In need of fresh dining inspo? Discover some highlights from the new edition of the Trencherman’s Guide, a passport to the South West’s most exceptional restaurants
Ugly Butterfly 2.0, Cornwall
Ugly Butterfly made waves at Carbis Bay and is now sparking surprise and delight at its new residence: five‑star Headland Hotel, overlooking Fistral Beach.
FormerGreat British Menu champion Adam Handling MBE (and his OG team) delivers a super‑special experience. Impeccable food from boundary‑pushing chefs and wines recommended by experienced sommeliers are matched by service from an efficient front‑of‑house team.
Adam’s sustainable menu is crafted to let guests create their own journey through the South West larder and features a number of theatrical flourishes along the way. UB2.0 also hosted the launch of the Trencherman’s Guide edition 33.
Yamas, Cornwall
At Yamas (the Greek toast ‘to our health!’), Hellenic dishes packed with Cornish ingredients make for a sublime collision of cultures.
Set right on the water’s edge, Yamas is for gourmets who subscribe to the idea that good food tastes all the sweeter with a noseful of sea air and a backdrop of higgledy‑piggledy fishermen’s cottages.
Everything, from the expertly slow-cooked beef‑cheek stifado to the crispy calamari and even the humble Greek salad, is carefully curated by head chef Nikos Oikonomopoulos (who co-owns Yamas with chef Ben Palmer of sister restaurant The Sardine Factory) to maximise authenticity and flavour.
Da Costa, Somerset
Somerset’s most raved‑about town is a magnet for gourmets, and this impressive Italian eatery, rooted in tradition, is one of its key crowd‑pullers in Bruton. Da Costa is part of Artfarm, a collective comprising unique destinations, including fellow Bruton business Roth Bar, as well as The Groucho Club in Soho.
The restaurant is inspired by Artfarm co‑founder Iwan Wirth’s maternal grandfather, who came from a small, mountainous village in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Head chef Robert Smart remains true to northern Italian recipes in the kitchen but gives them a Somerset spin using freshly grown, seasonal ingredients from the restaurant’s walled garden and the surrounding area.
Le Vin Perdu, Devon
Le Vin Perdu looks to France for its flavour cues while maintaining the laid‑back neighbourhood vibe of its sibling restaurant, Italian‑inspired Emilia.
The rotisserie‑led experience takes inspiration from French neighbourhood bistros where the menu changes weekly to reflect whatever’s local, seasonal and at its best. The kitchen scours Dartmoor and the South Hams for hyper‑local produce, which is treated with reverence at this ancient townhouse restaurant.
Thirteen, Dorset
Thirteen is located a short detour from Poole Quay and Sandbanks on Dorset’s famed coastline. Contrary to what you might imagine, it’s not the street number that gives this intimate restaurant its name, but the number of plates on its tasting menu. Can’t manage 13 courses at lunch? A 6.5-plates option is available on weekdays and at lunchtime.
The food leans towards a modern British cooking style and has earned Thirteen a host of accolades, including a spot in the Michelin Guide.
The family crew’s passion for produce runs through everything, so the menu is built around seasonality and sustainability. Ingredients are homegrown, locally sourced, and fished and foraged by the team.
Caper & Cure, Bristol
Situated in the indie‑rich quarter of Bristol, in the sweet spot between Stokes Croft and Montpelier, Caper & Cure is one of the city’s most compelling dining experiences.
The intimate restaurant serves smart, ingredient‑led dishes which are modern European in style with a classical French influence.
The chef’s table experience for ten delivers supper with a theatrical edge – think The Bear, minus the intensity.
Discover more of the most exceptional restaurants in the South West with a copy of the Trencherman’s Guide.
