In early 2020, Jordan and Ollie were gearing up to start a new adventure running their own Dartmoor pub. But when they picked up the keys in early March 2020, they couldn’t have predicted that only two weeks later they would be sitting in the pub, surrounded by boxes with the country in a full lockdown.
The Pub
Fast forward to 2023 and things are looking bright. The Chagford Inn is thriving and has been ever since customers could walk back through the doors. The pub is now award-winning, offering three-guest bedrooms if you want to hunker down after your evening meal, with the latest accolade being awarded at the Food & Drink Devon awards where they scooped Gold in the pub category. Not forgetting the wedding catering business, Fig & Smoke, which is going from strength to strength. Oh, and all with two children and their dogs in tow. How do they do it!
We have always had a soft-spot for The Chagford Inn. The atmosphere is super-relaxed and welcoming, with a cosy fire tempting you in on dark nights or following a blustery weekend walk, and of course, the food is always top-notch.
The Menu
We were invited to sample the autumn al a carte menu on a cool October evening. When dining you can choose from the al a carte menu or the more relaxed pub menu, where you’ll find delicious options such as Venison burger, pies, fish, and ciabatta rolls at lunchtime.
The al a carte menu tempts you with nibbles for while you wait and three courses of surprising, delicious-sounding plates that always champion the finest local, seasonal ingredients. There is a long list of local suppliers on the reverse of the menu who the team are proud to support. All the meat is pasture fed, free range or wild, and butchered in house, fish is from the south Devon coast and veg is sourced with the season from local suppliers.
We started the evening with Nduja and Burrata bruschetta, basil, frozen tomato, and Forest Fungi’s wild mushrooms, garlic cream, toast. The perfect start to our meal, both completely delicious.
Wild vension is back in season as we head into autumn and we were thrilled to see it on the menu. The venison we were eating had been sustainability harvested on Dartmoor and delivered to the chefs the previous night, where it was butchered ready for the day’s service. We had to try the main of Dartmoor venison, squash, hen O’the woods, pumpkin seed, alongside another Devon favourite: Creedy Carver duck breast, celeriac, griottine, hazelnut. Both dishes were cooked to perfection with tender meat accompanied by little hits of flavour. Safe to say we were in foodie heaven.
“Can I tempt you with dessert?” It was a resounding yes from us! Especially when I read the words chocolate coffee tart, salted peanut, cremeux; a flavour combination that’s hard to beat. We also tried the lemon meringue baked Alaska, curd, which looked more like a work of art than a dessert.
We rounded things off with a delicious coffee and homemade biscotti – it’s these little touches that make this pub so special and why we keep coming back (we have already made a return trip to try the venison burgers, and they were definitely worth the trip).
Jordan and Ollie have created something really special – a down-to-earth, local inn that welcomes you with some of the region’s best food. I can guarantee you will walk away with a full tum and a smile on your face whilst planning your next visit.
The Details
Pub classics and Al A Carte menu served Tuesday – Sunday
Visit The Chagford Inn for more details and to book
