Kings Arms Strete

Kings Arms Street

01803 770027

bookings@kingsarmsatstrete.co.uk

The Kings Arms is a local pub in Strete, owned and operated by the community. We believe that being owned by the people from the village and our friends makes it a more welcoming place with a genuine local touch.

Earlier this year, we underwent a complete renovation, giving the pub a fresh look and introducing new events. Whether it’s sunny or raining, you can enjoy our cosy pub with its enormous sliding doors or relax in the garden while taking in the breathtaking views. We offer a full menu for lunch and dinner on Thursday to Saturday, our famous roasts on Sunday, and a Pizza Pop-up from Artisan and quiz every Wednesday night. Check out our events page to see what else is on.

We provide car parking, a large garden, and a kids’ play area. You can book a table at the top of the page and savour the views. Our opening hours vary throughout the year, so please refer below or call ahead for details.

The Kings Arms was built by a local man named William Oldreive in the 1820s, who initially ran it as a hotel. The pub was later managed by three generations of the Perrins from the late nineteenth century well into the twentieth before the Heavitree Brewery acquired it at some point between the wars.

Surprisingly, The Kings Arms has an illustrious past, with regular visits from notable figures such as the Prince of Wales in the 1930s, the future King Alfonso of Spain, and local resident Jack Yeats, Ireland’s most celebrated painter and brother of Nobel Prize poet W.B. Yeats.

During the Second World War, the local community was evacuated to allow preparations and rehearsal for D-Day. American troops stationed here became part of the local community, with some suggesting that Eisenhower visited.

The pub has been serving the community for nearly two centuries and has proven to be a successful commercial venture. However, when the owner Heavitree stopped brewing and essentially became a property manager, there were concerns that they might seek to change its use and sell it to a developer, a common practice among old brewers to improve their balance sheets.

To prevent this, the village rallied in 2015 to protect the pub under an Asset of Community Value order, successfully renewed in May 2020. Unfortunately, at the end of 2019, the owner decided to close the pub.

We couldn’t bear the thought of our village without a pub, especially this lovely, small, and cosy Grade II listed building with stunning views across the rolling hills, cliffs, and sea. A group of volunteers began discussing the possibility of the village taking over the pub. This led to more people joining the cause, writing business plans, holding fundraising events, and renovating the garden to show what could be achieved when a village came together.

Now, under a Community benefit scheme, we, the village of Strete, are the owners of Strete Community Pub Limited. As we continue to grow, our goal is to create a hub for the village and eventually raise funds for local good causes.

It hasn’t always been easy, especially with the recent health emergency, but we remain resilient and committed. We hope our dedication is evident when you come to visit.

We’ve even been featured on Radio Devon – you can listen to our story about the pub here.

And we’ve made it to the Guardian’s list of the best beer gardens in Devon – you can read all about it here.

Or better yet, come and visit us and form your own opinion!