New owner sought for leading South Devon restaurant

The Owl and the Pussycat, one of South Devon's leading destination restaurants, has been put on the market.

It occupies a Grade II-listed building just off the town centre of the coastal town of Teignmouth, which is eight miles from Torquay and 12 miles from Exeter.

It has built up a reputation for its modern British cuisine under head chef Nils Swindell, who trained under Rick Stein in Padstow and John Burton Race in Dartmouth.

The restaurant's emphasis on ethical and traceable ingredients won it an RSPCA Good Business Award in 2006 for its promotion of animal welfare. It is also a corporate sponsor of the Devon Wildlife Trust.

The restaurant comes complete with two-bedroom owners' accommodation on the second floor

The Exeter office Christie + Co is seeking offers of £450,000 for the restaurant freehold or, alternatively, £175,000 for a new 21-year lease with an annual rent of £22,000.

By Angela Frewin