Some of your may have followed my recent trip to the Dorset / Devon coast over on Instagram Stories, when we stayed just outside Lyme Regis for five days. In between enjoying the beaches and the lovely Easter holiday weather, I managed to get to a few of the shops and cafes I’d been desperate to visit, as well as discovering some new little gems. If you haven’t visited this part of the south coast, it is most definitely worth the trip; here are a few of the top spots I recommend shopping and eating at…
Ryder and Hope, Lyme Regis
Ryder and Hope are a 91 Magazine stockist based in the heart of Lyme, and I’m not ashamed to admit that for ages I have wanted to see that pink sink in person! It didn’t disappoint and I spent ages browsing every corner of the shop. The store is filled with beautiful items from independent brands such as MOA, The Basket Room and Arran St East, as well as stationery, books and plants.
Swim, Lyme Regis
If you have our latest issue, you will probably recognise this place as it was featured as our restaurant tour. As soon as Kath (our ex-su editor and now contributor) suggested this place, I knew I had to have it in the magazine AND pay it a visit! I didn’t make it to the shoot that photographer Maria Bell did for us, so I was so pleased we could fit it in to our family holiday. Located right on the seafront, Swim’s interior is gorgeous plus it didn’t disappoint in the food department. We went for breakfast and I had the french toast & fruit, although everything on the menu sounded amazing. A must if you are in the town.
Lyme Bay Cafe, Lyme Regis
On the same day, we ate lunch in an equally scrummy cafe – the Lyme Bay Cafe. The weather was lovely and we were lucky enough to bag a table outside overlooking the sea. I didn’t get many photos inside due to where we were seated and it was also very busy, but the interior is lovely with a modern industrial vibe and nice touches, like my favourite La Eva hand-soap in the bathroom. Food was really tasty – I had the crab sandwich in a pretzel bun – delicious.
Rise, West Bay
One of our days out took us to Bridport and West Bay where I didn’t have much luck on the shopping front. I managed to completely miss Yellow Gorse on the high street which I was gutted about when I realised as I love their products and the shop looks stunning – get a peek here. Also, Old Albion was on my list, but after a bit of a long hunt to find it, we discovered it was closed. Thankfully, we did find Rise – the sister cafe of Swim. It is in a lovely location in West Bay, surrounded by water, with lots of natural wood, colourful textiles and plants – right up my street! We had already eaten, so we just pop in for coffee and ice cream – a lovely spot to rest your feet whilst exploring the area.
Holy Water Apothecary, Beer
Holy Water Apothecary was a complete chance discovery after we took a little excursion to the village of Beer. I spotted the shop front as we drove in the village and made a bee line for it immediately! Inside did not disappoint, with a lovely mix of some of my favourite brands as well as a few new discoveries. Owner Alyssa was incredibly welcoming and in fact, we have a Shopkeeper Spotlight post coming up soon, so look out for that to hear more about her story.
Collate, Axminster
Another of our morning drives took us over to the town of Axminster, where we had brunch in the River Cottage Kitchen, before popping into Collate for the browse. The original black and white tiled floor has been restored by shop owner Naomi, who explained during the shop’s previous incarnation as a pharmacy the floor had been covered over! Naomi curates a unique collection of vintage and antique pieces alongside handcrafted items from local makers. There were lots of lovely finds, from ceramics and textiles to skincare and books. A lovely shop that’s a little bit different.
Rousdon Village Bakery, Rousdon
Our accommodation was actually in Rousdon, about 5 minutes drive from Lyme Regis, and we’d noticed a bakery that appeared to be located in an old petrol station which was always busy when we drove past. So, after a local recommendation that added to our curiosity, we decided we should pop in before we made the journey back to Surrey. The actual bakery itself was lovely, although had pretty much sold out of everything by the time we made it there! But, adjacent to food area was this lovely retail space, which I was instantly drawn to – quickly forgetting the lack of pastries next door! It felt very relaxed (in fact I wasn’t even sure where or how to purchase anything if I’d wanted to!) with a lovely array or cookware, ceramics and utility items.
Dean’s Court, Wimborne
To break up the drive home, we decided to stop off in Wimborne. We didn’t spend long there, other than a little visit to the cute model town there which my 4 year old loved, followed by lunch and a browse at Dean’s Court. The shop here is a lovely space housed in an old squash court with a really eclectic mix of homeware, beauty, and some clothing, mixing one off vintage finds with independent brands. I didn’t leave without treating myself to a few goodies and even my other half bagged himself a lovely vintage workwear style jacket. The perfect way to end our trip!
I really enjoyed exploring this part of the UK – it has a perfect mix of places to feed the design lover within me, but also lots for outdoor types and kids with the stunning coastline and scenery. Thank you Jurassic coast! We will be back!
