The Black River Inn toasts being recognised as the Best South West Dining Pub

The Black River Inn toasts new food award as it’s recognised as the Best South West Dining Pub by Taste of the West.

Devon pub the Black River Inn, at the heart of the rural village of Black Torrington, is heading into its busiest time of year with a new food award to add to its 2023 trophy cabinet.

The Taste of the West awards, held this month in Exeter, saw the food-led pub up against the best of the southwest in the Best Dining Pub category and emerge triumphant.

Owners, Gill and Alex Pallatt, have also been recognised this year for their approach to sustainability by the Food Drink Devon Awards and as a finalist in The Great British Pub Awards.

Says Gill: “We’re really pleased that our menu and approach to British Tapas and small plates cooked over fire has been recognised by Taste the West. Everyone knows how hard hospitality is at the moment we’ve worked tirelessly to create a menu and a pub that people want to come to.”

The Taste of the West Award looked at food, sourcing, service, sustainability and the pub as a whole in the criteria. With bread from Electric Bakery in Bude, meat from Edwards Butchers in Hatherleigh, gin from Gotland less than two miles away and coffee from Moor Coffee based in the village, local sourcing is high on the agenda.

Alex, who creates the menus and heads up the kitchen said:

“Our menu speaks for itself, we offer a local, seasonal and small plate menu along with a signature roast on a Sunday all cooked over fire. It’s great to receive an award for all our hard work. We love our local community and attract walkers, cyclists and holidaymakers from far and wide…” 

The couple have recently launched their small plate Christmas menu which includes Christmas Day favourites prepared and cooked up in the pub’s classic tapas form, including home smoked halibut, turkey sandwich, stir fried sprouts and chestnuts with Buck’s Fizz jelly.

Visit the Black River Inn website HERE