About The Dog & Donkey
A village pub in Knowle, on the edge of Budleigh Salterton, that has been pouring pints since 1926. Independent, dog-friendly and proud to be the heart of the village.
An independent village pub, kept alive by the village
The Dog & Donkey is a free house. When it came up for sale, local musician and music teacher Pete Manfield remortgaged his home to buy it, because Knowle without its pub was unthinkable. Pete sees himself as the pub’s caretaker rather than its owner.
Landlord Mark Loftin has run the bar since February 2024, with a small team who know most regulars by name and most of their dogs too. Guests on Tripadvisor regularly mention the welcome before they mention anything else.
What we care about
- Food cooked here, with Devon meat and homemade sauces
- Fair prices and generous plates
- A full calendar of live music, quizzes and karaoke
- A place for every generation, and their dogs
- Giving back, from village groups to Devon Air Ambulance
Got a date in mind?
Tell us the occasion, the date and roughly how many guests. We’ll come back to you with availability and ideas, usually within a day.