Locomotive Inn

The Locomotive Inn is a public house in Exeter, Devon, in the United Kingdom. It is one of the pubs listed on the website of The Heavitree Brewery PLC, an independent, family-owned tenanted and leased pub company based in Exeter. Rather than being a standalone brewing or restaurant brand, the Locomotive Inn functions as a licensed hospitality venue within Heavitree's pub estate, which is concentrated in Devon and across the South West of England. Heavitree Brewery describes its pubs as offering "some of the best food, drink and hospitality in the region," located in Exeter and in many of the South West's towns and villages, including a number of iconic locations. The Locomotive Inn therefore sits within a portfolio that spans traditional inns, village locals and town pubs, all trading under the Heavitree umbrella while retaining their own individual names and identities. As a tenanted or leased house, the Locomotive Inn is operated by its licensee or tenants under arrangements with Heavitree Brewery, which owns or manages the property and supplies the pub. The parent company's tenancy team handles lettings and enquiries, and the estate is promoted through a central pub search on the Heavitree website. This model is typical of the traditional British pub company: the freeholder or pub-owning business provides the premises and support, while the individual publican runs the day-to-day operation. The Locomotive Inn's identity is closely tied to its Exeter setting. Exeter is Heavitree Brewery's home city, and the company's history is deeply rooted in the area, dating back to 1790 when the original Heavitree Family Brewery was founded in Church Street, Heavitree. Although Heavitree ceased brewing operations in May 1970 and refocused entirely on managing tenanted pubs, its estate remains a significant presence in the regional pub trade. The Locomotive Inn is part of that continuing legacy. For customers, the pub represents a local, community-oriented drinking and dining destination rather than a national chain outlet. Its inclusion in the Heavitree pub directory places it alongside well-known Devon and South West houses such as the Anchor Inn at Cockwood, the Ashcott Inn, the Atmospheric Railway at Starcross, the Beach at Exmouth and the Bell Inn at Bovey Tracey. Like those pubs, the Locomotive Inn benefits from Heavitree's regional knowledge, property management and tenancy support. Because the Locomotive Inn is a single pub rather than a multi-site consumer brand, detailed public information about its founding date, individual licensees, menus or specific trading history is limited. What is clear from the available evidence is its status as a Heavitree Brewery pub in Exeter, Devon, and its place within one of the oldest pub companies in the South West of England.

The Locomotive Inn is a pub in Exeter, Devon, in the United Kingdom. It appears in the pub directory of The Heavitree Brewery PLC, an independent, family-owned tenanted and leased pub company based in Exeter. The pub's own history is not separately documented in the available evidence; its story is therefore best understood through the history of its parent pub company, one of the oldest pub companies in the South West of England. The Heavitree Brewery dates back to 1790, when the original 'Heavitree Family Brewery' was founded by John Wolland in Church Street, Heavitree. His nephew William took over, followed by William's son Thomas. The business later passed to Thomas's nephew Robert Baker, who ran it until 1890. On 7 February 1890, 'The Heavitree Brewery Limited' was formed. On 19 November 1892, the company purchased The Finch Eagle Brewery in Exeter, and on 9 January 1899 it acquired the neighbouring Windsor Brewery in North Street, Heavitree. On 1 January 1916, Mr E W Gall was appointed Secretary and General Manager. Although paid a salary of £240 a year, he systematically robbed the company and fled to Canada in 1922; he was later caught and sentenced to three years' penal servitude, while his accomplice received 12 months' imprisonment. After this crisis, The Heavitree Brewery Limited turned to John Parnell Tucker, a malt supplier who was already a shareholder and main creditor. Together with former Andover Brewery owner H C Hammans, John Parnell Tucker successfully managed the company back to its feet and completed two further purchases: the Dawlish Brewery of R B Ferris on 30 July 1926, and Barlett's Dartmouth Warfleet Brewery soon after. John Parnell Tucker was joined in the business by his nephew Edwin Tucker, who later became chairman in 1954. The company ceased brewing operations in May 1970 and became entirely focused on managing its tenanted pubs. This shift from brewer to pub-owning and pub-managing company is central to understanding pubs such as the Locomotive Inn: they are part of a property and tenancy business rather than a working brewery. Heavitree describes itself today as an independent, family-owned tenanted and leased pub company based in Exeter, Devon, with pubs located in its home city and in many of the South West's most beautiful towns and villages, predominantly in Devon, including a number of iconic locations. The Locomotive Inn sits within this estate. Like other Heavitree houses — such as the Anchor Inn at Cockwood, Starcross; the Ashcott Inn at Ashcott; the Atmospheric Railway at Starcross, Exeter; the Beach at Exmouth; the Bell Inn at Bovey Tracey; the Brunswick Arms at Dawlish; the Church House Inn at Stokenham and at Stokeinteignhead; the Claycutter's Arms at Chudleigh Knighton; the Cleave at Lustleigh; the Clifton at Newtown, Exeter; and the Court Farm Inn at Abbotskerswell — it is promoted through the company's central pub search and supported by its tenancy team. The company's board comprises seven directors: Chris Bush (independent non-executive), Nicholas Tucker (chairman), Nicola McLean (finance director and company secretary), Graham Crocker (executive director), Terry Wheatley (managing director), Katherine Pease-Watkin (non-executive) and Thomas Duncan (non-executive). Specific details about the Locomotive Inn's own opening date, licensees, building history or trading milestones are not provided in the available evidence. What can be stated with confidence is that it is a pub in Exeter, Devon, within the Heavitree Brewery estate, and that it forms part of a regional pub tradition stretching back more than two centuries.

• 1970

  The company ceases brewing operations in May and becomes entirely focused on managing its tenanted pubs.

• 1954

  Edwin Tucker becomes chairman of the company.

• 1926

  On 30 July, the company purchases the Dawlish Brewery of R B Ferris; Barlett's Dartmouth Warfleet Brewery is acquired soon after.

• 1922

  Mr E W Gall, having systematically robbed the company, flees to Canada; he is later caught and sentenced to three years' penal servitude.

• 1920

  On 30 March, the company acquires W S Pinsent's Newton Abbot Brewery.

• 1916

  On 1 January, Mr E W Gall is appointed Secretary and General Manager.

• 1899

  On 9 January, the company acquires the neighbouring Windsor Brewery in North Street, Heavitree.

• 1892

  On 19 November, the company purchases The Finch Eagle Brewery in Exeter.

• 1890

  On 7 February, 'The Heavitree Brewery Limited' is formed.

• 1790

  The original 'Heavitree Family Brewery' is founded by John Wolland in Church Street, Heavitree, establishing the business that would become The Heavitree Brewery PLC.

A local pub within the independent, family-owned Heavitree Brewery tenanted and leased estate in Exeter, Devon, offering regional food, drink and hospitality.

• Pub food and drink

  The Locomotive Inn operates as a licensed pub within the Heavitree Brewery estate, offering food, drink and hospitality to customers in Exeter, Devon.

• E W Gall embezzlement (1922)

Read more

1. 1Heavitree Brewery — The Locomotive Innheavitreebrewery.co.uk
2. 2History — Heavitree Breweryheavitreebrewery.co.uk
3. 3About — Heavitree Breweryheavitreebrewery.co.uk
4. 4Locomotive Inn — Wikidatawikidata.org