👋 Hello Devon Lovers,

Did you miss last week’s newsletter? Catch-up here.

The best dinner in Devon starts with a boat ride

If you’re desperate to try this place, you’ll have to be patient.

The River Exe Café is only open from April to September and you have to get there by boat.

But the wait should be worth it as this floating cookhouse is the Best Restaurant in Devon in 2024, according to Food Drink Devon.

As you’d expect, they’re big on fish, serving lobster, scallop and crevette sharing platters, curried cod loin and roasted fillet of hake, but there are steak options too.

The judges enjoyed exquisitely presented panko squid, monkfish, toasted mackerel and roasted aubergine in what they agreed was “a truly unique and brilliantly executed experience.”

Access by Puffin Water Taxi from Exmouth Marina or your own boat. Website

Next week: The best fine dining in Devon.

Champagne for Lulu, 60 years on

A 15 year-old Lulu stormed into the UK charts with her iconic hit Shout and now, 60 years later, she’s celebrating her 75th birthday year with an extended tour.

Champagne for Lulu performs at the Princess Theatre, Torquay, on Sunday 3rd November.

And Lulu has a career to celebrate.

She won Eurovision, married a Bee Gee, had a Bond theme tune, an OBE, opened the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and just last year performed 2 nights at the Hollywood Bowl.

The evening incudes special guest performances and Lulu promises to be energetic, effervescent and emotional.

Tickets from £44.67

Brace yourself for 200 striking sculptures

Prepare to be wowed this winter as sculptures enhance the seasonal splendour of the gardens and woodland of RHS Garden Rosemoor.

The exhibition features the work of 40 sculptors, including those from the West Country, ranging from the fluid and hypnotic to thought-provoking, large-scale pieces. See more examples.

10am to 5pm, from Saturday 9th November to Friday 31st January.

Admission: adult £15.85, child £7.95, family £38.10, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, ESA £1 (other family members go free).

Great Torrington EX38 8PH

Festive gift buying in Exeter and Plymouth

Twinkling continental-style chalets get most of us into the Christmas spirit, and they are back soon in both Devon’s cities.

Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market runs from Friday 15th November to Sunday 15th December, with more than 100 stalls. You can enter the cathedral at the same time in return for a donation. EX1 1HS

Plymouth Christmas Market is open from Thursday 28th November until Sunday 15th December, where you can enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate and watch the live music and performances. PL1 1HH

Love Lego, love the brick festivals (2 in the same month)

A great day out for families, collectors and adult builders, with speed building competitions, large scale displays, activities, loose brick sales, new and retired Lego sets, minifigures and accessories.

That’s the Exeter Brick Festival which runs 10am-4pm on Sunday 3rd November at the Westpoint Arena, Clyst St Mary EX5 1DJ

Tickets: early entry from 10am £13, adult £7, child £5, family £18, U5 free.

If you can’t make that one, how about the National Brick show at the Matford Centre, Marsh Barton EX2 8FD on Saturday 30th November from 10am to 4pm.

There will be just as much fun.

Tickets: early entry £11.91, adult £8.01, family £23.01, U5 free.

Devon Curiosities #29: Exercise Tiger Memorial

The memorial, a Sherman tank rescued from the seabed at Slapton Sands, South Devon, is dedicated to the memory of 639 American soldiers and sailors who died in tragic circumstances on April 28, 1944.

Exercise Tiger was a rehearsal for the D-Day invasion of Normandy which went badly wrong due to friendly fire and an attack by the German navy.

The incident was hushed up due to the secrecy surrounding the landings and received little media attention after the war.

Torcross resident Ken Small became aware of the existence of the tank ¾ of a mile off the beach in the 1970s and battled for 10 years to recover it for posterity, eventually buying it from the US government for $50.

Press coverage led to contact with US survivors and family members who began to tell their stories, and the monument was finally granted official recognition

View a video of the salvage story and more of the story.

Torcross TQ7 2EA

WHAT ELSE IS ON

🌊 North Devon

OCTOBER

Sun 20th

BALLET | 🩰 Screening of the Royal Ballet’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £14

Thu 24th

TALK | 🎙️ An Evening with Jimmy Tarbuck | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £33.50

Sat 26th

PARANORMAL | 👻 Ghost Hunting | George & Dragon Pub, Ilfracombe EX34 9ED | Tickets £25

Sun 27th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌊 Beach Clean | Mill Rock, Woolacombe EX34 7HL | Free

PHOTOGRAPHY | 📷 Capture the beauty of the North Devon coastline with like minded people | Valley of Rocks, Lynton EX35 6JH | Tickets £4.77

Wed 30th

CONNECT | 🌳 Guided Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) at Courage Copse | Alternative dates available - sessions held every Wednesday | Warkleigh, Umberleigh EX37 9DD | Tickets £6

NOVEMBER

Sun 3rd

RECYCLE | ♻️ North Devon Indoor Table Top Sale | Barnstaple Pannier Market, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | £12 per pitch

Tue 5th

TRADITION | 🔥 Fireworks and a bonfire at The BIG Sheep to commemorate Guy Fawkes Night | The BIG Sheep, Bideford EX39 5AP | Tickets £11

Wed 6th

TALK | 🗣️ Billy Billingham: Always a Little Further | Former SAS sergeant major | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £39

Sun 10th

REFLECTION | 🎖️ Remembrance Day | Victoria Park, Bideford EX39 2QQ | Free

🐬 South Devon

OCTOBER

Sun 20th

HISTORY | 🗡️ Trafalgar Day Service | Exeter Cathedral, Exeter EX1 1HS | Free

Fri 25th

TALK | 🎤 An Evening with Jimmy Tarbuck | Northcott Theatre, Exeter EX4 4QB | Tickets £32.50

Fri 25th and Sat 26th

HALLOWEEN | 👻 BOO at the Zoo 2024 | Dartmoor Zoo, Plymouth PL7 5DG | Adult tickets £18.50, U16s £16.35

Sat 26th

MUSIC | 🥁 Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers: In Time - The 30th Anniversary Tour | Exeter Northcott Theatre, Exeter EX4 4QB | Tickets £32

Sat 26th and Sun 27th

AUTUMN | 🌽 Harvest Weekend | Buckland Abbey, Yelverton PL20 6EY | Adult admission £15, child £7.50

NOVEMBER

Sat 2nd

BANGERS | 🎇 A Fireworks Extravaganza | Westpoint Arena, Exeter EX5 1DJ | Adult ticket £15, U16s £7

Tue 5th

TRADITION | 🔥 The Tar Barrels of Ottery St Mary | Town Centre, Ottery St Mary EX11 1BZ | Free

GUY FAWKES | 🎆 Bonfire Night | The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2NZ | Free

Sun 10th

REFLECTION | 🎖️ Remembrance Sunday | Plymouth Hoe, Plymouth PL1 2PJ | Free

Wed 27th

MUSIC | 🎻 Plymouth Symphony Orchestra concert | Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth PL1 2AD | Tickets £17.60

🏆️ Get lucky! Win Devon prizes

🌟 FEATURED 🏡 A £2m dream house in Exmouth, £250,000 cash and 2 Porsche cars worth £170,000 (27th Oct)

🪙 A £500 voucher for a South Devon holiday park (Today 17th Oct)

🏨 A 2-night stay at the Mercure Hotel, Paignton, with breakfast, dinner and wine on both nights (18th Oct)

🐑 A 2-night stay in a luxury shepherd’s lodge for two adults and up to one child, or two smaller children in South Devon, worth £500 (28th Oct)

⛵️ A two night stay in a Dartmouth apartment, 6 bottles of low or no alcohol wine, and a South West explorer pack. (29th Oct)

NEW!  🧀 A Sharpham Dairy hamper packed with cheese and chocolate treats (31st Oct)

🏰 A 2-night self-catering apartment stay in Watermouth Castle and unlimited entry to the theme park (31st Oct)

🐕️ A beach villa break at a dog-friendly spot in Saunton (31st Oct)

🧺 A package of Devon food and drink including vodka, liquers, charcuterie and a 3-course meal for 2 (31st Oct)

⛱️ A 3-night break at a Brixham Holiday Park in 2025 (31st Oct)

🌅 10 pilates classes in Exeter worth £195 (3rd Nov)

NEW!  🏇 An Exeter Racecourse hospitality package including 3-course lunch for 2, worth £260 on 1 or 2 dates in January 2025. (10th Nov)

🏨 2-night’s accommodation in the Agatha Christie Suite at the Grand Hotel, Torquay, including a classic afternoon tea and spa treatment (24th Dec)

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦 A 2-night stay for up to 16 family and friends at a Devon farmhouse (31st Jan 2025)

That’s all for this week, but…

Would you help us to improve by taking this one-click survey?

With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team