Darts Farm Puts Devon on the Culinary Map With Nominations for Two National Awards

Darts Farm is thrilled to announce they have been shortlisted for two categories in the 2023 Food and Travel Awards. They have been nominated for the Local Hero Award and their new flagship restaurant, The Farm Table, is in the running for the Best Restaurant Outside of London.

Michael Dart, who runs Darts Farm with his brothers, James and Paul, and his son George, comments: “We're absolutely delighted and pleased to be put forward for these awards by Food and Travel Magazine. The nominations list is packed full of world-class chefs and establishments, including many of our food heroes, so we feel truly honoured to be shortlisted alongside them.”

He continues: “We're especially overwhelmed by the Best Restaurant Outside of London nomination. It recognises the huge effort that went into creating The Farm Table and establishing a restaurant that, just a year after it opened, is already considered to be one of the best in the country!

"It's already won The Food Magazine Reader Award and we know from feedback, and the fact we have so many regular diners, that our locals love it. It's fantastic that it's now starting to gain a following beyond the county and hopefully nominations like this will help build up Devon's reputation as a foodie destination.”

George Dart has been instrumental in bringing the original concept of The Farm Table to life. He explains: “Our aim with the launch of The Farm Table was to create a restaurant that would celebrate the simplicity of beautiful ingredients grown, reared, caught and crafted on our doorstep. 

"Produce that can't be sourced from the farm is provided by our vibrant community of like minded artisan producers, farmers and fisherman who all share our passion for flavour. It's so very rewarding to think that, having only recently celebrated its first anniversary, The Farm Table is already generating a reputation for being one of the best restaurants outside of London!”

Food and Travel magazine is the world's leading gastronomic travel title, with an amazing 25 year heritage of writing for those who love foodie adventures, discovering the best ingredients, dishes and flavours and trying new, exciting restaurants. Voting for the awards is open throughout October and anyone voting will be entered into a prize draw to win tickets to the Gala Dinner at the Royal Automobile Club in November, where the winners will be announced. You can cast your votes at www.foodandtravel.com/awards

The Farm Table is open seven days a week for lunch (12-3pm) and for dinner (6-9pm) Thursday to Saturday. The menu includes Darts Farm's iconic Ruby Red beef, dayboat fish and seasonal vegetables, all cooked over charcoal and accompanied by a huge selection of wines, beers, ciders and spirits from the cellar. 

For further information on The Farm Table and Darts Farm please visit www.dartsfarm.co.uk and follow Darts Farm on Facebook and Instagram.  

The Farm Table Restaurant at Darts Farm Celebrates Its First Anniversary With Legendary Chefs

Darts Farm, which is just outside Exeter, celebrated the first anniversary of its new restaurant, The Farm Table, in July by welcoming two iconic chefs to take over the kitchen for the evening. 

Great British Menu winner, Mark Hix and local seafood hero, Mitch Tonks, created a unique 5-course seasonal menu, combining their celebrated styles with produce from the fields at Darts Farm and incredible artisan ingredients from the food hall; whilst sharing their stories about a lifetime of friendship through food.

Hosting two such culinary giants represents a huge accolade for the new Devon restaurant which opened its doors in Summer 2022 and has gone from strength to strength in spite of a period of unprecedented challenges for the industry.

Michael Dart, who runs Darts Farm with his two brothers, James and Paul, said: “It's been a very tough couple of years for hospitality businesses and not the ideal climate for launching a new restaurant, but as we mark the first anniversary of The Farm Table, we are so proud of what we have achieved in the last 12 months. Following hot on the heels of winning Food Magazine's Reader Awards as 'The Best Newcomer', The Farm Table has just hosted two world-renowned chefs who share our passion for championing local and sustainable food. 

"Our team, led by my son George and our Head Chef Tom, has worked incredibly hard to achieve so much in such a short time and having the seal of approval from two of the country's most eminent chefs is a fantastic reward for all their efforts.”

Michael's son, George, has been instrumental in bringing the original concept of The Farm Table to life and creating the new flagship restaurant. He explains: “Our aim with the launch of The Farm Table was to create a restaurant that would celebrate the simplicity of beautiful ingredients grown, reared, caught and crafted on our doorstep. 

"Produce that cannot be sourced from the farm is provided by our vibrant community of like-minded artisan producers, farmers and fisherman who share our passion for flavour. A year ago I couldn't have dreamt of hosting two such prestigious chefs in our kitchen but this event marks the culmination of all our efforts to deliver a world class dining experience that showcases the very best of Devon's produce.”

The Farm Table is open seven days a week for lunch (12-3pm) and for dinner (6-9pm) Thursday to Saturday. The menu includes Darts Farm's iconic Ruby Red beef, dayboat fish and seasonal vegetables, all cooked over charcoal and accompanied by a huge selection of wines, beers, ciders and spirits from the cellar. 

For further information on The Farm Table and Darts Farm please visit www.dartsfarm.co.uk and follow Darts Farm on Facebook and Instagram.