JOHN HENNEBRY, of South Milton, Kingsbridge, writes:

I recall the days when a walk to South Milton Sands was rewarded by being greeted by that wonderful character Rocky at his Beachhouse Cafe.

Rocky welcomed all his customers with genuine warmth and infectious humour – he rarely forgot a face.

Oh dear, how times have changed under the cafe’s new management.

Last Monday my wife and I, together with her sister and her husband, who were visiting us from Australia, walked to South Milton Sands and called in at the beach cafe for lunch.

Finding an empty table we sat down, only to be informed by the frosty woman serving the food that the table was ‘reserved’.

There was no sign to indicate such, and moving to the only other vacant four seats at a half-occupied table, we were promptly told that this was also ‘reserved’.

Again, no sign to say it was.

Since when did a cafe have reserved seats?

We left in disgust and walked on to Thurlestone, and on arrival at the Village Inn we received the warmest of ­welcomes – no reserved tables – and had a thoroughly enjoyable lunch. What a ­contrast.

As a local I felt ashamed and very embarrassed in front of our Australian visitors to the Beachhouse Cafe at South Milton. I certainly will not set foot inside there again while the present management ­continues to conduct its business in such a manner.