double locks

My favorite place to go in Exeter, hands down! Gorgeous dining area outside and very spacious … It’s along the canal, where the dog is welcome to come along and hop in the water while you sit back with a beer and chips!

The walk to this pub from Exeter was one of the reasons why my husband and I made the decision to move from Canada to live here. What a stunning location!
The pub is surrounded by natural beauty, and we loved the peaceful setting. We only had a pint each, so I cannot comment on the food, but I highly recommend this tucked-​out-​of-​the-​way pub to anyone who fancies something a bit different. It was a joy to stop here, and we can’t wait until the next time!

Excellent beer, and a perfect place to visit on a warm summer’s evening. Only eaten there once, and the food was just what the doctor ordered after a long walking day.

Often very crowded. Food average pub grub. Used to be great but now it’s got too big for itself and wants to cram in as many people as possible and make money at all costs. Shame.

They are currently doing the place up so some of the negatives might have been resolved so, don’t right the place off yet.
Those cyclists of slightly above average will not find the DL’s far enough. You leave exeter, just get your pace and your there. That could be an advanatge for you, it might be a reason to keep on going to the turf?
Beer always a good selection — I think its a Youngs owned pub so they will have youngs plus other ales.
I agree it can be a bit chavvie, but you will find plenty worse pubs for that than this. — Let me explain 18 – 20 young lads, shirt off kicking football or rugby ball about the big open beer garden.
Good for dogs and so dog owners.
Yes they do food, but I don’t eat here. The food is not as good as it was 7 8 years ago.
Still like the place and still stop by 10 times a year for a few pints on sunny days and evenings.
I’m going with a positive 4* which I admit is possibly a bit generous, but I do have a soft spot for the place.

Very much a Marmite pub … you’ll either love or hate it! Small and cramped inside, with a very small bar. Always seems a little dirty and nothing really matches! Saying that, I love the place. The food is very basic but always very yummy. The real gem of this pub is the outside space and the summer vibe. As the name hints, the pub is right next to the locks and so you can’t really beat it for location. take your own ball and enjoy a spot of volley ball on the permanent court marked out in the huge beer garden Take a seat on the grass, out front or along the side next to the water. During the warmer months they open the garden bar and light the BBQ.
Definitely worth a visit — cycle there (it’s on the Exeter cycle route), walk from the quay (it’s a couple of miles) or you can even drive (the little bridge is a wee bit of a squeeze).

If you’re in Exeter with a bike, Double Locks is the pub to ride to. It can be a victim of it’s own success in the summer when it gets busy but there is plenty of outdoor space. A great selection of ales that constantly changes and a nice menu makes it worth the ride. Leave the car at home.

The Double Locks is, in my opinion, very much a curate’s egg of a pub. On the positive side, there is always a range of well-​kept, gravity drawn real ales available; a pint on a Summer’s day alongside the canal is quite idyllic; there is often live music of a weekend; it is brilliant for families, as long as the weather is good. However, there are quite a few negativesthe food is nothing special, it promises a lot more than it delivers; the food and drink is a little expensive; the whole place is filthy; the toilets are rank; it gets very busy despite the unindicated road route that would stump all but locals. So, caveat emptor. It’s worth a visit, occasionally, on a nice day but don’t build your hopes up.

Tricky to get to depending on the trafic through Marsh Barton.
Or cycle; which is easy!
It is a bit far by foot, if you have little children and setting out from Exeter.
Wonderful location where children can play.
Staff = friendly (very)
Food = pub food (average)
Value= average
Location = on the canal _​bit of a trek

Double locks is a great place to go both in the summer and winter.
Great for a treat when you are out for a walk or a stop of place if you are cycling. The only trouble is you might not want to walk back after eating too much of the delicious food!
Situated on the Exeter canal, it is set in a beautiful spot, full of peace and tranquility. If you want to you can always drive, catch a ferry or even use a canoe for the more adventurous.
The atmosphere is fantastic, the smell of the real log fire is inviting and they serve extensive real ales and great no nonsence food. They even have live bands sometimes.
Child friendly, it has an extensive garden and is a great place in the summer for children to play outside while you wind away the afternoons!

I often cycle to this pub in the summer time from Dawlish Warren. Its a lovely cycle ride, although a little narrow uin places, but one of the things that keeps me going is knowing that when i get to this pub I will be able to enjoy a beer and some good food in the summer sun.
Gets very busy in the summer, with cyclists, walkers and tourists but its a lovely location and great to sit outside and watch the world go by.
Its quite small inside and probably not the best pub to visit in the winter but its the best in the summer.
Looking forward to summer 2009 now!

The double Locks is a nice pub to visit during the summer, and it is only a short and pleasant bike ride from Exeter city. However, the food is overpriced, and the waiting times are very very long during busy times. The beer is good and the staff helpful. It is a reasonable music venue, although there is too much glass and not enough space for to be a really good band setting. They do have an outdoor performance area, but that is a total wash out if it rains. You can make a pub crawl of it if you keep riding down to the Turf Locks, and during the summer it’s a pleasant trip.

This is many Exonian’s summer favorite — a nice walk along to the canal to drink /​bbq /​play outdoor volleyball in this sprawling place. the food is simple but tasty and good value.
THe beer festival that they hold here on the May-​day bank holiday weekend is always packed.

The Double Locks has as good a location as any pub could have. On the side of the river, it’s popular with walkers and drinkers alike, and the atmosphere outside on warm evenings is always good. The food and drink are both pub classic fare, with a good selection of ales. If you fancy a trip out of town, a walk or a cycle ride followed by a few at the pub makes for a great day/​evening out.

All pubs should be like this. Great place to chill out, all ages and types of people feel comfortable and welcome. Good hearty food: bangers and mash, pies, stuffed ciabattas and famous for real ale. In the summer there are tables outside on the deck by the canal and a great area for kids to run around and play. In winter there are several inside rooms, best to sit near the fire. Its simple, no ‘décor’, very unpretentious. Its nice to sit and play a board game on a winters afternoon, somehow lunch here turns into the whole afternoon as it’s such a relaxing place. By car you reach it over a tiny bridge from the March Barton industial estate.

Brilliant pub, popular with everyone. The beer gardens are big and they often have barbeques in the summer. A wide range of drinks are served and good traditional food. I’ve always thought of it as more of a place to go in the summer though as it is quite small inside.

This used to be a truly wonderful pub and to some extent is still living off the reputation from 15 – 20 years ago but is still worth a visit. Nestling on the river Exe, this pub is popular with walkers, dog walkers, cyclists and students, families with children and real ale enthusiasts — oh and canoeists and fishermen — just about everyone then!
The food is fine, although not as fantastic as it used to be, and a good range of ale is served — not so great if you’re a wine drinker, but the setting makes up for that. Gardens in the summer and a cosy fire in the winter, it is an undeniably comfortable pub.

Brilliant pub to go to brilliant location quiet and out in the open lovely walk too

Double Locks is definately the place to be on a warm summer day as it has a big garden which sits right on the river.
You can walk/​cycle from the quay (about 20 mins walk) or this is a ferry which operates from the quay as well.
For the slightly more adventurous you can hire a canoe from the quay and paddle down to the pub. I recommend not drinking too much if you do this as you need to remember you have to paddle back as well.

The double locks in an Exeter classic. Its an adventure getting here too. You’re obliged to cycle/​walk here from town cos its a lovely journey. Of course there are other ways, but then food and real ales are even more well deserved. The food is great old school fare and the drinks are great. There is a massive beer garden too. A summer classic.