A highly regarded, family-run country pub near Dartmoor with notably good food, welcoming service, generous space and gardens, though opening hours and occasional portion or pricing concerns require checking ahead.
The Rising Sun delivers strong food quality anchored by consistently praised roasts, duck, and seafood, paired with notably attentive service that reviewers highlight as a defining strength. The rural setting with gardens and spacious layout creates genuine destination appeal for a country pub. Solid execution across food, service, and ambiance keeps it just short of the very top tier, where more distinctive culinary identity or flawless consistency would elevate it further.
The Rising Sun feels like the sort of rural pub people are delighted to stumble across: clean, cosy and relaxed, with a spacious garden that makes the setting especially appealing in fine weather. Reviewers repeatedly describe warm hospitality, with the overall impression summed up by one diner as feeling welcome from the moment they arrived. It is a country pub with genuine destination appeal rather than merely a convenient drink stop. The cooking is confidently traditional with a broader-than-usual pub menu: Sunday roasts, crispy duck, Mediterranean chicken, scampi, flatbreads and well-liked desserts all receive praise. Vegetarian and vegan diners appear better served than at many conventional pubs, including reports of vegan Sunday lunch and an excellent vegan chocolate tart. Most visitors find the food reasonably priced, though one roast review raised concerns about modest meat and vegetable portions, and another found the pricing somewhat high for the offering. Families should feel particularly comfortable here. Reviews explicitly describe the pub as child-friendly, and children are said to love the scampi; roasts and familiar pub dishes provide approachable choices. Dogs are also welcome, while the garden and spacious seating add practical appeal. Check the current opening hours before travelling, since one reviewer was caught out by a Monday closure and early food cutoffs.
Area vibe: Quiet historic market town and rural fringe popular with walkers and countryside visitors.
Safety: Generally safe, low traffic at night, limited street lighting outside centre; rural roads require care after dark.
What's nearby: Near Dartmoor National Park, country lanes, local shops in Ashburton and countryside attractions for walkers and cyclists.
The menu goes beyond standard pub fare, with Sunday roasts, crispy duck, scampi, and a particularly appealing vegan chocolate tart among the options.
It is welcoming and practical for families and dogs, but check hours and food service times, and be cautious at the car-park entrance after dark.
Expect a cosy rural pub with a spacious garden, warm service, and an easygoing setup for families, dogs, and casual drinks.