A Sunday Jaunt to Darts Farm, Topsham

After a week that can only be described as THE PITS (teething baby, plumbers from hell, serious family illness… you get the drift), come Sunday we decided to get in the car and DRIVE.

Finally, fortune was on our side and the sun shone as we ditched the car and headed down the estuary at Topsham. Past the drool-worthy properties on The Strand and down the wonderfully named Goat Walk.

Sigh. I want to sit here and watch the boats float by.

After a brisk circuit we ended up back at the quay and the fantastic converted warehouse, cum antiques centre. We resisted trinket-buying as our minds were on our bellies and lunch at Dart’s Farm.

Now, not so long ago I was stunned to read Dart’s Farm being described as ‘Selfridges Foodhall in the middle of a field’ in a weekend supplement. Last time I visited, Dart’s Farm was a hut in the middle of a field, so I was keen to check out the transformation for myself.

WHOAH. That hut selling muddy carrots and an a-symmetrical turnip has mushroomed into a mega hangar selling everything from Agas and Fired Earth interiors; to Burts Bees, Cath Kidston and *beautiful* proper children’s clothes and toys. You can even get your hair cut and do a Pilates class.

Edibly, it’s a foodie’s dream. There are still muddy carrots (and this weekend, fantastic forced rhubarb) as well as an in-house butchers, fantastic store-cupboard embellishments and a groaning deli counter. So far, so impressed.

Other than picking up a few odds and ends (pork and red onion marmalade sausages and fudge cookies – both a-mazing), our main focus was lunch. Amazingly we had the sunny courtyard garden to ourselves and ordered fish and chips from the Fish Shed.

Now, I have to admit, the Thai fishcakes didn’t set my world alight (funny gelatinous texture), nor did the cold latte or the rather vacant waiting staff, but the chips were as perfect a specimen of fried potato as I’ve ever sampled. The OH’s crisp arc of golden haddock with fantastic beer batter was an equal success. The Exmouth mussels (from the mouth of the estuary) with pesto cream had sold out but we will be back to try our luck again soon.

A special final mention must go to the gloriously homemade macaroons. Wonky, a bit bashed around the edges but chewy, intense and the highlight of the day. Things were looking up.

Darts Farm, Topsham, Exeter, Devon, EX3 0QH,