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Peter Manfield didn’t set out to become a pub savior. But when the 73-year-old musician realized his village gathering place in Devon was about to be sold and possibly turned into flats, he made a dramatic choice: he refinanced his home to buy the building that has anchored community life for a century.
The Dog and Donkey—originally erected as the Britannia Inn in 1926—stands in Knowle, Budleigh Salterton, with its original fireplace and tiled floor intact. For Manfield, losing it would have meant more than the loss of a bar; it would have erased a living thread of local history. So he acted.
Buying a piece of local history: the surprising decision
Peter, known locally as Pete, moved to the village in 1997 and says he isn’t a heavy drinker. Still, the pub has always been a place where neighbors meet, teams gather and traditions continue. When the landlord struggled and the property came up for sale, Manfield worried developers would replace the pub with housing.
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He took out a new mortgage on his house in 2024 and completed a purchase that public records show was roughly £270,000. His motivation was simple and personal: to prevent the village’s social heart from disappearing and to protect a building that’s more than brick and mortar—it’s memory.
He refinanced his home to make sure the pub stayed open.
Keeping the pub traditional: a plan and a partner
After buying the building, Manfield faced the practical challenge of finding someone to run it. By chance he struck up a conversation while getting a haircut and met Mark Loftin, who agreed to give pub life a try despite never having managed one before. That serendipitous meeting changed everything.
Shared values over trendy menus
– Loftin and Manfield agreed early on they would not convert the place into a trendy gastropub.
– Their aim was to preserve the pub’s traditional role: a warm local with straightforward food, a friendly bar, and a place for village events.
– Loftin’s fresh perspective—“no baggage,” as Manfield put it—helped them maintain authenticity while giving the pub new energy.
“We wanted to keep it traditional, not turn it into a gastro pub,” Manfield explained, and the practical results have been encouraging: regulars returned, new customers came by, and the pub’s role as a community hub strengthened.
What the Dog and Donkey brings to village life
The Dog and Donkey serves a wide cross-section of the neighborhood. Its functions include:
- Meeting spot for local groups and committees
- Gathering place for dog walkers and neighbors
- Home venue for skittle teams and amateur leagues
- A family-friendly garden and a reliable place to eat
Residents have praised the pub online for its friendly staff, generous portions and welcoming atmosphere. Social media messages reflect gratitude and a sense of relief—many say Pete “has always been a legend” for stepping in.
Daily realities: running a small but vital business
Keeping a traditional pub alive is part cultural preservation, part small-business management. Manfield acknowledges he goes to the pub only occasionally—sometimes once every ten days—but his investment is about more than personal use. It’s about preventing a community asset from being lost to development and ensuring the building’s century-old character survives.
Loftin, now the on-site manager, credits community support and family involvement with much of the pub’s early success. Together they’ve focused on:
- Preserving historic features such as the original fireplace and tiled floor
- Maintaining a simple, reliable menu rather than pursuing high-end trends
- Encouraging events that bring different parts of the village together
The pub is surviving while many others continue to close. Their strategy—local staff, traditional offerings and community-minded programming—has resonated with regulars and newcomers alike.
Community reaction and the wider significance
Locals have responded warmly, posting thanks and reviews online, welcoming both the revived management and the preservation effort. For the village, the Dog and Donkey is not just a business; it’s a public living room where generations pass stories and friendships on.
Manfield’s loan and the hands-on approach from Loftin demonstrate a model some smaller communities might emulate: when market pressures threaten local institutions, a targeted investment plus committed management can preserve character and continuity. The Dog and Donkey’s rebirth has become a symbol of what a community can save when people step up.
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Michael Thompson is an experienced journalist covering U.S. and global news. With ten years on the front lines, he breaks down political and economic stories that matter. His precise writing and keen attention to detail help you grasp the real‑world impact of every event.
I once knew a bloke whod do anything for his local pub. Remortgaging his house? Thats dedication! Glad to see folks keeping traditions alive. Hope the Dog and Donkey stays a gem in that village!
You know, thats the kind of story that warms the cockles of me heart. Who wouldnt want to own their local pub, eh? A real-life fairy tale, that is! Cheers to keeping traditions alive, mate!
Aye, mate, cant help but feel a bit envious of their luck, eh? Owning the local pub sounds like a right dream come true! Cheers to keeping the good ol traditions alive and kicking. Who knows, maybe one day well have our own fairy tale ending too, eh?
This reminds me of the time my grandpa sold his car to save the old bookstore on the corner. Some things are worth more than money. Cheers to those who keep history alive, one pub at a time!
Man, thats the stuff legends are made of! Your grandpas a real hero, selling his wheels to keep that old bookstore alive. Who needs fancy rides when youre saving a piece of history, right? Heres to those unsung heroes holding onto the past, one pint at a time!
Oh man, thats a feel-good story right there. Talk about commitment to your local watering hole! Wonder if he’s gonna rename it to “The House that Second Mortgage Built”! Cheers to preserving history, one pint at a time.
I remember when I wanted to buy a vintage video game console, but this dude went all-in and bought a whole pub! Can you imagine the stories hes gonna hear and the memories hes gonna make? Thats a bold move!
Mate, thats dedication to the local watering hole! Reminds me of the time I almost sold my car for a vintage pinball machine. Sometimes you gotta keep the spirit alive, even if it means refinancing your life!
Man, thats some commitment to the local dive! Selling your ride for a pinball machine? Now thats next level dedication! Gotta admire the hustle to keep the good times rolling. Whats the highest youd go to keep the fun alive?
Man, thats dedication! Reminds me of this old dude who used to buy the whole block just for the sake of a single tree. People are weirdly awesome sometimes. Cheers to saving that piece of history!
I knew ol Dave was a bit loony for the Dog and Donkey, but refinancin his home? Now thats commitment. Hope it pays off, cause savin a piece of local history sounds like a wild ride.
A village local with history? *chuckles* Reminds me of Aunt Mabels antics at the pub. Good on this bloke for savin it. Hope hes got the pint-pulling skills to match the legacy!
Mate, can you believe this legend refinancin his home for a pub? Thats dedication to history! Cheers to keeping traditions alive, one pint at a time. Hope the Dog and Donkey keeps waggin its tail for another century!
Man, talk bout dedication! Refinancin a home for a pub? Thats next level love for history. Saving a piece of village life like that? Genuine hero move, man. Props to keepin traditions alive!
Dang, talk about goin all out for a pub! Refinancin a house for that? Thats like, dedication on steroids, man! Keepin a piece of village history alive—what a legend move! Gotta give props for keepin those traditions kickin!
I once knew a bloke whod do anything for his local pub. Remortgaging his house? Thats dedication, mate. Hope the Dog and Donkey keeps slinging pints for another century. Cheers to that!
Ah, that bloke sounds like a proper legend! Imagine going all in for the Dog and Donkey like that. Remortgaging for a pub? Talk about commitment! Heres to hoping the pints keep flowing at that joint for ages. Cheers to that mate!
I mean, who wouldnt refinance for a pub, right? My uncle did that once for a vintage car. Priorities, man! But hey, saving historys cool. Hope the Dog and Donkey keeps the locals happy!
I once saw a bloke trade his car for a vintage guitar, said it was worth it for the memories. This guy, though? Refinancing his home for a pub! Talk about commitment to the local watering hole. Cheers to keeping history alive, mate.
Man, thats commitment right there! Swapping a car for a guitar or refinancing a home for a pub? These folks are on a whole other level. Imagine the stories theyll have to tell over a cold one. Heres to those keeping the spirit of the local watering hole alive! Cheers, mate!
I once knew a guy whod do anything for his local watering hole, selling a kidney probably not off the table. But refinancing the house? Now thats commitment. Hope the Dog and Donkey keeps its charm intact!
Man, that guy sounds like hed go to extremes for a cold one! Selling a kidney? Thats dedication right there. But refinancing the house? Now thats next-level commitment. Hope the Dog and Donkey keeps its charm intact through it all!
Mate, thats dedication! Refiing the house for a pub? Legendary move. Those old spots hold stories, ya know? Gotta respect a bloke who values history over some fancy joint. Cheers to keepin traditions alive!
Ah mate, reminiscing about those old pubs, eh? Nothing beats a good spot with history. Refiing the house for a pub is a bold move! Cheers to keepin traditions alive, mate. Who needs fancy joints when you can have a piece of history right in your backyard? Enjoy those legendary nights ahead!
I tell ya, its like a modern-day fairytale, innit? Man refinances his home for a pub. Thats some dedication! Cheers to keeping traditions alive, one pint at a time.