Places to eat in the Bay

There are so many places to eat in the village and to be fair i think i have tried them all! For the view and the ambiance of the village it's a must for The Red Barn. Many moons ago The Red Barn was a big cafe complete with an American style cafeteria food selection bar. It had a long running metal shelf for your tray to slide along helping yourself to plates of food behind plastic doors, whilst ordering hot food separately and finally paying at the end of the tray trail. You then took your seat at the typical plastic chairs lined along the tables! compared with what it's like today it's a complete world away!

The Tides Inn, Beach Road, Woolacombe, EX34 7BP

The Tides is another one of the newer restaurants to the village. Probably in their third season now it is still consistently high quality food. The menu is quite vast and has a lot to offer. The chips are chip shop chips and the portion size is huge! The Tides also has an outside space which offers views across the bay. I would suggest trying Eton Mess from the pudding menu, it takes a little while to come but it's worth the wait! say no more...

Bar Electric, Beach Road, Woolacombe, EX34 7BP

Bar Electric is a new bar/restaurant to the bay. Established over the last couple of years the bar does have quite a relaxing atmosphere. The menu had changed last year to the previous year and i have to say not for the better. I had spent the winter season looking forward to the following Easter's duck curry only to find that the chef had left and the menu had been changed - very disappointed, no duck curry! Still the bar remains a favourite of mine as the wall outside is heated and you can sit for hours without getting too cold. A definite visit required.

Sophia's Bistro and Tapas Bar, 2 South Street, Woolacombe, EX34 7BB

Sophia's is a really nice tapas bar. I have been 3 or 4 times and have never been disappointed. The restaurant is family run and they are very happy to accommodate fussy eaters (me). The restaurant is quite small, however, they do stay open later than 2100 which is quite unique as most places close by 2100 in the village.

The Boardwalk, The Esplanade, Woolacombe, EX34 7BP

The Boardwalk is not somewhere that i have eaten for sometime. When the restaurant first opened many years ago it offered a really nice Italian menu but this was changed after a season or 2. Without giving the restaurant a bad review as i believe everyone should be their own judge, however, i haven't eaten at the Boardwalk after a bad experience. I do believe that since then the restaurant has changed hands it deserves a second chance.

The Brasserie, Woolacombe Bay Hotel, Woolacombe, EX34 7BN
The Brasserie is that main restaurant attached to the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, previously known as Maxwell's Bistro. Having dined at The Brasserie i can recommend a visit. The Restaurant is more formal than that of The Red Barn for The Tides but you can still visit comfortably in smart casual wear. The menu offers something more than just 'something and chips' although they do offer 2 types of chip in chunky and french! When you have finished dining you can also take a look around the hotel should you feel like a snoop!

The Court Yard,  South Street, Woolacombe, EX34 7BW
The Courtyard is a large restaurant formally called The Stables. As The Courtyard the restaurant offers a more formal menu which is a little bit on the expensive side depending on type of meal you are after, at roughly £7 for a starter, £15 for a main course and £7 for desert it puts The Courtyard at the higher end of the spectrum in terms of cost, however, in terms of food like The Brasserie you are getting more than the usual selection. I think The Courtyard is definitely more directed at the couples than the families but i still think it's worth a visit.

MacDonald's Fish & Chips Shop, 1 Barton Road, Woolacombe, EX34 7BA
The main chippie in Woolacombe is extremely busy because it's great! Selling everything from fish to pizza and children's sized portions it makes this chip shop one of he most busiest places to eat in the village. The food is served in boxes which makes it easier to put your bottom down and have your tea overlooking the sea - perfect!