Ye Olde Jolly Sailor

A Little History

The oldest pub in Teignmouth...

Whilst not in its present form or under its current name, records in Exeter describe an ale house on the site since 1132.

Centuries ago, the ferry from Shaldon would land where the fish quay now stands – hence the Jolly Sailor was known as ‘The Ferryboat’.

History has been kind to the Jolly Sailor. It survived the French invasion of the 1690’s, as they sailed into the estuary and ransacked the town.

Fortunately, the French used the historic pub as their headquarters, and for this reason it remains one of the oldest buildings left standing.

Times gone by...

In past times, where the fireplace in the bottom area of the pub now houses a wood burner, many priests would hide up in the chimney to avoid persecution.

In more recent days, the Jolly Sailor appeared in the 1966 film ‘Press for Time’ (starring Norman Wisdom), where he was seen running in and out of the bar.

Ye Olde Jolly Sailor is a family-run public house situated on the Teign estuary. We also host a quiz night every Tuesday at 8pm with great prizes on every round!

Our History

East Street Pub Co. traces its roots to the charming Devon town of Newton Abbot.

Our journey began with the Union Inn, located on, you guessed it 'East Street' and soon expanded to include the Rio Grande and Olive Tapas venues, both just around the corner.

Founded by the Narvidge Family, local to the area and driven by a passion for creating something unique and exceptional, the family vision has grown remarkably over the years.
Expanding with new venues in Paignton and Teignmouth. While Olive later closed, Rio Grande underwent a major refurbishment in 2019, reopening as Twelve Twenty, a nod to the year Newton Abbot’s iconic clocktower was built.

Today, our portfolio includes over nine venues across South Devon, including the vibrant themed activity site VIVA in Torquay and the one-of-a-kind street golf experience on Paignton seafront, beneath The Hyde Dendy.

Each of our venues offers a unique experience, but all are united by a dedication to exceptional service, food, and drink, rooted in our core values.