Pubs In Combe Martin North Devon

Let’s be honest: when most people think of North Devon, they picture surfing in Croyde or cream teas in Clovelly. They are wrong. The real action—the damp, beery, hilarious action—is in Combe Martin, a village that’s basically one long, steep pub crawl with a sea view. This place has so many watering holes per capita, scientists suspect it might actually float on beer.

The Great Pub Census (and a Lie You Won’t Believe)

Combe Martin claims to have once had 42 pubs for a population the size of a small American high school. If that’s true, every man, woman, and sheep was legally required to down three pints before breakfast. Today, it’s a more reasonable baker’s dozen, but the spirit of that glorious, liver-shaking history remains.

You’ll find gems like The Dolphin, which sits so close to the beach, you can smell the chips before you smell the sea. Or The Pack o’ Cards, a pub literally built by a gambling addict who won big—it has four rooms on each floor, 13 doors, and 52 windows. Spoiler: he lost the pub in another card game. Predictable and yet, perfect.

The Mysterious Case of “The Other Pub”

Here’s a surprising fact that will win you pub trivia forever: Combe Martin has a pub called The King’s Arms, but locals whisper about a phantom pub that appears only during fog. No, I’m not joking. It’s a real urban legend about a drowned smuggler’s tavern. You won’t find it on Google Maps, but you will find three drunk tourists asking for directions to it every Friday night.

Don’t worry, the actual pubs are easier to locate—just follow the sound of a vintage fruit machine tilting 15 degrees to the left. Most have flagstone floors that predate the Magna Carta, and landlords who look like they’ve been pulling pints since the Black Death. They are not rude; they just speak in a dialect that requires you to translate “Alright, me ’ansum?” as “Welcome, please order a pasty.”

Where to eat and drink in Combe Martin | My Favourite Cottages

What to Order (and What to Avoid)

If you want to fit in, order a local cider. It’s stronger than a rugby player’s aftershave and will make you see two Combe Martins—which is handy, because there are two hills. Avoid asking for a “lager top” unless you enjoy being stared at like you just insulted the Queen’s corgi.

And for the love of Greg, do not mention the parking situation. Combe Martin’s main road is so narrow, locals have developed a yoga-like flexibility just to get out of their cars. But the pubs are all within staggering distance of each other, so you won’t need to drive anyway. That’s not a suggestion—that’s common sense wrapped in a crisps packet.

Best pub in Devon!! - Review of The Castle Inn, Combe Martin, England

The Bottom of the Glass

So next time you’re planning a Devon trip, skip the tourist traps. Go to Combe Martin. Drink a pint where pirates once drank their grog. Laugh at the fruit machine that smells of wet dog and 1987. You’ll leave with a hangover, a story about a phantom pub, and the realization that 42 pubs is not a number—it’s a lifestyle.

Just bring comfortable shoes. And a designated driver. And possibly a will. Cheers.