Coastal Café Guide: a sneak preview of ‘who’s in it?’

At Coast HQ, we’ve explored the South West coastlines and are now heading East, North, West and into Scotland to reel in a new haul of 'something-to-write-home-about’ coastal cafés, restaurants, beach shacks and seafood cabins for our upcoming guide. Here are a few favourites so far. If you’d like to join 2024’s first-of-its-kind guidebook - or know a place we absolutely shouldn’t skip by - do let us know. Your secret will be safe with us*.

(*and, er, thousands of other people)

RISE, West Bay, Dorset

This almost edible image is from RISE in West Bay, Dorset. If this doesn’t get you salivating about what other crustaceous goodies you might find in The Coastal Café Guide, we honestly don’t know what will. This blog’s intro pic is from SWIM, their sister company. Right on the popular prom in Lyme Regis (also in the guide), its location couldn’t physically get any more coastal without putting your chairs in the sea itself. Visit RISE and SWIM.

Readymoney Beach Shop, Cornwall

Cornwall overflows with incredible beaches, inlets and spots like Readymoney Cove, a sandy beach just south of Falmouth. Need a beach picnic? Fancy a coffee and some local fudge to snack on while writing your envy-inducing postcards home? Come on in. They even lend you their cute mugs - the responsibility! - on the proviso that you return them. Visit Readymoney Beach Shop.

Gara Rock Hotel, Salcombe

What an epic view. What we liked about Gara Rock was not merely the fact that passing mortals can book in to their restaurant for lunch and dinner (you don’t need to be a guest). We also loved their high-altitude horsebox trailer, selling fresh-ground coffee to go during peak times. South West Coast Path hikers needn’t even break their stride. Visit Gara Rock.

Little Arthur Farm, St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly

That water! The Isles of Scilly have a habit of beguiling you into thinking you’re on another continent entirely. The succulents alone are worth the trip. Whether you’re ferrying, paddling, sailing or trekking around these beautiful islands, pop into Little Arthur’s on St Martin’s for a chilled glass of something delicious beneath the vine-shaded dining area. All their crab and lobster are caught locally, and there are occasional folk dancing lessons to boot. Talking of footwear, they even make and sell their own shoes. A down-to-earth delight. Visit Little Arthur’s.

Yellowave Beach Sports and Café, Brighton, East Sussex

OK, that’s enough idling about drinking Sancerre in the sun and cracking lobster: time for some beach fun. Yellowave on Brighton’s beach runs events, tournaments, beach volleyball classes and kids parties. Travelling en famille? Hire a pitch in advance to work up an appetite for your sarnie and slices of cake or check in to the deck with your organic coffee to observe the action from a civilised distance. Got to admit, that close-lapping water gives even the Scilly Islands a run for their money. Visit Yellowave’s Barefoot Café.

Oeuf, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex

Candlelit breakfast? You are on holiday: treat yourself. Oeuf is a stylish, secluded spot with an emphasis on local ethical brands, from Cacklebean eggs and Chalk Stream trout to locally roasted coffee. Service is first-class. Try their Bacon and Oeuf Butty or Posh Croissant or, if you like eating art, we can recommend their sugar-dusted, flower-topped pancake perfection. Visit Oeuf.

The Break Bar, Beach House, Bude, Cornwall

Can you imagine having to look at that same ole’ North Atlantic swell, just rolling in beneath those flaming sunsets every day while taking lip-smacking local food out to a sea of happy, holiday-making faces? Yup, so can we. Makes you question your life choices, doesn’t it. The Times calls The Break Bar one of the UK’s Top 20 beach-side bars and restaurants and we are 100% on-board with that. Read more about them and their wonderful staff (who are, quite possibly, the most excited yet to be featuring in 2024’s Coastal Café Guide) in our blog.

Barista Barber, Clevedon, North Somerset

Sue and her team are such staunch supporters of their local community, they even sponsor the town’s football club. Moments from the M5 if you seek a journey break on a long north-south trip, historic Clevedon bursts with activities for visitors. Dip into its marine lake (arguably the world’s largest infinity pool), stroll the Grade 1 listed pier and browse Hill Road’s independent shops before landing at 67Barista Barber for some restorative calories and…a beard trim. Visit Barista Barber.

The Farriers, Torpoint, Cornwall

The back-story of The Farriers is as interesting as its thoughtful local menu; if you catch owners Shane or Natalie when they have a free minute we’re sure they’ll be happy to relive their unusual beginnings. The café and courtyard are in a handsome setting, tacked onto the edge of Mount Edgcumbe country park, which has far-reaching, boat-filled views out over Plymouth Sound. This historic space is the perfect setting for a post-sail lunch or coastal catch-up. Visit The Farriers.

The Coastal Café Guide: out in 2024

OK that’s enough teasing: we don’t want to play all of our best cards before the book’s even out. This fresh new foodie guide will launch in 2024 and you have a final window of time to get in touch if keen to feature in this first edition. Once we get to the mapping stages, it becomes very hard to squish new places in. We wouldn’t want you to have to wait until the second edition to feature, so, jump on board this salty, sea-view-soaked book adventure today. Either use the one-minute Quick Apply form to express interest, or email Kerry (project manager, writer and expert Visitor of Incredible Places) to get this conversation started.

Need a book present for foodie friends?

Seeking a gift for a foodie friend while we all wait with baited everything for this book to come out? You can buy our current food and travel guidebook, The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services, in our online shop. It’s one of 2023’s bestselling and ‘Most ‘Gifted’ guidebooks and will give you a flavour of the quality of our books and the hundreds of venues in them.