The Millbrook Inn, South Pool – a hidden haven celebrating the best that Devon has to offer, serving seasonal food, conscious wines and local ales.
Nestled between land and sea, The Millbrook Inn, South Pool is a quintessential English pub that focuses on ingredient-led, seasonal cooking and showcasing the best that Devon has to offer. Located at the head of a tranquil tidal creek on the Salcombe Estuary, the Millbrook Inn was refurbished in 2022, but retains its character as a beautiful old pub that is part of the local community’s fabric and a cherished destination for travellers alike.
Elegantly designed, the pub is ideal for all season round. Its sun-drenched beer garden and bubbling brook is ideal for summer days out whilst the beautiful low-hung ceilings, and cosy, crackling fire in the winter make for a warm, welcoming and inviting atmosphere. It’s a place where people love to gather, whether it’s for a pint, to enjoy live music and a roast on Sundays or to feast on incredible food. Developed by Tom Westerland, known by all as ‘Westy’, the menus put seasonal ingredients at their forefront. Organic meats are sourced from Fowlescombe Farm, part of the Millbrook Inn’s family which has adopted regenerative farming techniques, where rare, heritage breed beef, lamb and pork are organically reared and butchered to the highest standard. The Millbrook also source their charcuterie from artisan producer Rare & Pasture, also based at Fowlescombe Farm, and grow their own organic vegetables; whilst the seafood and fish is sourced directly from local Salcombe suppliers.
They serve a full a la carte menu, with regularly changing specials, at dinner from Wednesday to Saturday and lunch from Thursday – Saturday; and on Sundays they serve a traditional roast. The seasonal menus are constantly evolving because of the farm to fork concept, and Westy’s focus on using a Josper grill. Some highlights from the Summer menu include Fowlescombe tomato, farm basil, tomato essence, Beef carpaccio, crispy capers, truffle and horseradish cream, Salcombe lobster, garlic and herb butter, farm leaves, Fowlescombe sirloin, hand cut chips, portobello mushroom, vine tomato, béarnaise and to finish, Sticky toffee pudding, caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream.
During Summer, the Millbrook Inn fires up their outside grill Monday to Saturday, and in the evenings during high tide; which is the only time of the day when boats can be moored up the creek’s pontoon, with safe passage an hour and a half either side of the high tide times. This is a beautiful element special to the Millbrook Inn and depicts their meaning of being between land and sea. The Millbrook Inn also hosts monthly one-off events centred around produce and often featuring key suppliers from across the country, with an emphasis on educating guests on the art of seasonality.
To complement the food, there is a carefully curated changing wine list featuring renowned classics, as well as bottles from small, organic and biodynamic producers. As a free house their philosophy is to showcase the best that Devon has to offer, with a range of cask ales on tap, craft beers from local breweries and homemade cider from Fowlescombe Farm.
In 2023, The Millbrook Inn opened two beautifully restored cottages, Land and Sea, offering luxurious accommodation to visitors exploring the stunning South Hams region. Land and Sea offer a truly special place to stay just a stone’s throw from the beloved South West Coast Path, complemented by the incredible food and service offered at the Millbrook Inn where the timelessness of a traditional pub pervades. This is a place to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy.
