The bell ringers must turn the stone to keep the Devil out of Shebbear.
Suzy had always wanted to own a village pub - many happy childhood memories of family time spent in North Devon made it a place close to her heart and the obvious choice to fulfil her dream. Since buying the pub in the Spring of 2021, Lee & Suzy have poured their heart and soul into The Devil’s Stone Inn. They have embraced the challenges of restoring a centuries’ old building, breathing new life back into the pub and opening it back up to the community. The entire ground floor has been redecorated - huge consideration was taken to maintain the history of the building. Historic photos of various villagers and the inn through the ages remain on the walls, with Lee & Suzy adding their own additions to enhance the character and atmosphere of the pub. As well as a complete kitchen refit there is also a new, high-tech cellar system downstairs to maintain all the beers to the highest standard. The large garden has been completely overhauled and catches the sun all day long. It is now an ample space to eat and drink, with far reaching views over the surrounding farmland and countryside.
Legends & folklore
The bell ringers must turn the stone to keep the Devil out of Shebbear. Legend has it that the Devil was flying overhead when St. Micheal the archangel cast a boulder down, trapping the Devil beneath it and thus keeping the sleepy village safe. As far back as the collective village memory goes, the task of turning the stone has been handed down from father to son. Every November 5th - in one of the oldest traditions in Northern Europe - the bell ringers gather to flip the mighty stone over to once more protect their small piece of heaven on earth.
The Devil’s Stone Inn is reputed to be one of the most haunted pubs in Britain and has even been the subject of an official paranormal study, as well as featuring in several articles and TV programmes. Stories abound of ghostly sightings, poltergeist activity and mysterious water puddles appearing out of nowhere. Visions have included a young girl in white, seen roaming the upstairs corridors. She’s thought to be the ghost of a child who died in a fire when the inn was still a farmhouse over 400 years ago. There have also been sightings of an old coachman in red standing in the dining room and an old, rather grumpy bearded man who sits at the bar. Though many have claimed to see and feel the mysterious goings on at the inn (including the owners!), there has never been any negative feeling attached to the sightings.