Tucked away on the fringes of Dartmoor, a local cafe and bar offers patrons not only a chance to savour delicious local cuisine but also an opportunity to whizz down a zip wire. This unique establishment has been welcoming customers since March 2019, quickly becoming a sought-after spot for coffee lovers who appreciate its natural surroundings and smokehouse offerings.
Last year we spoke to Stuart Crook, the 47 year old owner of the cafe, who brings a wealth of international culinary experience to the table. Having lived in Spain for a decade and worked as a head chef from Singapore to Marbella, Stuart now calls Devon home.
He describes the Woodland Cafe as having a Mediterranean vibe, with community being at the core of their operations. Situated near Trago Mills on Staplehill Road in Liverton, the Woodland Cafe is a family-run business. Stuart's partner Demelza, a local musician, and their three children are often seen lending a hand at the venue.
The cafe is always buzzing with activities, be it live music performances by local artists or quiz nights held most Thursdays. Its proximity yet seclusion makes it an ideal venue for weddings and parties. Stuart described the cafe as "a really nice place to make memories and hang out."
"We opened in March 2019. I've been working in very corporate places like five star hotels and working as a chef for many years in Spain, Italy and Singapore. I lived in Spain for ten years. I saw the cafe was available after being empty for a little while. It had that Mediterranean feel to it with all the beautiful landscapes, and had potential. We aimed to do something a little bit different."
"We treat it very much as if we are inviting people into our home, it has a very relaxed kind of feel. To be honest, it's just a shed in the woods, there's no airs and graces to it, it's not a posh fine dining restaurant by any means. I think our slightly more relaxed Mediterranean kind of attitude to the cafe seems to be quite appealing to people."
"It's a gorgeous, unique spot. I lease the cafe off the gentleman who owns the whole site. He's been on the site for a good 14 to 15 years. It's a very symbiotic relationship."
"The location is a huge reason why people like it for weddings and parties because it's close enough to be accessible, we're not out in the sticks in Dartmoor, but it's far enough to feel remote and secluded. So when people are doing their own things, like when we have weddings, everything is bespoke to what people require."
"If they want to have 100 hay bales dotted around, they can do it, if they want a barbecue buffet, that's fine, If they want a seven-course tasting menu, that's not a problem. We adjust things to people's budgets."
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When asked about the food at Woodland Cafe, Stuart responded: "Absolutely anything can be done. On our day-to-day basis, we concentrate on woodfire pizzas utilising local produce, our pork is from Butlin Farm, which is literally the next turning point, so sometimes the pigs are sometimes strolling through the woods. We have a close relationship with our local suppliers, which is great."
"We've kind of gained a bit of a smokehouse reputation, so we use the Dartmoor's Farm Association for pretty much all of our meats. Any fish we have on the menu comes from down the road in Brixham, so that comes in fresh daily. We have a lot of fresh vegetables to make vegan and veggie options everyday. and our salads are incredibly popular, especially at this time of year."
"We utilise what we find or forage, and we are lucky because we have 44-acres of land to stroll through. We are in one of the most incredible parts of the country, so we don't have to look much further afield which is cool."
"We have a very friendly, welcoming team, it does make a big difference. Whether you are popping in for a coffee and you sit there for two hours, or come in for dinner, everyone is treated the exact same."
"We are very family-orientated, we have the zip wire in the woods, a nice assault course which is being updated at the moment, but very very popular with families and their kids. The whole site is fenced in, so you get there, let your little ones go feral and enjoy a co*cktail."
In regards to what activities the cafe offers, Stuart shared: "We have a low level zip wire, a bit like the ones you find in a children's play park. We have had some brilliant times where brides disappear in their dresses."
Recounting such an incident, he said: "I remember one in particular who went off with their bridesmaids, and had a prosecco or two. You could hear all the giggling in the woods and they came back round, and where she came off at the end, the back half of her dress was white and the front half was top to bottom, covered in mud. She wasn't fazed at all, giggling away and carried on her evening with her dress like it. It made for a very memorable day."
He spoke highly about their community engagement as well, pointing out: "We run a lot of community-focused events. Sometimes have a quiz on Thursday nights, lots of live music which is by those local singer-songwriters and give them a platform for local musicians to get their own music out there. It really is a key part of what we do."
Stuart then reinforced the open-mic vibe of the place by adding: "We have a lot of instruments in the cafe, like a piano and various guitars, and encourage people to get up and do what they want to do. If one person starts playing, someone else will get up to sing, there's just a really nice community vibe."
"It's very much a family business, my partner and I, and my kids are always doing bits and pieces. All of the team are within a mile or two, so it's a really lovely close-knit community relationship. The key to this business is that it's small, local and community-focused. We do a lot of fundraising each year for local hospices. It's just part and parcel of being part of the community."
