Devon

Fabulous but are you wheelchair accessible ?

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



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Say the name Michael Caines MBE, and fine dining and Michelin stars spring to mind, so when Muddy heard the celebrity chef is opening a casual beach bar and restaurant in Exmouth (not trendy Salcombe or Dartmouth?) I was in the car and off for a nosey faster than a kite-surfer in a force nine gale.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31947" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6112-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Which, as it happens, sums up the weather the night I swung by, but while this two-storey glass-sided venue would be heaven for snifter at sundown, it looks pretty darn-amazing even when it&#8217;s blowing a hooley.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31948" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6093-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It&#8217;s two-storeys, with a walk-in bar for light bites, drinks and cocktails on the ground floor, and an upstairs restaurant with two outdoor terraces &#8211; all with fantastic views of the waves.



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Caines&#8217; Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor it is not but as he told us on the night, nor does he want it to be. Inspired by a beach bar in the South of France called Nicky&#8217;s, this casual dining venue and cafe &#8211; with his childhood nickname as its moniker &#8211; is his way to inject some much-needed fun into the East Devon town, which he sees as an emerging destination for the county.



Here, you&#8217;re invited to walk in off the sands in your shorts and flip-flops, take a selfie in a swing seat, meet the gals for a morning coffee or book in for a romantic date night, then head downstairs for a boogie till 1am with a cocktail. Muddy ticks all round.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE LOCATION</h2>



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It&#8217;s located halfway down Exmouth&#8217;s seafront, before you reach the RNLI Lifeboat station, with panoramic views of the beach and estuary (Exmouth is blessed with two miles of golden sands). 



Here&#8217;s one of the few places on the south coast you can watch the sunset and there&#8217;s year-round ocean action, being a base for windsurfers and kite surfers. So, lots to keep you entertained if the conversation runs dry, though with that well-stocked bar downstairs and three bar stations upstairs, I doubt your glass will.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



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Think classy beach shack, with sand-coloured flooring, reclaimed wood, ocean-blue chairs and bench-seating, warmed up with pops of orange.



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The decor gels with the seaside setting: cool rope lights, gentle blues and pebble-greys, artwork from local contemporary artist Salt + Land, and antiqued mirrors to bounce the natural light around.



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Get a selfie on the swing seat in the entrance under the neon sign (that&#8217;s Caine&#8217;s motto carved into the wood).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31953" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6118-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



It&#8217;s no-expense spared with a retractable roof over the covered terrace for when the sun shines and overhead heaters for when it doesn&#8217;t. And given that they&#8217;re yet to open (17 May) the service is already pretty slick too.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31954" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6101-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



All the windows are front and side-facing, designed to give you 180 degree views to bring the natural drama outside in.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31955" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6134-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Friday and Saturday nights are Mickey&#8217;s Beats &#8211; DJ nights when the furniture can be pushed aside and you can strut your stuff to some dance toons. If you&#8217;re a local DJ, send them a sample and you might get a slot.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31956" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6095-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



They haven&#8217;t skimped on anything. No wonder one local I spoke to has already booked a corner table every Friday for the next six months.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



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The full menu hasn&#8217;t yet been revealed but, this being Michael Caines, you know it&#8217;s going to be quality, local-sourced and handmade. The meat is from Dart&#8217;s Farm a few miles down the road in Topsham, mussels from Lyme Bay, fresh fish landed at Exmouth.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31958" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6116-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Price-wise, you&#8217;re looking at starters from £8 and mains from £15 in the restaurant, to £30-60 for lobster and Tomahawk steak for when you want to push the boat out. 



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There&#8217;s a veggie and vegan menu, and downstairs you can tuck into lighter bites, like pizza, fish gougons and burgers, or grab an ice-cream churned on site from Caines&#8217; newly-opened Café Patisserie&nbsp;Glacerie next door.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31966" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123-667x500.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/05/IMG_6123-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Drinks-wise &#8211; there&#8217;s everything to play for: beer, all the wines, cocktails, including local Powderkeg, Otter Brewery, Luscombe soft drinks and Michael&#8217;s own branded gin. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



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Love it, love it, love it &#8211; have told all my friends about it and booked a table to go back for the full works. And I&#8217;d advise you do so too, as the night I went, it was already fully booked for the first week.



Good for: open all day every day, there&#8217;s likely to be a good time for everyone whether you want a romantic corner table for two early evening, an apres-beach snack or some banging tunes and pizza at midnight. Upstairs is accessible via a lift. Dogs allowed on the ground floor only.



Not for: it&#8217;s the antithesis of a cosy traditional pub with fireplaces.



The damage: Starters from £8; Mains from £15 up to £30-£60 for local caught lobster to share and Tomahawk steak.



<a href="https://www.mickeysbeach.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Mickey's Beach Bar &amp; Restaurant (opens in a new tab)">Mickey&#8217;s Beach Bar &amp; Restaurant</a>, Unit 1, Sideshore, Queen&#8217;s Dr, Exmouth EX8 2GD Tel:<a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=mickeys+beach+bart&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8#">01395 274868</a>

Sneak peek! Mickey’s Beach Bar, Exmouth

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