Rock

Pub Details

Address
Haytor Vale
Haytor Vale
Devon
TQ13 9XP
Telephone
(01364) 661305
Opening Times
Weekdays
11 - 11
Sundays
12 - 10.30
Closed
25th and 26th Dec

Location

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Civilised Dartmoor inn at its most informal at lunchtime; super food, real ales, and seats in pretty garden; comfortable bedrooms Cleverly appealing to the more informal lunchtime customers (many then are walkers from Dartmoor National Park) as well as to those expecting a more formal evening meal and comfortable overnight stay, this is an especially well run and civilised inn. The two neatly kept communicating, partly panelled bar rooms have lots of dark wood and red plush, polished antique tables with candles and fresh flowers, old-fashioned prints and decorative plates on the walls and warming winter log fires (the main fireplace has a fine Stuart fireback). Dartmoor Jail Ale, Otter Bright and St Austell Dartmoor Best on handpump, ten wines (plus champagne) by the glass and several malt whiskies. A new light and spacious dining room has been added to the lower part of the inn and the residents' lounge is now larger and more comfortable. There are seats in the large, pretty garden opposite, with tables and chairs on a small terrace next to the pub itself. The bedrooms are comfortable with good facilities (some are up steep stairs), and the breakfasts are highly thought-of. There is a car park at the back.

Good Pub Guide Food

Particularly good food (they name their local suppliers) includes lunchtime ploughman's, butternut squash risotto with crème fraîche and steak in ale pie, with evening choices such as steamed mussels in white wine and cream, duo of beef with spinach and truffle mash and bass fillet on niçoise salad with lemon and caper dressing; they also offer a two- and three-course set menu.

Good Pub Information

Dogs allowed in: Dogs Bedrooms

Rating

  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
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Rating: 3/5 (151 votes cast)

Reader Comments

madmountainman

Saturday 03 March 2012 11:09:21 am

This is a smashing pub in a lovely location with superb walking in all directions. We visit there a few times a year to go walking followed by a pub lunch. The food is lovingly prepared and cooked and we had tempura prawns with sweet chill dip as a starter, followed up with goats cheese and caramelised onion tart and fish and chips. The prawns were delicious, care of a wonderfully light crisp batter and being cooked to perfection, which the same can be said for the other fish dishes on the menu. Follow this with a light vanilla panacotta or caramelised lemon tart with ginger ice-cream. The only suggestion i could make to improve on their food standard, would be to stop using frozen chips. For the extra effort involved in preparing and cooking home done real chips, the pub would be worthy of a five star rating, and i'd have to visit more often! Very well kept Jail Ale is on tap, as well as other guest beers and a good wine list. There are plenty of places to sit, with rooms to suit different ambiences, from the dark and quiet corner to the light and airy conservatory, or the garden outside. Car parking is limited as the pub is in the heart of the village, on a narrow lane. If you're fit and able, park in the public car park on the village outskirts and amble down. As already mentioned, there are some lovely walks in the area. You can walk from the pub and arrive back in time for lunch or, as we do, park at Manaton and there's a route that takes you up to Hay Tor, via Hound Tor in time for lunch, followed by a long amble down the tramway and through Houndtor Woods to get back to the car.

Pippa

Wednesday 06 October 2010 5:50:13 pm

Really good food in the evening, restaurant quality but without sacrificing the pub to it. Wish there were more like this one - the beer was good too.

FionaBrown1

Thursday 16 September 2010 7:31:35 am

Very friendly and helpful staff, great food and wine and a lovely relaxed atmosphere - a perfect pub.

neilandanita

Monday 02 November 2009 5:16:26 pm

Only popped in for a lunchtime pint while out walking but we were impressed and hope to return

Neil & Anita Christopher

justjudy

Wednesday 05 August 2009 7:28:47 pm

lovely pub, good food[ pie was great] helpful staff

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