Food & Drink

Topsham is a great place to visit - and not just for its scenery and shops. Whether you want luxurious fayre, a cream tea, or just some great food with your pint, Topsham is well worth a visit.

On March 31st 2006. Topsham was judged Best Small Town for Food in the Western Morning News annual Food Towns awards. The Georgian Tearoom recently won the 'Best Tearoom / Cafe in Devon' award, the Galley Restaurant 'Best Restaurant in Devon', La Petite Maison 'South West Restaurant of the Year', Denley's Essence of India the 2007 Exeter Curry Chef award, and Oliva the Devon Life Restaurant of the Year award. So when we say high quality, it's for real!

Topsham is also a popular place for a good night out, and can cater for most tastes at a very high quality. The CAMRA-recommended Bridge Inn, Globe Hotel and Exeter Inn are just three of its many pubs with varied styles. Marc Millon maintains a monthly weblog, Notes from a Devon Kitchen. Ray Girvan's Topsham Ten reviews our ten pubs, with a handy little map for those interested in this traditional excursion.

Early in 2008 the Slow Food Devon Market moved from Exeter Quay to Topsham's Matthews Hall, where it takes place monthly (usually the 3rd Sunday in every month, though the 4th Sunday in March and August). Slow Food is a non-profit organisation that stands for 'good food, clean food, fair food'. The Market hosts artisan producers and suppliers; great things to eat and drink; and informative and educational Slow Food taste workshops. Slow Food Market dates 2009 January 18 / February 15 / March 15 April 26 / May 17 / June 14 NOTE: July & August markets cancelled due to Matthews Hall renovations. September 20 October 18 / November 29 / December 20 All Slow Food Markets run from 10.30am to 1.30pm Contact Freddie Dudbridge (0770 8371862) or Marc Millon (01392 873778), or see Slow Food Devon

Restaurants
Avocet Cafe - small, friendly, relaxed café situated in the heart of Topsham
Beijing Topsham Fryer - Chinese takeaway / fish & chips 49-50 High Street, open all week, noon-2pm (not Sundays), 5-11pm
01392 876463
Denley's Essence of India - Winner of the Exeter Curry Chef award 2007. Open lunchtime and evenings for eat-in or takeaway, and also for bar snacks in the Denley's pub section.
The Cafe - Open lunches / daytime inc. Sundays: light modern blackboard menu. Also opens 6-9pm, Tue and Fri, with baked potatoes and specials such as curry/chilli).
The Galley Restaurant - award-winning, specialises in fish dishes
Georgian Tearoom at Broadway House - award-winning tearoom and licensed restaurant (see E&E feature.
Oliva Restaurant - Mixed cuisine with local produce and a Mediterranean style: seafood, paella and tapas specialities.
La Petite Maison - award-winning French bistro restaurant
Marcello - family-run Italian restaurant; 01392-879061, e-mail onurgtm@googlemail.com

Route 2 - Cafe Bar and Cycle Hire

Topsham Wine Cellar - continental vineyard bar style, serving local food and drink including tapas, Pebblebed wines, beers. Open Wed-Sat 5:30-9:30pm, also Sat 11am-2:30pm, or by arrangement. Contact via link or 07814788348.
The Quay Brasserie - modern French-based cuisine. 6 The Strand. Tel: 01392 876123

Other
Dutch Apple Pie - authentic Dutch apple pie delivered in the Topsham area

Inns and pubs
The Bridge Inn- historic real ale pub
Denley's - see Denley's Essence of India
Drakes - home-cooked lunch and evening menu

Exeter Inn - local pub with solid real ale reputation
Globe Hotel - 17th century coaching inn with restaurant (traditional English with innovation)
The Lighter Inn - popular inn at Topsham Quay, lunch and evening menu
Lord Nelson Inn - currently closed.

Passage House Inn - riverside inn/restaurant specialising in local seafood.
Route 2 - cafe bar by quay (more information soon)
Salutation Hotel - currently closed

The Turf - by Turf Lock, accessible by ferry

Topsham Ten - now updated and streamlined as a handy one-page printable .PDF flyer.
The Topsham Ten at Exeter through the Bottom of your Beer Glass: historical background.