Ring of Bells at North Bovey Dartmoor food review
Food review of The Ring of Bells Inn, The Village, North Bovey, Dartmoor. Monday 22nd March 2010
Jill's home Page Back to the Food Page. Tel 01647 440375 Ring of Bells website
When the Sandy Park Inn at Chagford changed hands last year, the popular Simon Saunders keeper of the Inn
moved over to The Ring of Bells at North Bovey which had also undergone a change of ownership. And at a
stroke, what had been a pub with a chequered repution turned into one of the most welcoming hostelries
on the Moor, nay in whole of Devon. Unlike previous owners, Simon has a courteous affable way about him,
and I for one of many ladies thoroughly enjoy being greeted with a couple of air kisses whenever I see him. 
Actually, I was on a rare night out without Robert on the night in question, and what's more, I was with a single
man just 3 days my senior. Zoot alors ! The equally pleasant Martin B who told me on our journey over that really, he should be on a diet.What he meant was that we should both be on diets, and yet here we were both knowing that we would eat well. Because, not only did Simon transfer to North Bovey, but the very capable chef Andy Burkin also of
the Sandy Park joined him. So the dream team are now comfortably ensconsed in what is one of the prettiest villages
on Dartmoor, and by all accounts doing very well. And not only have the 'men who matter' been installed, but pub
interior has also been given a quality makeover including their
5 letting rooms which are now all en-suite. 
Our meal got underway with Smoked Chicken and Avocado Tian with roasted pine nuts, herb mayo and sun blushed tomatoes. (£ 5.95) I was expecting it to be hot but I got that wrong, and here I mention the only slight note of disappointment in that the chicken was not in it's first flush...... Decidedly carcass end of it's life. And what meat
there was contained quite a lot of chewy skin. Maybe this was because as it was Smoked Chicken, the flavour
of the skin might be revered, and I didn't appreciate that.... who knows ? .... It WAS a good flavour and the
avocado was at the very best date of it's tricky shelf life, AND NOT straight out of the fridge, which kills the
delicate flavour dead. So 10 out of 10 for a Monday night service there. I did mention the skin to the waitress
but I'm not too sure she mentioned it to Nick, comments should always be conveyed to the kitchen.....
Martin's samosas see pic above, hand made and filled with crab, ginger and curry leaf with a red onion
and chilli marmalade were yummy (£5.95) and without much of a wait we moved on to our main course me taking
the pork fillet with green beans, panchetta, saute potatoes with an orange and quince glaze.(£10.95 see below)
a perfectly cooked fillet fanned out, the better to recieve the sauce. Very pleasant. Even more pleasant because
Martin was generous with the gorgeous chips that accompanied his Ribeye Steak with cherry tomatoes and field mushroom. (£15.95 see above) Every scrap left the plate. And by the way, it didn't arrive with the dirty marks
seen in the picture, but Martin couldn't wait to dig in before I got the camera primed !
What we really didn't need of course were any desserts. But hey, why us stop us when we were on a roll ?
For me, warm pear and chocolate frangipane tart with home made marmalade ice cream at £5.50 and for Martin, Meringue filled with Chantilly Cream with poached rhubarb at £5. Needless to say we scoffed the lot with relish.
There was a definite nip in the air on the evening that we dined there, but no matter, the fire in the small
intimate dining room was keeping the place toasty. This is one of those old buidings with reams of history and
granite walls as thick as my arm is long. So in the Winter it stays warm and in the long hot Summer days, when
they finally get here, will offer the weary walker a place to cool off. If you plan to become that weary walker, then
set awhile with your well cared for pint of Devon ale, enjoy the daily paper that is here with you in mind and run
your eye over what is on the daily changing menu. You might like to check if they have a room free for the night
before you order. Because it will be mighty difficult lift that rucksack and tear yourself away when you've eaten.
Just the place to sit and watch the world go by in the Summer. And the thatching work is now complete.
Would I go again ? ... What do you think ?.
