Cornwood Inn
Step into the Cornwood Inn, and you immediately feel you've found a truly fantastic village community pub – a place where everyone feels welcome. There's an excellent selection on tap, brimming with local favourites and interesting craft beers, ensuring there's a perfect pint for every taste.
Inside, the lovely wrap-around bar gives the whole place such a nice, homely feel and a wonderfully good atmosphere. It's the kind of pub where conversations flow as easily as the drinks! We were met by a truly friendly and helpful barlady who made us feel right at home.
On our visit, we enjoyed a refreshing pint of a local ale, alongside a crisp Devon Dew and a perfectly chilled Cornwood Pilsner. With our drinks in hand, we wandered out to the courtyard beer garden, a wonderfully relaxed spot perfect for unwinding. While you're there, you'll also find some fascinating information about the pub's history – it's an incredibly inspiring story that makes you appreciate this special place even more. It truly is the heart of the community.
P&P
Background....
Ancient Roots & Name Changes:
The first record of a pub on this site dates back to 1841, when it was known as the Tavistock Inn.
However, it's widely believed that an inn has stood on this very spot for even longer, serving the needs of travellers and locals in the heart of Cornwood village.
By 1861, the pub had adopted its current name, The Cornwood Inn, which it has retained ever since.
It became a freehold property in 1952.
A Beloved Village Hub:
The Cornwood Inn is situated at the south-western edge of Dartmoor National Park, making it a key stopping point for those exploring the walks, cycle routes, and beauty spots of the moor.
It's traditionally served as a central social and cultural hub for the village and parish of Cornwood.
The Community Takeover – A Story of Resilience:
In late 2018, the pub, then owned by a large pub company (Ei Group plc), was put up for sale and faced the very real threat of being sold to developers and potentially lost as a pub forever. This was a critical moment for the village.
In response, a determined group of local volunteers formed the Cornwood Inn Action Group (CIAG) in April 2019. Their mission was to save their cherished village pub.
Through an incredible community effort, which included applying for the pub to be listed as an Asset of Community Value (successfully achieved on March 1, 2019) and raising funds through a crowdfunder campaign, they managed to secure the pub.
The pub was bought from Ei Group plc in September 2019, largely thanks to loans from local benefactors and later through community shares, effectively "snatching it from the clutches of potential developers."
After significant refurbishment efforts by community volunteers, the Cornwood Inn triumphantly reopened on Thursday, October 8, 2020, as a community-owned and managed pub. This makes it a fantastic example of a successful community asset.
Current Identity and Offerings:
The Cornwood Inn is now 100% owned by the community, run by the community for the community's benefit (with a professional pub manager overseeing daily operations).
It prides itself on being a warm, welcoming freehouse for everyone, locals and visitors alike.
It serves good homemade food (including pub classics, pies, fish, steaks) and features a range of local beers, notably Dartmoor Brewery's Jail Ale, Legend, and Dartmoor IPA, plus ciders.
The pub regularly hosts community-led events and is designed to combat rural isolation, aiming to bring various out-of-town services into the heart of the area. It's envisioned as a social and cultural hub.
It's also recognized as a motorhome pub stopover, offering a large car park (booking advised).
In essence, the Cornwood Inn is more than just an old building; it's a living testament to community spirit, having been saved and revitalized by the people it serves. Its history is now very much intertwined with this inspiring act of collective preservation.
Find us on YouTube