ROAM Is Bringing Farm-To-Table Dining To Devon’s Dart Valley

Devon vineyard Sandridge Barton has long been known for its award-winning English wines, but now food is being brought to the forefront too. A brand-new restaurant, ROAM, has just opened there, championing farm-to-fork dining which showcases the bountiful larder of South-West England.

A New Restaurant Has Opened At English Winery Sandridge Barton

At the helm is restaurateur Ian Alexander, whose CV includes Mayfair’s 57 Jermyn Street and North London institution St John’s Tavern in Archway. For ROAM, Alexander has brought in ex-St. John’s chef Sean Blood to run the kitchen, focusing on seasonal, local cuisine inspired by European bistros and Basque tavernas. Front of house is Miles Tuddenham, who has worked at the likes of Noble Rot, Planque and Norman’s Cafe over the years.

Provenance of ingredients is paramount at ROAM: think estate-reared meats, vegetables from the kitchen garden and other produce from nearby no-dig growers. Fresh fish comes from Wing of St Mawes, there’s cheese from Sharpham, charcuterie from Westcombe, and freshly baked bread from Hylsten Bakery.

So what’s on the menu? Naturally, dishes change often, but right now a meal might begin with small plates of taleggio flatbread with cod’s roe, pork shoulder terrine, and mackerel with fermented gooseberry and wild herbs. For mains, there’s dry-aged tuna au poivre and leeks, Cornish hen with smoked potato and chard, and sea trout with peas, followed by desserts such as caramelised brioche and vanilla ice cream. 

Of course wine is a big part too, with a wide selection on offer from Sandridge Barton, as well as beers from Bays Brewery. The vineyard produces an array of both still and sparkling wines including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. For those keen to delve deeper into the wines, many tastings and tours are available to book on-site.

Diners can enjoy all this amid a relaxed, light-filled space featuring pale timber wood and weathered planks – or soak up the sunshine on the terrace, which overlooks the rolling hills of the Dart Valley.

At the moment, the restaurant is open for lunch each day, but dinner will be introduced on Fridays and Saturdays later in the summer. Visitors should also watch out for guest chef events, which will spotlight up-and-coming chefs.

‘We’re bringing the energy and creativity that’s reignited the UK dining scene to Sandridge Barton, combining decades of experience with a genuine respect for place and produce,’ said Alexander. ‘ROAM is a restaurant built for now – a place with purpose, flavour, and warmth. And yes, really good food.’ 

Sandridge Barton is the home of Sharpham Wine, an English winery founded over 40 years ago by Maurice and Ruth Ash. Their nephew, Mark Sharman, joined forces with winemaker Duncan Schwab to create a unique range of wines, which have gone on to scoop up numerous awards.

The vineyard has always been based on Devon, but in 2022 it moved to its new HQ at Sandridge Barton, just south of the village of Stoke Gabriel. This included the launch of a new winery, plus a visitor centre, and three self-catering properties. Particularly special is The Boathouse, a restored 1850s home perched on the banks of the river. 

Regenerative farming is practised at the vineyard, with pesticides and herbicides banned, and initiatives are underway to protect rare species on the estate, including the creation of wildflower meadows and installing bat and bird boxes. The visitor centre, meanwhile, features solar panels and air source heat pumps, with an aerobic digestion waste system used throughout the site to further reduce Sandridge Barton’s carbon footprint. 

VISIT:

ROAM is open Monday – Sunday, 12 midday – 3.30pm. sandrigebarton.com