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The Rugglestone Inn Tel 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 so far this year....
More .... 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 indeed stocked with a
host of real ales and bitters, and the guest ale changes each week.
If you don't mind the crush in the bar, then perch yourselves by the wood-
burner and make friends with 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 and Fresh Haddock in a beer batter and
it was all very good indeed. Pleasant friendly service.
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 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 are fairly new, but that the only changes they have put in
place are all good ones.
There was a family of around 12 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.
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 have
no 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. Apologies
for copying these from their website.
It's a really good pub. Every village deserves a Rugglestone. |