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The Coombe Cellars

I must admit I was surprised to learn that The Coombe Cellars, in Combeinteignhead, recently underwent a huge transformation. I’ve always been a fan of this stylish and popular pub; so in my eyes it didn’t really need a huge amount of renovation. But nonetheless, a significant investment has been injected into the restaurant in order to give the establishment a more contemporary feel. The revamped Coombe Cellars has embraced an updated, nautical theme throughout the venue and it has also launched a range of high protein, low calorie dishes and a brand new vegan menu.

The Devon Foodie was invited along to their recent press launch night for a complimentary meal and the chance to sample the new restaurant ahead of it opening its doors to the general public.

Here are a few snaps from our evening at The Coombe Cellars to whet your appetite…

The new layout is quite the departure from the previous restaurant design. Whereas beforehand they seemed to be going for a chic and laidback estuary look, what they now have is a very trendy, almost urban vibe. I can definitely sense the nautical theme with the deep azure walls, the round mirrors and the curved seating. However, the restaurant seems to now appeal to a slightly different audience – dare I say a little younger and more social media savy?

Coombe Cellars Newton Abbot

Take the wall of roses and tangerines for example. I can’t say for certain whether or not this feature was drafted in for the press to swoon over. But if it’s a permanent fixture in the bar, I have no doubt it’s going to be very popular with the trendy twenty-something crowd.

The only room that I wasn’t particularly enamoured by was the one above. While I absolutely adore the new floor tiles, I think I might actually have preferred the previous layout (see my photo from before). What do you think?

Coombe Cellars Devon

Coombe Cellars were exceptionally generous on the press evening and they had a gorgeous gin bar on offer. Guests were encouraged to order their drinks at the bar and then add a little bit of colour with the many fruity and floral garnishes on offer.

There were kiwi slices, pieces of mango, cucumber, strawberry, ginger…
Coombe Cellars Devon

I opted for a strawberry and rose petal garnish, with Indian tonic.

Coombe Cellars Devon

The new dining room is remarkably contemporary in contrast to the previous design.

Dinner at The Coombe Cellars

I opted for Scallops of the Day to start. Meanwhile, my partner was tempted by the Lobster Pot with Devon crab crème fraiche & toasted ciabatta bread (£7.75). For our main meals, we chose the Fillet Steak with twice-cooked chunky chips (aprox £20) and the Pan-Fried Sea Bass fillets with parmentier potatoes , panchetta, olives, spinach and white wine veloute (£17.95). Both of these dishes were very nice and the portion sizes were generous to say the least. I asked for my steak ‘rare’ and I think that chef delivered this well. I would gladly order the steak again and I think there is definitely something for all tastes on the new and improved menu.

Dessert was extremely decadent. We opted to share the Melting Chocolate & Peanut Bomb (£7.95) and I’m glad we did! This unique looking dessert was filled with sticky toffee pudding and peanut butter cream. Served with Bourbon vanilla ice cream and hot salted caramel sauce, it was both delicious and a delight to look at. Take a look at the video below to see dessert in action:

Overalls Thoughts on The Coombe Cellars relaunch

So, what did we think of The Coombe Cellars relaunch?

Let’s break it down:

The Decor: Overall, I do like the new interior design elements at The Coombe Cellars. I’m not convinced that they needed to change the decor as much as they did, but I suppose Mitchells & Butlers were hoping to bring the pub smack up to date with their competitors in terms of styling. Regardless of my personal thoughts, the new restaurant is certainly Instagram-worthy and the bar area is particularly beautiful.

The Service: This aspect of our evening was fantastic. Every member of staff that we encountered was attentive and genuine. They’ve really pushed the boat out in terms of organising their team and ensuring that everything is working like clockwork.

The Food: The food we sampled on the evening was pretty much what you can expect from a gastro pub of this calibre. It was by no means fine dining, but it was perfectly enjoyable and I saw plenty of clean plates leaving tables. Likewise, the menu is nothing revolutionary, but I think it’s great that they are catering for all dietary requirements now and that they have a lot of variety on the menu.

Value for money: The menu has plenty of affordable main dishes at around £14, as well as very affordable starters and desserts.

Will we be returning to The Coombe Cellars? We certainly will! I would love to revisit on a lunchtime to make the most of what I know are stunning estuary views.

The Coombe Cellars

To book, call The Coombe Cellars on 01626 872423

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