Say hello to BELLA GIVEN, the lady behind Longlands glamping haven near Combe Martin in . When it comes to her local patch, just on the outskirts of Exmoor, she’s the queen of gourmet go-tos. Here she shares her favourite coast and countryside spots to feast with family and friends

INTERVIEW BY ANNA TURNS

Breakfast? The Beachcomber Café just great escape in the middle of a hectic week It feels like a magical mystery foodie tour above Woolacombe beach does a very good looking after guests staying in our lodges. – it’s a set menu, and each course is named cooked breakfast, which tastes even better after its main ingredient so you’re never after a family surf first thing on a Saturday Best pub? The Black Venus in quite sure what you’re going to get, but it morning. Plus, their freshly squeezed Challacombe, a 16th-century pub, is always wows the taste buds. orange juice is the nectar of the gods – and perfect for an evening meal. No one does a the sea views are gorgeous. sirloin steak better than them, and it comes Al fresco? Head to Barricane Beach from Besshill, where we source all our Café to taste the most incredible authentic Best brew? I am majorly fussy about meat for Longlands meals. Sri Lankan curry. The only choice each my coffee – it’s my life’s work to find North night is how hot do you want it – mild, Devon’s best flat white. So far, Charlie Exmoor adventure? I have to walk medium or spicy? And it’s open until the Friday’s coffee shop in comes a long way up on the moors to earn the end of September – or until they run out of pretty close to perfection. It’s a quirky enormous portions served up at The Blue curry powder! place serving lots of lovely cakes, and Ball Inn at Countisbury. they are serious about their coffee. The One to watch? Just opened, the owner Jackie loves dogs, so my adorable Post-changeover tipple? After Wabasso Art Café is a little Aladdin’s cave Longlands dachshunds, Honey and Mimi, a busy day, we’ll most likely be parked of artworks on the beach front. Selling feel at home there! on the bench looking over the boating homemade lemonade and inauspicious- lake with a beer from GT Ales – this new sounding toasties – but my word, these are Child-friendly? The number one microbrewery in handcrafts the best toasties – Wabasso’s menu is simple choice is Café Blue Bar at Tunnels Beaches, pale ale in small batches. but excellent. where they have a super soft play area and ✱ longlandsdevon.co.uk a pirate ship to explore, plus one of the best Pedalling pitstop? Johns at Instow is rockpooling beaches in the country. a great break for lunch or tiffin treats when we’re cycling along the Tarka Trail from Quick! Now add this little For friends? The menu at Relish Bar Fremington Quay. I lose myself in there lot to your contacts book and Bistro in is a feast of fresh looking at the deli counter. ✎ Beachcomber Café, The Esplanade, seafood, from Lundy lobster to scallops. Woolacombe; 01271 871441 ✎ Charlie Friday’s, Lynton; 07980 454195; Their most recent venture, Sunfish Hamper heaven? When we go to charliefridays.co.uk Cuisine, delivers luxury seafood picnic the beach I raid our Longlands larder, ✎ Café Blue Bar, Ilfracombe; 01271 879882; hampers locally. Top of my list to try! which is stuffed full of Devon delights for tunnelsbeaches.co.uk ✎ Relish Bar and Bistro, Ilfracombe; our guests to choose from. Our standard 01271 863837; fishbistroilfracombe.co.uk Sunday lunch? The King’s Arms at picnic includes a Chunk Of Devon’s award- ✎ The King’s Arms, Georgeham; 01271 890240; Georgeham serves the best roast dinner winning pasty with a packet of Burts chips kingsarmsgeorgeham.co.uk in North Devon, absolutely fantastic after (more often than not Lobster Fire Cracker ✎ The Hunter’s Inn, Exmoor; 01598 763230; a bracing walk at Putsborough. In the or Guinness flavour) washed down with a thehuntersinnexmoor.co.uk ✎ Fox & Goose, ; 01598 763239; same village, the Rock Inn is also lovely – bottle of Luscombe Organic’s Damascene foxandgooseinnexmoor.co.uk Georgeham is so utterly spoilt for choice. rose bubbly. ✎ Black Venus Inn, Challacombe; 01598 763251; blackvenusinn.co.uk ✎ The Blue Ball Inn, Countisbury; 01598 741263; Quick pint? The Hunter’s Inn knows Posh nosh? Just two miles away from blueballinn.com its beer. Stroll down the valley to Heddon home, The Coach House at ✎ GT Ales, Barnstaple; 07909 515170; Mouth in the evening and then pop back Grange is headed up by the wonderful gtales.co.uk to the pub for a local ale after watching the Michael Caines. This restaurant has such a ✎ Johns Café & Delicatessen, Instow; sun set. nice atmosphere and serves up sensational 01271 860310; johnsofinstow.co.uk ✎ The Coach House, Kentisbury; 01271 882295; food in sumptuous surroundings. kentisburygrange.co.uk Working lunch? We nip down the ✎ NC@EX34 , Woolacombe; 01271 871187; road to the Fox & Goose, just four miles Hidden gem? For a special occasion, I noelcorston.com ✎ Barricane Beach Café, Woolacombe; away in Parracombe, for regular midweek book a table at NC@EX34 in Woolacombe. 07969 189304 Longlands team lunches. The food is Chef Noel Corston cooks up a storm with ✎ Wabasso Art Café, Combe Martin; fabulous and beer is great too, so it’s a some of the best local, seasonal produce. 07517 110663

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