Brixham is a charming town on the Devon coastline that could be the ideal destination for your next getaway. That’s because it differs significantly from your typical British seaside resort.

It offers far more intrigue, beauty and surprises than the usual coastal fare. Today, Brixham draws tourists to the most southern point of the English Riviera – and certainly the most picturesque – with its promise of sandy shores, affordable pubs filled with boisterous mariners and a replica Golden Hind galleon. Nevertheless, historians will remind you that Brixham first gained prominence when William of Orange brought his forces ashore there in 1688, before advancing to London to seize the crown and ensure the Glorious Revolution became a “big success,” reports the Mirror.

Alongside revolution, Brixham’s heritage centres on fishing. In 1804 Parliament sanctioned the building of its fish market, which expanded to become England’s largest

During that era, 270 sail-powered decked trawlers and 1,600 fishermen braved harsh conditions to bring ashore thousands of tonnes of fish, which steam locomotives transported along the railways to the Capital. Two centuries later, a post-Covid online auction system enables purchasers worldwide to order from the £25 million worth of catch landed each year at England’s most valuable fish market.

However, for travel reporter Milo Boyd, and he believes most tourists who discover Brixham, it isn’t the Royal links or fishing industry that make the town a wonderful place to explore. It’s Brixham’s stunning appeal, and how much residents adore celebrating.

Brixham’s beauty is undeniable. Milo and his wife stayed in the Petite Maison apartments above the quayside, waking up each morning to the idyllic scene of fishing boats bobbing on water illuminated by the rising sun like a rainbow oil slick.

Brixham ascends 100m on both sides of the quay, with rows of cottages nestled on the hillside. Traditionally, these were painted different colours so sailors could find their way home on foggy days at sea (or so a taxi driver told us).

In recent years, the Light Up Brixham community group has encouraged homeowners to paint their properties pastel. The result is an exceptionally picturesque place that bears more than a passing resemblance to Balamory.

While most will visit during the summer when Brixham’s quayside fish and chip shops, rock shops and arcades are fully staffed and bustling, a winter stay presents an intriguing alternative.

Thanks to Light Up Brixham, the town is adorned with Christmas lights throughout the festive season, transforming it into a twinkling beacon of fairy lights and waving Santas that returning fishermen would struggle to miss even on the stormiest of nights.

In November, the town gathers to remember those who have perished on the waves, paying their respects to the sound of Abide With Me, which was written by local Reverend Henry Francis Lyte weeks before his death.

“One of the most moving moments of the year for me is Remembrance Sunday when the town band plays Abide With Me and it coincides with the lifeboat going out to sea to lay a wreath for the merchant navy seamen lost at sea,” explains local Paul Jolly on the Brixham Today podcast.

Visits to Brixham have transformed considerably in recent years. The seaside town once boasted three holiday parks, including a Pontins facility, which shuttered in 2014 and was later ravaged by arsonists.

These days, extended caravan holidays have given way to short breaks in Airbnbs and boarding houses. However, this doesn’t mean Brixham’s vibrant spirit remains closed off to visitors.

A strong sense of community thrives within the town’s drinking establishments, which rank among the liveliest and most boisterous he has encountered in ages.

On Friday evening, local funk pair The Schofields energised The Bullers, encouraging patrons into impromptu Cossack dancing with a slap-bass rendition of Rasputin.

Twenty-four hours later, guitarist Oli Syrett motivated Golden Anchor regulars to provide backing vocals for AC/DC’s Thunderstruck.

Following his acoustic finale of Insomnia, we ventured to Liberty – a cocktail establishment where staff will imprint your wife’s photograph onto her beverage for a mere £1.50. The festivities extended to more unexpected venues.

Coinciding with the Tory Party Conference in Manchester, Milo and his wife chose to abandon their usual principles and sample the Brixham Conservative Club. There, the 80 and 90-year-old musicians of Odds and Ends brass band performed a selection of 60s and 70s favourites as patrons enjoyed £3.50 pints whilst disco lights danced overhead.

Our venture into unfamiliar political territory came to an abrupt halt when two amiable gentlemen from Herefordshire cornered us on the banquette, enquired whether we were “young Tories” and proceeded to outline why Keir Starmer was “rotten to the core”.

Milo and his wife made their escape for supper at the delightful Olive on the seafront. The tapas-style establishment boasts a vibrant ambience, an exceptionally comprehensive wine selection, and arguably the finest grilled halloumi Milo has ever tasted.

The following morning the pair recovered from our sore heads and ventured out to sea at 6.50 am aboard the Dolphin Explorer, for a cooked breakfast and some porpoise watching – all for £12.50. They had been welcomed along by a delightful local we encountered during an extraordinarily boozy pub and restaurant tour in Torquay the previous day.

“It’s my birthday in two weeks,” she revealed whilst topping up four glasses with bubbly as the sun climbed above the horizon. “What people need to know about Brixham is it’s a drinking town with a fishing problem.”

How to visit

The official English Riviera website offers numerous recommendations on accommodation and activities.

The railway journey from London takes three hours from Paddington to Torquay, with a 30-minute coach connection linking Torquay to Brixham.