The Bowd Inn

A cob-built coaching inn on the A3052 outside Sidmouth, with a thatched roof and a history stretching back to 1633 - the date tablet on the chimney reads 1657. David took over in October 2025 after turning around the Heathfield Inn in Honiton and the Thirsty Farmer in Whimple, and the carvery he runs Wednesday to Sunday is the main event: locally sourced meat from his own Honiton butchery, The Crafty Cleaver, carved to order alongside homemade desserts.

Beyond the carvery there's a full pub menu - ham, egg and chips, beef lasagne, burgers, fish and chips with a choice of cod, plaice or scampi - plus vegetarian, vegan and children's options. Open fires, a beer garden, a children's play area and a dog-friendly welcome make it as much a stop for families and walkers off the coast path as for locals. The pub picked up Best Bar, Restaurant & Pub at the 2025 Exeter Living Awards.