The Tree Inn

We weren’t sure what to make of the place when we first arrived, since it’s a bit different from a usual stay. But the character and charm grew on us, and we ended up loving its quirks. The bathrooms are outside the rooms, and breakfast is a help-yourself setup using whatever’s in the kitchen. That all adds to the relaxed, homely atmosphere. We had a drink in the bar before checking in, then another after coming back from Bude at night. The staff were warm and chatty, and we had such a lovely time. It doesn’t try to be perfect, just genuine. We’d definitely stay again.

The Tree Inn has plenty of history, and it’s a nice place, though a few things could be better. First thing we noticed was the lack of parking. Simon was polite and told us we’d been upgraded to their biggest room because we were the only guests. It was a decent size, with a wardrobe, a few drawers and a small sink. The bed was okay, but we could definitely feel the springs. There was no TV, just an aerial, so if you’re staying with kids, having TV apps on your phone would be a good idea. Breakfast is help yourself, with cereal and a kitchen that has a cooker, hot chocolate maker and a fridge freezer full of oven chips 🙃. We also noticed jam and honey that had set in the jar. The toilets and showers are shared, with no ensuite. A friend said the Tree used to be the place to be. Sadly, I don’t think it is now. The bar shut by 8.30, which was a shame as we were hungry after a long trip down. The place does feel haunted, though: I saw a shadow, and motion-activated lights came on when nobody was around.

The menu had plenty of appealing choices, but the food didn’t match what it promised. The pies were nice, though without gravy on the side they were quite dry. The vegetarian korma was very basic. There were hardly any white beans, I couldn’t taste coconut in the rice, and there wasn’t really any korma sauce. The garlic chicken was nice, but the plate was mostly pearl barley and sweetcorn, with the garlic overpowering the other flavours. I couldn’t see any of the cream sauce mentioned, and eventually gave up on the dry barley and sweetcorn.

Spent a brilliant Saturday afternoon at the Tree Inn. It’s full of history, and the staff were really friendly. While the rugby was on TV, they even brought us free chips and chicken wings. The landlord runs it the way a British pub should be run. Thanks for having us, we’ll certainly see you again.