EXTRA EXMOUTH EXCESS

As you’ll have realised, I’m working my way round the Devon coast, eating a cream tea in every town beginning with “S”, and have reduced my Beer Guide To Do list to a mere 32 !

Yes, Duncan, you’ll see the spreadsheet soon.

Next up, a night in Exmouth, which brings the bonus of the (slow) train to Exeter.

An admission. Last time in Exmouth I had Bass in the Bicton and said “Blessings on your house, you serve good Bass” which I’d read somewhere that year. I hadn’t been allowed back since.

In 20 years I’d forgotten how loveably scruffy Exmouth was;

They still have dinosaurs here, possibly the Covid carrying ones that Devonians fear.

Two GBG ticks (proper ones this time); the first one a scruffy sensation.

I’m greeted by a greeter mad dog at the First and Last, which has the same feel you get at a backstreet Newport (Gwent) pub that’s suddenly started brewing its own beers with paper labels. Oh no, don’t encourage them.

I feel strangely obliged to go for the homebrew with bits in it, even though the Otter is nearly as local, so pick one called Oyster Stout with bits in it (NBSS 3+ though), thank the exceptionally cheery barmaid, and head outside past the deserted TV room.

It’s all happening on the smoking boards. No, really.

It being August Bank Holiday Monday, homebrew pubs in Devon are legally obliged to play “Stairway to Heaven” instead of My Chemical Romance. But don’t worry, it’s only one day.

I expected Grapevine to be closed, but it was not only open but had a bar in the town square serving folk listening to Ed Sheeran covers (no video) with their Brewhouse & Kitchen style homebrew.

There’s a theme here. The staff directed me to a table, brought me change from £2 for a frankly tasteless pale beer, and I suddenly wished I’d eaten earlier.

It was the last day of “Eat Out Cheap and Load the Debt on Your Children“, so I added £4.72 to the debt with a Spoons steak (medium rare) with quinoa (keane-wah) salad and soda, plus an unnecessary half of Bays which was quite lovely.

Bank Holiday Monday was the busiest I’ve seen the UK since February. All we need to do is make 50% off food (and beer) till 2022 and make every day a holiday and ALL WILL BE WELL.

Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

15 thoughts on “EXTRA EXMOUTH EXCESS”

  1. “Oyster Stout with bits in it” – is that bits of oyster in it ?
    I remember having an Oyster Stout from Whitbread that was brewed with oysters unlike most Oyster Stouts that are only meant to accompany oyster dishes.

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      1. Orcombe point is great, Sidmouth too when the tides out. Did you have a go on the crazy golf?

        On resorts, we’ve done the same with our own and Beaumaris and Benllech to be honest. I suppose you know what you’re getting?

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  4. There is a small but perfectly formed cinema there where we watched the Fishermans freinds film (oh the excitement )A concession ticket cost a very small price -great for tight Northern pensioners

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  5. “eating a cream tea in every town beginning with “S”, and have reduced my Beer Guide To Do list to a mere 32 !”

    Did you start at the end of the alphabet? I see mostly B’s and C’s left.

    “An admission. ”

    That OS map above was made deliberately to not be legible, apart from Exmouth, Exeter and Seaton something or other?

    “I’d forgotten how loveably scruffy Exmouth was”

    Love the photo of Simon’s Fish & Chips; which has a big blue outside which says ‘transforming waste’. Makes one wonder what Simon uses to make his fish & chips. 😉

    “They still have dinosaurs here, possibly the Covid carrying ones that Devonians fear.”

    Pfft. Dinosaurs died out long before the Devonian age*.

    * – which carries the nickname the Age of Fishes. 🙂

    “the first one a scruffy sensation.”

    Much better OS map. And here’s not saying anything about Cockwood. 🙂

    “I’m greeted by a greeter mad dog at the First and Last”

    Blimey. That looks like something of the The Omen.

    “so pick one called Oyster Stout with bits in it”

    Were the bits oysters?
    (and see what I mean about the Devonian Age being nicknamed the Age of Fishes?) 🙂

    “It being August Bank Holiday Monday,”

    That’s quite the beard on the gent on the left in the photo above.

    “brought me change from £2 for a frankly tasteless pale beer,”

    Ugh.

    “All we need to do is make 50% off food (and beer) till 2022 and make every day a holiday and ALL WILL BE WELL.”

    You made beer come out of my nose! (LOL)

    Cheers

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