Getting To Know: The Godfather of Westward Ho! Rob Braddick

Prominent businessman, prankster, publican, family man, owner of Westward Ho!’s haunted house, the man behind Crabby Dicks, no matter how you know Rob Braddick there’s no denying the impact he’s had on North Devon and Westward Ho! in particular.

This week Rob caught up with the Gazette as part of a new series of interviews with some of North Devon’s most interesting characters.

Rob, 52, has hit national and international headlines more than once. At a time when a number of seaside car parks introduced controversial ANPR cameras, Rob made national news when he decided to make his Seafield Car Park free to the public.

During the Covid-19 epidemic Rob kept spirits up when he poked fun at panic buyers, filling some of his arcade machines with rolls of toilet paper.

Rob’s business empire employs more than 170 people and includes restaurants, bars, a holiday park, amusement arcades and the legendary Seafield House.

We sat down with Rob to talk about growing up in North Devon, love, family, regrets and the fun he’s had along the way.

What was it like growing up in North Devon?

I loved it! I was born in Limers Lane in Northam and went to school at St Mary’s and then Grenville College. I loved riding my BMX down to Westward Ho! and working with dad in the arcades when I was a teenager on school holiday. I had a great childhood, Dad is 91 now and we’ve never had a cross word.

How is North Devon different now since you were a youngster?

In the pub game the younger generation don’t go out in the way we did when I was younger. These days they would prefer to drink at home, watch Netflix and save their money.

Did you have any heroes growing up?

When I was a youngster I was lucky enough to be taken by godfather Jack Mitchell to the US. I saw places in the US that really inspired me. Eventually Crabby Dicks in Bideford was born out of that inspiration. Without those trips I may never have got to where I am today. My dad’s always been straight and honest with people. He always had fun working and he often told me to be myself and have a giggle. You’ve got to love what you do.

Over the years you've been part of many different projects and businesses. Which did you find the most enjoyable?

I do enjoy working in Westward Ho!, taking care of our businesses and keeping things tidy in the village. I really do enjoy keeping our businesses up to date. Most recently we did up the Fairway Buoy, which was really fun. I have often helped out with Dr Robert Buckland’s Children’s Holiday Foundation. Going to Florida with children with critical, life affecting/ limiting illnesses and disabilities has been very rewarding. These trips really help to put things into perspective. It’s hard work but you come back and feel incredibly fortunate to have what you have and the people around you. These holidays also give the childrens’ parents a chance for some down time, they are always so grateful.

What do you do for fun?
Work has always been my source of fun but as I get older I enjoy spending more and more time with my family. I’ve been with Vikki since I was 15. I was at school at Grenville and Vikki was at Bideford College. She often walked past our classroom and one day while I was outside I saw her satchel strap break and rushed over to help. We’ve been married for 24 years now! We have always had a lot of fun together.

Favourite drink or cocktail?

For a refreshing drink after a long day I’ve got to go for Tribute ale. It’s just perfect and St Austell Brewery, another family business, have always looked after us. For a cocktail it’s got to be a Negroni (three equal parts Campari, Vermouth and Gin). I went to a great party once where they had a bar just selling Negronis. I tried one and now I’m hooked!

Favourite food?

It’s probably skate. Skate wing with some garlic butter and prawns is delicious.

Favourite films?

Jaws, I went to all the filming locations in Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts a few years ago. I also really like No Country For Old Men, every time you see it you see something new.

Favourite series?

I don’t watch a lot of television but the last proper series I watched was Game of Thrones.

Favourite book?

Misery by Stephen King!

Apart from Westward Ho! What’s your favourite spot in North Devon?

I’m partial to Saunton Sands. Vikki and I got married there. Plus I can keep an eye on Westward Ho!

Do you have a favourite business?

The Fairway Buoy. We bought it in 1995, it was my first proper job and I loved it. It's a great location to work as the view out the windows changes throughout the day and I never got bored watching the waves. I probably should've been working harder!

What do you think this area does better than anywhere else?

For me it’s the community spirit. People here are happy and really do look after each other.

What could and should be improved in North Devon?

The road network, the potholes are dreadful! We also need more infrastructure, a working NHS, more dentists and better access to GPs. Really it’s just trying to get the basics right.

You’ve made national and international headlines on a number of occasions, what was that like?

I think it was quite fun! The toilet rolls in the arcade machines made it to the American news. Watching it back on YouTube was pretty surreal. I have never had anything bad come out of it. The free car park also went down very well in the press and people still use it to visit the village.

Your business empire is mainly based in Westward Ho! What is it about the village that keeps you there?

It’s my whole life. I live near The Pierhouse. Loving the area you live in means wanting to look after it and the people who live there. In the eighties and early nineties Westward Ho! was really run down, look at it now!

What would you say are your proudest moments?

First and foremost getting married to Vikki! Also, finishing the refurbishment of Elizabethan and turning it into The Pier House in 2011. I was given free rein to do what I wanted. It was hard work but it was all worth it to see people enjoying what we had built. The building has been owned by the family for many years and I was proud to be able to put my stamp on it.

Do you have any regrets?

I had a restaurant next to Crabby Dicks called The Bight but sadly we just couldn’t get bums on seats. We just could not make it work with the space we had. It really opened my eyes business wise. A good friend of mine set me straight. He told me ‘the problem here is you just haven’t got enough seats’. You have to learn from experiences like that.

Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs in North Devon?

You’ve got to put the hours in. It’s going to be a hard scramble in the first few years. Put in the hours, have fun along the way and learn from your mistakes.