The Old Smithy, Ivybridge

The Old Smithy is a basic high street boozer with a serving counter up the right that supports standard and premium keg alongside three hand pumps that were drawing Jail Ale, Pedigree and Wainwright Gold. Carpet runs through what would be a reasonably large front seating area, but two large central columns, one exposed stone and the other rendered with wainscot to match the surrounding walls, sit bang in the middle which vastly reduces the space. On the left-hand wall is a stone fireplace with a projector screen rolled up above. Adjacent is a dartboard and on the rear wall is a piano, but background music was the distraction of choice during my recent Tuesday afternoon visit when there were four locals sat at the bar along with a young mum and child in pushchair. Beyond the bar in the right rear is a raised pool room with some sofas. The service was polite, but I didn’t really get settled and will walk past if I find myself in Ivybridge again.