Our Story
Founded around 1720 as a coaching inn and later repurposed with sensitivity and care, The Salutation Inn has long been part of Topsham’s rich maritime and community heritage.
In 2012, local restaurateurs and residents Tom Williams-Hawkes and then partner Amelia, together with their family, took on the building, lovingly restoring it into the multi-faceted venue you see today: restaurant, rooms and fishmonger/deli.
Download and read: compiled by Ed Williams-Hawkes The History of The Salutation Inn (PDF)
Our Mission
We believe a great inn should be more than just a place to eat or stay; it should be a hub for its town:
- We work closely with local day boat fishermen to bring the freshest catch to our fishmongers and restaurant tables. Tom, who grew up with family ties to local fisherman, is passionate about supporting sustainable, small-scale local fishers and celebrating the full diversity of our waters.
- We source from the very best of Devon's farms and artisans — game, shellfish, vegetables and cheeses — all chosen to reflect the seasons and the land around us.
- Our fish shop and deli, SALT, was born during the pandemic to keep our community connected to local fishers and to ensure the freshest seafood remained available to our neighbours.
- We open our doors to everyone: from locals dropping in for a coffee, to guests staying in one of our rooms, to visitors joining us for dinner, or simply a glass of wine or cocktail in The Lounge.
- Plus our dedicated yoga and wellbeing space for the community — a room designed for yoga, Pilates, workshops and more that everyone can enjoy.
People at the Heart
Tom and Amelia are the faces, the hands and the heart of The Salutation.
- Tom’s culinary pedigree spans apprenticeships in Devon, service in London with leading chefs and a return home so he could lead the food vision here in Topsham.
- Amelia brings her hospitality background, travel-seasoned experience and deep love of the community to the front of house, the guest experience and the overall tone of the house.
- Together with their daughter Delphi, and their team who are more like an extended family than “staff”, they make sure The Salutation remains warm, welcoming and rooted in Topsham.
What We Offer
Food & Drink: Light-filled courtyard under a glazed atrium & cosy restaurant area for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu deeply rooted in local produce and fish from the estuary. Whether you drift in after a stroll through Topsham, stop by for a glass of wine, or settle in with light nibbles before dinner, the Salutation is designed as an extension of our home: relaxed, unhurried and rooted in genuine hospitality.
It is where locals feel at ease, guests begin their stay, and conversations naturally unfold beside good food and warm service.
Rooms & Suites: Six uniquely decorated en-suite rooms and one self-catering flat, designed for comfort and character, always with that warm, local hospitality touch.
Fishmongers & Deli (SALT): A place to buy the day's catch, enjoy a takeaway or pick up fine pantry items, keeping the community connected to fresh, local seafood.
The Studio in the Assembly Room
Upstairs, our grand Assembly Room provides a beautiful, historic setting with high ceilings and a sense of old Topsham charm. Now a space for Yoga & Pilates and small wellbeing workshops led by Amelia and guest practitioners — extending the spirit of hospitality beyond the table and into personal wellbeing and connection. This room is still available for private hire at selected times.
Why We Do What We Do
It’s simple: we love Topsham. We love the boats on the Exe, the farms of Devon, our neighbours and our guests.
By blending restaurant, rooms and fish shop, we hope to offer so much more than each standing alone. We believe in pulling our community together around food and hospitality — the catches brought in early morning, the tables filled with families and friends, the rooms welcoming overnight guests who wake to the quiet charm of Topsham.
Whether you’re popping in for lunch, staying the night or browsing our fish counter, you’re part of our story, and we look forward to welcoming you, personally.
With thanks,
Tom, Amelia & the Williams-Hawkes family
Team Salutation Inn