Pubs, Hotels and Restaurants - 1

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Historic Pubs - A to D
Historic Pubs - E to L
Historic Pubs - M to R
Historic Pubs - S to Z

West Quarter Pubs
Sidwell Street Pubs

About Pub Signs
The 1830 Beer House Act

Latest update 22nd April 2008

Page 1
Admiral (Vernon) Inn *
Amber Rooms *
Artful Dodger 
Bear Inn *
Bishop Blaize *
Black Horse Inn *
Bowling Green
Bridge Inn
Bude Hotel / Old London *
Cavern Club
Chevalier Inn
City Gate Hotel *
Coachmakers Arms
Cowick Barton
Deller's Cafe *
Devonport Arms
Drakes *
Dolphin Inn/Tap & Barrel *
Double Locks Hotel *
Duke of York
Eagle Tavern *
Fat Pig
George's Meeting House *
Ginos Restaurant
Globe Inn - Clifton Road
Globe Hotel - Topsham
Globe Hotel - Cathedral Yard
Page 2
Golden Lion
Great Western Hotel
Green Gables Inn
Hansons Tea Rooms
Half Moon Hotel *
Harry's *
Heavitree *
Hog's Head *
Honiton Inn
Horse and Dray
Horse and Groom *
Hotel Barcelona *
Hotel Windsor/Bonhay House
Hour Glass Inn

Artful Dodger - formerly the John Bull

Situated opposite St David's Station in Red Cow Village, the two properties in which the Artful Dodger is situated were newly built in 1810. They appear as Lot 1 of six lots in Red Cow Village. Lot 6 was the Red Cow Inn. The sale advert says:

The 1830 Beer Act allowed a householder to set up a beer house for the payment of a fee of 2 guineas to Customs and Excise. The purpose was to reduce the consumption of gin and other spirits by the working class. There are several references to beer retailers from the 1870's onwards in these premises in Red Cow village. The earliest resident in what became the Artful Dodger was John Roberts who was described as an innkeeper at 5 Red Cow Village in the 1861 census. Street numbering was inconsistent at this time, but this is probably the same building as the above lot, as the Red Cow Inn was listed as 1 Red Cow Village.

In the 1889 Kelly's Directory, one James Searle was established as a beer retailer, almost certainly from the same premises which may have been the front room of a private house, or a shop. The 1895 Post Office Directory lists Searle as resident, with the first reference to the name John Bull. By 1906, Besley's lists Mrs Mary Anne Searle as the landlady of the John Bull. The last reference to Mary Anne Searle was in the 1916 Kelly's. The 1918 Directory shows Samuel Pinnock as a beer retailer at number 24, Red Cow Village, the same address as the John Bull.

It was in 1980 that the John Bull was refurbished and reopened with the new name 'Artful Dodger'. The Grade II listed building had £150,000 spent on it, enlarging and improving the premises. The opening night was on a Dicken's theme, with customers and staff dressed in Victorian clothing based on characters from Dicken's novels.

Bowling Green

The Located in Blackboy Road, was listed between 1791 and 1839 as just a ropemakers, run by Mrs Hill and later James Hill in the 1822/3 Pigot's Directory. From 1847 to 1871, James Hill carried on the trade as a "Ropemaker and Beer House". This dual use continued and it was renamed the Ropemakers Arms in 1881. The same family were ropemakers for more than 100 years.

Some trade directory entries show very well how a beerhouse changed into a named public house.

1844 - Hill Jas. rope maker, Hampton buildgs, Black Boy road - Pigot's
1850 - Hill James, Black Boy road - beerhouse, White's.Also listed under Rope & Twine maker.
1902 - 29 & 30 Morgan Simeon, beer retailer - Besley's
1912 - Ropemakers' Arms, Whensley, J., 29 and 30, Blackboy rd - Kelly's
1923 - 29 & 30 Whensley Jn. beer ret - Post Office
1934 - Ropemakers' Arms, Field, S., 29 and 30, Blackboy rd - Besley's
1956 - Ropemakers' Arms Inn, Fredk. J. Nicholls, 29/30 Blackboy rd - Kelly's

The sign shows Drake playing his famous game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. On July 18, 1588, he was playing a game on Plymouth Hoe when he was informed that the approach of the Spanish Armada. He said "We still have time to finish the game and to thrash the Spaniards, too." The pub name relates to the Exeter Bowling Club green opposite and not Drake. It was named the Bowling Green in December 1987.

The Bridge Inn, Topsham

The site of the Bridge Inn has been a dwelling from as early as 1086, when it was mentioned in the Domesday book. It is also possible the stonemasons working on Exeter Cathedral may have lodged there.

Parts of the present inn date from the 16th century, using local stone, although the brewhouse at the rear is Devon cob. The brewhouse contained the hop drying floor and is next to a large brewing chimney.

Some entries for the Bridge Inn in the trade directories, census and Flying Post are:

1844 - Bridge Inn, Philip Pyle, Exmouth rd - Pigot's
1852 - Bridge inn, Edwin Teed Boys, Exmouth rd - Slater's
1861 - Bridge Inn, Philip Duffett age 52 - inn-keeper, Charlotte Duffett 46 - landlady, two sons and a daughter - 1861 census return
1863 - A notice in the 9 December 1863 issue of the Flying Post.

To be LET, immediately, a MALT HOUSE, at the Topsham Bridge Inn. For particulars apply at the Inn.

1878 - Duffett Philip, victualler, Bridge Inn, Ebford road - White's
1891 - Bridge Inn, Richard John Duffett 33 - innkeeper, Ellen Duffett 34, Three girls and one boy, seven other servants and boarders - 1891 census return
1897 - Bridge Inn, Richard John Duffett - Kelly's
1897 - William John Gibbings takes over and starts a family dynasty

It was in 1897, that the Gibbings family took on the business. William John Gibbings was from Clyst St George and is the great-grandfather of the present incumbents. Now, the licensee follows the tradition of promoting local ale and there is always a fine selection available. Apart from the large bar at the back, there is a lovely 'sitting room' at the front of the building with a log fire in the winter. This is much like early inns and pubs in the country, because you have to go to the little serving hatch in the passage to purchase your order.

The bridge Inn is the only pub to be visited by HM Queen Elizabeth when she 'popped in' in March 1998.

The Cavern Club - Queen Street

Opening on Valentines Day 1991, the Cavern Club was aimed at promoting new, underground bands that had up until then, few outlets in the south west.

The first band to perform there was Quicksand. Since then they have given many new groups a public stage and allowed many favourites to return. The Hometown Atrocities consisting of Martin Edmunds, Thom Yorke from Radiohead, Shack from Lunatic Calm, Paul Symes of Dead Inside and David who runs the club, promoted many bands both before the Cavern and since.

Probably the most famous to appear at the Cavern from the perhaps 10,000 acts in total, is Christ Martin with Coldplay.

Coachmakers' Arms/The Fat Pig - John Street

This pub on the corner of Smythen and John Street dates back to before 1845. One of only three pubs to remain in the West Quarter out of 31 in 1897, it had an old fashioned, city local feel, even though it was refurbished in September 2001. 

The earliest reference to the Coachmakers was in the Flying Post on the 6th February 1765 when it burnt down, only to be rebuilt. Apart from the usual for sale and to let notices in the Flying Post, the Coachmakers only appears once in an article during the 19th century. In May 1845 a man was arrested in the Coachmakers' Arms - he had been seen by the master of a ship, moored at the quay, on the deck with a basket containing a piece of beef which had been taken from the cabin. A chase ensued, which culminated in the Coachmakers'. The article concluded by reporting that he was discharged for lack of evidence.

The main building is probably late Victorian, while the rear of the building in John Street (right of photo) was originally a Tudor house with overhanging first and second floors that would have made the street appear to be much narrower than it already is. The overhang was cut back in former years, and then in the 1920s, the side wall of the pub was extended as a façade across the front of the old building, approximately beyond the second window in the photo, where the sign protudes into the street. The rear of the Tudor building had many rebuilds, but it still basically follows the layout of the original structure. There is a small yard which gives access to the toilets, and which is a reminder of the many small courtyards that existed behind many Exeter buildings up until the Second World War.

On the opposite corner of John Street is a plain brick warehouse which was until the middle of the Twentieth-Century a Rougemont stone structure that was one of the British restaurants for workers that were dotted around the city.

It was sold to the licensee, Austin Harding, in 1965 after the City Brewery was taken over by Whitbread in 1962.

The Coachmakers closed in 2007, the last surviving traditional public house in this part of the West Quarter. However, it was purchased by brothers Hamish and Rob Lothian and renovated, revealing many of its old, Victorian features. Old mattresses, and evidence of drug taking were removed and an old sword, coins and a room with original gas lamps and fireplace revealed. The place has been refurbished and the corner door reinstated. It reopened as the Fat Pig, a gastro-pub on Friday 29th February 2008.

Some landlords listed in the trade directories are:

1850 - John Strong, Coachmakers' Arms - White's
1856 - Holloway W., coachmakers' arms inn, smythen street - Exeter Pocket Journal
1889 - Coach Makers' Arms, John Gill, John street, Exeter - Kelly's
1893 - Coachmakers' Arms P.H. Mrs Annie Westlake - Kelly's
1895 - Coachmakers' Arms P.H. Mrs Annie Westlake, John street - Post Office
1897 - Westlake Annie (Mrs.), Coachmakers' Arms P.H.John st - Kelly's
1906 - Coachmakers' Arms, Ellis, William Henry, John Street - Besley's
1913 - Coachmakers' Arms, Ellis, W. H., John st - Besley's
1914 - Coachmakers' Arms, Ellis, W. H., John st - Besley's
1923 - Coachmakers' Arms, Harold E. Robins, 4 John st. Exeter - Kelly's
1956 - Coachmakers' Arms Inn, Hy. Austin Harding (fully licensed),4 John street, Telephone 54010 - Kelly's
1967 - Coachmakers' Arms Inn, 4 John st - Kelly's
2006 - The Coachmakers Arms, Mr Brian Claridge (Landlord), 2 John Street
2008 - The Fat Pig, Hamish and Rob Lothian

The Cowick Barton

Situated in Cowick Lane, St Thomas, the Cowick Barton occupies a mansion that dates from 1540. Built by Lord Russell, probably for his bailiff, the building has several interesting features. Constructed of Heavitree stone, in the classic, Elizabethan E layout, it has almost all its stone mullioned windows surviving.

The house had a fine stained-glass window of Edward VI as Prince of Wales which can now be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum. There are some plaster reliefs, one of a nun caring for some children and one of a maiden with long hair, both standing on the head of a respective fat friar. One fireplace has the date 1657 and the arms of the Baron family over it.

A Bible reference "I press towards the mark" is said to be a coded instruction to a priest hole. There is a trap door in the floor that leads to a cellar and passages that may have been the secret hideaway.

It was the home of the White-Abbott family. John White-Abbott (1763-1851), the water colourist and his grandson, worked on the house, restoring it. The house passed through several families - in 1920, 75 acres of the attached agricultural estate was sold, and in 1963, a brewery purchased the house and turned it into a pub.

Velvet Lounge - Devonport Arms aka Crazy Horse, Moloko, Splash Bar

As the title indicates this pub has undergone a series of name changes in the last few years. It managed to hold onto its original name from at least 1828 (Besley) until the 1990's when it became the Crazy Horse. Its latest reincarnation is as a gay bar, named the Velvet Lounge. It has a licence until 2am with entertainment every night - not much change there then as its previous clientel probably fell out of the door at 10.40 pm into the waiting arms of the Military Police!

Velvet Lounge
Between 1844 and 1859 members of the Ware family ran the pub starting with Samuel Ware and from 1850 Grace Ware. Other innkeepers include John Roberts (1878), Henry Furby Pratt (1897), Woolf William Boam (1923) and Frederick J Thorn in 1956.

The wonderful facade of pink stone and elaborate name board has been ruined by the removal of the 'ARMS' from the name in a crude and insensitive manner. During the Second War, it was a popular pub for the services, and remained a squaddies bar in later years. During the 1980's and 90's it remained one of the few reminders, along with an old fashioned grocer's store, named Darch, just a few doors down, of the old Edwardian Fore Street.

Peter Hinchcliffe remembers

This well known pub owned by Heavitree Brewery was greatly favoured by Irish workers right up to the mid 1980s when the Licensing laws were relaxed to allow all day opening. For years the police knew that illegal all day drinking went on in the pub, but there was little they could do about it. The rear of the pub is completely surrounded by buildings, so there was no way to see what was happening in the rear lounge.

When time was called at 2p.m. those with a thirst went to the rear lounge to cure it. The front door was locked, no one entered or left until the licensed hours started again, the front of the pub looked all deserted, so they were left in peace. I never recall hearing of any fights or problems happening during the afternoon illicit drinking sessions. Oh happy days!

Duke of York - Sidwell Street

Situated on the corner of York Road and Sidwell Street, this public house is older than it looks. The area had significance to the Romans as they built a cemetery in the York Road, Wells Street area just behind the pub.

The first listing in a trade directory was in 1822 with H Land as the landlord. The earlier Acland Arms was on the opposite corner of York Road and was a coaching inn in the 18th century. There is evidence that the Duke of York was named the Dukes Head in 1816. When street numbering was introduced in Fore Street, The Duke of York was designated number 147 - around about the 1870's it became number 58.

The Duke of York was lucky to survive the blitz of May 1942. The Acland Arms was destroyed by fire, while most of the opposite side of Sidwell Street was also lost.

Now, the Duke of York is frequented by many locals, and visitors to the Odeon, just up the road. It also does well when Exeter City are playing at home. Some landlords from the trade directories:

1822 - Ht Land   
1844 - John Stoneman
1850 - John Crook 
1856 - W Davy
1859 - A Davey 
1878 - Thomas Lee
1889 - Robert Baker
1894 - A J Callaway
1912 - Mrs F Andow 
1923 - Henry Middleweek
1956 - Horace Rice

Ginos Restaurant or Malthouse

It is thought that parts of this building date from the 16th-century. In the 19th-century it belonged to W J Richards, who was a partner in Harding, Richards & Thomas who became a public company in 1889, as the St Anne's Well Brewery Company Ltd. Thus, the malthouse had a ready outlet to the brewery situated at the bottom of the valley, beneath the Ironbridge. A malthouse processes barley by allowing it to germinate on a warm floor and then drying it in a kiln. The original malt house chimney still exists and gives the building a striking appearance on the city wall, next to the old North Gate. The kiln was manufactured by H J H King & Company of Nailsworth and is still in situ, in the building. Other parts of the building have been removed to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Queen Street.

The Pottery

In 1891 a small craft pottery was run from the premises by Messrs. Cole and Trelease. Managed by William Hart, it employed from 1893 Alfred Moist as the main wheel potter. Moist had formerly worked at the Bovey Tracey Pottery. Decorative pots from the workshop were stamped 'Made at the Exeter Art Pottery' along with Exeter's three-towered castle. The pottery closed in 1896 and Hart and Moist went on to run the Devon Art Pottery in Haven Road.

The malthouse closed around about 1966/7 (it was still listed in Kelly's in 1967) and was then used for a time as a pottery and it was considered as a possible small museum or visitor centre about brewing. However, the building was purchased by John Pring who opened it as The Old Malthouse restaurant in partnership with Jim Kennedy and D Stephenson. They opened with the Devon Arts and Crafts Display Centre, combined with the restaurant, so that diners could eat, and then purchase the pictures hanging on the wall. The restaurant was expanded in 1978 and a larger kitchen added. In 1982, a Mr Townsend, the owner of the Fisherman's Cot at Bickleigh briefly owned the business. Then in 1986, an Italian, Ciro Vecci purchased the restaurant and opened with the name 'Ginos'. His restaurant proved to be popular and continues to serve food under a new owner. The food is, as the name suggests, Italian although there is a good range of seafood available.

Some trade entries for the malthouse.

1889 - St Anne's Well Brewery Co. Ltd, maltsters - Kelly's
1956 - St Anne's Well Brewery (malthouse) - Kelly's
1967 - St Anne's Well Brewery (malthouse) - Kelly's
2005 - Gino's Restaurant, Mrs R White (manager), 6 staff

Globe Inn - Newtown

Located in Clifton Road, Newtown, about 100m from the Golden Lion. The name Globe goes back to at least Tudor times with the naming of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in 1599. It may have become a popular name as English mariners embarked on voyages to the New World, and Drake completed his circumnavigation of the 'globe' in 1580. It was in the 16th Century that the production of globes for navigation became important with the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe commissioning a brass, 5ft globe in 1570. However, the Globe is a popular name for hotels and public houses in southern ports as it was the sign used to indicate a Portuguese Wine Trader.

This Globe dates from the early part of the 19th-century. Some of the landlords listed in trade directories (italics) and notice of sales are:

1844 - Globe - Clifton Rd, Thomas Dare - Pigott's
1854 - Notice of sale from Mrs Moxam to William Birkett - Flying Post
1856 - Report of sale to Mr Lamacroft - Flying Post
1867 - Notice of sale from William Birkett to W E Carter - Flying Post. This was probably a change of landlord, rather than owner as it would appear Nicholas Lamacroft still owned the property.
1871 - Lamacroft, w, globe inn, maltster, newtown - Pocket Journal
1878 - Globe, Albert St, Nicholas Lamacraft - White's. The Flying Post reports the death of Mr Lamacroft in the same year. He appears to have been the landlord at his death.
1897 - Globe inn, Harry Lamacraft, Clifton road, Exeter - Kelly's. Probably the son of Nicholas Lamacroft.
1906 - Globe, Harry Lamacroft 38 Clifton Road - Besley's
1919 - Globe Inn, Harry Lamacroft, 39, Clifton Road - Kelly's. They also brewed their own beer at this time.
1934 - Globe, Connell, H,. 39, Clifton rd - Besley's
1956 - Globe Inn, Stanley W Cutting - Kelly's

The Globe was lucky to survive the bombing of 1942, as Newtown was badly hit. The Globe has wireless internet access, for those are desperate to surf the web, while drinking a pint. It also has live music with jazz, folk, country, blues and rock.

The Globe Hotel, Fore Street, Topsham

Almost certainly dating from before the first documented date of 1700, the Globe has been at the centre of life in Topsham for hundreds of years. It was owned by the same licensee who ran the King John in South Street, Exeter.

When Topsham had a flourishing port in the mid 17th century, a healthy trade in port wine from Portugal developed. The Globe was certainly involved in this trade as the 'Globe' was the sign of the Portuguese Wine Traders. That is why many coastal towns on the south coast have a Globe Inn or Hotel.

From 1790 to 1870, three generations of the Harrison family ran the Globe. They built the Georgian facade and retitled it as the Globe Hotel - influenced, no doubt by the Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter, the country's first hotel in 1770. In the 1830's it was a coaching inn, with coaches travelling to Lyme Regis, Salisbury and London starting at the Globe. Horses were stabled in Globefields at the rear of the hotel - now all you will find is houses. Some of the landlords are:

c1800 - Richard Harrison, owner and licencee
1844 - Globe inn, John Swaile Harrison. Harrison was also postmaster and maltster - Pigott's
1878 - Globe, Topsham, J P Harrison - White's
1897 - Globe inn, Edward Hodder, Fore street, Topsham,Exeter - Kelly's
1923 - Globe inn, John William Radford, Fore st. Topsham - Post Office

The Globe Hotel was thatched until 1900, when it was known as 'Radford's', Globe Hotel. The landlord, John William Radford would refuse to serve patrons if he didn't agree with their political views. On the first floor, a drawing room is said to have been a merchants' meeting room. The black circle with three prongs on the front is an Edwardian sign for the Cycle Touring Club, showing that the hotel welcomed cyclists. This is one of the most interesting hostelries in Topsham and is worth a visit.

Globe Hotel - Cathedral Yard

The Globe Hotel consisted of a four storey Georgian main building and an older, three storey building that contained a Tudor period oak panelled room. The hotel stretched from Little Stile, a narrow gate joining South Street to Cathedral Yard, to the corner of St Petroc's Church, in Cathedral Yard.

Between 1573 and 1603 the site of the Globe was noted as "part of the Cathedral cemetery" converted into "a garden in the tenure of Jno. Ellacott". It is probable that this garden was the portion later occupied by the Georgian section of the hotel, next to St Petroc's. Then in 1707 it was "since converted into a dwelling house or houses". This may be the Tudor building and home of the Northmore family, the range of buildings on the left in the photograph. 

It becomes the Globe

The first reference to it being an inn is from a baptism record which states "25th October, 1674 of Thomas son of William Fowler, Tapster at ye Globe". In 1772 a plan of the "Globe Tavern, Tennements and Buildings" was drawn up that indicated it granted to William Rigg, maltster. (D&CN&Q) It later became the terminal of the Exmouth stage coach.

The tavern was noted as a centre for cockfighting in the 18th century, ironically, only yards from the Roman garrison cockpit. Local citizens used to meet there for the annual 5th November celebration of the attempted blowing up of Parliament by Guido Fawkes. Its rooms were also used by Britain's first bee keeping association for their meetings between 1797 and 1807. The Globe was also important to Freemasonry in Devon when it became the meeting place in 1774 of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Devon Freemasons, founded by Sir Charles Bampfylde who was the Master of the Lodge. Sir John Graves Simcoe, the first Governor General of Canada was initiated into the Lodge at the Globe Hotel.

In 1921 the hotel was bought from a hotel company by Mr and Mrs F G Brand - 8 years later they put it on the market for £12,500, but it was withdrawn from sale.

Some of the entries in trade directories during the 19th and 20th-century.

1796 - Globe Tavern, Mary's Yard, Luccomb, John - Exeter Pocket Journal
1816 - Globe Inn, Mary's Yard, Gabriel Eliz. - Exeter Pocket Journal
1832/3 - Globe Inn, Thomas Gabriel, St Mary's Yard - Pigot's
1833 - Gore John, globe hotel, mary's yard - Exeter Pocket Journal
1844 - Globe Hotel, Cathedral Yard, James Lane - Pigot's
1871 - Globe Hotel, cathed-yd, Carter, Wm., - Pocket Journal
1878 - Globe, Charles Langdon - White's
1897 - Globe family & commercial (William Densham, propr.), facing Cathedral, Cathedral yard, Exeter - Kelly's
1901 - Globe Hotel, William Denham, Hotel Keeper - census return
1921 - Globe Hotel, Mr & Mrs F G Brand
1934 - Globe, Pidgeon, G. A., Cathedral yd - Besley's

The hotel was lost to fire in the Exeter bombing of 4th May 1942, when the shops behind, on South Street caught fire and the flames spread to the Globe. It was described as 'damaged by fire' in a report but photographs show that it was completely gutted.