The Knowhere Guide

Eating and Drinking in Shaldon, Devon*

Shaldon, Devon Pubs, Cafes, Coffee Shops and Restaurants

Food

• Hunter's Lodge - you can eat like a King there for (almost!) a pauper's wage. Try the Sea Bass and you will see what I mean.
• Hunters Lodge, Fore Street every evening
• The Clifford Arms pizza's are pretty lush and dead cheap as long as Dan has burnt the edges!
• If you haven't been into The Hunter's Lodge Eatery lately you are definitely missing out. Adam has revamped it magnificently, and his daytime and evening menus are truly excellent. It is a new Shaldon eatery without parallel; good food, booze if you want it, music to suit and NO SMOKING! I reckon it is a little bit of heaven.
• Ness Sunday lunch (in the restaurant) is great for that special occasion.
• We followed the advise of previous commentators and arranged n evening meal in the London Inn. The food as previously written was good but eating out involves other important aspects. Like staff ignoring the requests of diners to close the bar door that on this particular evening was blowing a force 6 straight up the old kilt. One lot of diners got up and left their food on the table although it had only just been served. After making several requests to have the door closed which were totally ignored we decided too to leave the establishment. If the food preparer or Chef was to leave the London Inn I would have to rate it as a No No. Spartan Bar, Staff smoking fags in the hall and then coming straight back to serve food, uncomfortable seating. Im heading for the Fish and Chips shop next time I take anyone out in that part of Shaldon.
• Phil Beatty doing a good job at the Butchers - just as pricy as before but just as good as before.
• La Provence has closed but will reopen early 2004 as "The Lighthouse" selling Continental suppers - whatever that means. Looks like Wellingtons restaurant has closed.
• The Ness Hotel getting some better reports - Nov 2003.
• Only the bravest of fools would dare trust George's fish and chips after September!
• La Provence has closed - Ken has gone to China to get married and will live in Exeter upon his return. New owner is going to serve "Continental Suppers".
• Go to the Clifford Arms
• Agree with comments about FBI - should add RSI to that. Clifford food vg. London Inn now variable but portions still good. Wellingtons OK if service a bit slow (08/03)
• Don't bother eating in the FBI
• London Inn - fantastic value portions (big) and really good quality, too.
• La Provence is brilliant - if pricey - but just the place for a special occasion
• Rumour has it that Keith Mason will sell the building known as Force 8 to Midas. Then it is said he will open a Wine Bar in the building what is known as Mariner's Weigh.
• BEST QUICK, SIMPLE AND CHEAP FOOD HAS TO BE THE SHIPWRIGHTS.
• La Provence. Really. The food is just magnificent (though the owners changed recently (5/01)
• BEST SUNDAY ROAST - SEE TIMMY BUZZARD......UMMMMMMM :=) FROM SIDNEY AND FARNSBOROUGH.
• So, as at January 2001, where is the best place to eat?
• Wellingtons - now licensed ! - so hopefully they will start doing evening meals now that the Beachcomber is going into hibernation.
• Wellingtons for a great rib of beef Sunday roast
• London Inn for Sunday Lunch
• Spar shop for the best rotten green mouldy mushrooms in Devon.
• Ness House - now not so good food. Try Ciro's "Venezia" sauce at the Beachcomber. Mange 2 - now closed - renamed " La Provence". Beachcomber needs a "No Smoking" philosophy.
• Best Food is available at "La Provence" in Fore Street, with Bruno Camillac; closely followed by Beachcomber on the Strand, with celebrity chef "Ciro". Best Pub Grub is available at the Clifford Arms in Fore Street and London Inn's bagettes and sunday roast dinners. Ferryboat used to be excellent(best chips!)before they built the new posh restuarant upstairs, with posh prices to follow. Avoid the Ness House Hotel, good food, until they took Garlic Mushrooms and dip off the menu! Only interested in Business people, with business accounts. Georges fish and chips is fantastic if your not too fussy.
• good bakers
• Loads of good food. Try Angie's place 'Mange 2' or the Beachcomber for Ciro's Italian meals.

Pubs

• BEST BANDS AND FOOD AT THE FERRY BOAT
• fantastic food in the ferry boat
• Sam and Bruce Theobald moved into the clifford about a year and a half ago (the date now being Dec 23rd 2005). To be fair they are the best thing to happen the pub since the acclaimed Mike and Linda sold the lease umpteen years ago. Yes the food may be a little pricey but then Bruce has worked in Michelin star restaurants and knows how to cook. He's quite a formidable character but if he insults you it means he likes you. Sam on the other hand is fairly amicable most days and seems to acquire a fair amount of gossip (which obviously she keeps to herself as it's a small village and gossip is sometimes vindictive!!!!) Anyway go there it'sgreat and if it's it shut try the standard cos Jason's alright too!
• Clifford Arms is now under the most capable hands of Bruce and Sam Theobald and has become, quite possibly, the best pub in Shaldon. Food is remarkable and the service is top notch!! Quiz nights are hilarious fun with a fair amount of money raised for local charities. We love it and drink nowhere else!
• The London Inn Shaldon is great for Sunday lunch so say advertisements and once a year tourists. Great that is - if you dont mind sitting in a constant draught and have half sozzled bar huggers and staff blowing cigarette smoke all over you. The space allocated for the unfortunate diners resembles something out of Fagin's Guide to Indigestion. The portions and the food generally would be most acceptable if the risk of chronic bronchitis and Pneumonia were not so great.
• As at the end of 2004 - the best beer is in the Clifford as is the most expensive food. Shipwrights does excellent Thai food but is no longer a pub. Standard on the up whilst the Ferryboat declines. London has decent food and beer but needs a refurb.
• Best beer in Shaldon is in the Clifford (10/04) and food is good if pricey - look out for Friday curry nights during the winter. Jason has taken over the Standard - hopefully to improve the beer quality - which means that the Ferryboat could be vulnerable as both the London and Clifford have strong local trade.
• The landlord of the Clifford left suddenly in December - the beer is still good. The Shipwrights has changed hands again - it is now a Thai restaurant with a bar.
• Shipwrights has just become "The Thai Room" and is offering takeaways !! The curse of the Clifford Arms has struck again with Martin leaving suddenly on 23rd Nov. Maybe because, as a taff, he could stand the stick after England won the Rugby World Cup. The noise coming out of the Standard during the RWC final was incredible.
• All day Happy Hour prices in the Clifford Arms on Thursdays
• Clifford Arms now sells the best beer in the village and very good food. Standard is an improving pub. London Inn losing it edge over it's rivals. FBI has changed landlord again !!
• The Clifford Arms is the best pub in Shaldon. It has the best Real Ales and the Food is ace!
• The Clifford Arms has changed hands again and now serves a fine pint of real ale and good food. Pity about the noisy juke box though.
• New folks in The Clifford Arms! Martin is a great landlord with friendly enthusiastic staff. Fantastic Real Ale and The food is excellent too. Well worth a visit.... this pub is back to it's former glory!
• London Inn staff very helpful and high speed service!
• The Shipwrights has been sold to some people who have a catering background so we may get another decent place to eat without crossing the bridge.
• Mick Wiggins has left the London and now is the (Bar) Steward of the Conservative Club. An excellent of Bass is now available together with all the ritual abuse expected from a Derby County supporter.
• Rumours strong that not only is the Clifford's lease up for sale but also Justin will not be in the Royal Standard for much longer. As we know the Shipwrights has been up for sale for ages and the Ferryboat has just changed hands - so it is all change in Shaldon !!
• There are, what, 6 in the village? plus the bar at the Ness and the Con Club? Tho' if we're being honest, you'd have to be pretty desperate to want to visit the Force 8. Shipwrights, Ferryboat, Clifford Arms, The London - all good.
• Rumour has it that Gary wants to sell the lease on The Clifford Arms. London Inn more like a restaurant & creche on Sundays than a local's pub. Look out for the regular fight nights at The Ferryboat.
• What's the story about the Wine Bar and Midas??
• Clifford Arms, the slowest service in the West.
• Ferryboat Inn for the most expensive drinks in the village
• Force-8 wine bar, if its ever open after 9pm !
• London Inn can be cliquey.
• Clifford Arms has a new boss - Gary - the beer is still excellent. London Inn - great Sunday lunches - but a very smokey atmosphere.
• Con Club - cheap beer, snooker, and bingo Clifford Arms - medieval technique required (ie, shout!) Ferryboat - bit dark at times owing to electricity shortage Force 8 - soon to be destroyed by Mason and Midas to create rabbit hutches London Inn - fastest bar staff in the land Ness House Hotel - residents only after 10.30pm Shiprights - maybe on your way home Standard - great live band venue, Sky TV for footy
• Shipwrights Arms, Clifford, Standard, Ferryboat and everyone's favourite The London Inn. Also the Con Club is good for a cheap pint and a game of Snooker!
• v goood pubs
• Clifford Arms is outstanding
• The Ferryboat Inn, located right on the waterfront, is a cozy place! Customers may sit either inside or outside, and everyone there - from the employees to the guests - treats you like part of their family.
• Loads. Small village but six! pubs as well as a variety of other licensed (and not so licensed!) drinking places.

Cafes and Coffee Shops

• Hunter's Lodge - its always open and the coffee is great (AND fairtrade which makes me feel even better)
• Hunters Lodge, Fore Street every daytime
• Hi All, Just visited Shaldon today and had the best chips ever at The Clipper, end of town by a harbour. £1.30p fed 3 of us. Plus, staff serving us were really nice. Also bought venison from good local butcher in the high street.
• If you haven't been into The Hunter's Lodge Eatery lately you are definitely missing out. Adam has revamped it magnificently, and his daytime and evening menus are truly excellent. It is a new Shaldon eatery without parallel; good food, booze if you want it, music to suit and NO SMOKING! I reckon it is a little bit of heaven.
• Brigantine - poor coffee sploshed all over your saucer.
• the clipper [or Paddys as it is affectionally known] is the best place to recouperate and commiserate after a night out.
• Shaldon Tea Rooms, Clipper, and the Beachcomber make the best tea.

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Last updated: 2007-08-13