Archive for the ‘Devon’ Category
South Devon Holiday Update 2011
Sep 15th, 2011 |
Recently back from south Devon after my annual stay on a farm at Wembury near Plymouth. The weather was kind some of the time and there were visits to some good pubs too.
The Odd Wheel, Wembury
The Odd Wheel, Wembury, Devon
Given it’s location just down the road from the farm it’s not surprising that this was on the agenda. I’m pleased to note that the pub is still attracting locals and tourists after being reopened in late July 2010 following a long closure. There have been some tweaks to the interior and there is now some new play equipment for the younger pub goers as well.
The number of real ales available at any one time has stabilised at 5 all of which are served via hand pump. Courage Best is still a permanent fixture but Sharps, St Austell and local Summerskills beers were available during the week and my takeaway container was busy. The Sharps Honey Gold was superb and my favourite from the week, but all the beers I tried were obviously kept well.
It still saddens me that faced with a good selection of beers there are still people who plump for the John Smiths on keg – aargh!
The Odd Wheel is a popular eating venue now and the food was good but not the best from the week – see The Foxhound below. Booking a table is strongly advised in the evenings during the peak holiday months. There are expensive items on the menu but some cheaper items are there too – and a childrens menu.
Read the full pub review of the Odd Wheel.
Clovelly Bay Inn, Turnchapel
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- Clovelly Bay Inn
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- On the bar at the Clovelly Bay Inn
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- Painting a new window for the door
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- The specials menu
One evening we headed over to Turnchapel after a gap of some years. The road around Staddon Fort provides some breathtaking views over the bay to Plymouth.
Turnchapel is a tiny, cramped little place and I would seriously advise not attempting to drive down the narrow hill to get to the pubs as parking is almost non-existent and finding somewhere to turn round is a challenge too. Having learned from previous visits we parked at the top of the hill and walked down.
There are two pubs in Turnchapel and the Clovelly Bay Inn is the first one you come to – on the left. It has a striking new coat of yellow paint so you shouldn’t miss it. It’s the current (2011) local CAMRA Pub of the Year – an award it stole from the Borringdon Arms just a little further up the road.
Four real ales and a real cider were available. I tried a taster of all the beers and liked the Dartmoor Legend the best followed by the Cottage Wicked Hound. My wife enjoyed the Skinners cider too.
Some might consider the food a little pricey but the quality is superb and the portions are large. The pub was initially quite empty at 6pm but quickly filled up. The atmosphere was very friendly and it would be a superb pub to have as a local. There were big smiles from all the family for the Clovelly Bay Inn.
The Foxhound, Brixton
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- The Fox Hound, Brixton, Devon
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- The Fox Hound, Brixton, Devon
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- Inside the Fox Hound
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- The pub sign
Walked from the farm in Wembury over to Brixton one evening along the Erme Plym Trail. Our aim was to visit the Foxhound which Ron had kindly recommended to me in the comments for the Odd Wheel, Wembury review. Compared to walking along a regular pavement the walk was perhaps a bit demanding for my 6 year old but even she agreed it was worth it afterwards.
The Foxhound is on the main A379 road in the centre of the village and right next to the chip shop. There are two main bar areas and a small dining room off to one side at the back of the pub.
There were five hand pumps on the bar with some local choices (two from Summerskills) and some from further afield. Booking tables is advisable as the pub does get full of diners.
For the younger children there’s a box of toys. Bizarrely this is placed close to the bar in the larger of the two seating areas. Those wishing a child free drink may prefer the smaller bar on the right as you come through the front door.
We didn’t walk back to Wembury but used the reasonably priced local taxi firm.
The Odd Wheel, Wembury has Reopened
Aug 11th, 2010 |
I was on holiday in Wembury, Devon last week and I’m pleased to announce that Wembury’s only pub – the Odd Wheel was reopened in late July 2010.
You may have seen from previous posts that the pub closed in the autumn of 2009 and was for sale for many months. It appears that the owner of the Elburton Hotel in nearby Elburton recently acquired the Odd Wheel and has reopened it after a major refurb.
The Odd Wheel, Wembury has Reopened: Read the full post »
Odd Wheel Wembury Update
Jul 14th, 2010 |
You may have read on my review of the Odd Wheel at Wembury in Devon that the pub was closed and was listed as for sale by a company called Bettesworths. Odd Wheel Wembury Update: Read the full post »
The Double Locks, Exeter
Sep 18th, 2009 |
We popped in to the Double Locks on the canal near Exeter for lunch on the way down to our recent holiday Wembury. It’s an old favourite of mine and I’ve been coming here sporadically for 30 years.
The Double Locks, Exeter
The pub building itself hasn’t changed in that time, but what was originally a free house selling mainly Wadworths 6X became a Smiles pub in the late 90s and then a Young’s pub after the demise of the Bristol brewery.
Although a Young’s pub the beer selection does still feature some local Devon beers – notably from O’Hanlons and Branscombe Vale. Many of these are served on gravity from barrels racked up behind the bar and I’ve no proof but I bet they all outsell the Young’s own beers. The beers are all well looked after and my usual favourite is the O’Hanlons Yellowhammer (although that had run out).
The canal-side location for the Double Locks is superb in good weather and the pub is best approached on foot or by bike. By car the pub is tricky to find and then you have to drive across an extremely narrow bridge over the canal to get onto the towpath and then on to the car park.
My curse on the residents of Exeter is that is always rains when I visit the Double Locks so we have to eat and drink inside. Whilst I love the place, not all members of my family agree and liken the inside to a bus station waiting room. It’s not helped matters that sometimes the food has been a bit average in the past. This summer however it was pretty good. I still may struggle to keep everyone onside next summer.
I’ve just noticed that the Double Locks is no longer in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. I’m wondering if that’s because the competition in the area has got better – I hadn’t noticed any drop in beer quality on my (admittedly infrequent) visits.
You can read a more recent review of the Double Locks here.
Holiday Pubs in Devon
Sep 15th, 2009 |
Last month I took a family holiday in Devon which prevented me from attending the Great British Beer Festival. However I wasn’t too disappointed as I visited a couple of good pubs when in the area and another old favourite on the way there.
The Odd Wheel, Wembury
Highlight of the week was the Odd Wheel in Wembury, near Plymouth. The farm where we were staying was just up the road and my nightly pilgrimmage down the road with a takeaway container didn’t take too long – unless of course I stopped for a drink whilst I was there.
The Odd Wheel, Wembury, Devon
The Odd Wheel is going through a period of transition from its previous incarnation as a 70s timewarp, but the new managers are keen to ensure that people have a good time whilst there. They’re also keen to carry on the Odd Wheel’s tradition of selling good quality west country beers. Whilst there I tried the following: Skinners Heligan Honey, Skinners Ginger Tosser, South Hams Devon Pride, Dartmoor Jail and Dartmoor IPA, plus one or two others that I don’t remember. Whilst I was there they also were selling Courage Best (why?), and Sharps Doom Bar made a swift appearance on the quiz night but went very quickly.
There are no handpumps on the bar – all the beers are served straight from the barrel in the cellar.
Certainly I felt like I’d been to a beer festival at the end of the week, but I was able to sip beer overlooking the Atlantic. Superb, and I can’t wait until next summer.
Read a more recent review of the Odd Wheel, Wembury here.
The Mussel Inn, Down Thomas
Also in the Wembury area, the Mussel Inn in is the tiny village of Down Thomas. My wife and I popped out here for an evening meal leaving the girls behind to be minded at the farm.
It’s definitely geared up as a restaurant but they are happy for people to just drink as well. The St Austell Tribute here was very good. The food was not bad either – although slightly let down by the desserts.
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