Horns Cross

Set in the heart of glorious North Devon, in one of the few areas left in England still considered to be ‘quintessentially English’, is The Hoops Inn & Country Hotel.

This charismatic white walled and thatched inn, surrounded by 2½ acres of natural gardens, streams and ponds, successfully combines its 13th century heritage with the more refined requirements of today’s visitor.

Located within easy access from the A39, the inn has an established reputation for excellent food, wine and service and boasts 14 beautifully appointed luxury en suite bedrooms, each with colour television, tea & coffee and free wifi access.

Steeped in history and West Country tradition this beautiful Grade II listed heritage hotel has been a notorious haunt of local smugglers and a meeting place for legendary seafarers. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Richard Grenville are both reputed to have frequented The Hoops Inn centuries ago. “It is easy to imagine the scene when relaxing by one of our large inglenook open fires, enjoying a pint of our own ale” states Gerry Goodwin who runs The Hoops Inn with his wife Dee. “It is easy to be transported back in time with the smell of open fires and hearty English food flooding the senses. Today we welcome travellers from around the world, and endeavour to create the same warming atmosphere for people to relax in”.

Food is always a good reason to make a stop at The Hoops Inn. Its brigade of passionate and enthusiastic professional chefs, use only the finest, freshest ingredients, dependent upon seasonal availability, to create inspired menus. Advocating a fresh local produce ethos, ingredients are primarily sourced from an established chain of local suppliers. Combined with the elegant restaurant and separate dining rooms you are assured a rewarding dining experience.

Lunchtime Service starts in the Bar, Gardens and Courtyard at 12 noon, the Restaurant opens at 7pm and last orders for all areas is around 9.30 pm daily. Well behaved children are warmly welcomed and have their own separate Menu, which is based on the inn’s same fresh produce and quality ethos. High Chairs are available for our younger guests.

Contained within the inn’s prized cellars, is probably ‘The Best Wine List in North Devon’ with over 250 bottles to choose from, plus halves, magnums and even the odd bottle of celebratory Champagne. Although wine is an important part of the inns hospitality, local real ales and ciders feature strongly too, with Hoops Old Ale, Hoops Best and Devon Pound House Cider amongst its ‘Best Sellers’.

As well as being a fabulous place to stay, the inn is also the perfect base for exploring North Devon & Cornwall. The North Atlantic Coastal Path is just a mile walk from the hotel gardens and from there you can walk as far as you can dream. A short walk across the fields takes you to breathtaking views of Bideford Bay and Lundy Island. A little further on is Sloo Woods and from here you can pick up the coastal path to Bucks Mill, Peppercombe or even to Clovelly walking through winding woodland paths and the vast stretches of beaches and cliffs.

Located on the A39 between Bideford and Bude the inn is easy to find, from the M5 leave at Junction 22 on the A361 to Barnstaple. Once at Barnstaple follow the A39 to Bideford and stay on the A39 past Bideford until you reach the village of Horns Cross. The inn is clearly signposted as you approach from there and ample parking is available.

You can discover more about The Hoops Inn by visiting www.hoopsinn.co.uk.