Devon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="1000" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46597" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn.jpg 1536w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn-800x521.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn-1000x651.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn-768x500.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/nicky-dunn-806x525.jpg 806w" sizes="(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px" /></figure>



<p>As founder and head honcho of the South West&#8217;s leading dating agency <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pi Society (opens in a new tab)" href="https://pisociety.co.uk" target="_blank">Pi Society</a>, Nicky Dunn hosts hundreds of fabulous singles events in Devon every year, from mind-expanding talks to weekly supper nights. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/pi-4.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46527" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/pi-4.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/pi-4-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/pi-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/pi-4-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>So, if anyone knows a place for a brilliant date night, whether it&#8217;s your first date or five-hundredth, it&#8217;s her. And, like Muddy, Nicky loves an indie, meaning she has her finger on all those brilliant local businesses we want to support in our locale. </p>



<p>Spill the beans, Nicky! Where&#8217;s good to go??</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://spokenexmouth.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Spoken (opens in a new tab)">Spoken</a>, Exmouth</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46581" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/spoken-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>We held a Pi Society tapas evening here and everyone said the food and cocktails were fantastic, and there was plenty of it! The ambience is fun but not too loud, and it has a buzzy feel with nice Mediterranean decor. I always recommend tapas for a first date because sharing food helps break the ice. You&#8217;re not just sat in front of each other eating pie and chips &#8211; you&#8217;re learning to navigate around each other and it gets the conversation flowing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://margoux.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Margoux (opens in a new tab)">Margoux</a>, Exeter</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1439" height="962" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-45656" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1.jpg 1439w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1-800x535.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1-1000x669.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/07/margoux-1-785x525.jpg 785w" sizes="(max-width: 1439px) 100vw, 1439px" /></figure>



<p>We held a recent supper night here and the food was fantastic, all made fresh in the kitchens. There&#8217;s a cool bar upstairs and a large downstairs restaurant which, even for 16 people, felt just right. Its very contemporary and somehow you don&#8217;t feel you&#8217;re in Exeter, it could be Bristol or Bath. Kingsley, the GM, is brilliant: if we have issues with numbers or anything he&#8217;s really responsive. Here&#8217;s good for a third date once you know it can withstand a three-course meal! Also, it&#8217;s a  bit more special so you can dress up, although you could just meet for a morning coffee on a first date. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://quaysidedistillery.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Quayside Distillery (opens in a new tab)">Quayside Distillery</a>, Exeter Quay</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="770" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-43297" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5-800x411.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5-1000x513.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5-768x394.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/05/quayside-5-900x462.png 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>We did the full distillery experience here, with lunch and supper &#8211; it&#8217;s that good! It&#8217;s fast becoming a favourite and our new space for social nights (now No5 our old favourite on Cathedral Green has sadly closed). The team were really knowledgable about the whole gin-making process and really welcoming.  If you&#8217;re on a date, you can bond over the experience (or not!) and there&#8217;s a good walk along the quayside for afterwards. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Supha's Steet Food Emporium (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.suphas.co.uk" target="_blank">Supha&#8217;s Steet Food Emporium</a>, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="543" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/suphas.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46568" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/suphas.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/suphas-800x434.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/suphas-768x417.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/suphas-900x489.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Supha&#8217;s does amazing authentic Asian, Thai, Vietnamese and Malaysian street food, and the staff are really friendly. Date-wise, the extraordinary food is automatically going to get you talking, and the water&#8217;s edge location is a conversation-starter. Because Asian food isn&#8217;t everyone&#8217;s cup of tea, it&#8217;s a good gauge of your date&#8217;s likes and dislikes. The decor is fairly simple so you won&#8217;t be expected to dress up to the nines.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Calvo Loco Tapas Bar (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.facebook.com/calvolocotapasbar/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">Calvo Loco Tapas Bar</a>, St Leonard&#8217;s, Exeter</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="971" height="728" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/calvoloco.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46571" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/calvoloco.jpg 971w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/calvoloco-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/calvoloco-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/calvoloco-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 971px) 100vw, 971px" /></figure>



<p>Pretty much everyone who works here is authentic Spanish, and sometimes  there&#8217;s a Spanish guitarist, so it&#8217;s like being transported to sunny Spain. It feels so authentic, drinking a really good Rioja and eat gambas just like its cooked there. Plus, there&#8217;s no surprises, no hot chillies hidden in your Padron peppers! It&#8217;s one of my go-to&#8217;s &#8211; but you have to book, they&#8217;re always really busy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Rusty Pig, (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.rustypig.co.uk" target="_blank">The Rusty Pig,</a> Ottery St Mary</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="960" height="644" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/rustypig.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46574" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/rustypig.jpg 960w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/rustypig-800x537.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/rustypig-768x515.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/rustypig-783x525.jpg 783w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /><figcaption>Pic credit The Rusty Pig</figcaption></figure>



<p>One for lovers of gastronomic experiences! The owner Robin does all his own curing of meats and is just brilliant. You book a table and you have no idea what you&#8217;re going to get. It&#8217;s a bit Heston Blumentahl, a bit quirky &#8211; so over the space of six courses you might get something you really don&#8217;t expect, like a minted pasta. The chef comes out and explains everything but there are always sure to be flavours you&#8217;ve never tried and your taste buds are really stretched. It&#8217;s great for a first or second date because you&#8217;re seeing how people react, good or bad, under slight pressure so a good reveal of character.  And even if you know each other well, it&#8217;s fun to have a laugh over.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.riverexecafe.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The River Exe Café (opens in a new tab)">The River Exe Café</a>, Exmouth </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/river-execafe.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46579" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/river-execafe.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/river-execafe-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/river-execafe-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/river-execafe-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This is more than a meal it&#8217;s a whole experience, right from hopping on the river taxi at Exmouth Marina, to emarking on the boat to enjoying a meal surrounded by the River Exe. The food is exceptional, always with local caught fish on the menu. It&#8217;s a good way to find out if your date is up for fun! I&#8217;m desperate to go for my birthday but its gets booked up way in advance as it&#8217;s only open from April to September. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://theivyexeter.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Ivy (opens in a new tab)">The Ivy</a>, Exeter</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-33544" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2021/07/ivy-exeter-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Here&#8217;s not somewhere you&#8217;d eat every day, so good for a special date.  I love the botanical decor, and the cocktails, and everyone raves about the loos and the flowers on the ceiling. I just love their full English breakfast and brunches. Last time I went everything was just perfect and we had a Bellini with our brunch and then coffee. They do lovely cucumber water so it all feels special. For dates, brunch is a safe meal out: more of a commitment than just coffee but still giving you space to decide.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.turfpub.net" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Turf (opens in a new tab)">The Turf</a>, Exminster</h2>



<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/14/2022/08/turf-hotel.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46577" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/turf-hotel.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/turf-hotel-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/turf-hotel-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/turf-hotel-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The Turf is a brilliant date for actives types, as you can meet on Exeter Quay and cycle along the canal for a nice pint, a meal or their great outdoor barbecue. It&#8217;s really decent quality with really tasty, succulent burgers. Being right on the Exe Estuary, there&#8217;s great scenery to keep you talking The ride is flat so pretty leisurely meaning you could chat en route, and only about forty minutes from the city. Very pretty.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/whats-on/events/roof-tours/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Roof Tour (opens in a new tab)">Roof Tour</a>, Exeter Cathedral </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://devon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-46575" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/08/exeter-cathedral-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption>Pic credit Exeter Cathedral</figcaption></figure>



<p>I&#8217;ve been on this 90-minute cathedral tour with Pi Society a couple of times and it&#8217;s brilliant. It&#8217;s not for the faint-hearted though as you&#8217;re taken up on the roof, via a secret door and up a narrow stone staircase. You learn about the cathedral&#8217;s history and architecture, it&#8217;s fascinating. From the North Tower you can see the whole of Exeter. It&#8217;s good for early dates as the focus isn&#8217;t on each other and you have something to talk about over a drink afterwards &#8211; a great all-round experience. </p>



<p><strong>Hey all you sexy singletons! Want to swerve impersonal dating apps and improve your social life? Check out all the amazing upcoming events coming up on <em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Pi Society. (opens in a new tab)" href="https://pisociety.co.uk/socialevents/" target="_blank">Pi Society</a></em></strong> <strong>pronto!</strong></p>


Favourite places: Pi Society’s Nicky Dunn

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