Beautiful Beer Spots in South Devon

Guest Blog Post - Powderkeg Brewery

Powderkeg is an award-winning craft brewery nestled in the green rolling hills of the East Devon countryside, a stone’s throw from the coast and minutes from the Pebblebed Heaths. We’re lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing farms  shops and beautiful pubs, so we’re sharing a few of our favourite drinking spots. Whether you’re visiting on holiday or exploring your home county, there are always special places to discover in Devon.

Is there anything better than taking a little time out to enjoy the ambience, cold pint in hand? Whether you like to be on the moor, beside the sea, in a tranquil village or a buzzy city, South Devon’s got it all. Even if you’re hit by our Great British summer rain, there are so many cosy nooks where you can settle in for a couple of relaxing pints that you won’t even miss the sun.

TOP SPOTS

The Bridge Inn, Topsham

Topsham is definitely worth a stop off on your way into Devon, located just 10 mins from the M5. It used to be the port for Exeter so has beautiful old merchant’s houses, now full of independent shops and nice places to eat and drink.

The Bridge is a unique and quirky pub that has been in the same family since 1897, but the pub is much older than that – possibly dating back to Domesday. Right on river Exe tributary the Clyst, it has lots of outside seating overlooking the weir with occasional herons. Inside seating consists of a maze of tiny ancient rooms, and there is no bar – guests are served a range of cask ales from the family’s living room. Open 12-2.30 and then from 5.30.

Insider tip: Take a look at the Malthouse at the back of the pub if you can. It’s traditional Devon cobb and is where the pub malted their own barley, centuries ago. It’s now home to regular folk music nights.

Agricultural Inn, Brampford Speake

Just outside Exeter this handsome pub has built a reputation for consistently good food, mostly pub classics but with a great range of starters and nibbles. However, the jewel in this pub’s crown is it’s ‘secret garden’, an enchanting leafy courtyard leading to a large patio with tipis, garden games and rustic furniture. It’s all-weather with plenty of covered seating including cute huts, and a separate menu for outdoor dining of Asian-style buns, bites and noodles. They have eschewed all big brands, instead proudly featuring a local product range of high-quality drinks. The gold standard of pubs!

Inside tip: The Spam Fritters are legendary if you fancy some retro cuisine

Teign House, Teign Valley

This lovely traditional Devon pub is in the Teign Valley, not far from Exeter but a world away from hustle and bustle. Cosy inside with a lovely beer garden and a reputation for fabulous and well-priced food, including a curry menu. They have a good range of local ales and cider, visiting food trucks, and occasional beer festivals, so check out what’s on.

Insider tip: There’s a camping field next to the pub on the riverbank, so you can while away a summer’s evening in the beer garden and it’s only a few steps to bed.

Exeter Inn, Thorverton

If you wanted to show overseas visitors a super traditional pub, you can’t do much better than this. Adorned with brasses, guns and old farming implements and roaring open fires it’s classic pub décor but run in a fresh modern way. It’s 3rd generation family ownership, but run as a community pub by volunteers from the village, so you’re guaranteed a warm welcome. They have good modern options in terms of food and drinks including a Sunday brunch and several cakes of the week, and there’s a small but pretty beer garden.

Insider tip: The Sunday brunch options are imaginative and delicious, and you could walk it off at Killerton, a National Trust property just 15 mins drive away.

The Old Warehouse, Kingsbridge

If you’re looking for something more contemporary and vibey, then head to this funky venue which is creating a real buzz. They have regular music gigs, an on-site meadery and a lovely big yard with handmade booths. The chef offers a refined take on dude food with charcoal-cooked burgers, chops and steaks, plus smaller plates and inventive puddings.

Inside tip: Try the award winning sparkling craft mead which is something you won’t find anywhere else.

Things Happen Here

Also at the modern and vibrant end of things is this multi-purpose space on the edge of the Dartington Estate. Depending on which day of the week you visit you might find live music, comedy, DJs, games nights or beer tastings. It’s a relaxed, informal space with plenty of outside seating and a few play items for kids. ‘When the Sun Hits’, their outside DJ sessions are a real slice of Totnes life. They have a big range of craft beers all brewed for them locally – their helles lager is made by Powderkeg – and the food is good value burgers, pizza and paella on rotation.

Inside tip: On ‘Well Good Wednesdays’ get a pizza and a pint for £13

The Woodland Café

At this charming venue 5 minutes from the A38 at Newton Abbot, owner Stu cooks up delicious breakfasts, lunches and woodfired pizzas, with plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. They do a full range of drinks including cocktails and craft beer. At weekends there is regular live music in the tipi from good quality acts, plus games, fire pits and fairy lights for that festival atmosphere.

Inside tip: You can book the whole place out for a private celebration which works brilliantly for mixed age gatherings, with table tennis, table football and woodland walks- you can even stay at the neighbouring yurt village.

East Dart Inn, Postbridge, Dartmoor

Ideal for a hearty meal after a stomp on Dartmoor. Situated next to the historic clapper bridge at Postbridge, with wild ponies wandering around and tors nearby, it doesn’t get more Dartmoor than this. Lots of lovely local drinks on offer from a diligent landlady looking to offer visitors a quality experience.

Insider tip: East Dart Pilsner is none other than our multi award-winning Cut Loose pilsner, made over 50 days and dry-hopped for a zesty finish.

Greendale Farm Shop

Who doesn’t love a good farm shop, and this one has plenty to offer. As well as a huge fish counter, deli and full butchery, it also has an on-site café where you can get our Speak Easy pale ale, very good value Greendale ale and lager (Brewed by Powderkeg) as well as a full range of meals and cakes. Outside there are animal pens to wander around, including wallabies and ostriches, tractors to sit on, and lots of outside seating, so it’s a great place to go with kids.

Insider tip: It’s 7 mins from the M5 at Exeter so makes a good stop off if you’re travelling further. The takeaway kids portion of fish and chips does nicely for a modest lunch, washed down with a can of our famous low-alc beer Green Light, which you’ll find in the chiller cabinet next to the sandwiches – perfect for an onward journey.

Bantham Beach GastroBus

Just across the river mouth from the famous Bigbury Island is Bantham Beach, a beautiful unspoilt spot with views across to the famous island. It has the bonus of a gaggle of refreshment trucks set back from the beach, serving pizza, burgers, sweet treats, ice creams and delicious cold beverages, including freshly pulled pints of Powderkeg, as well as an array of cans. They close at 5 so it’s better as a lunch or afternoon spot, and there’s no cover so judge the weather before you head there.

Insider tip: Bantham beach is still good at high tide, whereas Bigbury disappears completely. Although it’s a gentle incline the currents can be tricky, so pay attention to the lifeguards.

ALSO WORTH A VISIT

Five Bells, Clyst Hydon

For a classic Devon thatched pub, you can’t do much better than the Five Bells. Blessed with a large garden bordering a stream, complete with willow trees, it’s chocolate box perfect. Now under community ownership, they invite different food trucks in to serve everything from roasts and fish and chips to smokehouse bbq.

Chagford Inn, Chagford

The historic town of Chagford is nestled in the Eastern edges of Dartmoor, not far from Castle Drogo and the picturesque Teign River valley. There are plenty of good walks nearby and ancient standing stones to be discovered. The Chagford Inn has a sterling reputation for food and a beautiful walled garden, and you can often find a pint of Speak Easy there.

The Millbrook Inn, Southpool, nr Kingsbridge

A super charming old pub with outdoor seating next to a millstream complete with stepping stones, very suitable for an afternoon paddle. It has a stylish rustic interior, an inventive menu, a good range of local beers and ciders, and is probably much better value than anything in nearby Salcombe

Kings Arms, Otterton

The village of Otterton is pretty and charming, and you can walk down footpaths along the river – all the way to the sea if you want, through the recently restored Otter Estuary Nature Reserve. There’s a working mill to visit where they grind their own flour, sold from a small but well stocked farm shop, and there’s a café and craft gallery too. Across the road in the spacious Kings Arms you can get good classic pub meals and roasts, Powderkeg beers and there’s outside seating and a pleasant sloping garden.

Tally Ho, Littlehempston

A dog-friendly 14th century pub in a village just outside Totnes, community-owned, and run by a couple with a passion for good hospitality. At the Tally Ho you will find an excellent bistro-style menu, a nice garden, and inside a classic sit-up bar adds to the convivial atmosphere.

Tabac

Tabac is an intimate French-style drinking spot in the heart of Exeter, with outside bench seating under awnings next to the train station for that Parisian vibe. Although on the pricey side their selection of craft beers from near and far is excellent, and there are lots of interesting wines and spirits too. The friendly crowd gives it an almost-doesn’t-feel-like-the-UK atmos.

The Tors Inn, Belstone, near Okehampton

You’ve never seen a pub garden with a view like this – picnic tables on a green hillside, rolling straight onto Dartmoor, complete with wandering cows. The Tors have an outside ‘Shed’ bar serving up local cider, bbq food and of course pints like our Speak Easy pale ale. It’s renowned for great food, locally sourced with good vegan options and epic Sunday roasts. A sign outside warns traffic to go slow for ‘Feral kids, wild animals and drunken chefs’.

The Turf, Exminster

Beware, this pub is near nothing at all. You have to arrive by walking, cycling or on the water. But what a view. Sandwiched between the canal and the river Exe, you are basically on an island. They do serve food and some local drinks such as the excellent Bar Buoy cocktails. If you aren’t boating in, get the passenger ferry over from Topsham then walk or cycle down.

This is just a small selection of the many amazing places we are blessed with in Devon; everyone has their own personal favourites. Go on, ask a local their favourite spot – you might discover something new.