Clovelly Inn

The Clovelly Inn is an authentic rural Devon pub located in the village of Bratton Clovelly, near Okehampton, on the north-western edge of Dartmoor National Park. The building dates back to the 18th century and was originally known as the Old Pack Horse Inn, later becoming the Palmers Clovelly Hotel. Its bar features an oak fireplace lintel inscribed with the year 1789, a tangible link to its long history. Today it operates as a Free House, meaning it is independently owned and not tied to any particular brewery. The pub is owned by Torben and Suzanne Hughes, who have created a welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere. It offers a fine selection of real ales that changes weekly, alongside home-cooked food available seven days a week. Lunchtime service runs from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, and evening service from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The inn also provides accommodation, as indicated by the 'A Stay in Clovelly Inn' section on its website. Situated in a rural village notable for its Norman-period church, St Mary the Virgin, which contains rare 17th-century wall paintings, the Clovelly Inn serves both local residents and visitors exploring the Dartmoor area. The pub maintains a Facebook presence for updates. As an independent free house, it is a private business, not part of a larger corporate group or chain.

The Clovelly Inn is housed in a building that dates back to the 18th century. It was originally called the Old Pack Horse Inn, a name typical of historic coaching inns that served travellers and their pack horses. Later it was known as the Palmers Clovelly Hotel, reflecting a connection to the Palmer family or a previous ownership. The bar contains an oak fireplace lintel inscribed with the year 1789, providing a concrete historical marker for the building's age. At some point, the establishment became known as the Clovelly Inn, taking its name from the village of Bratton Clovelly in which it stands. The village itself is rural, located on the north-western edge of Dartmoor National Park, about 9 miles from the town of Okehampton. Bratton Clovelly is notable for its Norman-period church, St Mary the Virgin, which contains a series of very rare 17th-century wall paintings. In recent years, the inn has been owned and operated by Torben and Suzanne Hughes. Under their stewardship, it has operated as a Free House, meaning it is independent of brewery ties and free to source beers from various suppliers. The pub has developed a reputation for its welcoming, child-friendly atmosphere, a rotating selection of real ales that changes weekly, and home-cooked food served seven days a week. It also offers accommodation, marketed as 'A Stay in Clovelly Inn'. The business maintains a Facebook page for community engagement and updates.

• 1789

  Oak fireplace lintel inscribed with the year 1789, indicating the building's 18th-century origins.

• Originally known as the Old Pack Horse Inn.

• Later known as the Palmers Clovelly Hotel.

• Renamed the Clovelly Inn, taking its name from the village of Bratton Clovelly.

• Torben and Suzanne Hughes become owners, operating it as a Free House.

Authentic rural Devon free house pub with a historic 18th-century setting, offering real ales and home-cooked food in a child-friendly atmosphere.

• Real ales (selection changes weekly)

• Home-cooked food (available seven days a week)

• Accommodation

1. 1The Clovelly Inn – Bratton Clovelly, Devonclovellyinn.co.uk
2. 2Clovelly Inn - Wikidatawikidata.org