East Allington, Devon. This pub visit began with what I had planned to be a nice (approximate) 2 mile walk through the woods and countryside of South Devon. However, I feel not many people have taken the walk this year as in parts of it the path was narrow and quite overgrown. On top of that it had just rained and the sun came out, resulting in a quite hot and humid journey! So when I arrived at this lovely country pub I looked like a drowned rat and was very much in need of a pint!

East Allington is a lovely little village (population of 596 as of 2001). In the 12th century the estate was owned by the Fallapit family, a junior branch of the Fortesque family. The proper Fortesque family became residents in the mid 15th century, with the last member of the family leaving in the mid 19th century. The nearby St. Andrews Church has existed since the 13th century. Famous local residents are first-class cricketer Arthur Fortesque and comedian Rik Mayall. Adrian, the bartender who I had a great chat with, told me that someone in the village has a photo of Mayall and Robbie Coltrane sitting in the pub enjoying beverages.

The pub dates from the 19th century and still retains the charms of yesteryear with flagstone floors, beamed ceilings, and a lovely rounded bar. There is also a nice beer garden in the back where I met Albert, the pub's long time resident cat (15 years old!). Since there was no shade in the garden I sat inside and cooled off with a Legend Cask Ale from Dartmoor Brewery. And then off for the walk back home....