The Dartmouth Inn

The Dartmouth Inn on East Street in Newton Abbot dates back to 1674, when it was first recorded under the name the Great Dane. In the 17th and 18th centuries, men from the surrounding area would gather here each spring hoping to be hired for a season's work on local boats bound for the Newfoundland fishing trade - a piece of history that still shapes the building's character. It's on two levels, thick with timber beams and panelling, stone walls and large open fireplaces, with an L-shaped main bar upstairs and a separate Tap Room, also with its own fireplace, down a couple of steps.

Regular beers include Dartmoor Jail Ale and Dartmoor Legend, and there's a pool table plus a small walled garden at the back for warmer evenings. The pub keeps traditional games going alongside free live music and open mic nights, with a real fire and a smoking area completing the picture. It's a proper old-fashioned Devon local, built on history and atmosphere rather than a food-led menu.