A MAJOR Teignmouth landmark venue is being taken over by local award-winning, café operator and environmental champions, The Venus Company.

It has acquired the lease of the Captain’s Table at The Den on Teignmouth seafront.

The opening will end a 10-year pursuit of the site by the family business which long ago identified it as being a prime location for one of its thriving cafés.

Venus, which runs cafés at Bigbury on Sea and Broadsands in Paignton, aims to be the greenest café operator maximising the use of locally sourced ingredients in its dishes, having no single-use plastics and using home compostable plates and cups.

Director Michael Smith said: ‘We are delighted to be able to open another Venus café and to do so in such a great location within Teignbridge.

‘Our goal is to provide a range of quality, good value produce, with a menu similar to Broadsands, and to provide customers with a friendly environment where they can relax and enjoy the wonderful coastal views.’

Director of Captain’s Table Peter Royle wished Venus well.  ‘We are pleased to have selected a local company to pass the baton on for operating this superb site, especially after the time and dedication that we invested into refurbishing the site to its present standard.  Changes in family circumstances mean that it is no longer practical for us to continue as the operator but we are confident that Venus will deliver an outstanding service.”

Teignbridge Executive Member for Estates and Assets, Cllr David Palethorpe welcomed Venus to Teignmouth and wished the new venture every success.  ‘We are really pleased that Venus has been able to take over the lease and to provide what I am sure will be a wonderful service for residents, visitors and holidaymakers.

‘A thriving café such as Venus is good news for the Teignmouth economy, providing local jobs, buying local produce and supporting by its actions the council’s environmental net zero ambitions.’

Venus twice won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development for ‘providing the best al-fresco Mediterranean-style dining experience in a UK beach setting whilst integrating environmental and social care into every business decision’.