Jaki and I are staying at Cofton Farm Campsite for a few days so Tuesday evening we wandered down the Lane into the village of Cockwood where there are two pubs, The Ship and The Anchor.

We stayed here a few weeks ago so we have already checked out the two pubs and we have our preference.

Both are great Pubs with a long standing reputation for excellent food as well as a good selection of Beers and Ciders.

The anchor is sited right on the road that winds it's way around Cockwood harbour on its way to. Dawlish Warren. Hugging the coast and the railway line that forms the breakwater.

It has a lovely little terrace at the front which is covered and has sufficient heaters to keep people warm on all but the coldest nights.

The Anchor is a long single story building made of stone with a more modern two story extension on the end where in the past, we've sat and listened to live music whilst feasting on Fresh Seafood, some thing they specialised in.

The door to get into the pub is very narrow and I often wonder if it's accessible to all customers?

Inside the bar area has small sections, like little rooms with one or two tables of different sizes in each. They aren't separated off from each other completely so you still get the Communal atmosphere of a pub, but it's more intimate and you have your own space. It's like sitting in some ones dining room after a meal, or perhaps in our case, before.

In the little area we chose there was a tiny wood burning stove that radiated a lovely warmth (though I wonder if it got too hot later) and the smell of wood smoke and soot added to the Christmassy feel.

They had put up their Christmas decorations and they've gone completely over the top which in my book is spectacular. The old pub with its nooks and crannies, old lights and several mantel shelves lends itself to Christmas beautifully. gold baubles and greenery was draped over every hook and every available space shouted Christmas.

We sat at a small table that had been reserved by a family who apparently come in at the same time every week and always book the same table. Dot and Ann beware!

Most of the tables were booked but early evening there were only a few people having a drink.

It's a local place, always has been. People who live in the village or in the surrounding area use it all year round, though in summer it's full of tourists.

Whilst ordering a drink last night I got talking to a guy who lived in Dawlish Warren and he couldn't stop telling me what a great pub this was .

We chose not to eat here this time.

Last time we stayed we ate in the Ship and as we hadn't booked a table we were put in a little room away from the bar. It was a bit soulless, we were the only ones sat there and we may as well have stayed in.

The food is good, they don't offer the range of Seafood they once did though there was still plenty on the menu.

It's probably slightly more expensive than the Anchor but it's only pennies, so it shouldn't be a deal breaker. It's really about the menu and the environment.

If you book early, chose I good table this is as good as any but if you leave it late, your put somewhere less appealing.

We walked the short distance away from the harbour to the Ship where we were offered a choice of tables and we chose the one nearest the bar, Jaki was sat on a bench with her back to the window.

The pub is in effect one big room sub divided into three main areas. There is a sort of dedicated dining area to the left of the door as you walk in, the bar area to the right and a further dining area at the back. This is separated from the bar by a partition that gives the feeling of separation without being shut off.

It's a much brighter, well lit pub though it still has a lot of quirky character of an old building and lots of reminders of the sea and it's fishing heritage.

We have been coming here for years and in the past we had friends who lived in the village. Many of them made their living from the Sea. Some were in the Royal Navy, some were in the merchant Navy, there was a deep sea diver who worked on the rigs and lost everyone had a boat of some description.

It was always great around Christmas as so many of these seafarers came home for the festive period.

They had also trimmed up though their decorations were far more conservative but it still looked festive.

We like the menu here slightly better ( though I prefer the beers and Ciders at the ship) it has man food, like Faggots, liver and Bacon and my all time pub favourite, Gammon egg and Chips!

Sadly the only thing they didn't have available on the menu was the Gammon so we both went for the Chicken and prawn Laksa which we chose to have extra spicy. (£14.95).

When it came it looked and smelt delicious.

It was like one of those slightly creamy Thai soups with plenty of large prawns and hunks of Chicken breast in a creamy soup that was indeed spicy. The flavour was excellent and I was surprised that a pub could produce a speciality dish like this to such a high standard. Incredible.

Jaki ordered bread on the side as a way of soaking up all that flavoursome juice but when the fresh baked roll arrived it was a little late, so they knocked it off the bill.

With a bottle of Merlot (£18) which we failed to finish and took home the total bill was £47.90 which isn't cheap but not overly expensive. The cafe on site is about the same price but I don't know how good the food is?

Walking back up the lane in the dark Jaki realised she'd lost her hat so we had to back track expecting to find it in one of the pubs.

Luckily we spotted it in the road well before any passing traffic had squashed it like roadkill.

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