John Hooker joins refurbished Dartmoor pub Ring of Bells

Dartmoor’s historic Ring of Bells has reopened following a major refurbishment and a new business partnership between John and Emma Hooker and owner Richard Edlmann.

The North Bovey pub has been reimagined by John and Emma, the husband-and-wife operators behind The Cornish Arms in Tavistock and The Blacksmiths Arms in Lamerton.

The partnership marks a new chapter for the centuries-old thatched inn, which has undergone a month-long closure to refresh its dining rooms, bar, kitchen and five en-suite bedrooms while retaining the building’s historic character.

John and Emma have joined forces with Richard, who has owned the Ring of Bells since 2012, to reposition the pub as a food-led Dartmoor destination rooted in West Country produce, proper pub hospitality and the history of North Bovey.

John Hooker on taking on the Ring of Bells

Speaking about the reopening, John said: "We are thrilled and excited to be taking on the beloved Ring of Bells with Richard."

"It’s such a handsome and characterful building that is steeped in history and it’s a welcome addition to our two other pubs on the other side of the moor.

“We're overjoyed to be breathing new life into this beautiful inn and welcoming locals and visitors back into a warm, welcoming space."

The refurbishment has included a new open-plan commercial kitchen, designed to give the culinary team a more efficient and visible space from which to deliver the pub’s new food offer.

The bar and cellar have also been refreshed, with the pub serving beers, ales and ciders including Dartmoor IPA, Reel, Harbour IPA and Andsome Bay, alongside wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Emma Hooker on the refurbishment

Emma led the interiors work, with the design intended to bring warmth and a more contemporary feel to the 13th-century building.

Emma said: “The look and feel for the Ring of Bells was a critical part of the refit. We wanted to bring the pub back to life with a hug of warmth while enhancing the character of this 13th century building with a more contemporary design.

“In keeping with our other properties, our colour palette encapsulates the inviting but restful, earthy tones of our natural environment.”

The pub’s five en-suite bedrooms have also been refurbished, giving visitors a base from which to explore North Bovey and the wider Dartmoor area.

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A West Country-led menu

The new menu at the Ring of Bells follows the same produce-led approach John and Emma have developed at The Cornish Arms and The Blacksmiths Arms, with a focus on elevated but comforting pub classics.

Launch dishes include spring pea soup with mustard cream, smoked ham hock and Davidstow Cheddar sourdough rarebit; beef brisket and woodland mushroom suet pie with crispy pink fir potatoes and ale gravy; and lemon posset with new season strawberries and honeycomb.

John and Emma’s wider pub group has built a strong regional reputation, with The Cornish Arms earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand and regular recognition in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list.

Richard Edlmann on the new partnership

For Richard, the new partnership brings fresh momentum to a Devon pub that has been central to his life for more than a decade.

Richard said: “The Ring of Bells has been a hugely important part of my life over the past 14 years, I am extremely excited to be working with John, Emma and the team.

“Their pedigree as award-winning publicans will take the pub to new levels and really put ‘The Ringers’ on the map.”

The Ring of Bells has long been part of village life in North Bovey. Local folklore suggests the oldest foundations may date back to the 13th century, with official records dating the main standing fabric to the late 15th or early 16th century.

The pub also has more recent history. On Thursday, January 14, 2016, a stray spark from a chimney flue ignited the thatched roof, causing major damage to the upper floors. Richard and the local community then rallied behind a £1.5m restoration, with the pub reopening in December 2017.

Now, with John and Emma joining Richard, the Ring of Bells has entered its latest chapter as a historic Dartmoor inn with a renewed focus on food, rooms and local hospitality.