{Invite} Barnstaple has a way of rewarding those who take the time to look closely. Walk its streets or look online and you’ll discover cozy spots, compact kitchens, and owners who quietly get on with doing great work. The Rolle Quay Inn is exactly that kind of place. It sits right by the River Yeo, just a short stroll from the town centre.

History

This building has quite a story to tell. Back in the nineteenth century, the Rolle family played a major role in shaping this part of the riverside. The quay was alive with activity; timber being traded, barges filling the water, and a busy sawmill and railway sidings operating just across from the inn. Workers would pop in for a drink after their shifts, and the pub became a proper community hub, hosting everything from casual meetings to even official inquests. You’ll find it listed in old directories, proof that it was never just another pub; it was an important part of local life.

When the timber trade gradually faded through the twentieth century, the inn stayed put. Even as the quay grew quieter and times changed, it kept its character intact with two cozy rooms, a skittle alley, and welcoming outdoor space.

A new team in charge.

Today, there’s fresh energy behind the bar. Alex, Hannah, and Shannen have taken the reins, and for two of them, this feels like home coming of sorts. Hannah and Shannen both grew up nearby; their grandparents lived just a few doors down. You can tell they run the place with real heart, honoring its history while adding their own touch.

If you’ve been to Boutport Cafe on Boutport Street, you’ll already know Alex and Hannah’s work. That place has picked up awards and built a devoted following. They’ve brought the same approach here which is one of genuine warmth, fair prices, and honest food made by someone who genuinely cares about what they’re doing. The pub feels like the cafe’s sibling of sorts, sharing the same spirit but with its own personality. You can sense the thoughtfulness in both the menu and the atmosphere.

Alex comes with impressive credentials. He started out in Derby and has worked alongside Mary Berry, Paul Hollywood, and The Hairy Bikers. His Terroir Bistro won the Derby Award for Best Restaurant, and he was shortlisted for Best Breakfast in the Eviivo Awards. He really knows how to put together a menu that not only looks appealing but delivers on taste and this is verified for me from our lovely experience at The Boutport Cafe.

Shannen knows her drinks and runs the bar with skill and personality whilst Hannah keeps the place steady; she brings over fifteen years of hospitality experience and delivers warmth and efficiency. The three of them work as a tight team and keep the whole operation flowing.

Authenticity and community

The space itself reflects their attention to detail. Green plants add life to the walls, and there’s a large chalkboard displaying regularly changing specials. The pool table’s ready for action, and screens are available when there’s a match on. It feels like a proper, authentic pub – the kind of place with real character and purpose. And I’ll say this again. They have a pool table. At one point this used to be a given in any pub but the more pubs try to pack in punters, the pool table was seen like an uneccessary accessory taking up space that could be used for tables.

A pool table in a pub is a source for another one of my rambling stories but it is the story of community, and how communities are formed through pubs. Things like pool tables and dartboards, boardgames, anything that brings people together are instant community creators. The concept of people having a Third Place, a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg, goes a long way to tackling lonliness, in an increasingly individualistic and divided society and any pub that keeps their pool table says ‘come on in and make friends’ rather than ‘eat and leave’.

Everyone’s welcome here: families, groups of friends, locals, and absolutely dogs too. They genuinely treat dogs as valued guests rather than something to tolerate.

The food

Our menu tonight looked like this:

The menu is refreshingly straightforward, and the prices are very reasonable. Portions are generous but not over the top, and the specials board keeps things interesting without being overwhelming. It’s not about ‘pub classics with a twist’ becaues that has been done many times before with varying degrees of success. It’s accessible, delicious and locally sourced. What else you could you ask for?

The braised beef was a standout for me; slow-cooked for eight hours in a rich sauce with shallot, garlic, and date. It came served on creamy mashed potatoes with greens and was topped with fresh, peppery rocket. The beef was incredibly tender and full of deep, satisfying flavour. At £15.50, it felt like excellent value for such a thoughtfully prepared, flavourful dish.

The gammon and charred pineapple was proper comfort food done properly and £15 for a generous portion with two perfectly fried eggs, crispy twice-cooked chips, and petit pois. The gammon was moist and carefully cooked, the eggs had lovely medium texture yolks (not too runny and not too hard), and the chips were hot and crispy throughout. It looked good on the plate and tasted like it had been carefully thought through.

We also added a portion of beer battered onion rings for £5. They were big, hot, crispy, and perfectly seasoned, personally it was exactly what I wanted.

Our pudding (I was already full but it had to be done) was glamourous take on the traditional sticky toffee pudding, hot and warming with a big dollop of ice cream and lashings of caramel sauce.

The service throughout our meal was genuinely warm. Not that forced, over-the-top friendliness you sometimes get; just authentic, natural hospitality that extended to every customer. We felt welcomed into the rhythm of the place, and you could see the team giving everyone the same level of care and attention.

Events and offers

They run some great regular events that really bring the community together.

Steak Night happens every Thursday from five to eight. You can get two steaks for £32 or one for £16.95, and groups of four receive a complimentary bottle of house red or white. Each plate comes loaded with an eight ounce rump steak, twice cooked chips, a roasted tomato, garlic mushrooms, beer battered onion rings, and petit pois. You get to choose between peppercorn or mustard sauce too.

Sunday Roasts are already proving incredibly popular. Even though the new team has only been open a few weeks, people are booking quickly to secure their tables. Each plate lands with goose fat roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, stuffing balls, seasonal greens, braised red cabbage, cauliflower cheese, a Yorkshire pudding, and a deep red wine gravy and there are veggie options too.

They’re also taking bookings for Christmas Day. At the time of writing there were only eight places left as places are limited, so it’s worth securing yours asap.

The four course meal is £69.95 per person and includes a Buck’s Fizz on arrival. Starters feature festive pâté and smoked duck salad, with spiced parsnip and chestnut soup. For mains, there’s traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, a root vegetable Wellington, and slow braised beef. A refreshing sorbet comes between courses, and dessert brings choices of figgy pudding, crumble, or white chocolate and raspberry roulade. A £15 deposit and preorder will secure your spot.

To thread into the theme of community in the new year, there will be a Silver Fox discount aimed at older diners on a Wednesday between 12pm to 3pm, but keep an eye out on their social media for more details.

Final thoughts

The Rolle Quay Inn really is something special. It’s a pub that genuinely honors its own rich history while confidently building something fresh and exciting for the future. Alex has plans and next year you could very well see them picking up some awards along the way.

There’s real respect here for the locals who make up the heart of the place, for the quality of the food, and for the welcoming space they’ve created.

Barnstaple keeps surprising me with the strength of it’s dining scene. The Rolle Quay Inn is definitely another brilliant reason to pay closer attention to this town.

Contact and socials

Facebook – Instagram

Address: Rolle Street, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1JE
Phone: 01271 345182
Email: therollequayinnbarnstaple@hotmail.com

Opening Times:
Wednesday–Friday: 3pm – 10pm
Saturday: 12pm – 11pm
Sunday: 12pm – 8pm

2025 © Disclosure – all images, unless otherwise stated are copyright of Dining Devon. For some of our visits we are #invited or products are #gifted, and are noted as such. This means we have been given something complimentary in exchange for our views in the hope of us sharing on our socials. This does not affect our opinions which are not seen or pre-approved by venues before we publish or share our experiences.