Sunday Carvery at the Post Inn, Whiddon Down. Food review December 18th 2011.

I did ask Tom, is my technical guy if he wanted us all to go to a smart hotel for our 'Christmas bash'.

Would he and his girlfriend Nikki fancy a chance to get dolled up and eat posh? At one of the hotels say ?
But then Rob caught the local virus and gave it to me, and I gave it to Tom and we all needed a spot of comfort food.

So, as I'd heard a couple of good reports about the hugely improved food and conditions at the Post Inn just
off the A30 at Whiddon Down, we thought we would give their Sunday Carvery a whirl. What a good choice.

Meet Bob and his wife Mandy (behind counter) the new licensees. I'd met them earlier, as the pub was already on
my website when they took over a couple of months earlier, and I'd been keen to introduce myself and see what they
had in mind for the pub. And in the few short weeks since they took up residence, they've totally worked their socks off.

The bar is now spotlessly clean and shiny with a line up of smiling staff behind the pumps, the open fire is ablaze with logs. All three main rooms are full of happy families, most of them already tucking into heaped plates, surrounded by

an ample number of Christmas decorations twinkling from every nook and cranny. Mandy has a reputation for letting

her imagination run away with her on the decorations front, but I'd say it was just one bauble short of overkill.

And families are quite clearly at home here. There is one enormous pre-booked table of about 16 in the main dining room, another party of 10 with a slightly tearful young baby, and lots more of us spilling into the back room where
Bob is cheerfully greeting and carving at the same time as Mandy is pressing people to take as much as they wish.

Fresh dishfuls of roast parsnips, cauliflower cheese, carrots, cabbage, real Yorkshire pudding (see below)
and other hot freshly prepared food arrives in abundance." Help yourself. Gravy behind you, it's local meat"

I quiz Bob on the source of the meat and he tells me that it comes from just the other side of Okehampton.
There is beef which carves as easily as bread, or pork complete with crackling. I ask for a small amount of each
to trial them both. Both get top marks. The beef is well cooked, not bloody in the centre. I tell you this in case
you prefer it like that. Myself I like it either way depending on the joint, and this is indeed tender and very tasty.

Generous portions of home made puddings, one pineapple upside down cake (above) and Tom's top favourite

profiteroles which he and Nikki both raved about, and plum and almond tart, again with custard. But, I must be honest

here - the custard is slightly on the heavy side for me.

All puddings priced at £4.50 and there
was apple pie on the menu too.

A couple of folks that I know spotted me in there and guessed what I was up to, so I took advantage and asked

them what they thought of the food and service etc.

To a man, they all gave it the thumbs up, the chap at

the table next to us even suggesting that I should take
a picture of his wife's empty plate, which is apparently unusual whenever they eat anywhere but home !

Prior to Bob and Mandy taking up the licence, the pub was in need of some attention. Previous owners had recently opened up rooms for bed and breakfast accommodation,

but the pub, with it's controversial clock tower turbine
structures on the roof (soon to be taken down) was
in need of an upgrade, and Bob a builder by trade,

and Mandy have proved themselves to be exactly

the right people for the job. They've set about

modernising and brightening this former coaching

inn, so that it is now a village pub to be proud of.....

A little bird tells me that the new chef is a dab hand
with fish. So I'm planning to go back in the new
year and try it out in the evening.
I hope to wheedle my way into the kitchen.
But somehow I don't think they need any warning.

'Cos it seems to me they know what they are doing.

Our bill for 4 carvery lunches, 4 desserts and a bar tab of £8.80 came to £61.80. Excellent value.

Post Inn, Pub and B&B, Whiddon Down , EX20 2QT Telephone: 01647 231242 ,  Email .

To see more of my reviews click below

All photos copyright Jill Pendleton www.jillpendleton.co.uk and www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk