User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
Approving photos with rpadam on the Pub Forum

The Hunters Inn, Barnstaple

Pub added by elizabeth mcgraw
Heddon Valley
Heddon Valley
Postal town: Barnstaple
EX31 4PY
Phone: 01598763230

Return to pub summary

Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Ian Mapp left this review about The Hunters Inn

Handily placed for some superb walks. Huge, National Trust owned, in extensive grounds. Part Pub, Part Cafe.

Exmoor Stag was the only real ale on and it was in good condition - probably better than expected.

On 13th July 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1329 recommendations about 1315 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


John Bonser left this review about The Hunter's Inn

The Hunters Inn is a large country house style pub/hotel occupying a remote isolated position in the Heddon Valley countryside, between Ilfracombe and Lynton and about a mile inland from the sea.

It’s an imposing Tudor style gabled building, but with something of a Swiss chalet look to it, mainly due to the first floor balconies which form part of the guest accommodation areas. As well as the accommodation aspect, it’s a popular establishment catering for the numerous walkers and cyclists passing by.

Internally, there’s a number of different styled adjoining areas, divided by walls and pillars , including a conservatory style area at the back laid out for dining and overlooking the large back lawn at the rear of the building. Another area has a piano and some musical instruments on the walls and we see several posters advertising jazz by the Heddon Valley Stumblers on the second Sunday of every month. In overall terms, it’s a relatively comfortable interior with something of a slightly old fashioned faded charm.

On the walls, we see from artwork for sale and a number of old photos of the pub. We learn that the original building was largely destroyed by fire in November 1895.

On the date of my visit, the pub was still prominently advertising the Heddon Valley Music and Beer Festival between 9-11 September 2011, even though this had finished a few days previously. This festival had seen the launch of the Heddon Valley beers, of which there are three apparently – Miss Loosemoor, Dr Heale and Mr Sluggett. The latter pumpclip depicts a bare knuckled boxer and – with the beer having an ABV of 5.2% - we are told to tackle it with care or else we’ll end up in a ditch.

On my visit, Miss Loosemoor and Mr Sluggett were on, together with some Exmoor beers. The former was a pleasant enough pint, but a tad steep at £ 3.20p. The pub has been a CAMRA Good Beer Guide Regular for a number of years, but these listings obviously pre-date the establishing of the Heddon Valley beers.

The pub sign depicts a peacock and a peacock could be seen proudly strutting his stuff on the back lawn, where it appeared the festival had taken place.

Staff appeared keen and enthusiastic and were much more relaxed and friendly than you might expect from a country house style pub / hotel. One youngish barmaid appeared to take great delight in telling me that I was a few days too late for the Festival.

I’d happily come here again, if the opportunity presented itself

On 12th October 2011 - rating: 8
[User has posted 560 recommendations about 560 pubs]