Topsham food and drink

Topsham, awarded the ‘Best Local Foods Small Town’ in 2005/2006, has a great tradition of eating and drinking. There is a range of excellent independent food shops and no shortage of outstanding pubs, restaurants, teashops and cafés to suit all tastes and budgets. Once a month, the Slow Food Devon Topsham Market takes place in Matthews Hall, bringing in a wealth of artisan food products mainly from local and regional producers and suppliers.

One of the best features of a stay in Pebblebed House is the chance simply to walk out the front door and stroll a few minutes either to shop for local food or go out for a drink or a bite to eat.

Food and drink shopping
There is an excellent butchers (Arthurs), a good local greengrocer (Richards), a world class cheese shop (Country Cheeses), a mobile fishmonger (Derek, at Matthews Hall Tue, Thur, Fri and Sat), a great cook shop, and no shortage of wine (Topsham Wines and Vino - Italian wines from small estates - in addition of course to Pebblebed).

Just a few minutes away by car or about a 15 minute walk, Darts Farm Shopping Village is a veritable one-stop market. You can come here to buy quality local food and drink, or even an AGA! There is a café (good for breakfasts) while the Fish Shed offers locally caught fish and shellfish, as well as probbly the best fish and chips you will ever find anywhere.

We hope visitors to Pebblebed House will support our excellent local shops. However, for those who prefer the convenience of shopping on-line, then we would recommend Devon's own on-line supermarket which offers mainly local and regional produce, www.ownonline.co.uk.

Beer, glorious beer
Topsham has 10 pubs (a favourite activity with Exeter University students is 'doing the Topsham Ten'), many of which serve food. The Bridge Inn is considered one of the best beer pubs in the UK; furthermore it is is the only pub ever to have been visited by HM the Queen. The Globe offers outstanding beer and wine as well as excellent food, from snacks and pub grub, to full three-course meals. The Passage House and Lighter are located on Topsham's waterfront. Or why not take the Sea Dream ferry (in season) downriver to the Turf, a pub only accessible by boat, cycle or foot.

Outstanding restaurants
If you want to go out to eat, you don't have to worry about driving, either. Just outside the door is the award-winning and very friendly La Petite Maison. Marcello's offers simple Italian foods. Oliva is an award-winning Mediterranean restaurant. Saffron at Denleys serves modern Indian cuisine. The Quay Brasserie, located just minutes away on the Quay, is an authentic French brasserie cooking meat and fish over a charcoal grill, and with outdoor tables in fine weather.