Wining and Dining in Ashburton
For the past six years, Ashburton has been home to its wonderful food and drink festival, celebrating the local food producers and traders that are found in and around the historic Dartmoor town. Back in September, St. Lawrence Lane and North Street in the heart of the town were transformed, with stallholders lining the street offering the very best in local food & drink, along with events and festivities spreading wide among Ashburton’s retailers, pubs and eateries. It was a wonderful event for the whole community, and for Ashburton Estate agents such as ourselves. However, if you missed the yearly celebration, not to worry, as you can experience the best of the local food producers any time of the year. Here are a few of the best places for foodies to visit in and around Ashburton:
Ashburton has had an excellent reputation for its pubs, inns and coaching houses for hundreds of years. Little has changed in this historic town, except travellers who visit are coming for leisure rather than to trade. Many historic pubs and inns still exist today along with a good selection of Tea shops, cafes and restaurants. Agaric is one perfect example, a rustic Devonshire restaurant run by a husband and wife team. The pair, Nick and Sophie, keep things truly local, sourcing from what they grow in their garden, foraging in the local woods, and beaches. What they can’t source themselves is still supplied to them almost entirely within a twenty-five mile radius.
The Edgemoor hotel is a great dining option as well. This bar and restaurant is located just a few miles out of town. The restaurant is located in the library space of an old boy’s grammar school, but what was once decorated floor to ceiling in books is now replaced with a relaxed, stylish décor and filled with high quality food and drink. If you’re looking for a traditional cream tea or something lighter, as Ashburton estate agents we love the buzzing little Café Green Ginger. It is a period town house, with spacious, elegant rooms furnished in traditional comfort. Here, you can sit, relax and enjoy good home-produced food served throughout the day, using a variety of local ingredients, as well as a selection of specials which change monthly using seasonal produce. Autograph, as an Ashburton estate agent, is proud to be a part of a community that thrives on local produce.
A considerable amount of research has found that areas such as Ashburton with strong local food webs have better access to fresh food and retain a distinctive local character in their towns and villages, making it a perfect place to wine and dine. Local food webs also connect communities with the countryside through farmer’s markets and even education schemes with school, both of which help all of us find more about their food short journey from field to fork. Not only does it reduce food miles, but tackles a major source of carbon emissions, and the smaller farmers who supply local food often take greater care of the landscape.
As Ashburton Estate agents we know that the area is a perfect hub for enthusiastic foodies. With so much lovely produce on offer, it is the ideal place to wine and dine with friends and family this winter.