Devon

<p>Corrected thank you, and yes, the proof-reader job is yours!</p>


<p>The Five Bells is in Clyst Hydon not CYST Hydon</p>



<p>Here&#8217;s some news to tempt you from your January diet: <a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The&nbsp;Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropub Awards</a> have just been announced and, as ever, there&#8217;s plenty of local reasons and order those triple-cooked chips, pronto.</p>



<p>Organised by the Publican’s <em>Morning Advertiser</em>, The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs shortlist&nbsp;<em>really</em>&nbsp;matters in the foodie&nbsp;pub&nbsp;world, as it celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of the great British pub serving awesome grub. The top spot was taken by Woodbridge&#8217;s The Unruly Pig, but if you&#8217;re not visiting Suffolk any time soon, here&#8217;s where you should be booking in asap.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cornish-arms-tavistock-no-2"><a aria-label="The Cornish Arms (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.thecornisharmstavistock.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cornish Arms</a>, Tavistock (No.2)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="790" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/01/cornisharms-interior.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-52284" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/01/cornisharms-interior.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/01/cornisharms-interior-800x632.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/01/cornisharms-interior-768x607.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/01/cornisharms-interior-665x525.jpg 665w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Whoopo, The Cornish Arms! In this, their well-deserved eleventh consecutive year in the top 50, the thriving 17th century pub has leapt 11 places to number 2. Part of the St Austell Brewery chain, it takes its name from once being the last coaching house before Cornwall. Should you want to you make a night of it, there are seven rather gorgeously decorated rooms so you can stay on and explore the Western gateway town of Tavistock (one of <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/devon/tavistock/">Muddy&#8217;s Best Places to Live 2024</a>) or the wilds of Dartmoor itself. Will they nab the top spot in 2025?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pyne-arms-near-barnstaple-no-20"><a href="https://www.pynearms.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pyne Arms</a>, near Barnstaple (No.20)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms.jpg" alt="Scotch eggs from The Pyne Arms, Devon " class="wp-image-63043" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/01/pyne-arms-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Pic credit: Nick Hook</figcaption></figure>



<p>This family-run destination pub in the foothills of Exmoor nabbed 19th place in 2023, falling just one place this year to 20. Owners Ellis and Amie Pannell&nbsp;have been getting a <em>lotta</em> gongs for the last few years, including Trencherman&#8217;s, Gold in Taste of the West and the Devon Life Food &amp; Drink Awards. Expect locally sourced food with a modern twist, including everything from Sunday roast to speciality fish. And if you fancy breakfast and options on exploring nearby Exmoor and the North Devon, they do B&amp;B in two top-notch en suite rooms.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-masons-arms-knowstone-no-37"><a aria-label="The Masons Arms (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.masonsarmsdevon.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Masons Arms</a>, Knowstone (No.37)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone.jpg" alt="The Masons Arms, Knowstone " class="wp-image-31018" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone-720x405.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/03/masons-arms-knowstone-900x507.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Having announced their retirement in 2024, it must be bittersweet news for owners Mark and Sarah Dodson. Michelin-star holder for an awesome 19 years, and one of the <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/top-100-devon-restaurants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UK&#8217;s Top 100 restaurants </a>according to Hardens and SquareMeal, The Masons Arms nabbed its place in the top 50 yet again thanks to owners&#8217; Mark&#8217;s laser-eyed focus on local ingredients and creative presentation. And what a pretty spot it&#8217;s in &#8211; a thatched 13th century inn on the edge of Exmoor but with easy access from the Atlantic Highway too. The place is now on the market, so let&#8217;s hope it&#8217;s bought by a chef as brilliant as Mark.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-nbsp-here-s-what-s-cooking-over-the-border-in-cornwall">And<strong>&nbsp;here’s what’s cooking over the border in Cornwall:</strong></h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-mariners-rock-cornwall-3"><a href="https://www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk/the-mariners/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Mariners</a>, Rock, Cornwall (3)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2019/11/Oyster-platter-3-raw-3-Rockefeller-and-3-crispy.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16753" /></figure>



<p>Up to a mighty position three for husband-and-wife team Paul and Emma Ainsworth (in 2021 they were 5th, then down to 9th and 11th) and the highest placed pub in Cornwall. The Mariners is the pair’s fifth site in North Cornwall&nbsp;with views over the Camel Estuary – and a firm favourite with locals and holiday makers alike. My friend reckons they make the best burgers in this part of Cornwall, and my kids love their takes on pub classics.&nbsp;<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/mariners-rock-near-wadebridge/">Check out our Muddy review here</a>&nbsp;which I wrote when the pub first opened.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-gurnard-s-head-zennor-61">The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor (61)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2017/04/Screen-Shot-2020-03-09-at-11.25.20-e1583753156765.png" alt="gurnards head bar" class="wp-image-18559" /></figure>



<p>Last on the list in 2021 where they were 66, The Gurnard’s Head is back at place 61. If you’ve not been before, it’s not really St Ives – it’s a real Muddy favourite destination pub on the West Penwith peninsula, about as far away from anywhere as it feels you can possibly be. Serving excellent food for both lunch and dinner, with plenty of outdoor space for a quiet drink while you watch the cows march past the front door on their way to be milked, seafood and locally foraged ingredients are on the ever-changing seasonal menu – and there’s also rooms if you fancy making a proper night of it.&nbsp;<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/my-ultimate-destination-pub-the-gurnards-head/">Read my most recent review here</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-rising-sun-truro-97">The Rising Sun, Truro (97)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/10/The-Rising-Sun-Truro-risingsun240122_gh38-1.jpg" alt="The Rising Sun Truro Interior" class="wp-image-28706" /></figure>



<p>A new entry for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.therisingsuntruro.co.uk/">The Rising Sun</a>&nbsp;on Mitchell Hill in Truro, and well deserved too, as every time I’ve been it’s been a stand-out pub meal with an excellent drinks list and a very welcome cosy vibe. You lot obviously agree too, as you voted The Rising Sun your Muddy Award winning destination pub of the year in 2023, and you can&nbsp;<a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/review-the-rising-sun-truro/">read our review here</a>.</p>



<p><strong><em>Want the lowdown on more gorgeous locals? Check out Muddy&#8217;s guide to <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/eat-out/pubs-inns/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devon&#8217;s best pubs and inns</a>.</em></strong></p>


Which gastropubs have made the Top 50 in Devon?

You may also like