Ten Tors
Kingsteignton, Devon
Whilst down in Devon visiting my parents I decided to take them for a Sunday carvery at the Ten Tors pub in Kingsteignton. Mum and Dad had eaten there before and recommended it so I thought it would be good to see for myself.
Getting there from Torquay (where my parents live) was easy as the pub is in a very handy location just a couple of minutes off the A380 and about ten or fifteen minutes from the M5 and Exeter.
On arrival I was impressed by the well maintained exterior of the property, by its presence and the size of the car park. In fact, standing in the entrance to the building you have quite an impressive view of Dartmoor and three of the famous Ten Tors.
Inside my first impression was that this establishment was a spacious yet warm and welcoming family pub. We were greeted with smiles, which in this day and age is always a great start! On enquiry I was informed that the pub had been taken over by new management and undergone pretty extensive refurbishment, restoring many of the original period features including oak beams, London brickwork and open fireplaces.
We took a table in the spacious dining area near the nicely crackling fire and my dad ordered a bottled cider, which was served ice cold as it should be, and mother and I opted for a glass of red wine each. The drinks were brought promptly by the young, yet professional, waitress and we began to peruse the extensive menu. The choices ranged from light bites to all you can eat carvery, incorporating a la carte options and daily special all using many items of local produce. For those interested, they also offer freshly made pizzas and salad bowls which can be eaten in or taken away. No home delivery though of course.
My parents opted for the carvery and I chose the 'sausage sizzler' minus the chips, with extra veg instead, which the waitress was only too happy to accomodate. So, whilst waiting for my food to come, dad and I decided to have a look around as the place wasn't too busy. On the other side of the building from where we were sitting was a family room leading out onto a a patio area with childrens play equipment. There is also a function room with french doors leading out into a private garden, ideal for parties, weddings or meetings which the barman assured me was able to cater for up to sixty guests.
My dish arrived fairly swiftly so mum and dad went up and got their carvery, both generously taking an extra ball of sage and onion stuffing, as requested, just for me. All three of us agreed that both the meat and vegetables were lovely and fresh and tasty. At this point I can quote my mother as saying "very good value for money, good portion sizes!" as she tucked into her slices of turkey, beef and pork with all the trimmings. After those great portions we were in no need of desert, although they did sound deliciously tempting including chocolate fudge cake (one of my personal favourites) and ice cream sundaes topped with sweets big enough for two people to share. I did, however, decide to sample one of their Fairtrade coffees, specifically an espresso, and it was certainly of good 'non-bitter' quality. My dad was the grateful recipient of the accompanying italien biscuit.
Speaking of coffee, that reminds me that I did happen to notice that they provide a free wi-fi connection for patrons, making this an ideal location for business people to meet, even if they do not intend to eat. Kind of a coffee house within a pub situation. Another sign I spotted was an announcement that "The Ten Tors hold live bands every last Friday of the month!!". So if you live close enough by and you are into your live music it may be worth checking their website for upcoming performers.
In summary, we had a very tasty and enjoyable visit to the Ten Tors. The staff are friendly and happy, the atmosphere was cosy and i would highly recommend anyone to pop in and relax on a weekday after work, or to take the family there as a treat on the weekend for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
DEL
July 2011
The Bill:
1 Rattler cider 3.40
1 large shiraz 5.40
1 small cab sauv 3.80
2 carvery 17.90
1 sausage sizzler 7.95
2 coffee 2.80
TOTAL £41.25