The Railway in West Devon

The Railway Inn is like no other public house! It is a happy place to be. The staff are wonderfully obliging, cheerful and very engaging. The bar area is cosy and offers many precious things; including real ale, fine wines and a wonderful selection of spirits. And, it's so good to hear the Devonshire accent amongst the chatter and laughter. The atmosphere is the most precious thing of all. Well of course there's a restaurant area, it's detached from the madding throng. A more sedate area. The food is superbly presented, hot and served in lickety-split time. Helpings are quite frankly too much for a wimp like me. And then came the dessert menu...Resistance was futile! Really impressive all round. So much so that I struggled to overcome the urge to leave a tip! Richard (Dick), Okehampton

Best pub in Devon. Favourite for excellent home cooked food, good proper ales and wine, and local craic. All served with a smile (and by modern standards, a modest bill). Full marks to Burt and Claire. Proper!

Great find - a proper pub! Really affable landlord, good beer kept well (Teignworthy Reel Ale and Avocet from Exeter Brewery) and good food at a price rather lower than we're used to in Hampshire! Friendly serving staff too. All four of us really enjoyed both starters and mains (and puds for the girls!). I wasn't expecting the peppered squid starter to be anything special, but it was nicely cooked, and a lot more succulent and tasty than the normal 'battered rings' that most places serve - guess it was a nice fresh squid that had been prepared on site? Definitely pop in again next time in the area...

Haven't been in a while as quite a run from us but as good as ever! Good food and lovely friendly environment. Thank you!

A lovely time was spent chatting with friends and drinking some excellent wine on a Sunday lunchtime. Great atmosphere and lovely local people to talk to.

Arrived for a meal on a Tuesday evening. Well organised on Covid rules involving masks / movement around the pub. Food was amazing - the chicken curry was superb. We arrived without cash - no card machine in use - the landlord waved us away and asked for payment the next day (which we did). You wouldn't get that in our local in London - they'd be gone in a flash. Thank you to all the staff - we loved our visit and you are a favourite place to eat on a return to the area in early December.

Great home cooked food, with well kept beer, friendly welcome and best steak I've had in years. Well worth finding!

The Railway Inn is unique. I went there last night with my family. First impressions? A relic from the good old days, a wonderfully atmospheric bar area frequented by Devonshire locals. The Landlord, Bert, is just the most perfect amiable host. As bartender he serves some great and unusual draft beers and, as I found to my cost this morning, some hidden strong strength whiskys. But this is more than just a pub, this is surely one of the finest eating establishments in Devon! Adjacent to the bar is the restaurant. A relatively small room that's cosy and spotlessly clean. The food is just awesome. Not cheap nor expensive, but certainly more than value for money. Generous portions of beautifully prepared and presented food ... virtual works of art. The salad is a spectacular kaleidoscope of colour; crunchy fresh lettuce, oranges, nuts and so much more. The chicken was so unbelievably succulent, the sauces were sublime, the beef burger with a tower of onion rings was eye-popping. Five stars!We'll be back.

Although this pub is not in the centre of North Tawton seek this one out! It's the old railway station on Whiddon Down Rd. A great welcome from the landlord Bert and good local bought food cooked by his wife. Real Ale available and even his own gin,runner up for CAMRA pub of the year quite a few times.

Great country pub, friendly owners staff and locals. Food great especially the lasagne!! Will go again.

Had a meal here with friends last night. It was the first time we had eaten here and it wont be the last. Food was fantastic, cooked to perfection. Service was good and very friendly.

Staying in the area for a short break we visited 'The Railway' for our evening meal(s).From the moment you enter there is a cheery greeting from Bert the landlord and histeam.Both the Menu and Specials board give very a good selection of wholesome dishes catering for all tastes.We had steak and pork loin for our meals. Both arrived quickly, hot and were delicious. Landlady Clare's sweets were to die for!The friendly atmosphere, delicious pub food and very helpful staff made for us a very enjoyable evening out.All you would wish for in your local pub.lWell worth a visit.

Been meaning to go here for a while and wasn't disappointed, lovely atmosphere, great service and friendly staff. Food excellent and good value. Definitely return again.

We visited for lunch for my Nans 85th Birthday- so glad we did! We had the most beautiful home cooked dinner and pudding and very reasonably priced. The staff were very welcoming, we will definitely make the effort to drive up from Torquay again, well worth it!

Excellent olde world pub and restaurant with a separate dining area. Couldn't fault the service, the landlord and his staff were excellent and really helpful from the start. Plenty of specials to entice you in addition to the normal menu. I had a Shellfish Platter which was excellent and my family also had a great experience. A good selection of local beer and whiskies available along with local gins. Highly recommended if you're in the area. Walked away with a contented smile.

My son looked at this place when he drove past, but said it looked closed down. Fortunately I had read some reviews and persuaded him to try it anyway. So glad we did. The steaks were cooked to perfection, the lasagne and garlic bread were superb and the prawn and crab salad out of this world. The desserts were all equally good.The service was speedy, friendly and efficient. The whole meal including drinks was less than £25 per person and worth every penny. Shame we have to go home tomorrow!!

Staying locally and we were advised to try this pub. What a gem. First Bert keeps a great pint which is the most important part of any pub but he is also a great host. The evening we visited, we had booked which is advisable as the pub was full, however, three tables all sat to eat at the same time and the staff took this in their stride, and dealt with the meals going out into the bar !!! Just brilliant service and then there is the food. Superb home cooked food at a really good price, the lasagne was rich and meaty with a healthy side of garlic bread. My wife had the warm chicken salad which was fantastic and big enough for two. No room for puddings !!! If you are near this pub treat yourself and try it. One note - Bert runs a cash only establishment.

Having been staying near by on holidays this place was recommended to us and it was well worth the visit we have now eaten here several times ,the staff are very welcoming & friendly & the food is excellent one of the best fillet steaks I have ever had , the deserts are well worth a try . highly recommend.

While staying in North Tawton (as we did in a lovely b&b;) or travelling by, stop at the Railway. It is local, popular, busy, fun and friendly. The hosts make you feel welcome and the food is really good. All in all one of our best pub experiences so far on our English summer trip.

We found the Railway from the internet and located it almost by chance as it has no signage for it! However, we were glad we did. We arrived to be befriended by the Landlord who is such a great character, funny and interesting. The food was excellent and the portions large. Service was good and the general ambiance of the place was like a 1950s local pub with pictures of the old railway, horse brasses and trinkets around. A delightful evening.

Make sure you are hungry !!!!.What a lovely pub .Great staff ,the warmest welcome ,vast range of food on offer .Beautifully cooked ,well presented ,great value ,no where quite like it .Bert ..what a landlord .On our second visit he even remembered what we were drinking ,a really lovely man .Gave us some tips on places to visit , really made it a holiday to remember .Would recommend and would never hesitate to return .Thank you Bert ..take care of yourself ..the world would be a far nicer place with more folk like you in it .

This pub is fantastic & you can always be guaranteed a fabulous meal with great service. Lovely setting as well

If you like uncomplicated good old fashioned ‘proper’ food, visit this pub. If you like a ‘proper’ country pub, visit this pub. What a fantastic place, welcoming, buzzing with both locals and visitors, a great atmosphere. Bert the landlord couldn’t have been more friendly and jolly. What a gent.

Stopped in with a friend on Friday evening and had one of the best steaks with peppercorn sauce Ive had in a long while !! Service was impeccable and very friendly and the surroundings were very pleasant Will definitely visit again on our next trip

The place itself doesn't look like much, and the car park looks like a farmer's yard, but this pub is well worth a visit. The owner is really friendly, and the food we had was amongst the best in the area. Best fillet steak my wife has had in years.

It's out of the way, it looks like part of the old railway station (it was!), it has no sign of 'cheffies' or glitz and glamour. What you get is Bert at the Bar and Claire in the eating bit. It's all in 'broad Deb'n' (look out for the translation boards in the Bar) and the food is totally wonderful. Be aware that you will need to book as the place is usually 'proper mazed' (=busy)! We can't keep away from it. It is fantastic!

The hosts of this traditional pub are amazing people and there are many welcoming locals. The food is local, fresh, hearty and tasty. Both drinks and food are excellent value. Would recommend booking.

Visited the railway with a friend for a chat and dinner. Lovely friendly pub, landlord extremely welcoming and jovial.

Good honest freshly made pub food at good value for money prices. It comes with smiles from the staff and great local Devon humour from Bert, the landlord. Good atmosphere and always buzzing with local people. We love it!

I have enjoyed visiting this pub from a young age, through getting married and now as a family!

The Railway is not a chain or a tourist trap. You have to look for this but the effort is worth it. Friendly landlord and locals provide a great atmosphere and children are expected to be well behaved.

Great Devonshire pub, quiet and calm atmosphere and welcoming. Nice selection of local ales and top shelf variety. Food was served well, large portions and very large selection on the menu. Food was cooked well but certain elements a little bland. Steak was unfortunately over cooked but otherwise a really good dinner out.

Though we have been in Broadwoodkelly, near North Tawton , for some time we had never visited the Railway, didn't even know it was there. What a gem, traditional old Devon pub with the added element of a fantastic mine host and really great food.

Habíamos oído muchas cosas buenas sobre este pub y a pesar de estar cerca de los que nunca habíamos visitado. Nos llevó a un largo desvío al pop en pero sólo conseguimos justo dentro de la puerta antes de que se le pidió dejar porque teníamos perros. El propietario nos dijo que los clientes no como perros. Realmente? Prácticamente cada otro pub en Devon permiten perros. No me gustan los gritos de los niños, pero el pub estaba lleno de esos. Creo que sería útil si ponen en su sitio en grandes letras rojas. Somos el único pub en Devon, aparte de que no permiten wetherspoons perros.

Enormous salad, has to be seen to be believed. Always lovely food, good prices and great staff - what more do you need

Great pub, great atmosphere, substantial, well cooked and presented food from a small menu with a specials board. Well kept beers, great selection of malt whiskies. Well priced wine list. Don't miss it if you are in the area.

Ensaladas, carnes, mariscos y por supuesto Ale y similares. Los autores de un libro o dos en el local de trenes en la zona, Pide al anfitrión/Propietario y te dejará ver los libros. La comida era buena y abundante. El único inconveniente es efectivo no sólo tarjetas

Llamado para una cena y una pinta, no una amplia selección de cervezas de barril, pero que mantiene los tienen en buenas condiciones.

Si quieres una buena comida, la gran hospitalidad de valor de Bert, el propietario y tienen el estómago vacío probar el tren en la carretera whiddon. Siempre hay mucho para comer del menú de pub, bar o en el comedor cada noche, excepto el jueves...

Un pub país. Muy buena comida, cervezas locales y rústico que era excelente. El personal es muy amable y servicial. 8 personas comimos 2 campos (que fueron MUY generosos con bebidas por £135, buena comida y excelente relación calidad-precio. Pruebe las carnes y los mariscos.

Que se pierda este pub tradicional, si no sabía que estaba ahí como escondido justo al lado de la carretera no es evidente. Puede estar seguro de una cálida bienvenida de propietario Bert y su pequeño equipo. La decoración no ha cambiado en muchos años,...

Excellent venue, visited the Railway yesterday for the first time, did not eat on this occassion, just sampled the real ale, but will be back soon.

Very tasty main courses , delicious desserts, some interesting real ales and a lovely welcome and great service were comfortably enough to warrant five stars. The added help we were given on a busy night to help us out of a little difficulty was above and beyond the call of duty! Will definitely return on our next family holiday so we can continue to work our way through the deserts !

The best steak we have had for years. Lovely food and a great bottle of wine. We will definitely be back. A busy local pub with good beer, wine and soft drinks. A wide choice of food to suite everyone. Very generous portion sizes.

We booked up for a Sunday lunch at the Railway at North Tawton, DevonNo Sunday roast here. Varied specials board and a menu card.I had a great cold seafood platter ,my wife and friend had salads, the fourth had a ribeye steak.What a wonderful fresh meal.The salads were full of various leaves,roots and fruits.The steak was superbly cooked to taste, served with home cut chips, mushrooms, tomato and salad.My seafood platter came up as a work of art, mounds of crab and prawns sitting against 5 large shell on prawns. Plenty of the fruit filled salad and a side of 3 dips.1 starter, 4 mains, 3 deserts along with a small amount of drinks came to under £20 a head.The host and landlord ,Burt, is friendly and loves to show off his traditional Devon pub. He has been landlord for over 25 years.A must for locals and visitors alike.

Always a really warm welcome awaits at the Railway however busy they are. Bert is brilliant behind and in front of the bar. The food is delicious served in big portions, I've never finished a dish yet. Last night was no exception. The salads have to be seen to be believed. A starter portion for me next time! Thank you!

Absolutely loved this pub. A step back in time. Great atmosphere. Friendly locals and staff. Excellent food. Spot on service. The duck salad starter was superb. Steaks perfectly cooked. Lasagne and casserole delicious. Puds yummy. Would highly recommend and will definitely return.

Great food, very warm welcome, locals were a great bunch as well. Had a great steak which was cooked perfectly. Had a lovely evening. Thanks for a proper Devon welcome and feed. Proper job Burt!!

I phoned the railway for a booking had no trouble in getting a table,glad I had phoned because it filled up very quickly.There was a nice warm welcome from the landlord also a bit of banter because we were Welsh old worldy pub, food was superb reasonably priced

Was recommended to this place by friends. The food is excellent, sevice good, good value for money. Would definitely go back.

Had Sunday lunch at the Railway. Good choices although no carvery.Apart from the standard menu they offered a comprehensive 'board' as well.Food was fresh cooked not pinged so prepare for a wait (about 20 mins and not a problem).Will likely go there again.Note they don't take plastic so make sure you have cash.

Have eaten here several times, one of my favourite places for a steak. Very friendly service in a cosy country pub.

There were four in our party, we were offered a table in the restaurant or a table in the bar, we chose the latter because the atmosphere in the bar was really good and the eating area is away from the bar servery. The menu was extensive and everything was available, there was a board with 'specials' listed. The starters were very good and the portions large. The main courses were also excellent and the plates full. Service was quick and friendly. The Railway Inn is a real good Devonshire local pub used by farmers, haulage contractors and other tradesmen, the banter is certainly worth listening to, sadly very few pubs now can offer that local attraction. Everyone was friendly and enjoying themselves.

If you haven't visited The Railway Inn at North Tawton yet - you really must add it to your "To Do" List. It's what I call a "Spit and saw dust" pub - great ambience and plenty of chat at the bar. Really good value food - always. If you want a light snack - don't order a salad they're enormous. If Bert (the land lord) is behind the bar you'll be sure of a welcome and next time he will remember what you drink and whose turn it is to drive home!

good food quick service friendly pub even when busy it is no problem to get served plenty of choice good food

Six of us have been tonight, good food, brilliant crack and some lovely ale. What more can you ask for. If you haven't been before this is a real pub. Although we live over 10 miles away we knew most of the people in the pub. Food is plentyful and cheap, average main course is £9 and well worth every penny.

Havent been for a couple of years but yesterday after winning best scooter in show at YER TIZ motorcycle rally North Tawton we decided to give the RAILWAY A TRY.Great welcome and the landlord recognised us from a few years ago, good service good prices and extreemly good food. A must visit if you within 10 miles of NORTH TAWTON.

We normally struggle to find a decent pub/ restaurant on the way back from North Devon. Not any more! Tucked away near the railway bridge, no signs - a pub full of friendly locals managing to cater brilliantly for hungry passers by.The food was great & previous reviews of the crab / prawn salads and shellfish platters have not exaggerated.Drinks & food very reasonable. The landlord was very welcoming and had no idea what we were talking about when we mentioned Trip Advisor! Thoroughly recommended.

Was recommended by someone who lives nearby and so when I was up that way with the Mrs. decided to have an evening meal and a drink there. Incredible place really....certainly not widely advertised but having missed it and driven right past I turned around and found it up a the little lane by the railway bridge. VERY welcoming landlord and staff who clearly works hard to keep the place as he likes it. The place was really busy (on a Tuesday!) with, mainly, locals who come from surrounding villages etc plus some visitors from further away. Very friendly atmosphere in the (small but cosy) bar. Nice, clean and tidy, restaurant area. Excellent food....well presented, plenty of it and very fair pricing. (Remember to take cash - no cards!!). Nice menu, really well prepared and cooked. Nice, polite waiter/waitress service. No airs and graces....leave your posh expectations of fancy Nouvelle Cuisine at the top of the lane - it's down to earth, good beautifully cooked, wholesome food and drink and good personal management. Was very happy to have been recommended this, unusually good, pub and recommend it myself.

The Railway is a little difficult to find, but worth the perseverance. A very popular pub with locals, you'll get a warm welcome if your a new face. Traditional interior, traditional landlord (good), good selection of drinks and a generous menu. Wish I lived in walking distance!

A great Pub that is hidden away and a gem that has to be tried. You are a local as soon as you walk in – even though you might come from Scotland and this is your first visit! The food is above average pub grub standard with a nice selection, which is all sensibly priced. However, the menu size is small enough to suggest that the food is cooked to order and that is reflected in the presentation and taste. The salads are not the normal salad that you might expect and you had better be hungry before ordering! This is a great pub with a fantastic (and funny) landlord, a really good cook and really friendly staff. I suspect that you would recommend and talk about the visit long after you have left.

My friend and I visited The Railway on Sunday (bank holiday weekend) and, as the weather was so nice, decided to sit outside to enjoy our lunch.My friend had a massive chicken salad and I had a prawn, crab and king prawn salad with dips (king prawns missing from photo as I had eaten them).As you can see, the portions are huge - only £12.95 for my platter! The atmosphere is always excellent, staff always polite and friendly and food delicious!Great pub with great food - definitely be back again soon.

A group of us went to The Railway and had a very nice evening. They serve a good range of well kept beer and reasonably priced wine. Food is generous and well prepared, service is friendly and helpful. This is very much a traditional pub, so don't go expecting gleaming chrome and glass. Nice for a night out with friends, a chat, food and drink.