The Exeter Inn, Exeter

This is a basic local’s boozer at the 'wrong' end of town to pick up passing tourists. The pub occupies a rather weird narrow thatched building that widens a little to the rear. You enter midway into the pub, with the bar to your right and a narrow seating area back in the direction you just came from. This space is bare boarded, with banquette seating along the front and left walls, and a few tables and chairs to the right, with a small brick fireplace breaking things up a little along this side. Old local photos add a bit of character and liven up the walls, whilst floral pattern curtains add some colour and a dartboard and juke box (turned off) to left provide some entertainment options. This somewhat spartan area gives way to a nice bar space with a red wood panel servery with polished stone top down one side and plush banquette seating with dated floral print upholstery to the left, where a TV screen was showing Exeter's live rugby fixture to a dozen or so interested punters, with the commentary audible. A fireplace on the rear wall has a large plain mirror above, but that was about the extent of the decor here before the room extends into dark space to rear, with some padded benches and an unused TV screen. The pub has had a push at selling real ale and as such, there were three handpulls in action when I arrived, dispensing Bays Devon Dumpling (£4.00), St Austell Proper Job and Teignworthy Reel Ale, with the final handpull out of action. The friendly Northern landlord had a massive struggle trying to pour the extremely lively Devon Dumpling into a half-pint glass for me, having to juggle the beer between two glasses, with the upshot that I ended up with a second half-pint for free. Despite this drama, the beer was in good nick and I hope the pub can attract a few ale drinkers along to sample it, as those in attendance appeared to mainly be on the lager. I quite liked this place, which seemed to be a down-to-earth, unpretentious boozer with friendly service and a few decent local ales to try. It’s a stark contrast to the food led pubs in the centre of town, but is nevertheless well presented and worthy of a quick look if you’re able to tear yourself away from the Bridge Inn.

Honest community pub on the edge of town - where the locals drink. GBG 2022 entry. Large open plan room with long bar. Big TV, with sound pumped through external speakers. It was darts. Lovely log burner, making for a comfortable Autumn visit. Proper Job in good condition but not quite hitting the heights of the Globe Hotel.... where its probably 30% more expensive. Friendly land lady.

This pub is the wrong way round in that the narrowest end of it faces on to the main road. The pub consists of two buildings the oldest of which is the front thatched one with the larger more modern building behind. The entrance is through the front of the rear building which houses the bar and sadly two large TV screens. The older front building which is now to the right has pool, darts and yet another TV screen. It was empty when I arrived after midday on a Saturday The bar has just four hand pumps which had Teignworthy Beachcomber, St Austell Hybrid IPA & Diablo Red and Bay Topsail. I was also told by the landlord who was dead keen on his beers that they had a cask of Bays Devon Dumpling on gravity in the cellar. I went for the St Austell beers (£3.50) which were both from their experimental microbrewery and both excellent. Although all the TVs are a pain (at least people were actually watching them) the landlord makes up for it with his enthusiasm for his beers.