CHARLOTTE SKIDMORE takes a trip to Topsham in Devon to see what it has to offer in the winter months

Great British Life: Make sure you try the exceptionally good food on offerMake sure you try the exceptionally good food on offer (Image: SUBMITTED)

Well-known and respected in the area for its food offering, The Globe in Topsham is one of St Austell Brewery's well-known inns with rooms.

Having our 18-month-old daughter along for the ride, it was incredibly handy that it now has a two bedroom self-catering apartment as part of its accommodation.

The accommodation is stylishly decorated, particularly in the apartment's eye-catching dining room. It is also modern, well-equipped and incredibly roomy - perfect I would say for a group of friends to get away, just a few feet from and incredibly good pub.

In fact the apartment is situated above the kitchens and whilst this means it isn't the quietest spot until they close, the lounge area has been cleverly placed on the top floor so that you can't hear the hustle and bustle below.

Great British Life: The apartment is stylishly decoratedThe apartment is stylishly decorated (Image: SUBMITTED)

I'd recommend perhaps popping any younger children on this floor if they go to bed early. There are televisions in both rooms so you don't have to miss out on your favourite programmes when they are asleep.

The apartment also has a washing machine and tumble dryer and a dishwasher - a godsend when you're on holiday and have a child! And free WIFI - a godsend when you have a husband!

The kitchen is the best equipped kitchen I have ever know in self-catering accommodation anywhere - it has literally all you could possibly need!

But I'd suggest if you stay that you don't just eat in the apartment all the time as downstairs some really great food is on offer.

The food

We had both a great breakfast in the pub's restaurant and a great dinner. Staff are extremely accommodating to all types of groups, including those with a hurricane toddler in tow!

Breakfast isn't included in the price of the self-catering apartment but can be booked separately. It's well worth it, with a varied Continental offering of fruits, meats, cheeses and pastries, alongside cooked options like haddock and poached eggs, a full English breakfast, eggs Benedict and much more.

At dinnertime the pub really comes into its own. I had a superb starter of fresh Devon mussels, followed by a succulent fillet steak and my husband was delighted with his Sunday roast beef. Even my daughter's chicken bites were tasty - proper chicken, not the horrible muck some other pubs seem to think children want. Unfortunately the clock ran out on toddler time so we didn't get chance to sample the fantastic array of desserts on offer.

Things to do in the area

Crealy Theme Park & Resort is a great day out for families with children or grandchildren.

With more than 60 rides and attractions, it is only around 10 minutes from Topsham. Offering a wide selection of outdoor rides and attractions, plus huge indoor soft and adventure play areas, there is something to do for the whole family, whatever the weather and our 18-month-old absolutely loved it. I was pleasantly surprised by how many rides she could go on.

There is also another side to the attraction, with domestic, zoo and farm animals to see.

It really is a great day out if you are in the area and to boot the food served at Blackbeard's Chicken Shack is homemade and delicious - far and above the standards of other theme park fast food.

Shopping

There are some lovely individual shops and a great antiques centre in Topsham to browse, plus you have Exeter just up the road, which, as a city, has all your High Street shops and department stores if that's more your thing. Be aware that when we went in January a lot of shops in Topsham were shut Monday and Tuesday.

Walking and cycling

The area is really pretty and great for a walk or cycle whatever the time of year - but wrap up warm in the colder months as that breeze can be icy! Take a route through the High Street along the Exe Estuary and stop off for a cream tea en route. Or walk towards Darts Farm around three miles away - it is an award-winning farm shop - well more of a shopping destination now as it has grown so much. It's a great spot to stop for lunch or pick up some fabulous freshly-made food to take back to your self-catering apartment.

Need to know

The Globe at Topsham can cater to families, couples, or single travellers and would suit any of them in the right accommodation.

There is no parking on-site but we found spaces in the local car park each day, charged at £3.50 for 24 hours. Book your room at theglobetopsham.co.uk