Luckily, there are many pubs across Devon that have hit the trifecta spot on. From the moors to the beaches, from thatched 14th century coaching inns, to smugglers taverns, here is a round-up of our Devon and Cornwall Editor, Lydia Mansi’s (an East Devon local) top picks:
The Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island
Reached across a tidal causeway, or by the island's famous sea tractor once the water's in, this 1336 smugglers' haunt is all low beams, flagstone floors and roaring fires, with a stone sea wall outside made for watching the tide turn over a pint; few Devon pubs arrive with quite this much theatre.
The Mason's Arms, Branscombe
A thatched fourteenth-century inn in one of the loveliest villages on the Jurassic Coast (and the longest village in England no less), where the stonemasons who built Exeter Cathedral once drank, hence the name. It delivers timber beams, a huge roaring log fire and proper Devon-sourced cooking, with Branscombe's pebble beach a ten-minute stroll away.
Salutation Inn, Topsham
More polished dining destination than spit-and-sawdust local, this 1720s Georgian coaching inn on Topsham's handsome Fore Street pairs a glass-roofed courtyard with its own fishmonger next door, turning day-boat catch from the Exe into some of the finest cooking in the area; well worth the trip in its own right.
Turf Locks, Exe Estuary
One of only a handful of British pubs you genuinely can't drive to (you come on foot, by bike along the Exe Estuary Trail, or by boat taxi). This Grade II-listed spot sits on a unique spit between canal and estuary, making the journey every bit as rewarding as the pint and the garden view waiting at the end.
The Bull Inn, Totnes
Geetie Singh-Watson, who opened the world's first certified organic pub, brings her ‘organic, radical, ethical’ ethos to this eclectic, lovingly restored Totnes inn, where a vegetable-forward, supplier-led kitchen and cracking organic cocktails prove that doing things properly needn't mean doing without.
The Cornish Arms, Tavistock
Named for being the last coaching inn before you hit Cornwall, this seventeenth-century pub at the foot of Dartmoor is where chef-owner John Hooker turns out award-winning food without a scrap of pretension — settle in for a three-course dinner, or simply prop up the bar with a pint and the dog.
The Cary Arms, Babbacombe
Tucked right on the water at the foot of Babbacombe Bay, this self-styled ‘inn on the beach’ blends a proper log-burning welcome with boutique-hotel polish and a little sea-view spa, serving Lyme Bay lobster and line-caught fish with the waves all but lapping at your table. The destination itself rather than the reward at the end of a walk.
FAQs: Best Pubs In Devon
What are the best pubs in Devon?
Seven of the best pubs in Devon are The Pilchard Inn on Burgh Island, The Mason's Arms at Branscombe, the Salutation Inn at Topsham, Turf Locks on the Exe Estuary, The Bull Inn in Totnes, The Cornish Arms in Tavistock and The Cary Arms at Babbacombe. Between them they cover moorland, estuary and beachfront settings, from a fourteenth-century smugglers' haunt to a radically organic town-centre inn.
Which Devon pub can only be reached on foot, by bike or by boat?
Turf Locks, on the Exe Estuary near Exminster, is one of the very few pubs in Britain you can't reach by car. You arrive on foot or by bike along the Exe Estuary Trail, or by boat to its pontoon, which makes the journey part of the appeal.
What is the oldest pub in Devon?
The Pilchard Inn on Burgh Island is one of the oldest, dating back to 1336. Reached across a tidal causeway or by the island's sea tractor when the tide is in, it retains its flagstone floors, low beams and open fires after nearly 700 years.
Is there an organic pub in Devon?
Yes — The Bull Inn in Totnes is a certified organic, "radical and ethical" inn owned by Geetie Singh-Watson, who opened the world's first certified organic pub. Its supplier-led kitchen is vegetable-forward, making it a strong choice for vegetarian and vegan diners as well as meat-eaters.
Which Devon pub is right on the beach?
The Cary Arms at Babbacombe sits directly on the water at the foot of Babbacombe Bay and bills itself as the "inn on the beach." It combines a traditional log-burning welcome with boutique-hotel rooms, a small sea-view spa and local seafood including Lyme Bay lobster.
Which is the best gastropub in Devon for food?
The Cornish Arms in Tavistock is among the best in Devon for food, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand and a long-standing place in the Top 50 Gastropubs list under chef-owner John Hooker. For a more refined, seafood-led menu, the Salutation Inn at Topsham is also a standout, with its own fishmonger next door.
Are there dog-friendly pubs in Devon with rooms?
Yes — several pubs on this list are dog-friendly and offer rooms, including The Mason's Arms at Branscombe, The Cornish Arms in Tavistock and The Cary Arms at Babbacombe. The Bull Inn in Totnes and the Salutation Inn at Topsham also have rooms, so you can make a night of it.
Which Devon pubs are best at the end of a walk?
Turf Locks is the classic reward at the end of a flat estuary walk or cycle, while The Mason's Arms sits a ten-minute stroll from Branscombe beach on the Jurassic Coast, and The Cornish Arms makes an ideal base for walks on Dartmoor. Each pairs a good local pint with easy access to the surrounding countryside or coast path.
