ReviewOn the very edge of Topsham village, on the banks of the River Clyst, is The Bridge Inn, a fabulously old fashioned, unspoilt, traditional inn that describes itself as a "Free House 16th Century". It is believed that stonemasons who were building Exeter Cathedral lodged here.
As we approach the pub, we realise that the building appears to have some parts older than others and that the original old part of the building has been added to. Inside, up a few steps, we find two small old fashioned rooms that are serviced through hatches from what appears to be a small private room, which is not part of the public area, but to which access is apparently granted "by invitation".
The first room has basic, fixed seating and, notably, an old framed sign stating that "this room is prohibited from all amusements on Sunday - W Gibbings, Proprietor". The second room, further down, and in the real heart of the building, is darker, has a fine fireplace and grandfather clock, together with a splendid tall curved settle that effectively forms one of the walls of the room.
Photos of when the Queen visited here in March 1998 are displayed - believed to be the first and only official visit so far by Her Majesty to a Public House. In the corridor, there's various newspaper articles in which the pub has featured as a truly unspoilt timeless classic. Needless to say, there's no electronic distractions. Indeed, various signs dotted round the pub tell us that mobiles are banned - a message which one would have hoped would not be necessary. The pub is listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Heritage Pubs.
Despite still retaining an old "Whitbread Tankard Free House" sign outside, there was of course no sign of this former much maligned beer. Beer is served direct from the barrel from a barn like room at ground floor level and carried up a few steps to those customers drinking inside. Customers drinking outside can be served directly from a hatch like counter without having to go inside to be served.
Beers, served in jugs, included Branscombe Vale Branos and beers from Cotleigh and Teignworthy, amongst others. 6 beers were on in total. Pork pies and pasties are available at certain times. My pint of Branos was in good form and only £ 2.60p, although a notice on the daily food / drinks menu tells us that "prices may vary depending on customers attitude". Unusually, beer can be bought in 1/3 pint measures.
The pub's opening hours, which are restricted, are referred to on the door as "the 1914 hours" and relate to the fact that the opening hours are restricted by the 1914 Defence of the Realm Act which restricted opening hours to ensure people made war ammunition instead of getting drunk.
The pub was advertising that, on 14 September 2010, Stage 4 ( Minehead - Teignmouth ) of the Cycle Tour of Britain would be passing the pub between 13.40 and 14.30 p m and, as a result, the pub would be staying open longer than normal. The pub has an outside drinking area on the banks of the River Clyst by the bridge over the river.
The pub is about 5 miles from Exeter and is easily accessible by either bus or train ( Exmouth branch line ). If you like unspoilt, old fashioned, characterful pubs, you should make the effort to get here.
