James Duckett at the Old Custom House is one of the latest additions to the recently revamped Strand, right in the centre of Barnstaple and with Chef James Duckett at the helm it has turned out to be a most interesting place to drop by for lunch or dinner. With a repertoire of expertise covering Spain and London where he worked under highly renowned names, he has certainly raised the bar and with favourable results too. The carefully restored 17th century building is full of character and probably has its place in history too.

The daily changing menu relies on fresh produce to lend a remarkable taste to their dishes and everything is prepared on the premises, including bread, pasta and ice cream. The pleasantly relaxed surroundings are intuitively apt for the tapas style of food that emerges from the kitchen, hearty and unfussy, although dinners from Tuesday to Saturday are excellent examples of a fine dining experience. Choose from James's a la carte menu or indulge in his six course tasting menu complete with wines selected to match his dishes.