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>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="978" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/dish-bullinn.jpeg" alt="dish from The Bull Inn Totnes " class="wp-image-83626" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/dish-bullinn.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/dish-bullinn-800x522.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/dish-bullinn-1000x652.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/dish-bullinn-768x501.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit The Bull Inn, Totnes </figcaption></figure>



<p>We hardly need to say it, but we&#8217;re a county of foodies, known for our excellent local producers and topnotch eateries. No surprise then that five of our gorgeous gastropubs have made it into the newly announced 2026 Estrella Damm’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.top50gastropubs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 100 Gastropubs</a>.</p>



<p>Organised by Publican’s <em>Morning Advertiser</em>, The Estrella Damm Top 100 is a big hitter in the foodie&nbsp;calendar, celebrating pubs that combine proper hospitality with seriously good cooking (and a health dose of entrepreneurial flair). This year, London Soho’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.devonshiresoho.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Devonshire</a>&nbsp;took the top spot after narrowly missing out last time round – but Devon has more than made its mark. Yes, it no longer includes The Masons Arms, but there are four new Muddy favourites to get on your list. Let&#8217;s raise a glass to Devon&#8217;s talented publicans and chefs in these economically challenging times &#8211; then go give them your custom.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-cornish-arms-tavistock-no-10"><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.10)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1044" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi.jpg" alt="dish from The Cornish Arms tavistock " class="wp-image-39196" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi-287x300.jpg 287w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi-479x500.jpg 479w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi-768x802.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/01/cornish-arms-tavi-503x525.jpg 503w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s down one place for this brilliant Tavi pub, but here&#8217;s still our highest performing Devon gastropub, and too right too. The food and the ambience rocks, and ask anyone who lives around Tavistock and this is 100% the pub recommendation on their lips. Part of the St Austell Brewery chain, The Cornish Arms 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 this Western gateway town (one of <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/devon/tavistock/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy&#8217;s Best Places to Live 2026</a>) or the wilds of Dartmoor itself. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bull-inn-totnes-no-71"><a href="https://www.bullinntotnes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bull Inn</a>, Totnes (No.71)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117.jpg" alt="The Bull Inn Totnes " class="wp-image-25163" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2020/09/The-Bull-Inn-Geetie-117-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Located at the top of the Narrows on Rotherfold Square, this pub with rooms is truly unique among Devon pubs for its organic approach. Owned by the visionary <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/life-2/people/interview-geetie-singh-watson/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Geetie Singh-Watson</a>, the founder of the UK&#8217;s first-ever organic pub, sustainability rules in everything they do, from the ingredient-led dishes which change daily to the wax in the candles. Noting that The Bull Inn won the Sustainability Award at the National Restaurant Awards 2024, judges praised its &#8216;No-Bull Rules to Dine, Trade and Work By&#8217; mantra that governs dining, trading and working. Ethical to its core, always packed and tasty too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-chagford-inn-chagford-no-76"><a href="https://www.thechagfordinn.co.uk/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Chagford Inn</a>, Chagford (No.76)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/07/Chagford-Inn10832.jpg" alt="The Chagford Inn table" class="wp-image-78003" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/07/Chagford-Inn10832.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/07/Chagford-Inn10832-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/07/Chagford-Inn10832-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/07/Chagford-Inn10832-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>This Dartmoor-edge pub, just off Chagford&#8217;s town square, is new on the list for its nose-to-tail, farm-focussed menu which puts local and regenerative first. Owners Ollie Vernon, a trained butcher-chef, and partner Jordan Ralph who runs front-of-house, ensure a warm welcome, enhanced by the recent maximalist-English refurb *gorgeous!* and crackling fire. The Estrella judges applaud the pub classics menu, including confit Sladesdown duck leg with red onion jam, Denhay&#8217;s bacon, smoked cheddar, pretzel roll and fries. And so do we &#8211; read the <a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/review-chagford-inn-dartmoor-devon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy review</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-pyne-arms-east-down-no-90"><a href="https://www.pynearms.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pyne Arms</a>, East Down (No. 90)</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 egg at The Pyne Arms " 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" /></figure>



<p>Cosy and country, this Exmoor National Park pub with rooms ticks all the boxes for “good honest food and drink created using fresh and seasonal produce sourced from across the southwest&#8221;. The friendly is as warm as the fireside, while the menu covers all the pub classic and seasonal bases, from Sunday roasts to speciality fish, as well as an extensive gin list and locally brewed ales. Judges rate the talented chefs clever sourcing of fabulous Exmoor produce, ensuring ingredients can come within a few miles of this former post office turned pub go-to.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-swan-bampton-no-100"><a href="https://theswanbampton.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Swan</a>, Bampton (No.100)</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1171" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/swan-inn.jpeg" alt="chinking glasses at The Swan Bampton Devon " class="wp-image-83622" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/swan-inn.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/swan-inn-683x800.jpeg 683w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/swan-inn-854x1000.jpeg 854w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2026/01/swan-inn-768x899.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Once a mainstay on the Top 100, this Exmoor pub has (just) made a welcome return thanks to its new owners&#8217; focus on minimising waste and using natural fermentation. Judges rate the stellar drinks range which includes local ales, their focus on seasonality and locality, and the in-house pickling. Loving the sound of The Communal Table, a new sharing table initiative on the last Thursday of every month, where you can meet new people and tuck into three delicious courses.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-want-more-local-recommendations-head-here">WANT MORE LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS? HEAD HERE</h2>



<p><a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/restaurants/devon-restaurants-and-cafes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Foraged and farm to fork dining locally</a></p>



<p><a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/best-sunday-lunch-spots-devon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">20 cosy Sunday roasts with all the trimmings</a></p>



<p><a href="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/best-muddy-devon-reviews-and-features/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy&#8217;s best reviews of 2025</a></p>


Top 100 gastropubs 2026, including five in Devon

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