Ocean House Cafe & Deli opens in Budleigh Salterton

Any eatery with the word 'deli' in its name is guaranteed to tempt me in from the cold, and Ocean House Cafe & Deli, on the high street in Budleigh Salterton, did just that! It only opened in December and it's my New Year's Resolution to visit as often as possible and to take all of my local friends.

I got chatting to the owner, Nikki Townsend. She and her husband and partner, Robin, moved from Bristol, where they had another similar cafe in the trendy Clifton area. Having held an ambition to live within 30 seconds of the sea for a long time, they ditched ideas of Spain and sunnier locations in favour of Budleigh, and they've been touched by the welcome they've received - not least because people were relieved that they did up the old, scruffy pub that had been sitting empty for so long!

Nikki said: "People want us to open in the evenings and for breakfast. Older customers come here and say that it makes them feel young; we've even had a couple in their 90s here, meeting for drinks, holding hands across the table.

"Opening up felt risky but we have had a really lovely welcome - we're open to feedback, so please do tell us what you think."

So what's it like inside? Light and airy, with big windows, a spacious eating area and walls adorned with abstract artwork, you could mistake it for a gallery if you just walk past. But poke your nose inside and you'll be drawn in as soon as you catch sight of the Med deli bar, with all those glossy olives!

In the afternoon or mid morning, it might be the colourful cupcakes that tempt you - or the macaroons, flapjacks or zesty lemon polenta cake. Ocean House serves lunch between midday and 2.30pm, and the menu is simple but varied. The quiche, open sandwiches and hand-raised pork pies all looked delicious but I had homemade spicy parsnip soup. I'm a bit of a soup snob at the best of times, and this was spot-on.

For setting, decor, service and the quality of the food, prepared by Robin, I'd definitely recommend Ocean House as one of the nicest places to rendez-vous in the area. And what's more, you can walk off whatever you eat with a bracing stroll along the seafront! And then nip back for a deluxe, decadent hot chocolate, perhaps, to warm up!