What we’re doing now
- LED lighting throughout the pub and rooms.
- Refillable toiletries in all rooms to reduce single-use plastics.
- Responsible linen policy: towels changed on request; bed linen changed every 3 days.
- Recycling with dedicated bins and collections.
- “Turn it off” kitchen policy to reduce energy use between orders.
- George Food Journey: efficient ordering + specials board planning to aim for ZERO food waste.
In the rooms
We focus on comfort for guests, with a lighter footprint behind the scenes:
- LED lighting in rooms and shared areas.
- Refillable bottles for all toiletries.
- Towels are changed on request; bed linen is changed every 3 days.
- Local linen supplier: Buckleigh Linen (near Bideford).
In the pub
- LED lighting throughout.
- In partnership with Atlantic Spirit, we save our gin bottles to be refilled via their bottle reuse scheme.
- Dedicated recycling bins and collections for glass, cardboard and other recyclables.
In the kitchen
We’ve built our George Food Journey around using every ingredient that enters the premises — supported by efficient ordering, and our specials board — with an ongoing aim for ZERO food waste.
- Turn it off policy: we serve food all day, but during quieter periods we switch equipment off between orders. Larger chip fryers are reduced to 110°C between orders.
- Dishwashers and glasswashers aren’t switched on until there’s a significant load.
- Menu planning to reduce holding stock has allowed us to reduce the number of fridges/freezers in use over the past few years.
- We coordinate bulk cooking (like our pulled pork cooked in Thatcher’s Haze cider) with line cleaning — so draught product pulled off is not wasted.
Local suppliers
Where we can, we buy locally to support our community and reduce food miles:
- Reed Butchers — Braunton
- Edd’s / Local Farm Box — Mullacott (North Devon)
- Little Hollacombe Farm Eggs — near Bideford
- Pull the Pin Rums — Ilfracombe
- Atlantic Spirit — Bideford (bottle reuse)
- Exmoor Distillery — Exmoor (sustainable packaging)
- Hanlon’s Brewery — Half Moon, Devon
- Bays Brewery — Paignton
- Tarka Springs Mineral Water — Torrington
- Buckleigh Linen — near Bideford
What’s next
- We’re currently reviewing waste and recycling contractors to increase the range of items we recycle.
- We’re always looking for new local suppliers to reduce food miles — if you’ve got a great recommendation, please get in touch.
- As existing appliances become unserviceable, we’re committed to replacing them with more energy-efficient models.
Get in touch
If you’d like to ask about any of the steps above, or suggest a local supplier or sustainability improvement, please contact us.