LOOE in Cornwall has seen a huge boost in visitors thanks to BBC series Beyond Paradise.
The BBC series starring Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton returned to screens in March.
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The two main characters, Humphrey and Martha originally met on the fictional island of Saint Marie in the original series Death in Paradise which was filmed in Guadeloupe.
Actors Kris and Sally later reprised their roles in the UK-based series, which filmed in Cornwall.
The series has attracted millions of viewers, and the town of Looe has since become very popular with fans of the show flocking there in the summer.
Talking to the BBC, Ben Palmer, chef and owner of the Sardine Factory in Looe, said: “Beyond Paradise has had a very positive impact on the town. People are visiting us more here, which is great.
“At the restaurant we have seen a massive uptake in bookings, which is fantastic.”
Mr Palmer’s business was featured in an episode on the show, although it was renamed the ‘Ten Mile Kitchen’.
He added: “People are coming down to visit us to see the set they saw on the episode, so we are very lucky and privileged to have been featured.
“And we’ve seen an uplift in bookings and I’m very positive that other businesses have too. We all need that at this time of year and it has been warmly welcomed.”
The spin-off to Death in Paradise started in 2023 and is set in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott.
The beaches of Looe and Fore Street which is near the East Looe River are popular locations.
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The Grade II listed Guildhall is what is used for the Shipton Abbott Police Station.
Martha’s restaurant, The Ten Miles Kitchen, is filmed in The Stables, Port Eliot House & Gardens, a cafe 20 minutes inland from Looe in the parish of St Germans.
For anyone wanting to take a snap of the TV cafe, it’s also a chance to stop in for coffee, brunch and a look over the garden estate.
According to Tripadvisor, other top places to visit in Looe include the Valley Vineyard, which has brilliant reviews of its wine tour and tasting, open between May and October.
One visitor wrote: “What a lovely find! Charming, informative and friendly. We had a wonderful time on the tour and tasting.”
Another guest, who said they had been on wine tours around the world, said this was “the best I have ever been on.”
Looe is also on the South West Coast walking path of Cornwall which stretches over 300 miles so is a great location for hikers.
For anyone wanting to explore the water you can hire boats, or take organised trips around the coast.
You can also go crabbing, and of course swimming – of which East Looe Beach is popular.
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Sun Travel Ventured Down To Looe For A Visit
I’M standing on the edge of a rugged clifftop looking out to sea, while the wind howls around me and ferocious waves crash on to rocks below.
We’re on the periphery of the old fishing harbour Polperro, in south east Cornwall, just a few miles from the ancient port of Looe.
My family and I have just walked half an hour along the scenic coastline from Park Holidays’ Seaview village where we are staying.
Grandad has managed to carry 18-month-old Jude on his shoulders the whole way.
He deserves a pint (or two) for his effort so we pile into The Three Pilchards to sink some local beer and tuck into ginormous portions of cider-battered fish and chips.
This pub is the oldest in the village and dates back to the 16th century. Inside, it is cosy, atmospheric and what my dad describes as “a proper pub”.
The garden terrace is where you’ll want to be though, with breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding cove.
Polperro itself, with its many ancient winding streets and white-washed houses, is charming.
The salty smell of the sea air and the wobbly old-fashioned houses evoke a feeling of how the town was centuries ago — fishermen coming back after a day at sea, heartily downing their jugs of ale and singing their shanties.
Hidden away on a pretty stretch of the rocky Cornish coast, we feel isolated from modern life. There are no Ubers here, but local taxi drivers are speedy and cheap.
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