Ancient Devon pub visited by King Charles is unlike anywhere else in the world

Devon is proudly the home of some incredible ancient pubs but none more so historic or unique than The Oxenham Arms in Dartmoor where past visitors have included Charles Dickens, Sir Francis Drake, Admiral Lord Nelson, King Charles, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie. The hotel, restaurant and pub in South Zeal is a former 12th century monastery and is famously home to The South Zeal Menhir - a 5000-year-old neolithic standing stone previously used for Pagan worship and created around 1,000 years before Stonehenge.

It attracts a mixture of locals, muddy boot walkers, tourists from all over the world and history enthusiasts who want to experience stepping inside of the most famous old coaching inns in the UK.

Simon Powell became its owner nearly 13 years ago. He had originally been on the hunt for a castle but has ended up with something even older.

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He said: "What attracted me to it was you can go into a pub and when you wander around all the old bits someone has added an extension or changed it, but this one was original and intact, even in its design and detail.

"It had not been modified apart from the toilet block which was built around 1908. It has a colossal amount of varied history which started with the neolithic standing stone in the middle of it.

"It started life as a monastery and then became a manor house in later centuries. It was once owned by the Oxenham family and the famous sea captain John Oxenham was born here. He is generally regarded as the first recorded pirate who sailed with Sir Francis Drake and there has been searches for the gold he raided from Spanish ships.

"It has been owned by fabulously interesting people over the years such as Lord Kitchener's nephew and Dickens has visited here.

"It's such an incredible old building that just has to be seen. When you walk through the door there is a lovely feeling that comes across you and people don't expect it to be such a beautiful building; it is all made of Devon and Dartmoor granite and oak beams.

"Most people regard it as a 'posh pub' but we cross the boundary between a pub, hotel and an inn. There is literally nothing else like it in the world."

The inn has five acres of land at the back which is where you will find its extensive beer garden with incredible views. From its front doorstep leads 10 different walking trails on the moor.

Its accommodation comprises of seven larged beamed rooms upstairs, five of which have super king four poster beds. All the rooms are authentically historic and are completely different from each other.

This week around eight inches of snow fell upon the village which is surrounded by a handful of hamlets within walking distance of the pub. It has meant it's chefs had to create an 'emergency menu' due to fresh suppliers being unable to be delivered.

However, it hasn't stopped people visiting. In fact, it has been the opposite.

Simon said: "When it snows, the villagers go to the pubs as it's a different atmosphere when it snows. A massive amount of business comes from tourists coming to see the building. We have become a historic attraction because it's a bit like a museum.

"We are the oldest building in the village; it's even older than the church. It has been named as probably the oldest heritage pub in Devon and Cornwall by CAMRA in its heritage pubs and inns book."

The Oxenham Arms is also well renowned for its food which is sourced as locally as possible.. It has been awarded an AA rosette with high class food served alongside bar and pub grub menus. Food is served in four separate area - the bar which was first licensed in 1477, the snug where the ancient standing stone can be found, the restaurant and in the oak beamed dining room which is popular for group bookings and functions.

The inn also hosts regular themed food nights and monthly live music.

Simon explained: "We don't do fine dining as such because we don't have white table cloths as it doesn't fit the ambience of the building. We don't have freezers because everything is literally made here.

"As it's a medieval building, we try to produce a modern English food with a medieval twist which is incredibly classic. It makes it more interesting because the food it relates to the history of the building."

During the winter, The Oxenham Arms is open Wednesday to Sunday, increasing to seven days a week next year when trade is busier.