Woods

Smartly informal place with exceptional wines, real ales, first rate food and a good mix of customers

?A real diamond' is how one of our readers describes this excellent pub, and once visited, who could disagree? There are satisfied diners to the right and happy drinkers enjoying a drink and a chat to the left. The pub is on the edge of Exmoor, so there are plenty of good sporting prints on salmon pink walls, antlers and other hunting trophies, stuffed birds and a couple of salmon rods. By the bar counter are bare boards, daily papers, tables partly separated by stable-style timbering and masonry dividers, and (on the right) a carpeted area with a woodburning stove in a big fireplace; maybe unobjectionable background music. The marvellous drinks choice includes Hop Back Crop Circle and St Austell Cornish Best and HSD tapped from the cask, farm cider, many sherries and some unusual spirits - but it's the stunning wine list that draws the most attention. Mr Groves reckons he could put 1,000 different wines up on the bar and will open any of them (with a value of up to £100) for just a glass. He is there every night and will happily chat to tables of restaurant customers about any wines they might be interested in. Big windows look on to the quiet town centre (there are also a couple of metal tables on the pavement) and a small suntrap courtyard at the back has a few picnic-sets.