24 hours with... Deborah Clark

In 24 Hours With…we take a well-known local businessperson and ask where they go for lunch, spend their downtime and visit for inspiration or advice. 

Former City lawyer Deborah Clark and husband Tony Orchard own Burgh Island in Bigbury-on-Sea and Southernhay House boutique hotel in Exeter. Here, Deborah tells us what the city has to offer:

FOR BUSINESS LUNCHES

Harry's Bar, situated in Exeter’s Northernhay Gardens, is the best place to get steak tartare. But ask for the DIY version, not the pre-mixed! It's also quiet, discrete and has excellent staff. You can watch the backside of Exeter passing under the windows and muse on city living. Visit http://www.harrys-exeter.co.uk/ to find out more.

Southernhay House's private dining room can be found in Southernhay East. It is where I'd take a larger business meeting. It's comfortable, sunny and fully wifi-ed. Our food is simple and classic and it reminds me of lunching in the City in the ’90s. Visit http://www.southernhayhouse.com/ for more information.

Tyepyedong noodle bar in Sidwell Street is where I'd take an arty meeting. It serves Japanese and Chinese fusion and the noodle dishes are fresh, clean and taste very authentic. It's nice to find an independent ethnic place in town. Also, it's firmly off the beaten track so discretion is assured! Visit http://tyepyedong.com/tyepyedong.com_website/Homepage.html for more information.

FOR DOWNTIME

There's a recently opened tapas bar called Forn on Mary Archers Street. The owners Gemma and Simon are proper Mallorcans and offer real tapas and good wine. They do a Spanish fried breakfast that absorbs the fiercest hangover. Visit http://www.fornexeter.co.uk/

Southernhay House Bar in Southernhay East is my favourite place in Exeter to chill and observe. It's friendly and cosy during the day and then can be jumping in the evening. People-watching during the half-price cocktails on Fridays is an anthropological treat.

For meditation, I go to the gym. Exeter is a very sporty city so there's no excuse for not finding your choice of activity. I use David Lloyd at Sandy Park, which manages to be clean and modern while keeping a friendly village-vibe. I plug in my headphones for half an hour of cardio whenever I can. Visit www.davidlloyd.co.uk

FOR INSPIRATION/ADVICE:

Devon probably has more artists working here than any other county outside London. I regularly check out the Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton, Gloss Gallery in Barnfield Crescent and I'm keeping an eye on the TOPOS project in Sidwell Street. www.thelmahulbert.com ; www.glossgallery.co.uk ; www.vasw.org.uk

I’ve just bought an inspirational piece by Peter Randall-Page - surely the greatest sculptor working in the UK today? It's called Brimstone but I think it looks like the drowned brain of Zeus.

I love walking in cities. Exeter is great for this because it's small and diverse. Within an hour I can get from home in St Leonard 's, across town via Roman walls, gothic architecture, Tudor buildings and the Georgian quay. It's an historical feast. Visit www.exeterhistorysociety.co.uk to find more historical facts about Exeter.

The city's heart is the Cathedral, so no need to look elsewhere for inspiration when you have flying buttresses and a pure gothic form. For people of any belief, it's a quiet place to sit, maybe catch a choir practice and meditate. 

I'm also inspired by the Dean's plans for opening the Roman Baths under Cathedral Green - that would really put historic Exeter on the map.
www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk