Number Eight

As stalwarts of the Cornish hospitality scene, Joshua Jones and Chloe Wilks had a wealth of industry experience to draw on when, in 2017, they crossed the border to launch their own restaurant in north Devon.

A slew of accolades – including Best Restaurant at the Trencherman’s Awards 2021 and Best Restaurant in the Food Reader Awards 2020 – followed and cemented Number Eight’s reputation as one of the region’s most exciting places to dine. Since those pioneering days, Joshua’s continuously evolving tasting menus have garnered a loyal following of foodies from across the region.

The kitchen at this intimate quayside restaurant is a solo operation, with Joshua carefully sourcing top-notch produce for global-fusion dishes. Expect an epic snack selection to start, including the single year-round menu staple of a flavour-popping loaded popadom.

Seafood – in dishes such as wild bass served with roast chicken, wild garlic and mushroom – is sourced from the nearby coastal village of Appledore.

Pre-desserts like lemon sherbet with fennel and white choc add light and shade to the deliciously varied line-up.

Chloe is the friendly face out front who looks after diners with warmth and calm efficiency. To fully enjoy the convivial atmosphere, arrive early for cocktails in the garden or a pre-dinner tipple next to the log burner.

Trencherman’s tip

There’s no online booking system; Chloe likes to deal with customers on a personal level via an old-school phone call or email.