herbert, the Three Ferrets, Queens Dock, and Royal Navy Arms which are nestled closer to the dockyard end, where the streets are more compact, but generally, walking is the most efficient way to link these two distinct neighbourhoods and then up St Levans Road to the St Levans Inn and up to the Ford Inn.
Mutley & Greenbank
ROUTE 2
9 PUBS
Mutley & Greenbank
Nowhere Inn
Providence
Clifton
Dog & Duck
Fortescue
tap and barrel
Wilful
Hyde Park
Roam
Mutley & Greenbank
The Mutley and Greenbank circuit offers one of the most concentrated and walkable pub stretches in Plymouth, perfectly suited for those who prefer to keep things on foot. Starting at the Nowhere Inn, you are just a short, level stroll away from the Providence and the Clifton, both of which sit comfortably within the residential heart of Greenbank. Moving toward the main thoroughfare of Mutley Plain, the Dog & Duck, Fortescue, Tap and Barrel, Wilful & The Hyde Park form a dense line of venues where the distance between each front door is measured in seconds rather than minutes, making private transport entirely unnecessary.
As you venture toward the northern end of the strip, the Hyde Park marks the final traditional pub stop before the landscape opens up slightly. Reaching Roam Brewery requires the longest leg of the journey; while it is still technically walkable for those who don’t mind a ten-minute wander toward the Peverell border, some visitors may prefer a bus ride or a taxi to bridge the gap from the main Mutley hub. Given the central location and excellent connectivity of this area, public transport is exceptionally frequent, though the sheer proximity of these spots means your own two feet are usually the best way to get around.
Barbican & Coxside
ROUTE 3
15 PUBS
Barbican & Coxside
Fareham Inn
Thistle Park Tavern
Vessel
Kings Head
Minerva
Marina Bar
The Swallow
Three Crowns
Maritime
Ship inn
Queens Arms
Dolphin
Navy Inn
Crown & Anchor
Admiral MacBride
Fishermans
Barbican & Coxside
The Barbican and Coxside waterfront offers a scenic route where the pubs are famously close together, though they are split by the lock gates. Starting on the Coxside side, the Fareham Inn, Thistle Park Tavern, and Vessel are just a short walk from one another, though they sit slightly apart from the main Barbican hustle.
To reach the historic core, you’ll need to either cross the Sutton Harbour footbridge or walk the short distance from Vessel in Exeter Street to The Kings Head in Bretonside. Either way, the pubs are clustered so tightly that you can move between them on foot quite quickly. This entire area is a pedestrian’s dream, and private transport is actually discouraged due to the narrow, one-way streets and limited parking. Apart from the initial walk from Coxside, your best bet is to stay on foot and enjoy the sea air, as every venue on this list is within easy strolling distance of the next.
City Centre
ROUTE 4
10 PUBS
City Centre
Gipsy Moth
Swan
Kittys
Woodside
Bread & Roses
Pit & Pendulum
Brass Monkey
Noah’s Ark
Eagle
Newmarket
City Centre
Beginning at the Gipsy Moth on the edge of the Hoe, you’ll start with a short, scenic walk toward the historic center to find the Swan and Kitty O’Hanlons, which sit just seconds apart near St Andrews Cross. From there, the route heads north toward the University district; the Woodside, Pit & Pendulum and the Bread & Roses are tucked away on Ebrington Street, requiring about a ten-minute stroll from the main pedestrianised area.
Heading back into the heart of the city, the Brass Monkey, and Noah’s Ark form a tight, central hub where the distance between each is negligible, making them incredibly easy to visit in succession on foot. The final leg of the circuit moves toward the West End and the city’s market district. The Eagle is located just a few minutes’ walk from the central shopping core, leading you directly toward your final stop at the Newmarket Tavern by the market gates. This entire route is completely walkable thanks to the city’s flat, pedestrian-friendly layout, so there is no need for private transport or buses once you are in the centre. Every transition between these central venues is under ten minutes, allowing you to traverse the full span of the city centre with ease.
Stonehouse, Millbay & RWY
ROUTE 5
12 PUBS
Stonehouse, Millbay & RWY
Number 10
Melbourne
The Duchy
Tradesmans
The Clarence
Firkin Doghouse
Lord High Admiral
Artillery Arms
The VOT
SECO LOUNGE
Steel Brew
Edgcumbe Arms
Stonehouse, Millbay & RWY
Starting at the top of Stonehouse, Number 10, the Melbourne, The Duchy and The Clarence are clustered within a few blocks of each other, making for a quick and easy walk through the residential heart of Stonehouse. As you head toward The Octagon, the Tradesmans and the Firkin Doghouse sit along the main arterial route, manageable on foot but separated by slightly longer stretches of pavement.
The Lord High Admiral and Artillery Arms bring you deeper into the neighbourhood’s backstreets, where the atmosphere is very pedestrian-friendly and the distance between venues remains short. The journey then shifts over to The Artillery Arms, then toward the waterfront, where The VOT and Seco Lounge mark the transition into the Millbay and Royal William Yard districts. While the walk from Stonehouse to the Yard is a pleasant fifteen-to-twenty-minute stroll, those looking to save time might prefer a quick taxi. Once inside the Yard, Steel Brew is just a short wander across the cobbles. For the final stop at the Edgcumbe Arms, you’ll need to swap land for water; the Cremyll Ferry departs from the nearby slipway, providing a scenic eight-minute crossing that is far more practical than the long drive around to Cornwall.
Devonport
ROUTE 6
7 PUBS
Devonport
Steam Packet
Lugger
King Billy
Queen & Constitution
Ker Street Social Club
Shakespeare
Half Moon
Devonport
Starting at the Steam Packet and the Lugger you have a scenic but small cluster that captures the historic naval spirit of the area. From here, you’ll face a bit of an uphill climb on foot to reach the King Billy and the Queen & Constitution, which sit closer to the heart of the old town centre. These four are relatively easy to link together if you don’t mind the Devon gradient, but for those with limited mobility, a quick taxi ride heading up would be much more comfortable than the trek up from the water.
The final section of the route takes you toward the historic Ker Street Social Club, followed by the Shakespeare and the Half Moon as you move deeper into the residential streets. While these three are very walkable and sit within a compact radius of one another, they may be considered a longer distance from the initial waterfront stops. If you are planning to visit the entire group, a mix of walking for the local clusters and a short private transport link between the “bottom” and “top” ends of Devonport is highly advisable to save your legs for the hills.
Plymstock
ROUTE 7
13 PUBS
Plymstock
Mount Batten
Clovelly Bay Inn
Boringdon Arms
Royal Oak
Victoria Inn
Drakes Drum
Plymstock Inn
The Staddy
Elburton Inn
The Blue Peter Inn
Billacombe
Kings Arms
Plymstock
The Plymstock area is geographically broad, so the route is best navigated in three distinct stages. Beginning at the waterfront, the Mount Batten, Clovelly Bay Inn, and Boringdon Arms are tucked away in the Turnchapel and Mount Batten peninsula; while these three are walkable relative to each other, they are quite isolated from the rest of the group. To move toward the main village hub, a taxi is highly recommended, as the walk toward the Royal Oak, Victoria Inn, and Plymstock Inn involves navigating busy arterial roads and a significant distance that most would find impractical on foot.
Once you reach the central Plymstock area, the Victoria Inn, Plymstock Inn, and the nearby Drakes Drum form a more manageable walking cluster for those happy to stroll through the suburban centre. However, the outliers, The Staddy and the Elburton Inn sit further east toward the fringe of the South Hams and definitely require a taxi to reach comfortably. Similarly, heading back toward the city via The Blue Peter Inn, the Billacombe, and the Kings Arms near Oreston requires transport between stops, as these venues are spaced along main commuter routes rather than a traditional high street.
Getting Around Safely with Easy Cars
Plymouth on Tap wouldn’t be what it is without the sponsors who get behind it and back the bigger ideas, so a huge thank you to every business that’s already supported the project and helped keep it moving. Your support helps cover the real costs of running it properly, and it means I can keep shining a light on Plymouth’s pubs, telling their stories, and giving the local hospitality scene the attention it deserves.
If you fancy putting your name behind something people actually care about, I’m always up for chatting about sponsorship for events like a pub crawl or the annual Plymouth’s Favourite Pub competition, which reached 6.9 million views on the Facebook page in 2025. Drop me a message and I’ll send over the options.