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           ![A Top Chef’s Foodie Tips For Devon & Dorset](https://media.slman.com/SHN11HHS4R6H3uSF9vz0BMEjPSM=/500x221/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-110625-site-assets-a-chefs-guide-to-devon-dorset-hero.jpg?itok=jM5lU5kB) 

  

 

 ![A Top Chef’s Foodie Tips For Devon & Dorset](https://media.slman.com/Dp3Wc7aAJsEUa0fgub2wR8oXLDg=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-110625-site-assets-a-chefs-guide-to-devon-dorset-thumb.jpg?itok=24A9V8aT)

 

 

 



 

  [Restaurants](/culture/restaurants) 

 



 /  11 June 2025  

#  A Top Chef’s Foodie Tips For Devon &amp; Dorset  


---

Mitch Tonks is the restaurateur and chef behind seven successful cookbooks. First and foremost a fishmonger, his passion for British seafood stems from a childhood in Weston-Super-Mare. Mitch opened The Seahorse in Dartmouth in 2008 and two years later launched his first Rockfish restaurant round the corner – the group now has ten spots across the south-west. From the region’s best fish and chips to its top swimming spots, he’s here to share his recommendations for anyone headed south this summer…  
 

 



 

 

 

 

  Images: The Millbrook Inn; The Pig At Combe; Le Vin Perdu 

 

 

 

 

 

 [ ![Le Vin Perdu, Ashburton](https://media.slman.com/lKNl9jR0xBTKG3DXXpegbiRfCho=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-le-vin-perdu.jpg?itok=e4eSh8za)

 

 ](https://www.levinperdu.co.uk) 

Le Vin Perdu, Ashburton  


 

 

 

 

 

## RESTAURANTS 

  

 

## The Farm Table

### Topsham

This is a personal favourite of mine. The team at Darts Farm have hosted me for a few events in the past and they often have our Rockfish tinned fish on the menu at their restaurant, The Farm Table. The place focuses on farm-to-table food, cooked with fire or fermented in the process. It’s a wonderful, vibrant place.

Visit [DartsFarm.co.uk](https://www.dartsfarm.co.uk/)

 

## Goto Japanese

### Exeter

This is my favourite place for sushi. It’s excellent and anyone visiting the area should try it. Owners Dan and Katie Goto have really upped the Exeter restaurant game with this one, and what they’re offering feels very authentic and special. The menu features the likes of tonkotsu, seafood ramen and miso black cod.

Visit [FaceBook.com](https://www.facebook.com/gotoJapanese/)

 

## The Millbrook Inn

### South Pool

You can head up here by boat from Salcombe or by car. It's a bit out of the way, but it’s well worth the detour. The team has a really lovely pub with a nice outdoor area, and they get most of their produce from their family farm at Fowlescombe. This is also one of the most beautiful settings for an al fresco drink. The team pours beers that showcase the very best of what Devon has to offer, from Salcombe Pilsner to Ocean Cider.

Visit [MillbrookInnSouthPool.co.uk](https://millbrookinnsouthpool.co.uk/)

 

## Le Vin Perdu

### Ashburton

This is the little sister to the excellent Italian restaurant [Emilia](https://www.emiliaashburton.co.uk/), from Clare Lattin and Tom Hill. French bistros like the French House and Bouchon Racine are so good in London, so it’s great having something like them right here in Devon. The kitchen serves the likes of beautiful ray wings roasted over flame, or big chargrilled legs of lamb. It hits all the right notes.

Visit [LeVinPerdu.co.uk](https://www.levinperdu.co.uk/)

 

 

 

 [ ![The Millbrook Inn, South Pool](https://media.slman.com/Iq3aeOk33QdBMsm7Rls2LDPGeEQ=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-millbrook-normal-landscape.jpg?itok=McZozQ3c)

 

 ](https://millbrookinnsouthpool.co.uk/) 

The Millbrook Inn, South Pool  


 

 

 

 

 

 

## BARS &amp; PUBS 

  

 

## The Wine Loft

### Brixham

The Wine Loft is a beautiful wine shop, stacked to the brim with bottles, with a tasting room and deli area. We recently settled in for a bit of tapas and some really good bottles picked out by their brilliant team.

Visit [WineLoftBrixham.co.uk](https://www.wineloftbrixham.co.uk/)

 

## Salcombe Brewery Tap House

### Salcombe

Said by some to produce the best pint in Britain, Salcombe Brewery is the place to head to for an award-winning beer. Our newest Rockfish site is at Salcombe, and we’ve partnered with the brewery to create a menu that can be enjoyed here, overlooking the beautiful view at Batson Creek.

Visit [SalcombeBrewery.com](https://salcombebrewery.com/)

 

 

 

 ![Brixham](https://media.slman.com/a4NcYLBklHV5EvysZ4ZDSrsEkFk=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-brixham-ben-wicks-unsplash.jpg?itok=3S5lJupG)

 

 

Brixham  


 

Ben Wicks/Unsplash

 

 

 

 

 

 

## The Manor

### Brixham

Found on Higher Street, this pub is a bit more hidden away from the crowds on the beach, and is said to be one of the oldest in Devon. The drinks are great, and they also do the occasional live music night.

Visit [TheManorPub.com](https://www.themanorpub.com/)

 

## ICE-CREAM 

  

 

## Milly's

### Lyme Regis

This is a proper little coffee and ice-cream kiosk in Lyme Regis. They serve proper old-fashioned Mr Whippies, but they make them all from scratch.

Follow [@MillysIceCream](https://www.instagram.com/millysicecream/?hl=en-gb)

 

 

 

 



  [ ![The Manor, Brixham](https://media.slman.com/3spf63RCTW6R_6dMbJ3qqREh0T0=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-the-manor-credit-themanorpubbrixham.jpg?itok=fGzKoV52)

 

 ](http://www.themanorpub.com) 

The Manor, Brixham  


 

  

 

  [ ![Le Vin Perdu, Ashburton](https://media.slman.com/u8Itz8_PVmN6ikh84KdEds665FM=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fle-vin-perdu-credit-bistrovinperdu.jpg?itok=dC3jf_N1)

 

 ](https://www.levinperdu.co.uk/) 

Le Vin Perdu, Ashburton  


 

@Bistro_Vin_Perdu

 

  

 

 



 

 

 

## Baboo Gelato

### West Dorset

We serve the gelato from these guys on our Rockfish menus. Annie Hanbury set it up a decade ago and they get all their milk from Somerset to make proper, proper gelato. The vanilla gelato makes up part of the Rockfish Knickerbocker Glory – or it’s perfect with hot espresso for an affogato. You can find their shops all over the coast.

Visit [BabooGelato.com](https://baboogelato.com/)

 

## Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream

### Salcombe

Salcombe Dairy is our new neighbour. It’s a family owned business that’s been running for over 40 years, using milk from the local farm.

Visit [SalcombeDairy.co.uk](https://salcombedairy.co.uk/)

 

 

 

 [ ![Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth](https://media.slman.com/ycfX95NBiFDlSlhZvAzM2YBeyoM=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-blackpool-sands.jpg?itok=XCK5jv8f)

 

 ](https://www.blackpoolsands.co.uk/) 

Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth  


 

 

 

 

 

 

## SWIMMING 

  

 

## Cobb Gate Beach

### Lyme Regis

Every day you see people swimming here and you can watch them heading out against the waves. It’s great for people watching and it’s such an idyllic spot.

Visit [LovelyLymeRegis.com](https://lovelymeregis.co.uk/beaches/pebblebeach)

 

## Blackpool Sands

### Dartmouth

This beach is an epic place to visit, and a weekly pitstop for me. Best of all, you can enjoy a sauna on the beach afterwards.

Visit [BlackpoolSands.co.uk](https://www.blackpoolsands.co.uk/)

 

## Breakwater Beach

### Brixham

As a family, we like to pack up a big picnic and head here with a few bottles of rosé and some nice, tinned fish bits to make sandwiches on the beach. It’s five minutes away from where our boats come in and our fish is landed.

Visit [BreakWaterBeach.co.uk](https://www.breakwaterbeach.co.uk/)

 

 

 

 [ ![The Pig At Combe, Honiton](https://media.slman.com/nL-RHnusGszLtK9O4pshiP1KorE=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-the-pig-at-combe-big-comfy-luxe.jpg?itok=rWGd-Nkz)

 

 ](https://www.thepighotel.com/) 

The Pig At Combe, Honiton  


 

 

 

 

 

 

## PLACES TO STAY 

  

 

## Seaside Boarding House

### Lyme Regis

On Chesil Beach, this food-focused hotel is uber cool – they host a fun group of chefs for events throughout the year. I’ve cooked there once or twice and so has my pal Mark Hix – another local.

Visit [TheSeasideBoardingHouse.com](https://theseasideboardinghouse.com/)

 

## Fowlescombe Farm

### Ugborough

The is a new place everyone’s talking about. The guys who own it also have Millbrook Inn (see above). The site has a number of guest suites in original stone barns, but with totally modern designs inside, and they look very slick.

Visit [Fowlescombe.com](https://fowlescombe.com/)

 

## The Pig At Combe

### Honiton

A favourite of mine and very popular for a reason. The Pig team gets all the details right, and all the menus are based on the food they grow.

Visit [ThePigHotel.com](https://www.thepighotel.com/)

 

*For more from Mitch, visit* [*TheRockfish.co.uk*](https://therockfish.co.uk/) *and* [*SeahorseRestaurant.co.uk*](https://seahorserestaurant.co.uk/)

 

 [ ![Fowlescombe Farm, Ugborough](https://media.slman.com/EKOD6CiYEkfE01_ILBSvv_YjEcQ=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-fowlescombe-farm-small-landscape.jpg?itok=-MxUH__t)

 

 ](https://fowlescombe.com/) 

Fowlescombe Farm, Ugborough  


 

 

 

 

 

 [ ![Seaside Boarding House, Lyme Regis](https://media.slman.com/g4Gw8l62aDmSMiDfK4rq3uiI8Gg=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fslman.com%2Fsites%2Fslman%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2025%2F06%2Fsl-man-mitch-tonks-guide-to-seaside-eating-seaside-boarding-house_0.jpg?itok=adb5PVXs)

 

 ](https://theseasideboardinghouse.com/) 

Seaside Boarding House, Lyme Regis  


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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