Popular North Devon fine-dining restaurant put on the market

An award-winning fine-dining restaurant in North Devon has been put up for sale after nearly 26 years under the same ownership.

Memories restaurant, located at 8 Fore Street, Northam, near Bideford, is being marketed by specialist business property adviser Christie & Co. The small restaurant has been owned and run by husband-and-wife team Brett and Naomi Stevens since it first opened on 18 October 2000.

ABOVE: Memories restaurant on Fore Street, Northam, has been run by the same owners since 2000

The couple announced their intention to retire and sell the business in a post shared on the restaurant’s social media channels in October 2025.

Memories is known for its intimate dining experience, serving just 12 guests per sitting, and is regularly fully booked several months in advance. The restaurant allows diners to enjoy food, drink and conversation throughout the evening without time pressure.

Located around a mile from Westward Ho! beach and The Royal Devon Golf Club, the oldest golf course in England and Wales, the restaurant attracts both local customers and visitors to the area.

In another social media announcement, the couple reflected on the early years of running the business. They said that when the restaurant first opened, they were unsure whether buying it would succeed and both took on full-time jobs alongside running the restaurant five nights a week and decorating the building to make it their home.

They later reduced opening nights to four per week to better balance work and family life, while continuing to maintain a strong reputation and loyal customer base.

Brett and Naomi said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to sell our successful business. For the past 25 years, we have achieved the perfect work-life balance, but the time has come for us to retire.

“We purchased the business in 2000, initially operating five nights a week, and our capacity was approximately 18 covers. Over time, we gradually reduced these hours and cover capacity to better accommodate our lifestyle and family commitments. Despite this reduction, we have maintained a high level of business, but there is still significant growth potential.

Christie & Co business agent Ryan Bassett, who is managing the sale, said the restaurant offered a range of future opportunities.

“I am really excited to be bringing Memories restaurant to the market. I believe it has the potential to attract a wide range of operators, from individuals seeking a unique, desirable lifestyle business to experienced operators who want to expand and diversify the restaurant’s offer. There is also strong potential to evolve the concept, perhaps transforming it into a café or a restaurant with a takeaway element. We encourage interested parties to get in touch for more information.”

The restaurant is on the market with an asking price of £340,000.