The 10 best pubs in Devon

Telegraph

07-07-2025

A hearty roast in a cosy village pub will be a highlight of any holiday in Devon, and it's best enjoyed after a countryside ramble. The must-visit pubs are convivial and welcoming, serve Devon ales straight from the cask, and have menus that include seasonal and locally-sourced dishes. Many are former coaching inns and have characterful historical features such as inglenook fireplaces, flagstone floors and wood-beamed walls. In summer, nothing beats a pint in a sunny pub garden. From sea-salty smugglers inns, to clean-cut gastro pubs, here's our pick of the best.
For further Devon inspiration, see our guides to the city's best hotels, restaurants, cream teas, beaches and things to do.
Find a pub by area
South Devon
Dartmoor
East Devon
West Devon
Mid & North Devon
South Devon
Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island
The Pilchard Inn is a creaky, weather-beaten smugglers inn dating from 1336 (be sure to ask about the old pirates' escape tunnel). Perched on the tiny, tidal outcrop of Burgh Island Hotel (which inspired Agatha Christie's 1939 novel, And Then There Were None), it's cut off from Bigbury beach twice a day so transport when the tide is in is on high-sided 'sea tractor' – a thrill in itself. Opt for a pint of St Austell's Tribute and crab baguette in front of one of the huge stone fireplaces.
Pigs Nose Inn, East Prawle
Think of Camden Town circa 1985 transported to the middle of the countryside, and you'll get some idea of the alternative feel of this characterful coastal pub. Pigs Nose Inn is run by an eccentric music manager who stages big-name acts in its low-slung bar. Previous bands have included The Animals, the Boomtown Rats and Curiosity Killed the Cat. It's shambolic, laid-back and cluttered with fading muso-memorabilia and rickety furniture. There's a new outdoor pizza oven and cocktail menu, a pool table, toys for children and a 'knitting corner' for those who want to enjoy a drink in peace.
The Cott Inn
Established in 1320, The Cott is one of the oldest inns in Britain, and its roof is reputed to be the longest thatched roof in England. Walkable from the River Dart and just a mile from Totnes train station, it's lively and welcoming, with a strong local following. Outside there's a spacious beer garden and patio plus a wood-fired oven in a separate garden kitchen used from March to September. It's not a rowdy pub, but there are regular music nights.
The Millbrook Inn, South Pool
A wonderfully atmospheric 15th-century bar and restaurant with beamed walls, flagstone floors, an inglenook fireplace and simple wooden furniture. In summer, at high tide, the Millbrook Inn gets mobbed when boaters jet up from Salcombe, but at low tide it's a peaceful retreat cut off from the crowds on the coast. Upmarket pub classics are served up in a cosy, wood-beamed restaurant and use organic local produce when possible – like smoked pork belly with Devon cider sauce or locally-landed fish with brown shrimps, samphire and sauce vierge. Drinkers are well catered for, with a selection of local ales on tap, craft beers, local gins and Scottish single malt whiskies.
Dartmoor
The Rugglestone Inn
With flagstone floors, open fires and Dartmoor-brewed Legend and Rugglestone Moor brews poured straight from the barrel, this Grade-II pub with rooms in the remote village of Widecombe is the moor-dwellers' choice. The rudimentary bar is tiny, giving plenty of opportunity to join in locals' conversations. The two restaurants – one of which has an open log fire – are spacious, and outside, over a small bridge, is a large sheltered garden with fabulous Dartmoor views. Guest ales from the southwest are on tap, and local farm ciders, including Sandford Orchards Devon Red, are also available.
NoBody Inn, Doddiscombsleigh
An entire wall of this traditional 17th-century inn is given over to its collection of 240 whiskies and spirits, and there's a 100-strong wine list. Blackened oak beams, antiquated weapons and farm tools hang from rough plaster walls. There's story in every nook; the central beam separating two periods of the inn is from a local church's bell tower; you can see where ropes have worn the wood away. Don't miss a pint of NoBody Inn ale, which is brewed in St Austell in Cornwall.
East Devon
The Bridge Inn, Topsham
Owned by the same family since 1897, this 16th-century cob-and-stone pub in the pretty waterside town of Topsham is a 'museum-with-beer', where little has changed for centuries (faded bunting from George V's coronation in 1911 still hangs in the tiny bar). With up to 10 ales poured straight from the cask, it's a must for connoisseurs, especially because measures come in a third of a pint, allowing for a wider variety of tasting. Regular drinkers leave Post-It notes on their favourite barrels of beer, asking to be rung when a fresh barrel is opened.
West Devon
The Ship Inn, Noss Mayo
The sun terrace of this two-storey inn on the banks of the Yealm estuary is a wonderful place for a waterside tipple. The Ship Inn has oak floors, log fires, old furniture, bookcases stacked with paperbacks and interesting nautical memorabilia, including searchlights, torpedoes and an impressive ship's bell used for chiming last orders. The cellar stocks a great range of regional beers, including Summerskill's, which is brewed just down the road. Nearby, the local sailing school has an excellent reputation, there is nearby boat hire, plenty of easy coastal walks and great crabbing spots.
Mid & North Devon
The Rock Inn
Close to Woolacombe and Croyde, The Rock Inn in Georgeham is perfectly placed for a post-surf roast. Meat is all sourced locally, with deli boards piled high with Devon-cured charcuterie. The little wooden bar has five cask ales to choose from, including Otter and Exmoor Gold, as well as an extensive wine list. Book a table by the fire in the bar for the cosiest setting. There's a large 'conservatory' at the back, but it lacks atmosphere.
The Rising Sun, Lynmouth
Overlooking Lynmouth harbour, with dramatic views of Lynmouth Bay and Exmoor National Park, this 14th-century thatched smugglers' inn is in one of Devon's most picturesque locations. Inside, it's wonderfully rickety and rambling, with a fire-lit bar, padded window seats with views of the harbour, Exmoor cask ales, award-winning food and genial locals. It's little wonder RD Blackmore felt compelled to write several chapters of his West Country classic, Lorna Doone, here, and poet Percy Bysshe Shelley spent his honeymoon in one of the pub's cottages with his 16-year-old bride, Harriet, in 1812.
How we choose
Every bar, venue or experience in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from casual pubs to exquisite cocktail bars – to best suit every type of traveller – and consider the service, drinks, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up to date recommendations.
About our expert
Epic scenery, cosy pubs and a strong community spirit drew Suzy Bennett from East London to a remote village on Dartmoor over a decade ago. She travels everywhere with her dog, Ziggy.