Life Café at Ilfracombe Harbour, nestled amongst quaint shops and galleries on The Quay, will serve up a unique menu in picturesque harbour surroundings when it opens on 31 March 2023.
The café will be operated by Life Cafés & Resorts, the company behind Park Life Resorts, Watermouth Lodges, a scenic holiday resort with wood-clad lodges, an outdoor swimming pool and The Sea Terrace Restaurant and Bar, located a stone’s throw away in an idyllic spot overlooking Watermouth Harbour.
The Café will serve up a colourful, quirky menu with high-quality, local produce at the heart of the concept. All menu items can be enjoyed in the comfort of the Café or to takeaway, and have been designed to be easy to eat on the go.
Breakfast and brunch options include the classics and crowd-favourites like Grilled Bacon and Sausage Sandwiches and crushed Avocado and Marinated Tomatoes on Toast. For those with a sweet tooth, the Banana Bread Toast with Fresh Banana, Vegan Yoghurt, Maple, Apple and Roasted Walnuts and French Toast with Fresh Berries, Thick Yogurt, Honey and Cinnamon are sure to delight.
As part of their innovative ‘Toast by the Coast’ range, locally baked bread from ‘East and West Bakery’ will be toasted and topped with a range of fresh ingredient combinations such as Roasted English Beef with Balsamic Onions, Rocket, Mustard Mayonnaise or Prawns with Oak Smoked Salmon, Spinach and Bloody Mary Sauce. For a hearty lunch on the go, Melting Macaroni Cheese Pots hit the spot.
Thirst-quenching cold drinks will be blended to order, from Infused Lemonades, Fresh Fruit Ice Blitzes and Fruit Smoothies. Luxury Ice Cream Milkshakes, provide a more indulgent option with flavours ranging from local Chocolate Fudge to Caramelised Biscuit or Eton Mess.
Impressive Ice Cream Sundaes will be presented in a glass conch seashell, with toppings aplenty.
The core menu is accompanied by quintessential café offerings. Coffees will be crafted by local baristas, using a bespoke blend of triple-certified ‘Life Café Coffee’, that has been sustainably sourced and selected for its smooth balance of bitter and sweet flavours. Scrumptious cakes, bakes and pastries make the ideal accompaniment for a Coffee with a view.
Such a scenic spot deserves an offering that will complement the atmosphere into the evening. Spritzes, Bellinis and other alcoholic beverages will pair perfectly with a range of tapas-style small plates and sharing platters, to be enjoyed with a view of the sun setting over the harbour. From rustic local bread, olives and houmous to Patatas Bravas and an English Tomato and Mozzarella salad. A ‘Taste of Devon’ sharing platter will showcase local produce, with a Homity Pie, traditional Pasty, cheeses and pickles. As part of their wider efforts to support local causes, a portion of profits from every seafood sharing board will be donated to RNLI Ilfracombe, with volunteers also receiving an exclusive discount.
In line with Life Cafés & Resorts’ wider vision, the aim of the café is to give back to the community in a meaningful way while creating an inspiring space for people to come together over fantastic food and drink. Community is woven into the fabric of the concept – Artwork displayed on the walls has been painted by local artist Steve Pleydell-Pearce, whose work is sold in The Pier Gallery located next door. Plastic-free soap bars made from the cafés used coffee grounds are handmade by a local sustainability-focused business, ‘North Devon Soap’ and will be available for customers to purchase.
The café will operate with ethical and sustainable practices at the core of everything they do. From 100% compostable takeaway cups and food packaging, a conscious reduction of food miles, plastic-free retail and confectionary items and even bespoke carton water bottles to replace plastic bottles.
With some fabulous local suppliers already on board, The Café is looking to expand its local supply chain in time and would love to welcome local artisan food producers to get in touch.
