Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
shack, so now you can tuck into perfectly cooked shellfish, bass, bream and monkfish just
yards from where it was hauled ashore. The bring-your-own wine system (free corkage)
keeps the price down. On fine summer evenings diners spill out onto tables lining the sea
wall (they'll even loan you a blanket to keep your legs warm).
Cricket
( 01548-580215;
www.thecricketinn.com
; Seafront, Beesands; mains £11-18; noon-8.30pm)
Fishermen
started supping here in 1867 and, despite the smart re-vamp, still do - one of the regulars
in the corner probably caught your lunch. The beautifully cooked lobsters, crab and scal-
lops come straight out of Start Bay, a pebble's throw away. It's classic cooking, but expect
some surprises: you might get seaweed and ginger butter on your lemon sole.
PUB
££
BISTRO
££
Laughing Monk
( 01803-770639;
www.thelaughingmonkdevon.co.uk
; Totnes Rd, Strete; mains £17-22; 5-9.30pm Mon-Sat
Apr-Oct, 6.30-9pm Tue-Sat Nov-Mar)
Although the produce is overwhelmingly local, the flavours
are from much further afield; delight in Chanel squid with punchy chilli dressing, Dart-
mouth crab with zingy guacamole or free-range chicken in a gutsy Madeira casserole. The
cheeseboard features four classic West Country varieties, best sampled with some port
(from £4 a glass).
PUB
££
Tower Inn
( 01548-580216;
www.thetowerinn.com
; Church Rd, Slapton; lunch £5-11, dinner £16; noon-2pm daily, 7-9pm
Mon-Sat)
It's a bit of a winner: rich flavours (think pigeon, woodland mushrooms and black
pudding) combine with innovative treatments (sea bass in vodka batter) at an atmospheric
inn, where the beer garden overlooks a 14th-century tower.
Getting There & Away
Bus 93 runs from Dartmouth to Strete (20 minutes, hourly, four on Sunday) and on to Tor-
cross (30 minutes) and Kingsbridge (1 hour).
