Beaches That Allow BBQs in South Devon

It’s getting to that time of year where the sun is shining and smell of BBQs fill the air. There’s no better place to spark up the barbie than at the beach and luckily, South Devon has plenty! Dining alfresco, tucking into a burger or some salty grilled halloumi, especially on a warm sunny day, is something us Brits love, so here’s a list of all the beaches in South Devon where BBQs are permitted! Of course, on beaches where BBQs are not permitted you can alway opt for a picnic or kick back and enjoy a takeaway from a local eatery. 

East Devon

From Exmouth to Seaton, the coast of East Devon is absolutely gorgeous, not to mention it’s part of the UNESCO Jurassic Coastline! Overlooking the River Exe, Exmouth has lovely sandy beaches, and further east, Sidmouth beach is backed by gorgeous red sandstone cliffs.

According to East Devon District Council, Barbeques are  allowed on all their beaches but must be removed when finished and disposed of carefully, which means they are prohibited from being put in the plastic waste bins. Part of The Maer, Exmouth and Lime Kiln, Budleigh Salterton have designated barbeque sites and are available on a first-come first-served basis. 

Please find the latest information about beach BBQs on the East Devon District Council website here.

Teignbridge

Visitors to beaches in Teignbridge are welcome to enjoy barbeques, but please don’t light any open fires, be considerate of other beach users and as always, take your rubbish home so everyone can continue to enjoy the stunning beaches in Dawlish and Teignmouth.

Beaches that permit BBQs are Red Rock Beach, Boat Cove, Coryton Cove, Dawlish Town Beach, Teignmouth Town Beach, Teignmouth River Beach (Back Beach), Ness Cove Beach, Holcombe Beach and Shaldon River Beach. The only beach which BBQs are not allowed is Dawlish Warren Beach as they have bylaws in place to protect the Nature Reserve.

Please find the latest information about beach BBQs in Teignbridge here.

South Hams

It’s a little more complicated in South Hams to dictate where to have a BBQ, there are only 5 beaches which are owned by the council and the rest are private. This means that you should seek permission to have a BBQ on any of the privately owned beaches.

However as gaining permission can be hard, a spokesperson for the South Hams Council has recommended that those who want to have a BBQ should do so outside of the busiest times, and away from other beach users and houses.

The beaches owned by the council and are therefore permitted to have BBQs are Slapton Sands, Salcombe North Sands, Salcombe South Sands, and small sections of Sugary Cove in Dartmouth, Bovisand and Beesands.

In the summer months, you are allowed to have a BBQ at Blackpool Sands and Challaborough providing it’s after 5pm, other beach users are not affected and it must not be on grassy areas. We must also advise that barbeques are banned at the beaches of Crownhill Bay, Wonwell, Mothecombe (Coastguards & Meadowsfoot), Lannacombe and across all the East Portlemouth beaches (Sunny Cove, Mill Bay & Fishermans Cove).

Find out more information about beach BBQs on the South Devon National Landscape website here.

Torbay (The English Riviera)

The English Riviera contains some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, making it the perfect backdrop for a romantic meal for two, or a social event with some friends.

Torbay Council have advised that people do not light fires or use single-use/disposable BBQs on their beaches as it can impact the environment. More information can be found here on the Torbay Harbour website. This is supported by advice from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service which does not recommend the use of barbecues in the countryside and at beaches: Barbecues | Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (dsfire.gov.uk).

If you want to enjoy some food on the beach in Torbay we'd recommend that you pre-cook your food and pack up a picnic instead. You can wrap your hot food up in foil to keep it warm or enjoy some cold salads instead; plus you won't have to deal with the hassle of ensuring the BBQ is correctly estinquished! 

Here’s some helpful tips to make sure you’re acting as respectfully and safely as possible if you choose to have a BBQ on any of the permitted beaches:  

1. Get a portable grill – whilst disposable barbeques are super handy, they aren’t great for the environment as they can’t be recycled or composted. They also contain charcoal which is typically unsustainably sourced. Opt for a reusable BBQ or enjoy a picnic with food that doesn't need to be cooked!

2. Don’t leave any rubbish on the beach and never leave a used BBQ as it can be very dangerous to other people or marine life. Put it in an appropriate bin or take it home so you can dispose of it correctly if you are not able to use a reusable one. 

2. Allow your BBQ to cool before disposing of it, you can use sea water or bottled water to do this – Don’t bury the BBQ in the sand, as it acts as an insulator rather than an extinguisher, meaning it can become very hot and dangerous for unsuspecting feet! 

3. Never leave your BBQ unattended - Ensure someone is always watching over your BBQ so that they can act quickly if they need to estiquish it.

4. Keep it simple - food such as halloumi and burgers are great on a barbie as they don’t take long to cook and it’s pretty hard to get it wrong. Chicken or fish, on the other hand, can be a little harder to know when it’s fully cooked, you don’t want to end up biting into uncooked meat! Make your meal a bit more interesting with side salads and even pre-cooked jacket potatoes which can be reheated on the grill. Reducing the amount you cook will also reduce your waste afterwards.

If you enjoy a Barbeque in South Devon, make sure to follow the guidelines above. The information included in this article is correct to the best of Visit South Devon's knowledge at time of publication. We always recommend checking in advance with the local council/authority or beach owner before heading down to feast. 

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