The George through the years
I've stood on the Ridgeway — the old Plymouth to Exeter road — since the days of the stagecoach. Here's what's on record.
The coaching inn.
The George began life as a coaching inn on the turnpike road out of Plymouth, where horses were changed and travellers fed and watered before the climb towards Exeter. The building you see today dates from the 18th century: a slate-hung front, a steep slate roof with three dormers, and the big square-columned porch with its original 18th-century four-panel door still in it.
The date on the seal comes from the inn's place in local history. In 1757 an Act of Parliament set up the Plymouth East Turnpike Trust, to build and keep up the toll road through Plympton — and the trust held its first meeting here, at the George. The road made the town, and the inn served the road.
Out front, the rubble retaining wall with its T-shaped staircase is topped with wrought-iron railings from the early 1800s. The whole lot — inn, wall, stairs and railings — has been Grade II listed since 1 August 1974.
Historic England list entry 1386354
- Grade II listed, 1 August 1974
- Public house, formerly a coaching inn, 18th century
- Slate-hung front, steep dry slate roof, three dormers
- Distyle porch with 18th-century four-panel door
- Retaining wall and staircase with early–mid 19th-century railings
- First meeting of the Plymouth East Turnpike Trust (1757 Act) held here
Same George, new keeper
A St Austell Brewery house, under new management since autumn 2026. Real ales downstairs, the Phillips Bar (our function room) upstairs, accommodation above, and the fire lit when it's cold.
Through the years.
A coaching inn goes up on the Ridgeway, the old road from Plymouth to Exeter — the building whose slate-hung front, porch and four-panel door still stand today.
An Act of Parliament creates the Plymouth East Turnpike Trust to build and run the toll road through Plympton. The trust holds its first meeting at the George. The date on our seal.
The wrought-iron railings go up along the retaining wall and stairs at the front — still there, and listed with the building.
On 1 August the George Hotel, with its wall, staircase and railings, is Grade II listed by Historic England (list entry 1386354).
The George becomes a St Austell Brewery house, as it remains today.
New management. The doors reopen on 2 October 2026 with a meet-and-greet, a notebook, and a promise: a proper community local, the Phillips Bar back in use, and the fire lit when it's cold.
Know a date we've missed — a landlord, a flood, a famous visitor, the night the roof came off? Tell George and it goes on the line.
Got an old photo of me?
Generations of Plympton have had a first pint, a wedding and a wake under this roof. If you've a photograph or a story about the George, we'd love to add it here. Email enquiries_thegeorgeinn@outlook.com.