The Best Dining Experiences in England’s South West

Our pick of the top cooking and dining experiences in the South West of England, from the Cotswolds through to Devon and Cornwall, indoors and outside, local traditional cuisine to international fare done well.

• The Philleigh Way Cookery School and Estuary Dining
• Curry on the Beach
• Daylesford Cookery School
• Kings Arms (Deli) Mevagissey

The Philleigh Way Cookery School, Cornwall

If you are planning a holiday in Cornwall this year, then The Philleigh Way is well worth a visit. A cookery school tucked away in the Roseland Peninsula, on the site of an ancient Holloway and leading down to a stunning estuary where food-lovers can dine out overlooking the river – this place is a true hidden gem! Why not try some Cornish pasty making while sipping local sparkling wine, learn to cook your favourite dish or starter to nibble on as the sun retreats over the secluded river banks of the Fal river, dining outdoors and admiring the stunning views. Accessibly only by foot or by tractor – we’ve not found a spot this hidden or beautiful anywhere!

Curry on the Beach, Devon

On a small Devon beach, hidden from above and enjoyed only on sunny days by those in the know, is what locals call ‘Curry on the Beach’. Serving Sri Lankan Curries on Barricane Beach in North Devon, from a small converted shipping container, this delightful hidden gem is completely unexpected and absolutely fabulous! The perfect dish for sunset, on sunny summer evenings after a walk, swim or day out along the coast.

Daylesford Cookery School, Cotswolds

Planning to explore the Cotswolds this Summer? No trip is complete without a visit to Daylesford Organic Farm Shop and Cookery School in Kingham. Here you can make your own cream tea and scones, go foraging for your lunch or take a tour of their completely organic market garden before enjoying fresh produce cooked up into delicious lunches and dinners. Coupled with their own wine range and followed by a good look around its deluxe farm shop, complete with a cheese room. Equally good for a short stop off – their café serves the best coffee we’ve had on our bike rides in the Cotswolds and with some great cycling routes along quiet country lanes to and from here.

Kings Arms / Bread and Wine, Cornwall

Our final hidden gem, The Kings Arms in Mevagissey, is currently known as Bread and Wine for the duration of Covid. With no obvious signage to mark its name, one can far too easily miss this great little local deli and wine shop. We have known it as a restaurant serving the catch of the day, fresh from the sea, with lobster frequently appearing on the menu alongside home cooked breads, and wonderful seasonal dishes using locally sourced ingredients. Set back slightly from the hustle and bustle of Mevagissey’s busy harbour, this deli is a true gem and great after a morning’s coastal walking.

Would you like to go on a ‘foody’ tour of the South West? Get in touch with the team to plan your private trip visiting all these culinary delights and more…