From a distance, this slap board shack on the edge of the National Trust beach looks like the perfect ice cream stop, but The Beach House at South Milton Sands on the stunning South Hams coast serves far more than ice creams.

This unique venue seats 30 internally and more on external benches over looking the beach. The cafe serves, wines, local beers and delicious fresh seafood such as scallops, squid and sea bass, along side the traditional ice creams. Available for private hire, long relaxing lunches or supper, watching the sun go down, this flip flop style of venue is open from 9am to 9pm and sums up the very best of British beachside holidays.

Just along the coast at Beesands, you feel as if you have gone back to the Devon of the 1950’s. This small community, with a pub, beach and traditional playground is the home of The Britannia at the beach, which is more affectionate known as The Shack. This tiny venue is the local shop, fishmongers and cafe and is a real example of retailers crossing the sectors and creating a sense of community. Open daily from 9am – 8pm most days, this BYO offers a small menu, focusing on fresh seafood, which includes the catch of the day, a wonderful seafood pie and dressed crab.

The fresh fish can also be bought from the fishmongers counter in the shop, which sells the daily catch, caught from its own boats, landed on the beach in front of the shop. Alongside the everyday provisions there is fresh bread, cakes and takeaway sandwiches. This makes The Shack the perfect one stop convenience store, providing a range of goodies, to let you picnic or BBQ on the beach, enjoy takeaway fish and chips, or eat in from breakfast through to dinner.