The Sea Shanty Beach Cafe in East Devon - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Visited 3 times already as the food is delicious! Staff are all friendly, polite and efficient and the setting is beautiful. If you have dogs, this is the beach and cafe to go to!! Milkshakes are amazing and we couldn’t get over the price of £3.50!!! Wouldn’t get you a glass of milk from our neck of the woods! Definitely check this place out if you are in the area!

We come here every year when we visit this part of Devon. There is a great range of food, good portion sizes and quality ingredients. Staff are attentive and we’ve always had great customer service. What a gem in a stunning location.

Service prompt and friendly on a busy sunny day, had fish and chips and fisherman's platter-quality and quantity of food excellent!

Such a lovely Cafe, well worth the gentle, peaceful walk to it from the village hall car park. Super-nice staff, comprehensive menu and excellent food, everything clean and well-tended. We'll definitely return!

This place provides great food at good prices. We had a lovely meal. The portion size was good & tasted great. Staff were very helpful & friendly & the place was very clean. There was plenty of room in the carpark. I would definitely recommend for families or couples like us.

Great food and coffee, and right next to the beach, friendly staff as well

Great dog friendly place to enjoy the best breakfast I’ve had on the sw coast path, it was really busy when we arrived but our order was taken quickly and the food came out piping hot soon after. Highly recommend

Fantastic gem of a place, very reasonable

Only stopped for milkshake a d cake bur was delicious and friendly sraff

Excellent food and service with nice views.

What a gem. Gorgeous beach cafe on a beautiful beach 🥰 Loads of parking also, it is metered but pretty fairly actually.

Absolutely gorgeous looking cakes, had a lovely pot of tea and apple cake after walking from Beer. The fish and chips I saw coming out looked divine

Found this little gem of a place by accident. Wonderful scenery of the beach and sea 🌊. Sit outdoors in the open or undercover, or if you prefer, sit inside for a drink and snack/meal. Welcoming, friendly and polite staff, making sure I knew that my dog was also allowed inside. That's right very dog friendly 🐕. I just had a wonderful Strawberry milkshake and a slice of shortbread, which was very nice and well priced. Snacks, cake,side orders, sandwiches 🥪 and full meals are served here as well as many different types of drinks, all well priced. Hope to visit again soon. The cafe is right beside a paying car park and meters from the beach ⛱️, what else could you ask for on a sunny afternoon 😀.

Lovely place to spend some time and get sustenance!

Perfect location, everything you need for walker who wants to take a break to a family beach outing 👍

The food was great and the location is brilliant

Had an amazing Ploughman's meal here after a long trek along the coast.... well needed and de-lish.

We visited the Sea Shanty for the first time at the weekend, having moved nearer to Branscombe and were blown away by the location and standard of food. I can honestly say that the chips were the best I have ever tasted and the service was impeccable too - incredibly friendly staff and a really quick service with incredibly fresh and delicious food. Another bonus is that it's right on the beach with incredibly views. Thanks guys! We definitely will become regulars here!

What a great spot. Perfect tonic to a 17 mile walk on the coast path the previous day and no sleep on the cliff edge! Lovely swim and breakfast. Lovely staff also. Get there early on weekends as gets super busy.

What a find. A delightful cafe. Excellent menu. Licensed with good local cider. The staff are happy and helpful and service super fast.

Top notch cafe that could have fallen into the rip off tourist trap with a captured market but instead offers a high quality experience to suit all tastes... highly recommended

Brilliant spot to chill with the family. Lovely food. Beautiful views. Great drinks with fantastic options. 100% coming back

The main lady on the till was super friendly despite them being so busy! And I’m from Lyme Regis but this is the best fish and chips I’ve had in the whole of the south west!

What a fantastic place. Very welcome after a long walk. The cheese and ham ploughmans was enough for two! SO much lovely salad, and pickles, fresh bread and quality ham & cheese. ( I couldn't eat it all so made a cheeky ham roll to take with me). My husband ordered ham, egg and chips. It arrived and he remarked on the ' nice chips'. Then, the waiter arrived with another fried egg! It was from the chef who apologised because the first egg had split! He hadn't even noticed, wouldn't have mattered, but a nice touch. Lovely airy atmosphere,with lots of indoor, sheltered or outdoor places on the beach to eat. Perfect lunch to aid us on the steep walk back to our campsite up the hill.

Very capable and helpful staff, lovely food, friendly atmosphere. Very busy but staff managed it all very well so not a problem.

What a find. I was cycling around East Devon and the Sea Shanty was a welcome needed stop. Great food, great staff and very accommodating towards a dirty cyclist.

Fabulous seaside cafe, great location, superb choice of drinks and food, car park alongside for those who prefer not to walk from the village

A lovely spot to eat or have a drink. We went for the full size fish and chips which were the best we’d had in a very long time. Some nice local cider and beer as well. Portions were huge and although we would return one of us at least might opt for the seniors special! The trip down via very narrow winding roads is quite daunting but worth it when you get there.

Nice cafe next to sea side. Paid parking just next to cafe

Brilliant staff and lovely coffee. The rocky road was delicious. You can get hot drinks and cakes to take away aswell which is perfect for going into the beach or doing th coastal walk ti beer

affable staff picturesque beach side cafe aesthetically pleasing interior design 10/10 chunky chips Dog friendly establishment Sapid Marshfield farm ice-cream

We come here often, food is amazing, had a fisherman's lunch smoked salmon, mackerel, prawns, large salad, wholemeal baguette, large portions, service was excellent. Beautiful location, perfect 🤗👍

Great value fish and chips, nice big portions and high quality fish, the Staff were helpful and friendly and the location was perfect for going on a walk. I would definitely recommend!

Not cheap, but worth every penny. Very good chips, pasties and cream tea. Even given, without asking, an extra pot of hot water to top-up the pot of tea. Outstanding quality and service. Thank you to all the staff.

Had a day at branscombe beach and had a few drinks and a meal at the Sea Shanty. What a great place in a stunning location, really enjoyed it and will return before we head home. 👏

A wonderfully busy cafe at the end of a very narrow lane. Large car park just outside makes access easy. Expect to wait a bit in high season. It will be worth it. Large choice of dishes and snacks, to siut all dietary requirements, swiftly served by a friendly team. Dogs are welcome inside. More space is being created with a timber frame extension. If you have a tight schedule there is a good takeaway service on site

Lovely cafe. Great for gluten free/Coeliacs. All GF cakes were kept separate or wrapped in cling film - we felt safe eating here as staff clearly knew about cross-contamination. I had gluten free courgette and avocado cake with lavender icing. It was delicious. The coffee had a good, rich taste. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

Enjoyed a lovely breakfast here this morning, had the small vegetarian option and it didn't disappoint. Very filling and tasty. A lovely place to visit

Lovely little beach side cafe with a good range of snacks and larger meals with good drink choices too. Staff all friendly and welcoming, place clean and space indoors and out.

Right on the beach at Branscombe, wonderful location and very friendly staff.

Dog friendly if you sit outside and why not with the lovely views. Friendly service by ordering inside. Great amount of tasty food for the price and location. A perfect stop after a walk on the beach

Nice cafe to relax in after a walk on the beach.

Great place to have a lunch. Great location good food friendly service!

Excellent roast dinner today, really lovely selection of vegetables and great roast potatoes. Couldn't manage a pudding! We love coming to The Sea Shanty and always get a warm welcome. Definitely recommended if you want a lovely big roast dinner in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Excellent food, both in quality and portion size. Friendly and attentive service and a really great location. I would highly recomend a visit.

After a walk, this cafe is a welcome respite. It was dog and child friendly, had beautiful views and delicious cakes. My daughter highly recommends the milkshake.

Very tasty and friendly service, I recommend it👌

Lovley place for a quick bit to eat

Lovely sea side cafe,right on the beach and a welcome sight after a long walk from Sidmouth

Great little gem on the beach. Great food. Lovely atmosphere. Dog friendly too. Well worth a visit. We will be back

Can not fault The Sea Shanty, food was delicious and plenty of it.

Excellent food and service. Always pop in when visiting Branscombe.

Omg what a menu, Michelin star beach cafe ! Fabulous, fabulous place and staff

Hier schmeckt es ausgezeichnet. Daneben gibt es auch leckere Kuchen und Eis

Lovely place to dine . Overlooking the sea, plenty of places to sit both inside and out and dog friendly. Food and service were ok,

We had a great lunch here. We had the prawn baguette and the brie, bacon and cranberry baguette with a side of cheesy chips. The food was great and made using good quality ingredients, was freshly prepared and fairly priced. The staff were warm and welcoming and the cafe was clean and tidy. We sat outside and being right off the beach couldn't have asked for a better view. I would highly recommend a visit.

We have wandered into the Sea Shanty Beach cafe three times this week during our stay in Branscombe. The staff have been very friendly, our food has arrived quickly and dirty plates were removed promptly . Staff were quick to clean the tables when customers left, even midweek in late September it was busy. The food was good and reasonably priced. We enjoyed bacon, Brie and cranberry ciabatta with plenty of filling accompanied by crisps and salad. We also had a generous portion of fish and chips. Dog friendly. Also plenty of high chairs and cutlery for children.

My last review of the Sea Shanty bemoaned the rising price of their crab sandwiches. They've been a seaside tradition here dating back donkey's years. But not any more. The new owner is refusing to shell out. I couldn't do a crab sandwich for less than £20, he told me when I called in for my annual treat. That's funny, I said.I was in Cornwall last week and bought one in Port Isaac for a tenner. I suspect the truth is that it's easier to sell fish and chips than mess about making crab sandwiches. Shame really. The Sea Shanty has lost another customer.

I love the Sea Shanty! I have been here several times now for breakfast and lunch as well as the occasional cream tea. I must say that the food has always been fantastic. They do a great bacon and egg bap which I have frequently. The staff are incredibly helpful and polite and I simply cannot fault the service they provide. The atmosphere is also great with sea views from the cafe. I would highly recommend this seaside cafe to anyone.

Sea Shanty is fantastic! Staff are wonderful, food is amazing and the scenery is stunning!

Well..what a find! Having lived locally for over 30 years…I’m not sure why we haven’t been here before! Stopped on a rather strenuous coast path walk…sat in the sunshine looking over the sea…had a delicious lunch. Husband had a ham roll…came as ordered with no spread…he said it was really good. I had the houmous with crudités and bread (side order of chips as I needed the carb for the next leg of the walk) …and it was great…this place serves good honest food at good prices..and the staff were brilliant! Had a good chat with the lady serving us…will definitely be back..it’s our new favourite place!!

The only reason I have given 4 stars overall is that Despite everything being perfect, that we had particularly, is that the cafe seemed to close earlier than we'd have thought. This meant that the only available foods where things like cakes, ice creams, and if you are lucky a pasty from the shop or the main cafe served a very lovely Cream tea (scones etc). The view is fantastic. The venue looks sympathetic to the environment and is Service to buy a pay on exit reasonably priced car park. Plenty of good walks available nearby. As I say, I had hot food which was just a bowl of chips... But they were lovely, and my friends had the cream tea as they been for a walk and arrived a bit later In the afternoon. No complaints only niggles

Great location with seating right on the beach but the cakes were absolutely terrible. The worst treacle tart I have had! It was dry and tasteless and the cakes were not much better. Definitely need a new baker!

Scrumptious BLT sandwich in lovely surroundings (ate outside). Nice loos!

Gorgeous café. Good selection of food and bottled ales and ciders. Wonderful setting.

We quite often eat here. Always clean and the staff are polite. Reasonably priced food. Had baguettes outside last time. Very tasty and nice fresh salad. The most critical I could be was the bread was the part baked stuff. To be fair it was still very tasty and the practicalities of getting fresh bread at Branscombe everyday would make it too costly I suspect. We will definitely eat here again.

This is the second time we’ve been back and have really enjoyed it both times round. My father in law is registered disabled and in a mobility scooter so, aside from the great food, vista, and staff, it’s super accessible for him and a fully happy and inclusive experience for everyone. A tricky drive with narrow lanes but hugely rewarding once you get there. Highly recommended.

Lively beach cafe. Lovely cream tea, but so many wasps...!!

Great spot - good range of food at reasonable price for the privileged location. Good fish finger sandwiches! Busy most of the time but food arrived quickly.

Busy, great food, clean bathrooms

We visited the Sea Shanty Beach Cafe and Shop back in July for a birthday meal and was really pleased with the whole experience. The staff were polite and friendly and did a great job at making sure everyone got their food together (there was a reasonably large group of us) and were all topped up for drinks. The food was fantastic and I think everyone at some point expeirenced food envy. I ordered the half chicken and could have eaten the plate it was that good. Sitting at the top of the restaruant offered a nice tucked away feeling and offered amazing views of the area and surrounding beach, which was lovely in the evening. I would definitely come back here again.

Where do I start ? What an absolute gem of a place. Excellent choices on the menu from fish and chips, chicken burgers, sandwiches, Childs menu. We eat here twice and each time was marvellous, with excellent value for money. Dog friendly, friendly attentive staff, seating inside and outside, immaculate toilet facilities, with area to also fill up our water bottles to go back onto the beach. Beach front location with amazing views over Branscombe.

Exceptional customer service and great food, at reasonable prices.

Fantastic location on the Branscombe beach. Nice cafe serving basic food (sandwiches, jacket potato, cakes, teas), including gluten free one. Food is generally good. It is good to find place outside and enjoy the sea views. The cafe can be busy in summer and you may queue for food and drink. Staff is polite and attentive.

Fantastic, lovely food & served very quickly, even for our larger party of eight with 2 of us needing gluten free option. Highly recommend.

Good selection of cheapish fare. Right on the beach.

Good dog friendly cafe on Branscome sea front. Gluten free fish & chips are without the batter, however the fish was a very large fillet so more than made up for the lack of batter. Self serve ordering at the counter & a lovely selection of cakes. Ice cream available outside. The cafe is very dog friendly.

Fab. Sea views and great food! Lovely atmosphere, smily welcome from staff and great food. Views are unreal and matched by great breakfast and decent coffee. Will come again!

Perfect place for a mid-hike high tea. With all the coffees and cakes you can imagone on the menu. Though, you do have to go to the counter to order and recieve your consumeables. Very cheap also. Drinks and cakes for 5 people under 30 quid.

Great location and while I can't comment on the restaurant, we did order 2 lattes and an ice cream from the takeaway window - one came out molten hot and clearly with added water, the other all milk but tepid - problem solved by getting an extra cup and mixing them together but not ideal. The ice cream was also fine but clearly a newish member of staff as we had to ask for a pot as the ice-cream was toppling from the off. 2 stars overall probably a little harsh but solely based on own experience that's a fair reflection for making our own drinks - clean toilets and a handy gift shop (didn't use so can't comment on prices) with a great location - guessing it's the summer staff impact but that comes down to proper training of the coffee and ice cream machine.

Lovely delicious food and welcoming kind staff

Excellent cafe/tea room on Branscombe beach, fantastic food and great service. Can highly recommend the cooked breakfasts, coffee and huge range of fresh cakes

Great location and selection. Prime for beach goers and walkers.

Best strawberry milkshake I have ever had in my entire life. The service was super polite and friendly and did everything with a smile. I also loved the atmosphere, I sat somewhere around the back with my family and it all felt really cozy. Would definitely recommend going!

We were staying in one of the local beach huts, no phone signal, no WiFi, but a cafe at the end of a short walk. Now I was dreading taking the kids as British tourists have a tendency to over pay for very poor service and awful food. Well you are in for a treat. While the wife and son walked over the hill my daughter and I were greeted by a lovely lady who passed lovely comments to the daughter on her eyes and the fact she only wanted water (some places turn their nose up at this), she said it would make her clever much to her delight. She went on to explain the difference in Dorset and Cornish pasties and having brought a couple they certainly are very nice, a lot more than just a county where they are made. The prices were very good and the food and drink good value for money, they could if they were a little unscrupulous charge whatever they want as there is no where else round here. Loved the place and will certainly return for a top up, by the way they also have WiFi 😀 The coffee was good too.

Parking was £2 for 2 hours, half the price of Bournemouth where we live. No problems with fines that we saw. Our Prawn cocktail and Whitebait were good portions with lovely bread and butter. Worth the £6.75. Whitebait slightly greasy - perhaps the type of oil. Coffee weak and tap water had a strange taste. Lovely views and walks especially if you like a grassy hill. Stony beach.

I visited with my partner, nan and dog one Saturday lunchtime. I was expecting it to be really busy as the weather was nice (albeit a little windy) but we were able to get a table with little problem! I queued to order our food from a small but delicious menu, and being gluten intolerant I asked what was available and I had a good amount of options, staff were patient and explained my choices well.I had gluten free fish and chips which was delicous, but I could have also had the veggie or beef burger with a gluten free roll. Next time I'll definitely be having a burger as they looked so tasty! The kiosk also sold two different dairy free ice creams, and also sold a dog ice cream (which I can assure you also went down very well!).The toilets were clean and the car park easy to use, and we will be returning soon!Thank you for such a lovely afternoon!

We came across this cafe in the middle of a walk, in a wonderful location right on the beach. It looked so nice we decided to have an early lunch. The bacon baps were among the best we've ever eaten - and I speak as a connoisseur of bacon rolls! - and we felt very safe at a table in the open air, well spaced from other customers.

We walked here from Beer and stopped for a pasty and some chips. The pastys were the best we've ever had and the chips were delicious! All eaten whilst looking out to sea. Can't wait to go back.

My daughter and I travel around the UK in our campervan and have tried many many cafes, but the chips here are the best we have ever had! The food is absolutely delicious and you can take it to the beautiful beach just yards away and sit and enjoy your meal in the most stunningly beautiful surroundings. The owners are so lovely and friendly. When my daughter lost her phone, Matt went out of his way to contact me and helped me to find it. The other staff who work here are so helpful and lovely, nothing is too much trouble for them. The place is beautiful, clean and well kept. In the current Covid situation they have great social distancing rules in place, and takeout from the lobby which means no one has to mix or get too close. We think this is an ABSOLUTE HIDDEN GEM, highly recommend, visit for the chips and like us you’ll be back!

Great friendly service followed by fabulous cheesy chips and hot coffee at the end of a long walk on the coastal path.

As with so many others, parking was paid for, yet a huge fine was received. Will never go here again despite being local. Oh, and the coffee was not good, and was overpriced.

Was waking nearby so stopped and joined queue to order coffee. Was about 20 minutes which was fine to get served . Paid and expected coffee. Was then sent to another queue where waited 20 more minutes for coffee to come out.

Arrived for breakfast - one sign said ‘opening at 9.30’, another said ‘opening at 10.00‘. Eventually, at well after 10.00, someone appeared - at once we were put off, and decided, like some cyclists, to leave. The person we saw, had no mask on, and said she wasn’t worried, anyway. We returned, to give a fair chance, but were extremely disappointed - half a cup of coffee, and an extremely dry sausage and egg bap at a rip-off price. We have been visiting for 50 years, and never has the cafe and shop been so dire. Given that it is such a beautiful and popular destination, they are really not taking the opportunity that is right in front of them.

Queued up only to find they had just stopped serving food. Then my Husband pays £3.20 for a very small latte. No better than a vending machine. Thank goodness I didn't get a drink as well. Lovely beach, bring a picnic.

Stunning views and friendly staff. I do hope this business is not affected by the parking situation.

First visit this year on a very pleasant day, so eating outside was a joy and the quality of the Fish Burger was great. Plenty of space between tables and extra picnic tables closer to the beach. The Café was very busy but the service, though the hatch, was well organised and swift. This place has got it sussed in these Covid19 times.

Great food and good service,COVID safe,great position for walkers and beach goers,lovely Brie and bacon sandwich and amazing cream tea,

Walked over from Beer to Branscombe, beautiful walk, lovely day. My wife & I looking forward to cup of coffee. One of the most expensive & slowest to arrive ever!! Order (pay) at one window wait for ever at other! Cash only NO receipts, mmmmm? suspicious or what? No litter bins in sight, directed to adjacent car park to use industrial bins?? Covid 19 health & safety obviously NOT a priority. Other items on menu, even for a remote location cost NOT justifiable. Recommend taking own picnic lunch & flask. Avoid at all costs whilst current management in residence

Got fined £60 for being a few minutes late on the car park. Seems to be a common experience if other reviews are anything to go by. Plain mean. :(