The Nobody Inn might have won plaudits for its 700 wines, it might be renowned for its selection of whisky, it might be counting the awards for its 40-plus mouth tingling West Country cheeses, but it deserves to be cheered to the rooftops for its friendly welcome and excellent ales.

You don't need satellite navigation to find this pub, but it probably helps, because once you turn off the A38 outside Exeter, it is several long country miles, with many twists and turns along lanes barely wide enough for one car let along two, before chancing upon this pub. And wise locals say beware the lanes on school run days as eager mums speed from school to work or home again in the afternoon.

This isolated 16th century inn, close to Lawrence Castle, once had a reputation for turning away visitors but no more. The low bar is warped by time and heat from the large open fire, the beams are exposed, the floors flagged, the lighting is low and the walls are decorated with brass and copper.

One diner, who regularly shuns anonymous motorway hugging hotels in favour of pubs with bed and breakfast, tells me the food is the best he has ever tasted in a pub, as he tucks into a homemade steak and kidney pudding. And should anyone tire of their own company they can browse a bar display of wines, whiskies and pickles for sale. Just forget the supermarket on the way home, buy the wine here. The accommodation needs to be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment. Children are not allowed inside the pub. The nearby parish church has the largest amount of medieval stained glass in any church in Devon.

Doddiscombsleigh,
Nr Exeter,
Devon,
EX6 7PS
Tel: 01647 252394

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Regional Winners 2005

Overall Winners 2006
Regional Winners 2006