The Kingfisher, Colyton

Attractive side-street with a relatively small frontage (with part used as an archway through to the rear). Very traditional two-part bar / seating area at the front, but the rear dining room (up three steps) means that there is more space inside than one might initially expect. Four cask ales on handpump: Doom Bar, Tribute, TT Boltmaker and the local Branoc Bitter from Branscombe (£4.40).

A town centre pub, the only one open on a weekday lunchtime, this fairly ordinary establishment is housed in a Georgian building on 15th Century foundations. There is no car park, but there is a garden at the rear which is part paved, part awn and has tables and seating. There is a narrow carpeted bar at the front quite dark, and a dining room in a raised area behind that. A piano sat forlornly between the two areas, presumably waiting for a key worker to come in and revive it. There was a dartboard in the bar, but like the piano, it looked like it had seen no action for quite a while. There was also a TV in the bar, though this was switched off. Given that we came in a few minutes after opening time, the business seemed chaotic and disorganised - they could open the till to take cash, the gas for the keg beers hadn't been the barman was overworked and confused, while the demands from entitled grockles and their uncontrolled children's havoc meant unnecessary delays in getting served. There was no real pub atmosphere, it just felt functional. Ales on were Doombar, Brannoc, Tribute and Atlantic, while the keg options, once they'd sorted out the gas, were Guinness, Moretti, Devon Red, Estrella, Thatcher's Gold, Carlsberg and Offshore Pils. There was also an extensive wine selection on a large rack behnid the bar. Not a venue of choice, although the ale was good enough for a pitstop.