Booze Arts Academy - Local Pubs, Tavistock Devon

In Britain, people often refer simply to their 'local,' a everyone understands they mean local pub, and not, for goodness sake, their local dry cleaner. Here are some good 'locals' in and around Tavistock, Devon, in Southwest England.

The Ordulph Arms, Kilworthy Hill, Tavistock, PL19 0AW. Phone: 01822 615048.

Owned by Tavistock native Andy Coad, the pub boasts an L-shaped bar with a window at one end for viewing the street life of this market town. Around about 6 on any weekday evening, it fills up with young working people, and a smattering of their elders, people in their 40s and 50s. Its bartenders are all young and attractive, as well as quick with the pints and whiskies. There is no blaring music to annoy one or another population, but there are a couple of big-screen TVs playing the local rugby or soccer matches, quietly.

It also boasts is characters, both man and beast. "Ginger" is a retired man who regularly drinks at the Ordulph, and just as regularly--after Andy or someone else "winds him up"--declaims upon the wonders of his musical hero, Elvis Presley. Ginger has been to Graceland more than once, and his has no truck at all with the Beatles. He doesn't have a dog, at least not a drinking dog, but several other regulars do and they are often seen sitting under a table, lapping a beer or napping.

The pub also has a quite respectable restaurant side with good burgers, and often-interesting pasta dishes.

The Peter Tavy Inn, Peter Tavy, Tavistock, Devon PL19 9NN Phone: 01822 810348.

The Peter Tavy Inn is just outside Tavistock by a few miles. It is down winding roads, and not well-marked ones, either, so you'll want to find your way in the first time in daylight, even if you leave well after dark.

The building dates to the 15th century, when it was a smithy's workplace. It still has the feet-thick walls and low ceilings. The pub section, much smaller than the very well respected restaurant, is charming, if small. It may boast its regulars, but on a winter evening in late December, you might find but one man and his Labrador standing at the well-rubbed, dark wood surface. But the smell of wood fires, which contribute to the ambience in the dining room, will make you feel you've just cut off a nice, big, juicy slice of old England.