Word From The Editor

February is here and love is in the air! That’s right, Valentine’s is nearly upon us – and what better way to celebrate than taking your beloved (or the person you are trying to impress) to one of Ilfracombe’s many fantastic restaurants? Our town has a well-earned reputation as a foodie destination, but the last couple of years under the cloud of the pandemic will have been tough on many restauranteurs. There’s no better way of endorsing them by getting out there and eating their delicious food, so why not book a table and maybe even try something new this year? Speaking of the local economy, Ilfracombe had a visit from the man at the very top last month when Chancellor Rishi Sunak came to town. He visited the Pall factory on Station Road to hear all about their vital role in the production of several covid vaccines and also the massive investment taking place there (see page 10 for the full story). It’s fantastic to hear they will be providing more jobs for local people – and whatever your politics, it never hurts to have the top bods drop by to see what wonderful work we are doing in this picturesque little corner of the country. Sticking with the economy, this month we also hear from two local men with a passion for all things paranormal who think Ilfracombe’s spooky history could hold the key to prosperity. Mark Langworthy and Huet Bartels have set up Devon Ghost Tours with the hope of bringing paranormal enthusiasts to the town from around the UK – as well as introducing locals to the somewhat unusual art of ghost hunting. Hat’s off to them, it’s creative thinking like this that will encourage visits from people who may not have been to the town - or even this part of the country - before. Top work guys, just make sure you keep the ghosts contained, yeah!

The Ilfracombe Magazine