The Kings Arms — Restaurant in West Devon

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We visited the Kings Arms in South Zeal for the first time yesterday and were immediately charmed by its cosy, local vibe. It’s a small village pub with a lot of heart—friendly regulars at the bar and two young women running the place with ease and warmth. One of them helped us with some questions when we arrived, and the other took our food and drink orders with a smile. Even though we were clearly tourists among locals, we still felt welcome and well looked after.

We sat in the lovely back garden and enjoyed a proper pub meal—my build-your-own burger with local beef and cheddar was absolutely delicious, and the rest of the family loved their fish & chips, chicken and chips, and mac & cheese. Prices were very fair for four people with drinks (around £50). The only small downside was the toilet layout, but it really didn’t affect our experience. A great little pub that I’d recommend to anyone passing through—especially...

Stopped for a quick drink whilst on a walk Thursday afternoon and it was practically empty. However, was warmly greeted by the lady at the bar, polite conversation and told us all about the pub. Sadly, the chef was isolating at the time so couldn't sample the food. Perhaps worth a visit when next time around and others can comment on the food/atmosphere when more people are there. Returned back 2 years later, much busier and food on! Had nice Scampi and chips and beef chilli, lovely flavours and pleasant quick service. Tables inside were a little sticky but otherwise staff were very friendly. Popular with locals is always a good sign. Food is great value compared to many places nearby. £32 for two mains a side order of chips and two and a half...

When we go away we like to find the authentic pubs that the locals prefer to use. The Kings Arms is one of those pubs. It not fancy, nor does it have the latest hipster decor and menus, but it has good real ales, (according to my husband!), good home-prepared food that is excellent value for money and a genuinely warm welcome from landlady and landlord, their staff and the locals alike. They are clearly doing their utmost to keep their business going in these Covid-19 crazy times and we felt very safe and well-protected by their safety measures in place. I only knocked a star off because I’m a vodka drinker and their choice of vodkas was a bit limited ! I did see a wide selection of gins...