Snacking Kraken in North Devon

Ice creams expensive for what they are. Small, slightly stale cone. Not very cold ice cream. Disappointing. Chips looked OK, if slightly underdine.

We were on yhe beech so decided to get a quick lunch from here. Just chips and pasties. Chips were good and pasties was okay. A reasonable selection of beer wine and cider. Nothing wrong and filled a hole

We have been using this cafe for many years Coffee is great . Great location and friendly owners Worth a visit

After queuing for 15minutes with only two people in front of us I was confronted with a man who I wished I had walked away from and not given my custom ! I had cash and it only became apparent this was a problem after I had ordered. The man made a scene in front of paying customers and blamed me for the fact that his Buisness may go bankrupt and that he now had to make a special trip to the bank . My cash/note was all I had and was taken from him with cooking tongs. We visited Hele Bay various times and that was the 1st and last time we would ever go to Snacking Kraken. The garage with the Premier shop at the top got my service from then on and was much cheaper. Do not recommend.

Stood in a queue for about fifteen minutes whilst the two people faffing about trying to make coffees served several bored people. The idea to take food and drinks orders separately never occurred to them and as a consequence when we got to the front of the queue they had very little hot food ready to serve as it was still in the oven being cooked which could have been communicated from the outset. All in all though fairly standard for Ilfracombe which seemed full of holidaymakers shuffling along from charity shop to Wetherspoons to bingo emporium to novelty fudge shop rinse and repeat. A thoroughly run down tawdry grotty dump. If you like Skegness or Blackpool this might be for you👍

Very poor, never open, rude, he likes to take photos of lady's while they are getting changed for there swims. Outrageous.

convenient with sufficient range of food/snacks/drinks but I think the staff ran out of customer service oomph by the end of the season when we where there. My hubby found them a bit rude.

Stopped for a full cooked breakfast as the reviews were good but left a little disappointed. Staff were friendly. Wifey said her coffee was very good but I wasn't that impressed with my latte. We weren't impressed with the breakfast either I really didn't like the bacon and wife felt the same about the sausage. I felt it was expensive for what it was too. It also suffered from a big pet hate of mine which is cheap ketchup, it really spoils a breakfast for me. The view and location are great though and this is what makes it worth trying.

Walked to Hele Bay from Ilfracombe with our dog, and found this great little cafe right beside the beach. Dog friendly outside seats, a great spot for a drink and snack.

We pulled into the car park at Hele Bay on a very blustery day in search of a café with a sea view in this area. Expectations weren't high but the moment we stepped inside the bright and cheery cafe, were greeted by friendly staff and saw the interesting menu, it boded well. We both had the spicy falafels with a heap of fresh salad - delicious - all while watching the waves at tiny Hele Bay. The walk along the coast path afterwards gave us a stunning view over the N Devon coast and Ilfracombe,

Friendly staff and a super full English that will set anyone up for the day! Would pop in again if in the area.

Wheat free food available for me, although the falafels were rather hot with chilli flakes in abundance! Next time I would ask for less or no chilli. Friendly and helpful staff

Came here for breakfast with my friends on our road-trip of the Southwest, had an amazing full English breakfast with lattes. The person who served us was so friendly and welcoming- would recommend if you want a local experience!

We had breakfast twice during our recent trip to Devon and enjoyed it both times. The Full English is delicious and sets you up for the day - add a black pudding just to top it off :-) along with a good pot of tea and a nice view to enjoy in the Hele Bay. Great little place to visit if in the area and good value for money!

We were walking on the North Devon coast line and fancied some lunch - as we were all vegan we were hoping that something might be edible for us. They guessed we were vegan and offered us the vegan menu straight away (it may have been because I shouted something about them having falafel on the way in, or maybe we just look like raging vegans). Pleasantly surprised to see they had vegan pizzas offered with vegan cheese and a choice of toppings. It tasted good and the pizza dough was yummy!! It was caked in cheese so would have preferred a bit less, but only a minor complaint. Lovely location and friendly service.

Shocked to find vegan food on the menu at such a small seaside town. The vegan pizza was good and the staff were lovely.

Whether you have a takeaway or eat in the food and service is great. I altered what I had in my panini and there was no problem

Very friendly little place and lovely coffee.. Didn't eat here but i'm sure it would be lovely, very clean and tidy and nice sitting outside overlooking the bay..

Popped in here after checking out the nearby Beach Cover Resort before heading for home. Should have come sooner, we had a full English breakfast and tea, sun was shining and a view overlooking the beach. Couldn't fault it as an end to our weekend.

Great breakfast today. Food all locally sourced, of the highest quality. Would recommend any day. My wife loves the ice creams too!

We visited twice for breakfast during our stay in North Devon. On both occasions the service was excellent and so was the food & the coffee. It’s in a lovely location. Highly recommended.

We live in Hele and feel very fortunate to have this Coastal Cafe/Restaurant literally on our doorstep. The views are outstanding looking out across the bay, what a place to stop and relax for awhile. The menu is varied and it is lovely to see some really nice fish dishes to go along with the usual staples such as fish and chips. Alex the chef has a great pizza oven and he makes some excellent pizzas. You can enjoy a glass of Wine Cider Lager or Beer with your meal, as well as a range of soft drinks.There is always Homemade Cake on offer as well as a good range of locally sourced ice creams. Dogs are allowed to sit outside the Restaurant, and children and vegetarians are catered for. Come on down to Hele Bay and try this hidden place, there is a public car park only seconds away.

Stopped off here after my walk into Ilfracombe and the coffee was very nice indeed. Great service, thanks guys

Hele Bay is one of those places that on a grey April day you could be forgiven for driving into and straight back out of. However. Don't.

We walked here from Ilfracombe and this was a lovely sight as we needed a break.

I visited here with my 7 year old and husband. The person serving was very welcoming and the cafe is bright and appealing.

I recently spent the day on Hele Beach with my family to celebrate my birthday. The S.K is my daughter and son-in-law's favourite local cafe and they booked a table for 8 of us for my birthday tea. Kim dealt with noisy children and indecisive orders with good humour and the pizzas and tostadas when they arrived were seriously delicious - congrats to Alex as chef! The highlight was a huge tray of chocolate brownies surmounted by candles, made especially by Kim. All this at the busiest time of their year - thanks to both of them! :-)

The staff were unhelpful and condescending. The food was decidedly average and overpriced. They also tried to charge us an extra 60p per coffee for the milk to be heated. We asked to swap bacon and mushrooms for a single sausage and were charged extra (and they weren't even good sausages). Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

I loved it here, It sits right on the beach and serves amazing fresh pizzas and coffee. Lovely friendly staff too. Would recommend.

This is a brilliant cafe at a brilliant, dog-friendly Devon sandy beach. We have been twice and plan to visit for a third time, but this time with y 94 year old mother, in September because we can drop her off at the cafe for coffee, park the car all day for not very much, find shade on the beach, return to the cafe for lunch and use the public toilets if the that at the cafe is in use. The mocha is the best ever as they use hot milk and so the coffee comes hot.

Paramos aquí tres o cuatro veces durante la semana y disfrutamos de un excelente servicio amable cada vez. El almuerzo estaba bien preparado y sabroso, y tienen una buena selección de cervezas locales y sidras.

Nos encontramos en la bahía para un descanso Hele playa. Una cala con una rica historia, está ubicado a Kraken Snacken donde creo que la tienda antigua de carbón de antaño solía ser. También está en el extremo local del juicio a tarka, y créeme, si tienes más de Hillsborough ambled estarás que buscan un descanso, una comida o al menos una taza de té.

Nos alojamos en Parque valle hele vacaciones y en su lugar recomendó este webste. Un vistazo al menú y pizzas, etc. pinta estupenda, así que íbamos a probarlo ya que está en un gran lugar en la bahía. Caminó después de llegar en una velada caliente y cerrado para los próximos 2 días después. No tienen un desayuno cuando fue finalmente abierta que era agradable. Se puede entender por qué fue realmente cerrada en los días más calurosos del año.

El servicio es estupendo, muy simpático y hablador. Teníamos makerel y bacalao, tanto cocinado a la perfección. Buena variedad de sidras! Un lugar agradable, tranquilo hasta la parada en después de un viaje a Puerto ilfracombe.

Great spot for a full English!Try the full (huge) or the kraken (enormous) right on the beach and the owners are fantastic! Well recommended! Right on the beach. Will defiantly come again

Kim and Alex are the perfect hosts, as we have a caravan in Hele we make sure we always visit when we are down and they always make us feel welcomeKeep up the good work guys Mike and Jeff

Great location, right on the bay. Lovely food and drinks at good prices. Good service through the the day, perfect option for beach visit

Some friends and I stopped here 2-3 weeks ago for a bite to eat and it was absolutely lovely sitting by the beach in the sunshine. Pleasantly surprised to see they have a good range of food and drinks on offer...some of us had a coffee, some had a beer :-)I had a bacon roll which was lovely and was very tempted to have a full meal but was a little limited on time that day. It was lovely and clean and very friendly.Parking up the road was easy...no lack of spaces. I was a bit stressed that day and really glad I stopped here to chill for a bit with the lovely soothing waves crashing nearby...left relaxed and will be returning soon for another lovely walk on the beach and a meal :-)

Stopped at this establishment whilst walking Coastal Path for lunch. Ordered cream Tea, cheese and onion sandwich and latte. Sandwich poor to say the least, salad garnish well past its sell by date. Wouldn't recommend. Cost £9.40

Kim and Alex are a husband and wife team, who bring a young fresh look to this Devon Treasure. The walls are adorned with Canvasses that have been created by a local Ilfracombe artist. The menu is varied and is reasonably priced, Alex is the Chef and he prepares daily specials like Homemade Smoked Haddock Chowder. My husband who is American tells me that Alex makes a Great Homemade Pizza. What could be better than to sit outside the restaurant of an evening watching the sea and enjoying a Bottle of Locally sourced Ale/Cider or a Crisp Glass of White Wine. Kim makes all the cakes, the extensive range of ice creams on offer are locally sourced. No need to be in a hurry, when in Devon Chill and enjoy the experience!

This place was ace, we visited a few times for tea and cake on the front.We also stopped off on our way home for breakfast and my partner brought the official "Snacking Kracken" T shirt :)Thank you x

What a lovely little find. The staff are friendly and interested in how your days going. We had a sausage and egg and bacon and sausage baguettes both were lovely and of a good size. Good choice of drinks and even a few craft beers. Great location and view. A lovely little find

Friendly welcome. Good range of beers and wines. Opted for fish stew from Specials and were very impressed with it. Genuinely 'homemade'! With nice ice creams to follow and views across the bay to enjoy, what more would you want?

Right on the beach. Delightful views and wonderful fresh coffee and amazing hot chocolate for the kids. Didn't dine but menu looked varied.

Okay, we are a bit older than some reviewers but fondly remember days spent on beaches with a cafe or snack bar adjacent. Many of Devons beaches have good facilities but at Hele the cafe reminded us of our past and we spent a few days during our holiday there because of the cafe facilities. The beach car park is almost across the road and although more shingle than sand the beach is a good size cove with large and small rocks and plenty of places to explore. The cafe has both inside and outside seating areas with food and drink to eat in or take away. There is a line of public toilets just along the side of the short promonade. During our visits I purchased reasonably priced drinks and we ate ham, egg and chips, pasties and pies. All were well presented and good portions. The staff were most welcoming and gave an approximate time for the preparation of larger orders, so you could go back to the beach and return to collect your order. They also have delicious icecream and cream teas. Hele is an interesting, one street, visit on the edge of Ilfracombe. It has a good size pub, small Supermarket & Petrol Station and an old Mill half way up the hill which also serves snacks and cream teas. It has also got 'Billies' a more expensive restaurant. The beach is dog friendly. It is worth a visit and we shall return.

Lovely icecream and good range of drinks. Owners could be a bit friendlier, but ok. really nice quiet spot.

This cafe is the best beach-side cafe I've ever been to! Since my last review, they've installed a pizza oven and started opening on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the summer, highlighting the varied pizzas on offer and their frequently changing specials menu. We go here for dinner every week and they are unfailingly polite and friendly, and go out of their way to help. If you're in the Hele Bay area, I urge you to try the Kraken!

I absolutely loved this cafe as did my husband. The cakes (especially the cinnamon roll) were fantastic, the coffee was also really good. We used it for coffee on the beach and to sit at the tables in their nice patio area. I really wanted to try some proper food I.e. Dinner as the menu looked delicious but I just didn't get the chance. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful to me. My mother in law was very put out that when she asked if she could have some more milk in her coffee she was told she would have to pay for it in quite a curt manner. And that's the only reason for less then 5 stars. The only reason I mention it is that I had been bigging up the cafe all week and was a bit shocked to see it and sad that she didn't get the same lovely feeling from the place. Anyhow Everyone has off moments. I would highly recommend having a visit here, even if you have to go slightly out of your way. I think it's worth it. I look forward to visiting again.

Tables outside were filthy, owners totally ignored us, the place opens at 9am but this means they start cleaning at 9am. Bins were full from day before. It look disgusting. Lack of enthusiasm from staff. Greasy caff by the beach.

What a gem of a place situated in gorgeous Hele bay. Food amazing and home made. Scones and Cakes sublime.Came in most days as Staff lovely and friendly. Also recommend the Octupus bought five of the cuddly variety in the shop bit. Disco baby takes pride of place in my car #happydays

As we had our pasties,coffees and then the ice creams which were all quite good it is what you are looking out to that adds to the experience here.There are fried breakfasts for sale as well as snacks and with plenty of outdoor seating too.....but that view of the bay is quite outstanding.The beach is right on the doorstep and is dog friendly(well there were several dogs on it)As for the food,it was reasonably priced,quite average and served by really friendly staff members.....had better,but a great location.Visited 5th August 2016

Our family had breakfast twice - lovely spot overlooking bay, great food with good selection, very friendly staff.

We had drinks and food a couple of times here while on holiday. The staff are helpful and friendly and the food and drinks where good and very reasonably priced.

We were walking to Ilfracoombe from Watermouth along the coastal path. We had not had breakfast so were looking for somewhere to stop and we were pretty hungry when we arrived at the Snacking Kraken. The staff were very friendly and really keen to please and the atmosphere was really relaxed. There is a great view of the bay from the front and seating outside, some of it under shelter. We all had the small breakfasts and coffee. The coffee is good and from a proper machine (very important to us) and the owner cooked our breakfasts from scratch in the kitchen. The sausages were particularly delicious. They were happy to serve our breakfasts with variations to the stated ingredients - however it would be nice if something was offered as an alternative when you don't want, say, egg or beans because this is not a particularly cheap stop. Three small breakfasts and coffees cost us £18.45. The coastal path continues from outside the cafe over a headland and into Ilfracoombe itself. It's a steep climb but well worth the views. So all in all this is a well located cafe with the right kind of relaxed sea side ambience and customer service to match.

Hele Bay is one of our family's favourite places and we have been going there for about 15 years now. We have seen the cafe change over the years and are pleased that it seems to have got back on the right track. We only popped in for drinks and cakes, but can see it is being run well and is catering for both the people wanting to pop in for take away drinks etc to take to the beach and those wanting to have a sit down meal. Nice to see it is also opening in the evenings too. My husband bought a t-shirt!!Keep up the good work.

Whether it's breakfast or morning coffee, Snacking Kraken is the place to come!Alex does great breakfasts - the full breakfast is more than ample - and Kim's cakes are consistently great. It's also great to see the way Alex and Kim make slight changes this year e.g. in 2016 starting to open on Fridays and Saturdays.Definitely worth coming to if you're in the area

Right on the beach. Went due to someones else review and so pleased we did. Huge breakfast with a view (ask for the toast to be brown as very under done 1st time round) Female assistant really pleasant and asked about plans for the day etc. Had a coffee and cake on another day and was great to sit outside. Small friendly business that is really worth visit.

Great position overlooking the beach. We opted for a small breakfast but we had to send it back because the sausage was a little raw in the centre. I checked it immediately because it was thick and only cooked on 2 sides so I already had my suspicions. They were polite and apologetic, took it away and they returned with it properly cooked. Despite such a bad error, I have to say that the way they handled the issue was good and the quality of the food was so yummy that I think it would be cruel to give just one star. (Terrible + excellent) / 2 = average.

Fantastic cafe, great food, fun and chatty owners and a brilliant view when having your morning coffee! A must for visitors of Hele bay!

We went here every morning for our morning coffee and the mini brekkie. The food and drinks are amazing, as well as the staff being really friendly and chatty. A must visit when in Hele bay.

Had breakfast here it was huge great value for money very friendly staff also they do homemade pizza to either eat in or take away was lovely , it's right by the beach and they serve just about everything highly recommend

Lovely place which serves various snacks, meals,drinks and delicious cake. lovely seating area outside overlooking Hele Bay. Friendly staff.

Kim and Alex are a great pair, they work great as a team. Hele bay is lucky to have them and there beach front cafe. Nowhere better to sit and enjoy the scenery over the Chanel towards Wales. You will find a good variety of home made locally sourced food on the menu and the specials board always offers something interesting. This is a place to sit and Relax away from the pressures of every day life. Fabulous homemade cakes and a good variety of local made icecreans..

Delicious food and drink plus different specials each week (including vegetarian), amazing ice cream, friendly welcoming owners, small shop selling beach toys and gifts...and right next to Hele Beach. What's not to like?! Snacking Kraken is one of our favourite eateries, I highly recommend you try it!

Alex & Kim are in their 2nd year and the quality of food is constantly wonderful. These guys take care & pride in their fare, breakfast & lunch, with great sea/cliff views, seconds from Hele Beach.

While staying at the lovely beach cove retreat lodges, just across the road we went for breakfast. Welcomed with a smile to this trendy beach themed cafe and offered a drink while we picked. A big pot of tea arrived, perfect! We selected cooked breakfast options, available in various sizes. The quality was excellent ( I'm fussy about sausages & bacon)Mellow jazz and the gentle sound of the ocean completed a fab breakfast. We will definitely return on our next visit.Very clean & the freshly made chocolate cake in the kitchen as we left looked awesome!Highly recommended

Called in today on a rainy Tuesday hoping for a decent lunch snack and was pleasantly surprised. Home made chilli, toasted sandwiches and freshly made cake served with a smile. They've also got an alcohol licence for those hot summer days so I can see Snacking Kraken becoming ever more poplar this summer. Give it a go, it's a hidden gem!

Cooked breakfast was ok. Coffee was great. Orange cake was lovely. Good spot by the beach. Nice to have somewhere to have a bite to eat as we visited the bay.

We have been coming to this part of England for many years, and with its wonderful scenery and beaches it's easy to understand why.We decided to walk the dog on Hele Bay beach as the tide was out, it started to rain so popped in for afternoon tea.This is not our first visit to this cafe and we have never been disappointed. Friendly welcoming attentive staff. Tea was strong just as we like it, and the scones were fresh & warm almost like they had just come out of the oven.The jam & fresh clotted cream were plentiful & I'm sure if more was required this would have bee forthcoming.Lovely afternoon treat after a nice walk on the beach. No doubt will return again sometime this week.

On a recent trip to Devon and Exmoor, we had the pleasant experience of eating at the Snacking Kraken in Hele Bay near Ilfracombe. What a great location, with a view overlooking the sea. The food was very good as well. We had the full English Breakfast. The coffee was good as well. We enjoyed it so much, we came back later for a nice Devon cream tea. Yum!! I was impressed with the menu also. They offered some wonderful specials that featured locally sourced products. The Snacking Kraken ticked all the boxes on my list. Good food in a beautiful setting and a sea view!! Highly recommended.

Honestly the best fish and chips I have had for ages and actually made from local fish washed down with local beer. Friendly service with a smile and a lovely view, a great place to recharge the batteries after a long walk.

Very friendly staff- coffee, as usual, was excellent. Disappointing that there were no cakes, but there was ice cream.Wifi✔️Dogs were well catered for.Beach and cafe well worth a visit.

We stopped in on and October morning for drinks. My sister had a nice cup of tea and my nephew had a cloudy apple fizzy drink. I opted for a mocha coffee which to my surprise was very good, the proprietor making on a proper Italian coffee machine. The drinks were not cheap but given the seafront location this was no surprise. A pleasant welcome from the staff. The ice-creams looked good. I would come here again.

Had to sit outside as I had dog with me. It was very cold because the wind was up and the sun had moved round because of the time of year. Consequently my meal suffered the cold as well. The egg could have done with a bit more cooking, the meal was passable, but the coffee was superb although at £2 a cup was expensive. Was too cold to order anything else.

Second place we tried on a recent stay in holiday home near Hele bay. The two cappucinnos we ordered were flat and not frothy at all. Staff were fairly aloof and scruffy. We ended up going to Ilfracombe each day to get some decent food and coffee.

We only stopped in for an ice-cream (which was excellent) so can't speak about the food but the staff were friendly and the place was clearly well set-up.

Lovely ice-cream, great chips with cheese and friendly atmosphere from the new young owners of this conveniently situated cafe on Hele Esplanade. Give it a try. They are very flexible with their opening hours too.

We visit place as a family trip for the coastering adventure. Place looks good, with great decorations around. We order coffees, and as didn't expect much they taste horrible, not sure if staff need bit more training or change coffee but that wasn't great. Also as we wanted help on buying something from gift shop staff couldn't be less helpful, with grumpy attitude from them we decide to leave.

Good friendly service but I was disappointed when I ordered lunch at 11.55 am to be told all the specials were sold out !

Popped in on a miserable morning to be welcomed by very friendly staff. We all had mini breakfast which were gorgeous and drowned ourselves with tea served by the pot. Kids finished off with amazing ice cream from Solcombe Dairy. We will come back again for sure.

Regularly visit this lovely little cafe in Hele bay. Fantastic views, always great service with a smile and we've never had a bad experience here since the current owners took over a couple of years ago. The menu is varied with interesting specials and the food and drink is consistently well made with as much local produce as possible at a very resonable price indeed. Try the cod po' boy, it's absolutely delicious! Recommended.

Great location unfortunately this cafe does not live up to the location. We've had coffee there a couple of times now and both times it was totally tasteless, just hot milk with froth on top. Won't be going there again.

I have previously been to The Snacking Kraken before as it was known as The Hele Beach Cafe so I know what to expect. I have always enjoyed a breakfast from there and this year is no different. I took my Neice and my beautiful girlfriend here for them to try and they really enjoyed their breakfasts too with a large breakfast costing just under £7 which I thought is not bad and it's very very tasty too. We went another day too for Bacon and Sausage Baguette's but I had an extra Bacon Baguette too because I'm greedy like that. The staff, Alex and Kim, are very friendly and very welcoming and if they are not busy serving other customers or cleaning up after them they happily come and talk to you and make sure you are ok and happy with what you have ordered which I feel is excellent. They have a male and female toilets which is tidy if you like clean toilets and the views out towards Hele beach and the Bristol Channel is quite simply amazing. I love going to this cafe and I will be going again, I'd highly recommend it.

Visited a few months back. Staff were very friendly and a bonus we got a glass of wine and some cider. Lovely spot right by the beach

Only stopped for coffee but it was great value. This is a welcome stopping off point if you are walking the coastal path - you have to walk right past it and there are toilets close by.Friendly service so a great break in our walk. Would go back and try the food.

The Snacking Kraken is a brilliant beach-side cafe located in Hele bay. I thoroughly enjoyed what was easily the best fried breakfast I have had in a very long time here. I chose the largest option (the Kraken), which consisted of 2 plump tasty sausages (all they're meat is sourced from a local butcher) 2 rashers of bacon, 2 fried eggs, 2 hash browns, baked beans, tomato, mushrooms and toast. Everything was freshly cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. Sitting in the morning sun whilst looking out onto the beautiful Hele bay just completed it.I cannot recommend the snacking cracked enough.

We were given a very warm welcome at the Snacking Kraken and enjoyed a delicious breakfast with a well-needed steaming hot cup of coffee. As well as the great food, we enjoyed a beautiful view of the bay and the sea. Afterwards, we followed the coastal path from Hele Bay all the way over the cliffs to Ilfracombe - all in all a fantastic experience.We would definitely recommend this lovely beachside gem to all!