The Salutation Inn

Refined Topsham dining

Those seeking a culinary interlude on their way from London to Cornwall, or somewhere luxurious to sleep on the outskirts of Exeter, should book a dine-and-stay experience at the charming Salutation Inn restaurant with rooms in the heart of Topsham.

The historic port town on the winding River Exe – located just off the M5 yet close to countryside – is a hub of indie shops, restaurants and waterside pubs.

The Salutation Inn has been at its heart since 1720 and has a long history of serving patrons as a pub. However, when Tom and Amelia Williams-Hawkes took over in 2012, they transformed it into a refined dining destination.

Over the past decade, the couple have garnered a fantastic reputation for serving some of the best food in the area. The à la carte and tasting menus have a piscatorial leaning (Tom’s dad was a salmon fisherman for 30 years) but also showcase some of the region’s finest meat and veg producers. Dishes such as ponzu-glazed crab mousse served with shellfish mayo and sesame seaweed are composed creatively and presented beautifully by head chef Luke Heaver.

Trencherman’s tip: Stopping off on your way to self-catered accommodation or en route home? Pick up fresh local seafood from the in-house wet fish deli, Salt.

Discover more Trencherman’s restaurants in Devon here.