Good Pub Guide Recommended
Smartly informal place with exceptional wines, real ales, first rate food and a good mix of customers
?This never disappoints' and ?an absolute gem' is how customers describe this particularly well run inn. There's a fantastic mix of both drinkers and diners and the atmosphere is gently civilised yet informally friendly. 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, Otter Ale and St Austell Cornish Best 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.
Bar food times: 12-2, 6-9.30; 12-2, 7-9 Sun
The excellent food uses produce from their own farm: sandwiches, seared scallops with rhubarb, vanilla, curry and coriander, duck, pigeon and foie gras terrine with spiced apple jelly, hazelnut cream and toasted brioche, chestnut risotto with truffle oil and parmesan, chicken breast with bubble and squeak, roasted beetroot and wholegrain mustard velouté, plaice fillets with tiger prawns, herb salad and caper and shrimp nut brown butter, confit leg and roast loin of local lamb with fondant potato, confit garlic and salsa verde, and puddings such as vanilla pannacotta with poached rhubarb and stem ginger ice-cream and sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and clotted cream ice-cream.
Awards

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Wine Award

Food Award
Information

Accepts Credit Cards

Meals & Snacks

Sandwiches

Separate Restaurant

Cask Ales

Background Music

Dogs allowed

Dedicated children area
Worth a Visit Pubs Nearby
Other Pubs Nearby
Key

Good Pub Guide recommended

Worth a visit

Information Only

Pub Closed