22/08/2025
So, for those of you who have been receiving (and reading!) this newsletter for a while, you will know that, every now and again, I like to put together a little ‘Freespirit spy cam.’ It should come as no surprise to you that I am a huge lover of eating out. I have always been such a foodie so of course, trying awesome flavour combinations and dishes is something I thrive on. I also love the experience of eating out, which can also differ hugely depending on the company. There are two places I have been to recently that I would love to share with you so, if you’re interested, please keep on reading!
The Church House Inn, Churchstow
At the beginning of the summer holidays, I was fortunate enough to have a glorious holiday on the Southwest coast, in beautiful Devon. We stayed in a small village called Churchstow, just outside of Salcombe. When we first arrived, we dined in a lovely village pub – The Church House Inn. This is a family run, independent business steeped in history and it absolutely did not disappoint. The food was fantastic – flavoursome, tasty, everything you could possibly want. I had mussels in a white wine sauce to start, followed by a fish curry and I could not fault a single thing. My wife had a sweet potato and spinach curry, which she said was delicious. In this part of the country, there definitely isn’t a shortage of places to eat and so, we felt very lucky to have stumbled upon this hidden gem. The pub boasted its original character, with beams, uneven flooring and cosy nooks in every corner! The service was also wonderful – so warm and welcoming. If you are ever near Salcombe, I would recommend giving this place a try.
The Pelican, Notting Hill
Now, there has been a fair bit of hype around this place recently and honestly – I can understand why. This big and solid, strikingly converted Notting Hill corner pub has the exceptional atmosphere of a genuinely valued neighbourhood hangout. Among the pub classics – sausage roll, Welsh rarebit, beef tartare – there is also lots of fish options. I had a sensational pork chop and my wife had the chicken and ham pie (both to die for). There is a lack of fuss here, but the food and atmosphere showed us more than enough. The low lighting and minimalistic interior were funky and different. We loved it, but it wouldn’t be for everyone (so best to approach this with caution). The only thing I found odd, was their lack of coffee machine. When I ordered an espresso, we were told that they don’t serve hot drinks. Now I must be honest, I don’t know if this a permanent thing or a temporary glitch, but it was strange nonetheless. That said, I feel that this place is taking the right sort of chances with its aesthetic and cuisine – I would recommend trying it if you are in Notting Hill any time soon.
Now, there are certainly a few more places that I could mention (I could ramble on about this stuff for hours) but these are the two that have really stood out to me recently and what’s really interesting is that they couldn’t be any more different. If you have visited either of these places recently (or know of them) I would love to hear from you. I would also love to hear if you have visited any places recently that have really stuck in the forefront of your mind and if so, why?
Big Love
Mark