A Spotlight On… East Devon
- James Massoud
- Nov 17
- 5 min read
Welcome to 'A Spotlight On…', the series from The Knife illuminating the UK’s most distinctive destinations through the lens of food, drink and hospitality. This edition journeys beyond the headlines to the sweeping Jurassic Coast landscapes, hidden coves and rolling Devonshire hills of East Devon, where slow rhythms, rich terroir and old-world charm now converge with a quietly ambitious dining scene. From woodland feasts to clifftop hotels and Michelin starred brilliance, here are seven venues that define the region’s flavour and character today.
The Loft, Sidmouth
Old Fore Street’s warm, quietly stylish hideaway bringing modern, coastal-Devon cooking to the heart of town.
Set one floor above Sidmouth’s bustling Old Fore Street, The Loft is the sort of place visitors stumble upon once and then return to every trip – a relaxed, family-run restaurant with a polished touch. Black-raftered ceilings, reclaimed wood tables and an intimate rooftop terrace set the tone, while the kitchen leans into confident, flavour-forward dishes shaped by Devon’s larder.
The menu moves easily between chalk-fresh fish, hearty seasonal bowls, bright plant-led plates and a standout gluten-free offering locals praise. It feels grounded in Sidmouth yet ambitious enough for food-minded travellers, blending comfort with a playful streak that keeps regulars loyal.
Whether you’re ducking in after a coastal walk, gathering for a sundowner supper, or seeking a reliable, joyfully-run spot in town, The Loft delivers relaxed Devon magic with breezy confidence.
Perfect for: Laid-back lunches after a cliff-top walk, family-friendly dinners, modern comfort dishes done well, and an unexpectedly strong gluten-free choice.
The Pig at Combe – Otter Valley
A lush Devon manor-house where kitchen-garden ethos meets relaxed luxury.
Set within a honey-toned Elizabethan manor in the Otter Valley, The Pig at Combe frames its entire identity around its three walled gardens and the celebrated 25-Mile Menu. Seasonal clarity rules here, vegetables and herbs grown on-site, orchard produce from the grounds, day-boat fish and responsibly reared meats sourced just down the road.
The dining room is warm and wood-panelled, the approach unfussy yet elegant. Plates feel unmistakably Devonian, but always with The Pig’s signature blend of comfort and quiet refinement.
It’s the kind of East Devon dining experience that feels both indulgent and grounded – a country escape where provenance leads every decision.
Perfect for: Slow countryside lunches, couples seeking refined rustic charm, and anyone eager to taste kitchen-garden cooking at its most expressive.
High Grange – Dalwood
A family-run food, fire and wellbeing haven where everything begins with flame, forest and community.
On its own three-acre woodland at the edge of the Jurassic Coast, High Grange delivers something rare: outdoor dining and cookery that is ritualistic, soulful and wildly atmospheric. Founded by Luke and Sara Vandore-Mackay, the venture blends fire-schools, feast nights and woodland wellbeing into a single, elemental experience.
Guests gather around long communal tables beneath trees and canopy lights, sharing multi-course feasts where every ingredient has passed through smoke, flame or embers. Expect local venison, day-boat fish, vegetables from the smallholding and slow-cooked dishes infused with wood-smoke character.
Part dining, part gathering, part discovery, High Grange is East Devon at its most immersive.
Perfect for: Adventurous evenings by the fire, communal feasts under the trees, and anyone curious about the craft and theatre of wood-fired cooking.
River Cottage – Axminster
The pioneering farm-to-table landmark where seasonal, ethical dining unfolds in a restored 18th-century barn.
Straddling the rolling countryside near the Dorset-Devon border, River Cottage is both a working smallholding and a living expression of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s sustainable food philosophy. Long-table feasts, immersive dining events and seasonal lunches take place inside the atmospheric threshing barn or out on the grounds overlooking fields and orchards.
Menus shift with the land and sea: vegetables pulled from the gardens, meat raised with care, day-boat fish, and produce sourced hyper-locally. Dining here isn’t a meal, it’s a moment of connection to the region’s terroir, values and community.
The ambience is warm, communal and grounded, perfectly suited to special gatherings or purposeful food-led escapes.
Perfect for: Celebratory long-table meals, food lovers seeking an ethical, immersive experience, and countryside getaways shaped around seasonality and craft.
Harbour Hotel – Sidmouth
A light-filled coastal retreat where West Country produce meets relaxed luxury.
Overlooking Lyme Bay and the red cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, Harbour Hotel Sidmouth exudes contemporary seaside elegance. At its heart is Upper Deck, a restaurant shaped by West Country provenance: freshly landed fish, Salcombe crab, vibrant vegetables and coastal larder staples presented with polished simplicity.
Floor-to-ceiling windows brighten the dining room, while the al-fresco terrace invites leisurely lunches and sundowner dinners. Meanwhile, the bar and lounge offer laid-back indulgence, from afternoon teas to cocktails in stylish, sea-view surroundings.
Upper Deck is the kind of venue where setting, produce and ease align beautifully.
Perfect for: Sun-drenched seafood lunches, terrace cocktails, coastal weekend escapes and stylishly relaxed dining with sweeping views.
The Victoria Hotel – Sidmouth
Elegant seaside dining in the heart of Sidmouth, where fine cuisine meets refined comfort overlooking the Jurassic Coast.
Located on Sidmouth’s iconic sea-front, The Victoria Hotel pairs classical hotel grandeur with a thoroughly modern dining agenda. Guests and locals alike enter a stylish lobby and move into one of its refined dining venues – including the AA Rosette-winning Jubilee Restaurant and the more relaxed White Room – each offering a distinctive take on Devon’s culinary landscape and the classic coastal-hotel dining experience.
In the Jubilee Restaurant, every evening is treated as a special occasion. Expect imaginative dishes built from local produce, set against live music and sea-views. The White Room provides a modern, informal counterpoint with a lighter, contemporary menu and relaxed dress code. Across the venue you’ll find options spanning from indulgent afternoon teas in the sitting-rooms to fully-fledged five-course dinners – and dietary-requirements including vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free all catered for.
If you’re in East Devon seeking a refined dinner after a cliff-walk or a special lunch overlooking the sea, The Victoria Hotel offers a stylish, comfortable base with genuine culinary ambition.
Perfect for: A horizon-view dinner for two, a celebratory family Sunday lunch, afternoon tea with friends in elegant surrounds, or a stay-and-dine break where the coast, comfort and cuisine align.
Lympstone Manor – Exe Estuary
A luxurious country-house escape defined by Michelin starred dining and the culinary vision of Michael Caines MBE.
Commanding one of East Devon’s most beautiful estuary vistas, Lympstone Manor stands as the region’s most esteemed gastronomic destination. Under the leadership of Michael Caines MBE, the Michelin starred restaurant offers elevated, expressive dining shaped by classical skill, modern British thinking and deep regional connection.
Menus draw from the estate itself – the kitchen gardens, the 17,500-vine vineyard, the surrounding farms and the nearby coast. Every plate balances precision with warmth, delivering a dining experience that is as emotionally resonant as it is technically accomplished.
Beyond the restaurant, vineyard tours, nature walks, beekeeping experiences and festive events enrich the visit, but it is Caines’ cuisine that anchors the manor as a defining East Devon destination.
Perfect for: Special-occasion tasting menus, luxury food-led escapes, wine enthusiasts, and diners seeking Michelin star creativity in a breathtaking setting.
From smoke-kissed woodland feasts to cliff-side seafood, from kitchen-garden cooking to Michelin starred artistry, East Devon’s dining scene is flourishing – a region where landscape, produce and culinary ambition intersect beautifully.
'A Spotlight On…' will continue to chart the UK’s most exciting neighbourhoods, so stay tuned as The Knife turns its lens to where flavour, creativity and character collide next.
