SIR WALTER RALEIGH FINDS ITS ELDORADO (WINTER 2025)


 

East Budleigh's Sir Walter Raleigh pub gained Gold in the Taste of the West 2025 Awards in November. 

 The pub has previously been awarded a coveted Automobile Association (AA) Rosette, been mentioned by The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and recently gained an award as a Community Pub of the Year. 

 ‘This is a community run establishment and run by volunteers, and they are doing an excellent job!’ commented the Taste of the West Judges. ‘The meals we ate were all very well cooked, nicely presented, hot food and plates too – everything was delicious. The staff were all very friendly and we were made to feel welcome; the whole place has a welcoming, warming vibe. We certainly enjoyed our visit and would go again.’ 

 Named after the explorer and Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite courtier who was born just a mile away at Hayes Barton, the Sir Walter Raleigh has now been successfully trading as a community pub for three years. ‘I think we can all be proud of what we have achieved,’ said Mark Rice in his 2025 Chairman’s report. ‘Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and widespread pub closures we remain in business, open seven days a week with an exciting programme of community events, from music and folk nights to regular community suppers and the recent beer festival.’ 

 An appeal was launched when the Sir Walter Raleigh was threatened with closure in 2022 because the landlady was retiring. Within six weeks the community bought the pub thanks to the 300 people who purchased shares between £100 and £40,000. It’s one of the buildings in East Budleigh that both Sir Walter Raleigh and Roger Conant would have recognised.  

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