Gay’s Creamery: Dawlish’s Century-Old Treat Haven

Walk along Brunswick Place in Dawlish, past the gentle flow of the Dawlish Water, and the scent of fresh baking pulls you towards number 20. That’s Gay’s Creamery, a bakery and ice cream parlour that’s been dishing out Devon comforts since 1925. This year marks its centenary, a quiet milestone for a place that’s woven itself into the town’s rhythm without fanfare.

The current owners, carrying on from generations before, keep the ovens hot and the freezers stocked, turning out treats that nod to tradition while tempting with a few twists.

Step inside, and shelves groan under jars of homemade jams, chutneys, and curd that make fine gifts for anyone back home. The counter, though, that’s where the real pull lies. Scoop up a 99 flake crowned with a generous dollop of clotted cream, thick and golden, or grab a takeaway cream tea: warm scones, strawberry jam, and that same cream packed in a box for brookside picnics.

The tables opposite, fixed by the water, invite a linger over buttery rolls slathered in jam or a slice of cake that’s still carrying oven warmth.

Savouries hold their own here too. Pasties come in beef and stilton, lamb and mint, or the classic Cornish, their pastry flaky enough to shatter under a fork. Then there’s the “cheesy pig,” a sausage roll topped with melted cheddar that locals swear by for a quick bite after a beach stroll.

Quiches and pies fill gaps for something heartier, all baked fresh that morning. It’s the sort of spread that turns a simple wander into an event, with the stream’s murmur as soundtrack.

The queue often snakes out the door, especially on sunny afternoons, but staff work it efficiently, taking orders down the line so no one starves waiting. That efficiency speaks to a place that’s learned its pace over a hundred years, serving holidaymakers and everyday folk with the same steady hand.

In 2018, Devon Live named it among the county’s top ten bakeries; last year, the Daily Mirror tipped it as one of England’s finest ice cream spots. Accolades aside, it’s the everyday pull that endures.

Gay’s Creamery holds a solid 4.4 out of five on TripAdvisor, drawn from 872 reviews. Most rave about the ice creams’ creamy depths and the pasties’ generous fillings, with one punter calling the clotted cream topping “holy.” Cream teas draw praise for their authenticity, and the variety keeps things exciting. A handful note smaller portions or price hikes lately, and one sour pasty tale stands out amid the glow. On Facebook, 96 per cent recommend it, echoing the warmth of a family-run gem.