The UKs best beach cafes....from Chichester to Salcombe

 The UKs best beach cafes contd…. South West

  

 We covered the stretch from East Sussex to Lyme Regis last time, concentrating on cafes open through the winter months, yes, the tough ones: but a couple of new ones have popped-up since, so we’ll just add them before we continue west from Lyme.

Chichester Harbour - Quarterdeck in the boatyard at Itchenor. Dog friendly, cosy café in the yard, perfect for passing yachtsmen and hikers https://www.facebook.com/quarterdeckcafe/

  

Hampshire - Noisy Lobster at Mudeford’s Avon Beach

Cracking stop for breakfast, where the kids can tuck into a decent stack of proper fluffy pancakes, and then run it off on the beach. I can recommend the Force Four breakfast.  www.noisylobster.co.uk

The Anchor at Seatown

The Anchor at Seatown  www.theanchorinnseatown.co.uk

I don’t know how I left the Anchor off my earlier list, as it makes a wonderful stop when you’ve made the decent from Golden Cap on the coastal path along this Jurassic stretch, but for boaters it’s more suited to a short stay for smaller motor boats:

Nestled into the small bay at Seatown, on the edge of the Jurassic coast, serving excellent pub food. Try the burger or grilled mackerel, frisky from the sea. One of our best local chef’s Jean-Paul de Ronne is here now, so put it on your list.

Now on to Devon

Exmouth - The River Exe Café – opens April 1^st – www.riverexecafe.com

On a floating restaurant just off Exmouth. They provide a water taxi to get to it if you don’t come by boat, some visitors moorings on pontoons alongside. If you come by bike (nice route from Topsham to Exmouth) padlock up at the marina and catch the ferry over tel 07970 918418

River Exe Cafe

Teignmouth – The Crabshack on the beach crabshackonthebeach.co.uk

Alongside the café is the Crab Shack Deli offering freshly made take away sandwiches, wraps and paninis, whole crabs, lobsters, oysters, cockles, winkles, whelks, and seafood hampers

Shaldon - The Clipper  – theclippershaldon.co.uk

Right on the beach, looks like a standard café but service is great and the food excellent quality, with wonderful views.

Beautiful position for the Cary Arms overlooking Babbacombe Beach

The Cary Arms, Babbacombe Beach. This was once a traditional, posh seaside hotel but now sports beach hut sleepovers and a spa, along with decent food options and in the summer it’s possible to pick up a mooring and relax whilst having lunch, dinner or high tea, gazing across green lawns to Babbacombe Bay. Call ahead for details on 01803 327110

www.caryarms.co.uk

Brixham: Poopdeck - poopdeckrestaurant.com

Close enough to the market to ensure quality fresh flappin fish. Great supporters of the RNLI so here’s one for the diary if you are in the vicinity.

Event RNLI Charity Dinner & Wine tasting 12th April - Charity 6 course dinner & wine tasting

Brixham cont. Berry Head - The Guardhouse on Berry Head promontory – voted best cream tea in Devon. Past Shoalstone Lido and the beautifully positioned Berry Head Hotel, you’ll find the Guardhouse Cafe guardhousecafe.com

Best cream tea in Devon? The Guardhouse Cafe, Berry Head

 DARTMOUTH – see full feature in the next issue, but either side we have:

Travelling up the River Dart; see www.tidetimes.org.uk/dartmouth-tide-times for access;

Ferry Boat Inn at Dittisham. Beautiful Devon rose coloured pub on the water, some space outside on the dock, gets busy on sunny weekends. Live music, good beer, decent food. Rock on the beach the 1st Sunday of the month from April to September  http://www.ferryboatinndittisham.pub

  

Pull up at the Maltsters Arms

The Maltsters Arms, www.themaltstersarms.co.uk

Then further up river, left a bit, travel along Bow Creek to Tuckenhay, once owned by jolly Keith Floyd so always holds a warm place in my heart , convivial pub in idyllic setting and with pontoons outside, well worth a visit (check the tides) tel 01803 732350   http://www.tuckenhay.com/getting-here-by-boat/

Venus Cafe – Blackpool Sands; www.blackpoolsands.co.uk/cafemenu.htm

This lovely café is on the perfect golden sand, sheltered beach, tucked away on this privately owned wooded estate, south west of Dartmouth. This outfit also runs the Venus Café at Watergate Bay, amongst other venues:  www.lovingthebeach.co.uk

Salcombe;  New Crab Festival - May 1st

Crab catching, crab pot making and crab cooking demos

Watch this space………New gin school – www.salcombe-gin.com

Distillery, bar and school in old boathouse with a few visitors moorings, aimed more at tenders than the mother ship, so you can come up the creek to visit the distillery when the tides allow. Tours £15.

Next time we will pick up the route past Salcombe and on to Cornwall, surely masters of the beach café culture? Anyone want to join me on the hike? Bike? RIB, sail or motorbike?