South Devon CAMRA

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- South Devon CAMRA Pub of the Year -

Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe in the Moor - Winner 2012
There are around 330 pubs in the South Devon CAMRA branch area and each winter a short list is drawn up of suitable candidates for pub of the year. It's a very difficult task as there are so many excellent pubs in our area. This is whittled down to a short list of four pubs in January which are each visited anonymously by many of the active branch members. At our March branch meeting votes are cast and the four pubs reduced to two. Each member then rates these pubs on a number of criteria: the quality of the beer (obviously the most important!), the atmosphere, quality of service, clientele, sympathy with CAMRA aims and whether the pub offers good value for the area.

For 2012 we are pleased to announce that the Rugglestone Inn in Widecombe in the Moor is our branch pub of the year! Congratulations to all at the pub! The award was presented to landlord and landlady Richard and Vicky Palmer on 4th May 2012 and the photo below shows branch chairman Bob Southwell (pictured right) with them during the presentation. The pub faced very stiff competition but was a very deserving winner

At the presentation Richard thanked customers and his team for their support and said he was delighted and honoured to receive this accolade. The couple who have been at the pub for five years really enjoy the life there as they are both 'people persons'. Richard had no previous experience of pub work, but Vicky was head chef and kitchen manager at the Toby Jug, Bickington in its heyday. The Rugglestone is a beautiful beamed cottage c1740. It was relocated from a building in the village, and you can still see the original site, which is in ruins. Rumour has it, that village wives burned the first Inn down because their husbands would spend all the wages there on a Friday night.

(from left) Richard and Vicki Palmer receive the 2012 South Devon CAMRA Pub of the Year award from Bob Southwell

The Rugglestone Inn will now go forward to the regional competition and we wish them the best of luck!

About the Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe in the Moor, TQ13 7TF -
Unspoilt pub in a splendid Dartmoor setting. Originally a cottage, this Grade II-listed building was converted to an inn back in 1832 and named after a local logan stone. The stone-flagged bar area has seating, with beer also served through a hatch in the passageway. An open fire warms the lounge. A wide selection of home-cooked food is available. Across the stream is a large grassed seating area with a shelter for bad weather (and smokers). Local farm cider is sold. The pub's car park is just down the road. The pub is about a quarter of a mile south of the village centre at grid reference SX721760.

Real ales includeTeignworthy's 'Rugglestone Moor Beer', Dartmoor Breweries 'Legend' and Butcombe Bitter plus a guest ale. All beers are served on gravity straight from the cask.

It's open 11:30 - 3pm, 6 - 11:30pm Monday - Thursday; 11:30 - 3pm, 5pm - midnight Friday;
11:30 - midnight Saturday; noon - 11pm Sunday

Telephone: (01364) 621327.

More information is available on their website.

If you'd like to become more involved in CAMRA and help us select next year's Branch Pub of the Year, if you're not already a member why not join CAMRA, and then come along to one of our monthly branch meetings.

© Campaign for Real Ale & Ant Veal 2012. Designed & compiled for South Devon CAMRA by Ant Veal.
This page was last updated on 05-Jun-2012