Pubs & Bars
When you think about the pubs of North Devon, no doubt an image of thatched roofs, cosy beam lined rooms and a roaring fire come to mind, and you won’t be disappointed. The vast majority of the pubs in this region, whether they are recently refurbished, catering to families, offering extensive menus or just your traditional village water hole will have all these features and more. These quintessentially Devonshire buildings can be found all along the coastline and inland, offering a haven to relax during your adventures and serving artisan ales, local ciders and home-cooked food.
North Devon is bursting with all kinds of pubs and bars from the traditional, to those that are family friendly and gastro pubs. Many of which are also dog friendly and are conveniently located along some of the most popular walking and cycling trails, ready to help you refresh and rejuvenate while you’re out and about.
During the winter months, these establishments have warm, comforting fires while in the summer, you can enjoy the weather in one of the many beer gardens by dining alfresco and gazing out to sea.
Relaxing drink or party atmosphere
If you are looking for a night out on the tiles, North Devon has a great night-time scene. You’ll find cool beach-side bars, cocktail and gin bars and just about everything else in between.
For those of you who want a party atmosphere, head to the town centres where you can find the region’s clubs and bars. Barnstaple and Woolacombe are both home to a selection of establishments offering themed nights and your usual party atmosphere.
There is no need to pressure yourself into staying out late and dancing the night away if that isn’t your scene. The region is home to a good many pubs and bars offering something a bit quieter and relaxing, with live local music, board games and the perfect atmosphere for catching up with your friends over a pint or two.
Looking for somewhere casual to eat? Check out the various restaurants and cafes that can be found in North Devon
Supporting local drink producers
As you would expect from a region that is full of top quality local produce and a group of friendly creatives, there are a whole host of local distilleries and breweries operating in North Devon and supplying many of the pubs and bars with drinks made right here. Of course, you’ll find several varieties of cider, one of the west country’s main exports, but you’ll also find locally made wines, whiskies, vodkas and gin.
Gin has had a bit of a resurgence in recent times and in North Devon, there are several distilleries making truly amazing gin flavoured with the very best of local botanicals. One such distiller, Wicked Wolf Gin, is made in Lynton and was one of the first distilleries to be located on Exmoor. The eleven botanicals are individually distilled and blended on the moor and each bottle is created by hand giving you a truly local and unique taste. While many of the local pubs and bars will have these brands available by the glass or the bottle, make sure to look out for them when ordering and use it as a good excuse to sample each flavour!