Goodbye Dartmoor Diner, hello Strawberry Fields.

The popular roadside café on the southern fringe of Dartmoor near Yelverton re-opens soon with new owners, a new name, a fresh look and a bakery.

I understand the popular destination for walkers, cyclists and moor lovers will be open within 2 weeks, if not before, following a complete refurbishment.

P.S. The free printable pdf Devon Food & Drink Events 2026 featured last week was VERY popular. You can get the guide here

Exeter: where surf meets turf

There’s everything you need to get on the water — whether you’re a beginner or experienced — at Boat Fest West next month.

• Boats — inflatables, sports and fishing boats, leisure and river boats

• Watersports — windsurfers, kite surfers, foil boards, kayaks

• Diving — scuba gear, wetsuits, masks, flippers, watches

• Equipment — outboard engines, trailers, clothing, chandlery and electronics

• Yachts and boats for sale

• Boat holidays, yacht charters

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April, Exeter Racecourse. Free tickets

Masterpieces of modelling

It’s an antidote to doom scrolling and could help fight declining mental health for adults and children alike.

North Devon modellers are promoting the mindfulness benefits of their hobby with a free 2-week exhibition at the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon.

Models have come a long way in the past few years with the latest technology meaning the only limitation is your imagination.

Organisers are hoping to inspire with 3 days of workshops, where beginners of any age can build a model for free, and 2 “Meet the Creators” sessions.

Friday 3rd to Saturday 18th April. More details here

Rooftop garden and bee tours

The popular Exeter bee garden tours on the rooftop of the Princesshay Shopping centre are back for 2026.

14 years ago, Princesshay created a secret garden high above the shops as a sanctuary for honey bees.

The space has matured and grown and up to 240,000 lucky bees get weekly attention from the centre’s staff.

(Please note the hives are viewed at a safe distance and not opened during the tour).

Wednesday 20th May (3 tours). Other dates available. Reserve a spot

Play UNSCRAMBLE to win a bottle of Exeter Gin

Week 3 of this month’s UNSCRAMBLE competition. Unscramble the letters below to find the name of a Devon town.

T I M E N O U G H T

To enter simply REPLY to this email with your full name and your answer.

• Answer all 4 UNSCRAMBLES correctly during March (number 4 next week) for a chance to win.

• Not entered before? There’s still time replying with answers from the emails on 5th and 12th March.

Don’t like gin? What about whisky?

Tasting sessions are back at Dartmoor’s only whisky distillery.

Learn every step of how single malt is made and the story of how a whisky distillery came to Bovey Tracey.

Each tasting experience includes 3 whiskies plus a free glass of wine, beer, gin & tonic, or soft drink if you prefer.

The distillery’s malts are individually aged in Ex-Bourbon, Bordeaux Red Wine and Oloroso Sherry casks, each with a different colour and flavour profile.

And of course the secret ingredient of pure Dartmoor water!

1pm Saturdays from March 21st. £30 per person. Find out more

Devon Curiosities #99: St Nicholas Chapel, Ilfracombe

This windswept former chapel has been saving lives at sea for more than 700 years.

Perched on Lantern Hill overlooking Ilfracombe harbour, it was built in 1321 and named St Nicholas after the patron saint of sailors.

Still a working lighthouse, it is thought to be the oldest light beacon in the country.

Volunteers open up the doors to visitors during the summer season and attract 1,000s.

Entry is free and donations are welcome, with profits going to local charities.

More history, information and images here

MEMBER POLL

Last week’s result

How many Devon food festivals do you visit in a typical year?

• None - 11%

• 1-2 - 67%

• 3-4 - 22%

• 6+ - 0%

Laura wrote: “Great to visit, but wouldn’t travel too far.”

WHAT ELSE IS ON?

🌊 North Devon 

🌳 South Devon

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon leisure prizes

FEATURED: 🏡 A £1.2m modern 4-bed family home in 10 acres of mid-Devon countryside (31st Mar)

NEW!  ☕️ 2 classes at the Devon Made design studio in Paignton, coffee and cake for 2, and 2 free mugs (21st Mar)

 👪️ A family ticket to Kent’s Cavern in Torquay (22nd Mar)

NEW!  🐦️ An escape to The Nest (sleeps 4) in Devon (27th Mar)

A 1-night B & B break for 2 people at the Future Inn, Plymouth (31st Mar)

🦜 A bottle of Golden Spiced Rum from Torbay Distilling Company (31st Mar)

🌺 A pair of VIP tickets to Toby’s Garden Festival at Powderham Castle, Exeter worth £200 (31st Mar)

⚓️ 2 nights at the recently refurbished Royal Castle Hotel, Dartmouth (2nd Apr)

NEW!  🐷 A £1,350 2-night stay at THE PIG hotel of your choice, including , with a 3-course dinner, breakfast on both days, sommelier winepairing, 2 wellbeing treatments and a kitchen garden tour (10th Apr)

Enter 6 more competitions here

Did you win something? Let me know

New member? Catch up here

🍅 Devon Food & Drink Events 2026 

⚓️ The mystery of the captain’s chamber pot

🌱 5,000 free packets of seeds

🎭️ High drama in wide open spaces

That’s all for this week. Thanks for being a member.

NEXT ISSUE   Byronic Sex

Andy, Esme and Lara