We chose the Staghunters as my parents had stayed there several times in the 1970s (the bedrooms haven't changed - as the owners said!) The countryside is beautiful, as is the location and the hosts are very friendly and helpful. Although the decor of the bedrooms wouldn't appeal to some (some people prefer homogenised hotels) it was spotlessly clean and the owners advised that the rooms were next on their list to update. The food was really good and the cost of the weekend for 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast was £85 per person which i feel is extremely reasonable. Oh yes, on Saturday night they had their folk evening - this drew a huge crowd - mostly locals and regulars. This was most entertaining and very friendly. I will definitely be returning - i had a great time!

The Staghunters is one of those places that you either "get" or you don't. Having stayed there many times over the past 15 years I love the fact that little has changed, it has its old fashioned decor, its great mix of locals, and visitors who return year after year, and now its got brilliant new owners who have breathed new life into the place.
The menu is good with excellent specials at the weekend and the food is always cooked to perfection. The beers are excellent and as has already been stated the cloudy cider is something else.
The setting is beautiful with the moors to the rear and the East Lyn river to the front. Its the perfect place for walkers and dog owners alike and although the owners have a great sense of humour, rude is not a word I would use.
True its rooms are a bit basic but if thats the most important part of your stay then you are missing the point of "The Stags"

We have just had another great weekend at the "Stags"
Having read a couple of the previous reports, I am not too sure what people expect. ? For £30 per head, we are able to stay in what must be one of the finest parts of the Westcountry. There is a fine selection of ales & the food is superb & keenly priced, we are able to take our dog & enjoy nearby walks without having to get in the car again once you have arrived. Maybe the rooms are a little "basic" (although the owners are constantly improving the place) but if you enjoy staying in "Travel Inn" type places on the edge of a dual carrigeway for around the same price, then maybe you have missed the point. See you again next year

We stayed overnight and would not recommend it. There is a lovely B&B a bit further down the road for upto the same tariff and it's another world...

1) Walked in through hotel doors into bar to find owner. Got told angrily that we'd walked through the wrong door (hotel door) until he realised we were guests.

2) Room was awful. Was advised it was "basic" on the phone... understatement of the century. Holes all over the walls, cheap nasty furniture. Shower was dirty and not cleaned (lumps of handsoap bars all over door). Lock and handle to room was loose!

3) Ate lunch here (1 medium baguette each) which came to approx £10. Nothing to complain nor shout about. Pricey compared to surrounding eateries.

4) Had phoned to reserve a table for dinner the previous night as we were told by the owner that it would be heaving (as it was...). Went to have dinner and he'd forgotten that conversation but took the mickey out of us when we turned our noses up at eating dinner at bar stools and made other guests laugh at our misfortune. We decided to eat elsewhere.

5) Had a fabulous meal in Lynmouth at Le Bistro. Charming little family run restaurant and couldn't have made us feel more welcome and glad that the hotel had made us forfeit eating there!

6) Breakfast was undercooked... verging on the raw side. e.g. cool and in between raw colour and cooked colour!

7) When we checked out, the owner had another jab at us for leaving to eat elsewhere, and when we said that we enjoyed a meal out, responded that there are no nice restaurants in that town.

What a charming place...