Tower Inn, The

Very much a traditional English pub set in the heart of one of Devon's prettiest villages, The Tower takes its name from the remains of the Collegiate Church close by. It is said that the pub was originally built to house the workforce when the church was under construction.

Walk through the door and be confronted by low ceilings, ancient beams and pillars, log fires in season and flagstone floors. More contemporary signs of success are to be found in the roll of Awards that demonstrate only too well the esteem in which this history-drenched pub is held. Three double rooms provide a comfortable haven for those who wish to prolong their stay.

Lunch and dinner are worked from two separate menus. Evening starters could offer a chicken liver and wild mushroom terrine, a platter of locally smoked prawns, mackerel, trout and salmon, or a crab and prawn tower.

Main courses open promisingly with fillet steak tournedos Rossini, with a mushroom and port sauce, herb crusted cod fillet with a cheese sauce, or leek and Gruyere filo parcel with a tomato and basil sauce. Follow with summer pudding with vanilla ice cream, treacle orange tart served hot or cold with clotted cream or vanilla ice cream.

Traditional cider and beer on hand pumps are popular with locals and visitors alike, the only difference being that the locals are rather more capable of handling the powerful brews, and visitors may find the excellent wine list more to their purpose.