East
-the-
Water
Amenities in East-the-Water
For school, community centre, and church, see the Community
page. Other amenities provided for within the community are:
- doctor's surgery, with on-site pharmacy - the Wooda Surgery (+ Jhoot's Pharmacy);
- grocery stores - TESCO supermarket on Manteo Way, a SPAR convenience store at Barton Tors (twice rated nationally as in the top 100 convenience stores);
- places to eat or drink:
- The Royal Hotel; (traditional hotel);
- Pollyfield Community Centre (bar with limited opening and periodic community lunches), revised web site (under development at time of writing) and Facebook page.
- Bideford Railway Heritage Centre on the old railway station site (seasonal opening)
- The Blacksmith's Arms on Torrington Street
- take-away food - Silverbridge House (Chinese), and East of the Water (Chinese) on Barnstaple Street;
- hotel - The Royal Hotel;
- vet - Witten Park Vets (part of the Medivet Group) have a branch on the Alverdiscot Industrial Estate;
- post - there is a small Post Office (Sentry Corner Post Office) at Barton Tors (usually less busy than Bideford’s main one, but check opening hours);
- leisure equipment hire - Tidal & Trail Bicycle Hire;
- car servicing - Bideford Auto Services Ltd, JK Auto Tek, Warmingtons Garage;
- allotments - behind Pollyfield, provided by Bideford Town Council;
- building supplies - Jewson, Tamar Trading;
- car parks - Clarence Wharf pay-and-display in Barnstaple Street. Likely to close at some point in 2025-6, whilst the site is redeveloped, but the planned development includes reinstating some public parking), additional parking is available across the river;
- bus - the community lies on the North Devon Wave's route (Stagecoach 21/21A), providing regular services between Westward Ho! and Ilfracombe via Barnstaple. It is also served by the 15A, which runs between the TESCO site and Bideford Affinity, via Bideford Quay (see timetables on bustimes.org, or plan a journey at Stagecoach South West);
- taxis - several companies serve the area, including Number 6 Taxis, All Areas Taxis, Bideford Taxis;
- Stepping Stones provide preschool care
- Social media - East-the-Water's Facebook page.
A wide range of additional amenities are available on the western
bank of the river, just a short hop across the ancient Long Bridge,
including:
- Bideford Library;
- the Burton Arts Centre and museum;
- the Pannier Market;
- the Affinity Devon shopping centre retail park;
- Torridge Leisure Centre;
- additional schools (Kingsley School, Bideford College);
- several dentists (see NHS site's "Find A Dentist" page to search for a list);
- numerous shops, mostly on the Quay, in Mill Street, around the Pannier Market, and in the High Street (see Discover Bideford's list).
Among the other amenities lying within a reasonable distance of the community are:
- rail link - nearest station is in Barnstaple (9.6 miles), with bus connection (though this line only links to Exeter);
- major road link - easy access to the North Devon Link Road, which eventually connects with the M5.