#bideford

If you’re looking around Appledore, Northam, Westward Ho!, Bideford or the wider North Devon coast, Lux Haven may be worth knowing about.

Lux Haven looks at property, land and lifestyle opportunities with a local eye — not just what is for sale, but what a place could become.

For buyers, investors, developers or people looking for a different kind of life by the coast:

Bideford Water Festival returns on Sunday 6th September 2026, bringing colour, creativity and community spirit back to Bideford Quay.

This year’s festival will once again include the much-loved Cardboard Boat Races, where participants are invited to build their own boats and take to the water in one of North Devon’s most entertaining charity events.

The primary theme for 2026 is steampunk, giving boat builders the chance to let their imagination run riot with brass, gears, goggles, Victorian invention, eccentric designs and plenty of fun. Participants are also welcome to bring their own creative ideas to the event.

The festival is open to spectators, families, local groups, businesses and anyone who would like to take part. Whether you are building a boat, supporting a team, cheering from the quayside or simply enjoying the atmosphere, the day promises to be a lively celebration of Bideford’s river, community and charitable spirit.

The event raises money for local charities and is organised through the Rotary Club.

Potential participants are encouraged to visit the Bideford Water Festival website for details on how to enter, boat-building information and updates:

Date: Sunday 6th September 2026

Location: Bideford Quay

Theme: Steampunk

Main attraction: Cardboard Boat Races

This was taken during a feature shoot about a boxing club member who had received an MBE.

Nigel wasn’t the award story — but perhaps, one day, he should be considered too.

He was helping me build the studio environment inside the club: a canvas backdrop on freestanding light stands, crossbar support, a studio softbox from above, and a Nikon 250mm giving that compressed portrait feel.

But the technical setup is only half the story.

Nigel is one of those people who quietly does a lot for others. He takes people to hospital who might not otherwise get there. He helps where he can. He turns up. No fuss, no grandstanding — just a good egg doing good things.

Sometimes the best portraits happen just outside the planned frame.

Editorial Feature | Property & Hospitality

A recent editorial feature covering the reopening of The Patch in Bideford — a historic property brought back into use as a wine bar, restaurant and guest accommodation.

Produced and placed as part of Lux Haven’s editorial work.

See pricing for editorial features → Link

☕Locals queue before opening as the high street gets its long-awaited caffeine fix☕

When Alex and Clare first got the keys to the old shop on Fore Street, they thought it might take time for people to notice something new was coming. Instead, before the espresso machine was even plumbed in, locals were already knocking on the door asking, “Are you open yet?”

The pair behind Northam Coffee House say the support from neighbours and other traders has been overwhelming — a reminder that even small high streets can thrive when the community pulls together.

“People were asking for coffee before we’d even officially opened,” laughs Clare. “We were still setting up and there was already a queue!”

Since opening, the café has become a focal point for daily life in Northam — a place where residents stop on the school run, workers take their mid-morning break, and conversations flow across what Alex affectionately calls their ‘community table’.

“We’ve had so many people say ‘thank goodness you’re here,’” says Alex. “From the first day, the whole street’s been behind us — it’s been amazing.”

That local energy is matched by their ethos of keeping things Westcountry-sourced. The milk in every latte and flat white comes from Webbery Moo’s, a family-run dairy in Bideford producing free-range, deliciously creamy milk in reusable glass bottles. It’s also available to buy directly from the café, bringing farm-fresh sustainability straight to Northam’s high street.

“Supporting local is really important to us,” says Clare. “We’re behind the push for micro-economies, so we source our milk from Webbery Moo’s — not only is it great milk, but it cuts down on waste too.”

Inside, the space is bright and calming — big glass windows, soft wood, and that unmistakable smell of freshly ground beans. It’s the kind of setting Northam’s high street has been missing for years.

With regulars already forming and visitors coming from Appledore, Westward Ho! and even Bude, Northam Coffee House is proving that sometimes all it takes to revive a street is one good cup of coffee and a warm welcome.

Northam Coffee House 10 Fore Street, Northam, Bideford EX39 1AW Open daily from 7:30 am 📧 [email protected]