The Old Manor, Preston, Paignton

This is a splendid 17th century thatched cottage hidden away on a quiet back street, it is now owned by Enterprise Inns. The interior consists of four rooms but the doorways have all been widened to create a more open plan feel although the various areas are still clearly evident. The front entrance leads into the public bar which has the only bar counter diagonally across the back left corner with several high stools, a brick fire place and cast grate in the middle of the front wall which has a most impressive large mirror and lovely elaborate carved light wood frame above. High up in the front right corner is a large flat screen TV which was showing premiership football on Sky and there is a pull down projector screen in the front left corner which wasn’t in use. There are some fixed fabric bench seats in the two front corners and a couple of wood settles, the walls are full wood tongue and groove with some old prints scattered around and there is a patterned carpet. To the left of the public bar is a small dining area with a large brick fire place and brick fluted chimney breast which dominates the far left wall, booths are formed by wood settles and the walls are half tongue and groove with more old prints. In the back right of the public bar is the entrance to a second dining area which has a brick fire place in the right wall towards the front, parquet flooring and interesting prints of various old ships on the walls. In the middle of the right wall is the entrance to the fourth room which is a sports area with a central pool table and a dart board in the back right corner which is hidden by a painting when not in use. There is a fire place in the right wall with cast grate and nice blue glazed tile surround, couple of brass topped tables, half wood panel walls and a patterned carpet. All of the rooms have genuine irregular sized oak beams across the ceilings. At the back of the second dining area are doors that lead out to a very pleasant stone walled beer garden with a hand full of picnic tables and access to the large car park on the right of the pub. Regular ales are currently Bass and St Austell Tribute with a single changing guest beer which was Sharps Doom Bar on this occasion. I tried all three and found them to be good, my only minor gripe would be that they were all served with no head on them at all! Whilst technically this means you are getting more liquid for your money it always gives me the impression that the beer is flat and maybe something has gone wrong with the secondary fermentation process. I don’t require an inch of froth on my beer but I do expect to see something that suggests the yeast in the barrel is doing its job. A great hidden gem of a locals pub which has lots of olde worlde character, I would guess that it’s probably one of the oldest buildings in the immediate area. The beer tasted good, the traditional décor was pleasant and in keeping with the building and the atmosphere was friendly. I have been told that the food is very good although I have not tried it yet, I would most certainly return if in the area again and I look forward to sampling the recommended food.