Where to Stay Category: Pubs & Inns
The Bull Inn
Organic ⋅ Radical ⋅ Ethical
Nestled at the top of the Totnes high street & overlooking Rotherfold square, The Bull Inn is an organic, ethical pub with nine contemporary, eclectically designed and stylish bedrooms. Situated in the South Hams, Devon, we make the most of being surrounded by some of the best organic food producers in the UK. After a year of eco logically-driven renovations we opened our doors in December 2019 - with nine beautiful rooms, a self-catered, four-bed apartment across the road and a truly supplier led, organic restaurant.
We run our business by our No-Bull Rules & the Conscious Compromise. This is when we consider all the facts we have to hand and make the best choices we can in terms of the ecological & social impact. It’s about trying your hardest to do the right thing by being an engaged citizen and making conscious decisions. These govern what we buy, how we trade, and how we work as a team to deliver a deeply radical, ethical and values driven business. We are engaged and committed to a Philosophy of Doing Business Better, scrutinising our habits and our ways of being and buying.
For our bar, this means organic beer on draught, seasonal housemade cocktails and a stunning organic wine list. Our kitchen serves organic, seasonal, simple food in sensible portions. Our veg-first meals are complimented by mindful meat, using whole animals and thought-through fish dishes, including legal by-catch.
For the building, our ecological approach means lime-plaster walls, antique, vintage and second-hand furniture, lighting by local artisan makers, organic bathroom products, organic bed linen with mattresses made using organic fibres and Dartmoor wool. Our walls and doors are decorated in eco paint and we’ve used locally made tiles in the bathrooms and ecologically-minded flooring through-out.
The ground floor is heated via a heat recapture system, harnessing the heat from the kitchen and recycling it, with solar panels heating the hot water for the bedrooms. We compost, use wooden chopping boards and eco sponges and don’t use cling film in the kitchen – basically, if we can find a greener way, we do it. Our waste is managed by zero-to-landfill, our electric is supplied by Ecotricity, phone lines by the the phone co-op, insurance by a Nature Saver, demonstrating our commitment to better business practices.
“The future, if we have a future, is here”
- GILES COREN, THE TIMES
Accreditations :
5 Star Organic Served Here - Soil Association
3 Star Gold Food Made Good - Sustainable Restaurant Association
Good Business Charter
Awards :
Sustainability Pioneer & Gold Star - Food Drink Devon 2022/23
Best Dining Pub - Food & Travel Awards 2022/23
Best UK B&B's - Conde Nast 2022
Top 100 Hotels - The Sunday Times 2021
Best Eco Hotel of the Year - The Times 2020/21
Best of Organic Eating Out Finalist - Boom Awards 2021
Big Sleep Awards - National Geographic 2020
Dartington Hall
Bay Horse Inn
Our traditional real-ale pub at the top of town is just a short stroll from Totnes' historic centre (where landlady Kathy conducts guided tours). We have two welcoming double rooms and a holiday apartment available (with King Size bed). Single and room-only rates are available as well as full B&B. Our 'little pub with the big garden' offers an excellent selection of ales, lagers, wine and regional ciders, and customers are welcome to BYO food from the great takeaways on offer nearby. Regular music nights include jazz, folk sessions, open-mics and local talent. We open at 3.30pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 1.30pm Friday to Sunday.