The Chagford Inn

Visitors to the historical village of Chagford – and they arrive in droves in summer – count themselves lucky if they stumble upon this casual rural inn and discover the excellent eating to be found behind its terracotta facade.

The characterful pub – which received a major interior glow-up this year – is run by chef Ollie Vernon and partner Jordan Ralph (front of house), who serve up astonishingly lovely dining-pub dishes.

The high-quality cooking is rooted in Ollie’s commitment to sourcing ingredients direct from farmers who share his values regarding regenerative agriculture and sustainability. Food waste is reduced by whole-carcass butchery done on site.

The restaurant holds an AA rosette but the dining takes place in the laid-back locale of the pub, where locals gather for a pint next to friends feasting on fine food.

Standout dishes on the seasonally changing menu include trotters with pickled walnut on toast – an ode to Ollie’s nose-to-tail ethos. There’s also a seven-spice Sladesdown duck breast with apricot, watercress and sweet potato, and delish seafood options such as hand-dived Orkney scallop with cauliflower, golden raisins and capers. For a quick and casual lunch, try the homemade corned beef with fried organic egg.

Ollie’s desserts are strikingly good: pray the strawberry and Pimm’s trifle is on the menu if you visit in summertime.

Trencherman’s tip

Book one of the three bedrooms to turn dinner at The Chagford Inn into a foodie break.