The Royal George has loads going for it – good food and great views, all at a reasonable price.

Why it’s on my list

My friends and I were celebrating a birthday and were looking for somewhere special for lunch. We had planned to go to Exeter but the trains were cancelled due to signal failure so we improvised and caught a bus to Appledore to have food and drinks. I haven’t spent much time in Appledore, but I’d seen a lovely photo of the view from The Royal George, so I suggested we give it a try for lunch.

Restaurant Information

Website: www.trgpub.co.uk

Location: The Royal George, Irsha Street, Appledore

Type: gastropub, around £13 for a burger and chips

Opening times: Mondays to Saturdays, lunch 12 noon-2.30pm, dinner 6pm-8.30pm. Sundays, lunch 12 noon-4pm, dinner in high season 6pm-8.30pm. In low season closed Monday and Tuesday.

To book: Book online or call 01237 424138

Overall verdict

I was blown away with our meal at The Royal George and left feeling very happy indeed. What a stroke of luck that our train to Exeter was cancelled! The views were stunning, the atmosphere was welcoming and the food was delicious. I can’t wait to go back sometime very soon.

What I had

I went for the Royal George beef burger, which came with cheese, bacon, tomato relish and onion mayo in a brioche bun. It was served with fries.

Hubby had fish and chips – beer battered haddock and thick-cut chips with mushy peas and curry sauce.

We aren’t the biggest wine drinkers but I must recommend the red we had – Deltablock, Zinfandel, California, USA 2016. The write up said it was a crowd pleaser, an ‘absolute fruit bomb of a wine’. It was fab, very drinkable.

The best

Where to start! The chips were amazing and probably my favourite part. Crispy and lightly salted, nice and hot – yum. I stole a little bit of my husband’s curry sauce, which was really tasty with the chips.

I’ve had my share of passable ‘gastropub’ burgers, but this was nothing like that. It was brilliant – juicy from the beef, relish and onion sauce, and the cheese was melted wonderfully. The brioche bun was lightly toasted, which made the bun soft and flavoursome.

Not the best

I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t like. I loved everything about this visit. The food, the wine, the view, the service, the decor – all brilliant. I would recommend The Royal George to anyone looking for a good meal at a fair price.

The venue

The Royal George occupies an enviable position in Appledore, right by the water and with views over towards Crow Point and Instow. They’ve done amazing work with this building, which makes the most of the fantastic setting by having large windows everywhere. It’s very light and airy and lots of tables have stunning views.

But even if you don’t get a sea view, it’s very relaxing. The vibe is casual, with solid wood, mismatched chairs and glasses, and exposed brickwork. Upbeat music plays quietly in the background. Altogether it creates a very chilled atmosphere.

Top tip

The views from The Royal George make this a very popular venue, and the owners are very mindful of that. They can’t guarantee a window seat when booking, but they have provided some helpful guidance, which is worth bearing in mind.

As a guide, if you choose to dine early and leave your table by 20.15 or later, or book a table from 20.30, there is a higher chance we are able to offer you a window table/a specific area of the restaurant. However, we cannot always guarantee this availability due to other bookings and table configurations.