Ashburton is a town with a long and proud history and a tradition of Tin Mining that can be traced back to Roman times. The miners would have had to survive the harshest conditions on the open moor and no doubt much of their hard earned wages would have been spent in the ale houses and taverns that prospered in the town.

As early as 1285AD Ashburton was designated as one of only 4 stannery towns in Devon where the weighing and checking of the quality of the tin, and in later years, copper, was carried out before it could be sold. Wool was the other product that brought prosperity to the town with the surrounding hills making ideal grazing for sheep and many of the fine houses in the town were built by the woollen merchants. At one time several mills operated along the River Ashburn, the waters of which were used to wash the wool.

The largest town within the boundaries of Dartmoor, Ashburton has grown alongside the river and is known as the ‘Southern Gateway to Dartmoor’ making it a great centre for walking, pony trekking, canoeing and fishing.

Because of its history and location just off the Devon Expressway, almost midway between Exeter and Plymouth the town has always been blessed with a great number of inns and eating houses. If driving from Exeter, the first exit off the A38 takes the visitor into Ashburton along East Street, which illustrates this point perfectly. After passing the Fire, Police Station and Hospital in Eastern Road, one can find one of the top Cookery Schools in the country based in Hares Cottage, one of the many fine houses in East Street. The Ashburton Cookery School offers a fresh approach to cookery with exciting courses that emphasise hands-on cooking, top quality organic Westcountry produce and inspirational teaching. Located close to the centre of Ashburton, the Cookery School offers the UK’s widest range of cookery courses with over 40 to choose from, designed to suit beginners as well as experienced cooks and amongst numerous awards, it has also been voted the best cookery school for skills by BBC Good Food Magazine.
Working in one of two superbly equipped teaching kitchens, in small groups of no more than ten students, you will learn fundamental cookery techniques that can be applied whether you’re working in a professional kitchen or entertaining at home.
The chef tutors are highly regarded, qualified lecturers with extensive experience of working in the catering industry and will inspire you to cook with imagination, passion and enjoyment.
The cookery school prides itself on the quality of tuition and ingredients and everything they do is underpinned by a desire to promote food that has been grown in a way that is organic, sustainable, environmentally sensitive, ethical and supportive of local business.
Whether your aim is to take your cookery skills to the next level, to cook for family and friends, or you want to learn to cook as a professional, you will find a cookery course for you at the Ashburton Cookery School. To check course availability and to book online visit the website at www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk or phone 01364 652784.

 Just a few yards further on is Golden Lion House, now a residential property, but a few years ago this was the Golden Lion Inn, famous as the headquarters of the Raving Loony Party under landlord Alan Hope. Just across the courtyard is another lion, The Red Lion, a popular local and Yau’s, a Chinese take-away. The two excellent butchers that serve the town, W G Smith and Rodney Cleave are both here within a few yards of each other along with The Ark Health Food Store, a real Aladdin’s cave of all things organic, natural and environmentally friendly. They also supply organic fruit and veg boxes. One of our favourite tea rooms, Café Green Ginger, is the next place we come to. There have been new owners here since June and Martin & Ilona have extended the days of opening to 7 days a week. Like the cookery school at the other end of the street, the café is located in one of the lovely old Victorian buildings with a glorious tea garden.

On the other side of the road is Christina’s at number 17. CHRISTINAS BAGUETTE AND SANDWICH BAR celebrates its 9^th birthday in September, evidence that Christina and her 10 staff are providing a much needed service in the town. Since leaving her job as manager of a local travel agent and setting up the business, Christina has seen it really grow and prosper. She is proud of the fact that practically everything is made on the premises including the big range of salads and home-cooked beef and ham, eggs are free-range and produce is sourced from around the town, using local butchers and veg merchants. As well as a big selection of sandwiches, baguettes, paninis and wraps there are always daily lunch specials on the menu, such as Chilli with Rice, Bangers and Mash with onion gravy or the Friday favourite, Hot Roast Pork with roasties, apple sauce and stuffing and all served in a box to take away. Plus there are even home-made puddings! A recent addition is a smart ground-coffee machine offering a big variety of coffees and hot chocolate. It is possible to ring or fax through your order which both helps the staff and saves a wait during busy periods.

The shop is open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 2pm on Saturday and the contact number is 01364 652322.

 Next is Tidballs Fruit and Veg shop, a quality shop which has a great range of the more unusual varieties. The Fish Deli has recently moved to number 7 East Street giving more room for its tasty display of olives and cookware. They have a good selection of fish, mainly from local day boats, and award-winning fish dishes that are available to take away. These dishes can also be found at No 14 in North Street(see page 5).

Next door and the final venue in East Street is The Royal Oak, offering Norma’s home-made food and a great range of real ales.

Across the road from the last three businesses is St. Lawrence Lane where the all-important PO is located. Opposite is The Red Mullet, a traditional Fish and Chip shop, and at the end of the road at the junction with Chuley Road is The Silent Whistle Inn. Under the recent new ownership of Becky, Terry and Luke the speciality of the house here is hand-made pizza cooked in the real wood-fire oven. Folowing Chuley Road to the end of the industrial estate brings us to Tuckers Country Stores where the Local Produce Market can be found every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. “A heavenly oasis of food”…can there be a greater compliment for Ashburton Local Produce Market than this one from a jolly customer recently? Local produce’ is a fashionable phrase, now used by many businesses to entice you to buy. But how local? Surely it must mean an area producing food for the people in that same area - and that is the aim. The produce is all genuine, very fresh, organic where possible and at a fair price – all available to the customer in a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Grocery shopping has become an unpleasant and impersonal chore. At the Local Produce Market it is a pleasure…time well spent. Folk return again and again to do their weekly shopping, to meet friends and to chat over a cuppa (only 50p!).   In comfortable and cosy surroundings they can source tasty treats for supper, browse the deli, buy locally made ice cream and bread, try the chilli chocolate and fill their baskets with organic veg. They can savour a freshly made sundae after a barbecued Proper Hotdog, Proper Burger or Bacon Roll (supplied by Proper Pork of Buckfastleigh and barbecued to order by Ros of Rose Cottage Homebaking).  Ros has lots of other enticing goodies on her stall too, including sweet and savoury pies and cakes – all baked by herself.

Coming back into the main streets we turn right at the junction, known locally as the Bull Ring, in to North Street. This would probably be classed as the main shopping street with the Spar and Somerfield stores. Next to Somerfields is the well stocked independent wine merchant Best Cellars, then No. 14.  The premises at 14, North Street has been a café or tea room for at least 150 years. Now under the recent new ownership of Sophie Richardson, who has named the venue ‘NO. 14’ and who has just celebrated her first very successful year of trading here, it has become a favourite meeting place in the centre of town. Tea is still served but the drink of choice is quite often a latte or cappuccino or a glass of wine from the big choice of old and new world wines including the local Sharpham Dart Valley Reserve.

At number 16 is Ashburton Delicatessen. Sarah Hayward took over the business 6 years ago and in that time she has seen it go from strength to strength. With a background of a First Class Honours Degree in Food Science and experience as a chef on Private Yachts catering for discerning tastes all over the world, it is no surprise to find that this helpful and friendly deli is a cornucopia of fine food from around the world. There are far too many lines to list but you will find Moroccan spices,salamis, Spanish chorizo sausages and ingredients for Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Great emphasis is placed on sourcing from local suppliers, so there is a great choice of West Country cheeses, locally cooked hams and honey. There is now an in-house bakery offering proper French bread and locally famous croissants and a new Patisserie with a mouth-watering array of cakes.

A little further along is Agaric, one of the top restaurants in South Devon run by Nick Coiley and wife Sophie. Nick was head chef at the Carved Angel in Dartmouth before opening Agaric 8 years ago. 

Further on past the shops are two pubs, The Bay Horse and The Victoria Inn. The Victoria has a good menu of locally sourced and home-cooked food.

The large car park can be accessed from North Street, up past the town hall where the helpful Tourist Information Centre can be found.

Opposite the car park in Kingsbridge Lane is the very cosy and friendly venue, The Studio Tea Shop while a few doors further up is the new Katy’s Kitchen Cafe (previously Olive Pizzeria) which was opened on July 7^th by Ms I Wood and B. Holmes. The walls are adorned with Beryl Cook prints, some of which relate to local people.

Coming in to West Street from Kingsbridge Lane, one is right opposite Moorish, a stylish café/restaurant furnished and decorated in the Moorish style, offering relaxed and informal drinking and dining. Also in West Street are The Bread & Cake Shop, Shahnaz Tandoori Indian Takeaway, the recently refurbished Exeter Inn and The Old Coffee House, next to St. Andrew’s Church. West Street takes us out of Ashburton by Peartree Cross and on to the moor. Just on the outskirts of town, past Peartree Garage, is Dartmoor Lodge Hotel, an Old English Inn with a well stocked bar and restaurant.