The Rugglestone Inn food Review
The Rugglestone Inn at Widecombe in the Moor, Devon. Telephone 01364 621327

When I suggested to two pals that they might like to join us for lunch at The Rugglestone Inn, our friend John said
"Yes, we'll come, they've got some brilliant local farm brewed cider on offer " It turned out to be one of the best
lunches we've had on the Moor.
In the summer Widecombe is stuffed to the gunnels with coach parties, and tourists who tick it off a map simply
for being centrally placed on the Moor. Thank goodness that not many of the 'kiss me quick brigade' make it down the
quiet lane that leads to The Rugglestone Inn. Instead, the bar has some local faces having a pint in this cosy granite cottage. The bar is stocked with a host of real ales and bitters, and the guest ale changes each week. If you don't mind
the friendly crush in the bar, then perch yourselves by the wood burner and say hello to fellow diners. If you need to spread out then book a table in one of two dining rooms, one with real fire, and settle down for a good feed.
From the blackboard menu in the hall, I opted for Beef Lasagne with salad and garlic bread (plenty)
The others had Steak & Kidney Pie andFresh Haddock in a beer batter and it was all very good indeed.
Choices from a jacket potato or a bowl of home made soup, pasties, baps or ploughman's. All the usual popular things on offer. The chaps also opted for puddings. When the waitress asked us if all was well, we had to admit that on Rob's insistence, we had all tried the apple pie and it was completely overwhelmed with cinnamon flavouring. So much so that the apple was brown..... no matter, at the end of the meal the plate was empty. At least we knew that someone in the kitchen had had a go at real cooking. We could have smiled sweetly in true Brit fashion, and said 'oh yes, fine thank you, but it's the sort of place that wants to know - and make improvements. The owners Vicki and Richard have been there a couple of years now, but the only changes they have put in place are all good ones.
Whilst we were there a family of around 12 was in the next room made up of grandparents, parents and small children.
We had a curious toddler visiting us now and again, but thankfully these were children that any publican would be
happy to serve. Seen but not heard. I'm not a big fan of kids in pubs. Chiefly because a lot of children these days
are not taught how to behave and Mr. and Mrs. Average Parent are so overindulgent with their noisy offspring, that
they are spoiling the atmosphere of what was once one of our most treasured attractions - the great British Pub.

Now please don't get back to me about how Continentals have got it right, and that families are welcome and we
should be doing the same thing. The large majority of English families that I see in pubs have got no control over
their children whatsoever, and care not a jot that they haveno table manners, no conversation and not an ounce of
regard for fellow diners. In Italy the Grandma's word is final, in England the Grandparent's opinion is mostly ignored. ENOUGH ......stop me !!

Getting back to the Rugglestone .... there is a pretty garden with stream and ducks which is excellent for
Summer visitors. The car park is opposite. We will go back in the Summer and take lots of pics.

It's a really good pub. Every village deserves a Rugglestone.

And by the way they have a holiday cottage on our self catering page.