Evening Standard

Damien Hirst’s latest work is about to be unveiled – in Ilfra­combe.

Number Eleven, The Quay, the artist’s long-awaited restaurant and bar, is tipped to transform the fortunes of the run­down North Devon resort It is hard to imagine a more tempting location: the three-storey converted inn overlooks a time warp harbour filled with fishing boats and surrounded by Victorian houses teetering on dark, plunging cliffs. Nevertheless, where the main culinary competition is cheesy fish pie, served under a ceil­ing full of brass cutlasses at The Smugglers, the venture represents a startling shift of gear……

North Devon’s cosiest winter spot has to be the furiously foaming Jacuzzi at Downe Cottages, a circle of luxuriously converted farm buildings within walking distance of the empty coastline beyond Clovelly. The gym and spa also has a sauna, steam room and treat­ments including Reiki and deep muscle massage – your best shot at erasing the after-effects of an ultra-bracing clifftop hike to Hartland Point.