The Beaver Inn, Bideford

Two years after the last reviews and The Beaver is still providing good beer, food and views. Also as mentioned, enjoy the stroll from the main town and take a look at the cottages,[some with quirky names] and the alleyways that shoot off at regular intervals along the street.

The Beaver Inn is located north of Bideford in the village of Appledore at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge estuary. This riverside inn is located a bit out of town, halfway down Irsha Street and is a bit tricky to find. Recommendation is don’t try and drive to it as there is no available parking nearby. Better to park in the public car park a few hundred yards away and walk. The inside of the pub has been well described by the reviewer below and to confirm, one of its plus points is that it has fantastic views from the riverside terrace across to Instow and Saunton sands. Most people come here to eat, as we did, as it has a decent enough pub grub menu. We’d managed to visit last month during one of the rare glorious sunny days and the outside terrace was indeed full, but we managed to get a seat and didn’t mind the lengthy wait for the food due to their being a big party resident inside. Four hand pumps on the go for my visit also and these were St Austels tribute and Proper Job, Doombar and Dartmore Ale. Between us we tried them all and they were all well kept. So a decent pub for the tourist, and it’s worth strolling through the narrow lanes with all the old fishermans cottages rather than walking directly back to the village centre.

An attractive pub in a great location overlooking the estuary. The outside patio which faces directly on to the estuary is not especially big, and I imagine soon fills up in the sunny weather. There are about half a dozen picnic benches here, and some blue mosaic tiling as a backdrop. The pub itself consists of a central, carpeted bar that has a long bar counter at the back with an impressive, highly polished wooden top. A plasma was just inside the door showing the Grand Prix, although there was no discernable sound. To the right is a stone fire-place with a stag’s head mounted up above it. Up a few steps to the left is a long narrow bar with plenty of windows offering further views of the estuary. To the right, again up a couple of stairs is a bar with laminate flooring, a pool table, darts board and a small fire-place with a wood burning stove. Beers on tap were Dartmoor Best, Doombar, Tribute and Bays Devon Dumpling. Ciders were Thatcher’s Gold and Cornish Rattler.

Friday lunchtime visit, Doom Bar, Otter and some Cottage stuff on as ales, Otter was good, Cottage had a haze. We ordered food which was universally approved. Even my kids ate it which was a miracle (6 and 2 years old). Will come back here on next visit.

Official site of the Beaver Inn - www.beaverinn.co.uk

Official site of the Beaver Inn - www.beaverinn.co.uk