999Today food critic Natasha Heard lifts the lid on the villages' two pubs - The Kings Arms and The Laughing Monk.

The Kings Arms
The South West Coast Path runs right past the Kings Arms and visitors to the pub can enjoy stunning views of Start Bay from the patio, garden and dining room. The motto in the kitchen is "keep it fresh, keep it simple" and its an approach that has won it many accolades. The Kings Arms features in many of the top restaurant and Gastropub guides including the Egon Ronay guide which declared: 'This is wonderful cooking…. accurate, assured, done with love and reverence' The menu is full of locally sourced produce and changes with the seasons. Seafood is a speciality here and much effort has gone in to creating a varied wine list to compliment the food.

- The Kings Arms, Dartmouth Road, Strete, Devon, TQ6 0RW. Tel: 01803 77037, web: www.kingsarms-dartmouth.co.uk

The Laughing Monk
Housed in a former school dating back to 1839, the Laughing Monk changed hands in 2008 and the new owners are looking to build on the restaurant's impressive reputation for fine dining. The restaurant has scooped many top awards under the previous owners, including 'South Hams Restaurant of the Year'. It is also listed in the prestigious Good Food Guide. The new owners say they will offer quality English and French-style cuisine using locally sourced produce where possible. Located close to the village church, the child-friendly Laughing Monk offers a spacious 60-seat ground floor restaurant and parking to the front. Open: Tuesday to Saturday and the first 2 Sundays of every month. Lunch from 12 noon - 2pm and Dinner from 6.30pm - 9.30pm.

The Laughing Monk, Totnes Road, Strete, Dartmouth, TQ6 0RN. Tel. 01803 770639.