The Plymouth Sound: Wednesday November 13
Armada Way latest; the best restaurant in the South West is right here; and what has been seen on the Sound? All here - with no pop-ups or obtrusive ads.
“Hidden Gem” wins another award
Judges described it as a hidden gem. The Fig Tree @36 was last night (Tuesday) named the best restaurant in the South West, at the Taste of the West Awards for 2024.
At a swanky ceremony at Westpoint, Exeter, restaurant owners Ryan and Tanya picked up their latest gong for their Admiralty Street eatery from BBC TV presenter Victoria Graham.
They say their values are “providing locally sourced food, professionally served in a relaxing, intimate and friendly environment.”
The restaurant gets its name from the fig tree growing in its courtyard.
Taste of the West judges said: “This was by far the best meal we have had in any restaurant for a long time. The staff, ambience and food were all superb. We will certainly be returning to this hidden gem.”
Armada appeal dismissed
Legal action by the Straw campaign group over Plymouth Council’s actions in Armada Way has today been dismissed by a High Court judge.
It means work will “pick up pace” in the coming months on the controversial redevelopment and improvement scheme that saw trees felled in the middle of the night.
Councillor Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth Council told us: “We are finally able to put the matter of the Armada Way felling of the trees to rest. The legal actions have cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.
“We know that there are some lessons to be learnt.
“It is now in the best interests of the city to put all our efforts and focus on sorting out Armada Way. We all need to move forward and create a city centre we can all be proud of, rather than dwelling in the past.”
Christmas countdown
The Barbican Christmas lights are switched on this Saturday (November 16) with what organisers are promising will be an afternoon of festive family fun with free activities and entertainment from 12pm to 6pm.
The identity of the “community hero” who will be switching on the lights has not yet been revealed. Nominees for the prestigious role were invited earlier in the year.
The festive event will span the Barbican and Sutton Harbour.
Scene on the Sound, by The Captain
The Beagle’s Maritime correspondent writes:
Looking out over The Sound early this week, you may have spotted an unfamiliar shape – the Trinity House flagship THV Patricia. Patricia is a multi-function vessel, capable of lifting and servicing navigational buoys, towing and surveying amongst other duties. She also has a large helicopter deck and can carry 12 passengers. I don’t know what Patricia is working on at the moment, but we do see her here in Plymouth several times per annum.
Trinity House was founded by Henry VIII on 20th May 1514 and is a unique maritime organisation, whose primary objective is the safety and welfare of the mariner. Trinity House has three main roles, as the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar, providing and maintaining a wide range of aids to navigation including buoys, lighthouses, lightvessels and the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) – the source of data that enables all our car and hand-held satnavs. It is also the UK’s largest-endowed maritime charity, spending around £4m each year on its charitable activities including the safety, welfare and training of mariners and the promotion of safety at sea, as well as being a Deep Sea1 Pilotage Authority. Many maritime studies students at the University of Plymouth are sponsored by Trinity House.
Maintaining the safety of the shipping lanes remains paramount. This means that the courses of channels have to be closely scrutinised, depths surveyed and the positions of buoys verified regularly to ensure the maximum channel width and depth. With busy ports along the South Coast and traffic passing along and crossing the busiest shipping lane in the world (the Dover Strait), the focus on safety of navigation is critical. The West Coast offers a different perspective with dramatic cliff tops, tempestuous seas and strong tides. Nevertheless the hazards to shipping remain the same. The deeper water around the Bristol Channel means there is a lower population of buoys and a greater dependence on lighthouses to mark dangerous off-shore rocks; Eddystone, Wolf Rock, Bishop Rock mark the dangers that lurk beneath.
If you were to be interested in a voyage on the Patricia, be aware that she will go where she is needed and you may well not be getting off at the end of your voyage where you expected to. Trinity House makes it very clear on their website that you are on a voyage, not a cruise. Whilst Trinity House cannot guarantee the exact nature of the work Patricia will undertake whilst onboard, it can guarantee a most fascinating, relaxing and comfortable voyage.
1As opposed to harbour pilotage – which in Plymouth is either the responsibility of the King’s Harbour Master or the Cattewater Harbour Commissioners
Watch the Birds
Plymouth branch of Devon Birds meets later this month (Saturday November 23) at Slapton Ley Bridge on Sands Road (SX 828 443). There is limited parking by the bridge but there are more spaces further along Sands Road as well as at the Slapton Sands Memorial pay and display car park. With the high tide expected at 11:00 the group will spend some time sea watching for bird and mammal species in the hope of catching a glimpse of dolphins, seals or even breaching whales. The beach has in the past afforded stunning views of Snow Bunting.
Spotted
Did anyone notice the new flagpole being erected on the Hoe yesterday (Tuesday)? Was it a replacement - and if so what happened to the old one? Or was this to fill in a gap in the line-up?
Answers and observations as ever please to: contactthebeagle@gmail.com
On the market
A two bedroomed ground floor flat in Citadel Road has gone on the market this week, priced at £210,000 and marketed by Julian Marks.
Meanwhile Pilkington Estates have listed a two bedroom penthouse in the Berkeley Square development near the Slug and Lettuce in Notte Street. It’s listed for £300,000.