AN inn that helped to inspire the hit story War Horse is going from strength to strength, having been named as one of the best country pubs in Britain in the Good Pub Guide 2014.

The Duke of York in Iddesleigh, run by John Pittam, has been named one of the ten best country dining pubs in Britain by the guide. John took the pub over in 2011, and it has a focus on real ale served straight from the barrel and hearty food.

John said: 'It is a bit of an achievement for a country pub like ours to get such an award. It is absolutely brilliant and totally unexpected. The guide sends anonymous guides out to pubs after several recommendations from the public, and they decided we were worthy of going in it.

'We will know next year what it does for trade. A lot of people buy the guide, so with any luck it will bring a lot of people into Iddesleigh, into our pub, and it can be good for the area as well as good for us. We are over the moon.

'It is down to having good food, good beer, giving a warm welcome to anyone who comes in the door, and being a traditional country pub.

'The bar area has not been touched for about 60 years, and we have fantastic views of Dartmoor from here. Hopefully, we can just go from strength to strength.'

The pub has strong associations with the Michael Morpurgo novel War Horse. The author had the inspiration to write the book after talking to first world war veteran Wilfred Ellis in the pub. The book, first published in 1982, has been turned into a smash-hit play by the National Theatre and a feature film directed by Stephen Spielberg.

The Tom Cobley Inn at Spreyton also secured recognition in the guide, being named the national Beer Pub of the Year.

The recognition continues an incredible run of form for the Tom?Cobley, after making the top four real ale pubs in Britain in the 2012 CAMRA National Pub of the Year competition, and winning the the Exeter and East Devon CAMRA cider pub of the year in 2013.