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Best Accommodation for a South Devon barbecue - Drake House feature

South Devon barbecue - South Milton Sands bbq

Cooking well over fire takes skill, but mastering this technique will give you a great sense of achievement, and what’s more, you’ll cook up an enviable feast for your friends and family. Here are our top bbq tips, armed with which, you’ll soon become master of the flame. So, get fired up, because it’s time to get cooking the ultimate South Devon barbecue…

First things first – where are you going to hold your barbecue? One of the easiest places to enjoy barbecuing is from the comfort of your own holiday home. With washing-up facilities, and the convenience of having a fridge, crockery and cutlery on site, this is a stress free way to cook for family or friends this summer.

If you would prefer to enjoy your barbecue as part of a day out, why not head to the beach? Many South Devon beaches permit barbecuing, for full details read our South Devon beach bible. For a fun experience, why not fish for mackerel for your barbecue? Take your fishing rods to Slapton Sands beach and if you are lucky enough to catch some fish, cook it on a disposable barbecue whilst relaxing on the pebbles and watching the sun go down. For all your barbecuing (and fishing!) equipment needs, head to nearby Ashby’s Easy Stores, where you can pick up everything you might require.


Our top South Devon barbecue cooking tips

  • Use charcoals for fuel if you want that extra smokey flavour.
  • Find the perfect grill temperature. As a guide, hold your hand around 5 inches above the grill (without burning it!) and see how long you can withstand the heat. If this is for 6 seconds or more, the barbecue is burning at a low heat, 4 seconds burns a medium heat, and 2 seconds is scorchio, so choose you’re ideal temperature, depending on how you’d like your food cooked.
  • Be organised, with plenty of workspace and tools to hand.
  • You can’t beat a good burger, especially when served with lashings of local Sharpham cheese and South Devon Chilli Farm Habanero  Salsa, so why not try making your own burger using quality mince from the local butcher.
  • Aim for absolute control of the temperature across the grill. The easiest technique is to put all the coals to one side, then you will have a super hot side and one with no direct heat.
  • Marinade, marinade, marinade! If you can, marinade your food overnight, but if not, leave it for at least a few hours. Don’t forget to save a little marinade, and brush your meat or fish every 10 minutes as it cooks to add maximum moisture.
  • Don’t forget about the veggies. Flames work wonders on vegetables if cooked correctly, so be sure to slice them thin and grill straight away, minus the oil, and seasoning. Once they are cooked, add a little flavour with some olive oil and a bit of vinegar.
  • Get the sides right and don’t leave them as an afterthought. Corn on the cob, couscous and potato salad are barbecue classics, but for further inspiration, download our South Devon cookbook.

South Devon’s top barbecue food and drink suppliers…

Wherever you decide to enjoy your barbecue, the most important thing is the food and drink. South Devon offers an abundance of delicious local food, including mouth-watering meats reared on rolling Devon hills, fabulous seafood caught off the Start Bay coastline, and beautiful salad grown in the fields across the region. There are also a number of drink producers, including local breweries and vineyards.

If you’re looking for further foodie inspiration, take a look at our food and drink pages in our South Devon Guide.

South Devon barbecue - Drake House bbq

The best local meat and fish providers for your barbecue

Aune Valley Meats

Whether you’re looking for steak, burgers or sausages, Aune Valley Meats is a wonderful butcher selling locally sourced meats, perfect for barbecue season. They also have a small farm shop near Loddiswell, selling a selection of high quality salad and vegetables that you might need. Pay a visit to the rurally located establishment, and stop for a coffee and a cake at the adjacent Valley View Café. You can also choose and order meat online, with free delivery to homes within the South Hams!

Aune Valley Meats

Stokeley Farm Shop

Situated near to the historic coastal village of Torcross, this delightful farm shop is home to Durrant’s Butchers, selling all the meat you might require for a barbecue, including succulent beef burgers and pork sausages. Why not pay a visit to them to stock up on meat, and pop in to Stokeley Café for a quick coffee and cake while you are there!

Stokeley Farm Shop

Ashby’s of Salcombe

Visit Ashby’s, located on Salcombe Road, where you can find all your holiday essentials. With a butchery that supports local farmers, Ashby’s work alongside Salcombe Meat Company, who farms the land surrounding the store. Providing quality meats, your barbecue is sure to be jam-packed with flavour. Not only can you browse the counter for signature sausages and burgers, but you can buy all the toppings, sides and drinks you desire till your heart’s content!

Ashby’s of Salcombe


Locally-sourced BBQ condiments

South Devon Chilli Farm

South Devon barbecue - South Devon Chilli Farm

Offering award-winning chilli products, ranging from the spicy salsa to chilli chocolate, jam and sauce, the South Devon Chilli Farm is a fantastic place to visit for any food fan, or keen gardener come to mention it! Pop to the café, enjoy a farm tour and buy some chilli treats – or why not purchase some chilli seeds and plants, and grow your own chillis at home!

South Devon Chilli Farm


Bakeries in South Devon

The Bake House

South Devon barbecue - The Bake House

Whether you are looking for a farmhouse loaf, a crusty baguette, some floury soft burger buns and hot dog rolls, The Bake House in Salcombe produce the finest freshly baked goods. They also sell fantastic pastries and pasties! Visit them on Fore Street in Salcombe.

The Bake House

@the Bakery

South Devon Chilli Farm - @the bakery

For those with a sweet-tooth, why not finish off your barbecue with show-stopping cakes from @the bakery in Frogmore. Their cakes and tarts are a delight to behold – they look sensational and taste divine. Pick up a selection of their award-winning cakes and tarts from Frogmore or from one of the other branches in Kingsbridge or Salcombe. Find out more about @the bakery in our downloadable South Devon Cookbook.

@theBakery


South Devon’s famous pudding

Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream

South Devon barbecue - Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream

Made in their small Salcombe factory, Salcombe Dairy ice cream is award-winning. The company was established in 1981 and remains true to its roots, with products still being made in Salcombe using fresh milk from local farms each morning, despite the ice cream and sorbet being sold nationally. Head to the factory beside Shadycombe carpark in the town, where you can buy it by the tub or in a cone to eat as the perfect post barbecue treat.

Salcombe Dairy Ice Cream


Local ciders, beers and soft drinks

Yarde Cider

South Devon barbecue - Yarde Cider

This small family business is based in the picturesque village of Stoke Gabriel on the edge of the River Dart. They produce fantastic cider, as well as elderflower cordial, spirits and apple juices, all made using handpicked apples from within a 2 mile radius of their home! These are truly delicious, traditionally made drinks – the perfect accompaniment to any barbecue.

Yarde Cider

Luscombe Drinks

South Devon barbecue - Luscombe Drinks

Award-winning Luscombe drinks is a family run business producing 26 soft drinks, juices, tonics and cider on the farm in Buckfastleigh, using nothing but the best ingredients. From fruit crushes to bubblies, these delicious, refreshing juices are exceptionally popular and certainly worth a try.

Luscombe Drinks

Salcombe Brewery

South Devon barbecue - Salcombe Brewery

For delicious, hand-crafted refreshing beers, look no further than Salcombe Brewery. Based near Kingsbridge, sitting in Devon’s beautiful countryside, this enterprise produces beers both sold in the factor shop and in various outlets across the region. Try a bottle of ‘Shingle Bay’, ‘Devon Amber’, ‘Seahorse’ or ‘Salcombe Gold’.

Salcombe Brewery


A wonderful holiday home with BBQ facilities 

Here at Coast & Country Cottages, we have a range of properties that benefit from lovely outdoor spaces to sit and indulge in a sizzling feast! There is also the option to hire local caterers during your stay, who can cook a tasty barbecue with a twist, in the comfort of your holiday home. Here is one of our favourite properties with BBQ facilities. Taste South Devon’s fantastic local produce, hot from the grill, in a stunning location.

Woodwell

Salcombe

Sleeps 8

best accommodation for a South Devon barbecue - Woodwell

For the ultimate barbecue with sea views, book a break at the luxury property Woodwell in Salcombe. This delightful newly built self-catering holiday home has a wonderful terrace, boasting stunning views over the Salcombe estuary and out to sea. With a built in Firemagic barbecue on the terrace, and seating for up to 8 people, this is a fabulous place to enjoy an al fresco meal in the summer sunshine.

Woodwell

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