Hermitage Inn, Kingsbridge

Unsure if open. Saturday 2:30pm and all closed up. Whatpub says opening hours are 4pm in the winter and 2pm in the Summer. My visit was May 3rd. Mrs M delighted it was closed up, although I was after the Good Beer Guide Tick. To be fair to Mrs it looked grim.

A fairly decent back street pub, not what it appears at first sight as it has the outside appearance of a touristy cafe, but it's certainly a proper pub once you go inside. It is definitely a grockle-free zone - a few walked in while we were in there, but walked straight out again. There is a single L-shaped bar with a parquet floor, retro-decorative timbers, a brick fireplace and a raised games area with a pool table and gaming machines. There is also a piano, though this was mercifully mute when we visited. The landlady was welcoming, as was the pub dog, some sort of Italian courser. Two ales on, Landlord and Bpmbardier, in good condition. There was also a third, dry, pump. The keg range was Coors, Carling, Thatcher's Haze, Guinness and 1664. I'd be happy to come back.

Friendly local pub, good beer. Friendly chatty staff.