What’s The Sea Trout Inn like?
This relaxed village pub, which dates back to the 15th Century, is just a short drive from the market town of Totnes in Devon. Guests can expect a warm welcome from owner Barry and his team, as well as stylish rooms and delicious, freshly-cooked food.
How dog-friendly is The Sea Trout Inn?
Very good. All of the rooms are dog-friendly although you’ll need to bring your own beds, bowls and food. Dogs are also welcome throughout the rest of the pub, whether that’s in the stylish wood-panelled restaurant, the airy conservatory, lounge bar or patio garden adorned with fairy lights. There is additional charge of £10 per dog per night.
Tell me more about The Sea Trout Inn
There are 10 stylish rooms above the pub, sleeping two to four people. These range from deluxe doubles to a family room and there is even an annexe you can hire. As we were travelling with a friend, we booked to stay in Room 10, which was a twin. It had recently been refurbished so felt fresh and clean and we were pleasantly surprised by how spacious it was, too. The room was decorated in shades of grey and taupe, complemented by a patterned carpet. As well as a wardrobe, it had a desk and separate TV unit, plus several lamps and vases of flowers, which gave it a homely feel.
We had complimentary tea and coffee during our stay, and there were toiletries in the bathroom too. The shower was hot and powerful and there was also an original wooden beam over the bathroom window, which added some character. While our room was at the top of the pub staircase and overlooked the road at the front, there was very little noise during our stay and we slept like babies. The only thing we did really hear was the local church bell tolling, but that was fine by us as it was quite idyllic! Be aware that you do have to navigate some narrow country roads to reach the pub but there is plenty of parking when you get there.
What’s the food like at The Sea Trout Inn?
Excellent. Think classic pub grub, but better. And everything – from the meat to the fish, eggs and cheese – is locally sourced, where possible. You don’t just get a burger here, it’s a Dartmoor steak burger and instead of plain old fish and chips, you’ll get beer-battered fish and triple-cooked chips served with mushy peas, curry sauce and tartar sauce, pictured above, in case you can’t decide which one you’d prefer. The enormous Sunday roasts are also delicious and even the light lunch options are pretty special.
It’s well worth getting out of bed for breakfast, too. The menu has everything from the traditional Full English to halloumi ciabatta rolls and everything is cooked fresh to order. Happily, the homemade theme also continues in the mornings. We really enjoyed the crispy hash browns and the rosemary sourdough bread, which had clearly been made with love.
Are there resident dogs at The Sea Trout Inn?
No, but you will probably bump into a visiting pooch or two.
Where are the best dog walks near The Sea Trout Inn?
They’re all around in this part of Devon. From The Sea Trout Inn, it’s an easy walk to the River Dart, which you can stroll alongside for miles. Staverton itself is a very pretty village too and has more than 13 miles of public footpaths, bridleways and byways to explore. Helpfully, this Staverton & Landscove website has put together a map showing exactly where you can walk. Click here to see it.
You can see more of the beautiful Devon countryside by taking a trip on the South Devon Railway, too. The seven-mile former Great Western Railway branch line runs from Buckfastleigh to Totnes and passes right through Staverton. It’s lovely to walk between the stations and on certain services, you can even ask for the trains to call at Nappers Halt, which is a request stop for The Sea Trout Inn. Dogs can travel on all of the steam trains for £2. Adult tickets cost £17.
What I loved about The Sea Trout Inn
The laid-back atmosphere, the idyllic location, the comfy rooms
How to book The Sea Trout Inn
Overnight stays start from £60 per room. Breakfast costs extra. For more information or to book, call 01803 895395 or visit The Sea Trout Inn website.