The Hoops Inn, which has seen our custom in previous years, suffered a major fire at the end of March and is now a little less thatched than it once was....
The Exeter Inn, whom Abbey beat in a fixture in 2002 (Abbey 131-5 (Baker 52) beat The Exeter Inn 106-6 (Minns 3/27) by 25 runs) has closed, possibly as locals deserted it after the ignominy of that defeat...
The Rising Sun in Umberleigh has also closed temporarily but expects to reopen in time for Mick's Alternative Cream Tea in July...
The CAMRA North Devon Pub of the Year 2009 is The Hunters Inn in Heddon Valley, followed by The Castle Inn in Combe Martin and The Grove Inn in Kings Nympton, sadly all a little off our likely tour route this summer... I expect The Bell in Chittlehampton has gone right downhill but we'll have to suffer it regardless!...
The Collingwood Hotel in Ilfracombe, that splendidly decrepit pile with a never-ending variety of routes from bar to bedroom, has received planning permission to transform itself into a Wetherlodge...
The Globe in Chulmleigh is also reported to be closed, despite it being listed on their website as the post-match pub-of-choice for Chulmleigh CC - perhaps we'll be going instead to our usual resting place where the large & jovial landlord last year gave us his entire supply of floppy hats...
Good news for Scoggy & Seamo, it might be worth breaking our climb from the Kings Arms to The Joiners at The Tavern In The Port midway up Bridge Street as this has been taken over by the owner of the local Country Life Brewery and is now rebranded as Lacey's Real Ale & Cider Bar... yes, Chilts, cider!...
And finally lager news for Adam... Bideford Town Council have announced a lager exclusion zone throughout the town and the nearest source of lager is now Holsworthy or Torrington - full details at http://www.bidefordtowncouncil.co.uk/lagerlout.htm
A cider bar....in the West Country ?
ReplyDeleteI feel we should try harder and do our bit to support the pubs of North Devon this year. Abbey CC supporting the local community.