Meet the owner at The Beach pub and La Mar

Team-spirited, and with an eye and a nose for business, Maisie Dawson has owned The Beach pub since January 2022, and opened La Mar in January 2024. “I started as a pot washer at a very young age and then went into fine dining during my teenage years. In 1996, I had my first pub along with my brother, Jody, which we ran for a further 17 years. I then took some time out to be mum to my two sons,” she explains.

Originally from the New Forest, Maisie moved to Devon in 1996. “There is something very special about Exmouth and we love living by the sea. No matter what time of the year, the beach is always beautiful.”

Maisie places great importance on her team and considers her staff at The Beach and La Mar like part of her extended family. “I started the businesses with one chef and five part-time staff – and now have the most amazing team of five chefs and 38 staff. I work every day across both venues, and while I may be the driving force, I couldn’t do anything without my team. From the pot washers to the front of house, they all play a massive, valuable role in the operation of The Beach and La Mar.”

Maisie is on a mission to bring greater recognition to female chefs in the hospitality industry. “Lucy is my head chef at The Beach, and Cleo is one half of my dynamic duo at La Mar. When people talk to the chefs, they always approach the male in the kitchen first, not the female. I feel strongly that women in hospitality deserve to be noticed more – this outdated stigma of male dominance needs to change,” she says.

Visitors to the pub and restaurant can look forward to a warm, friendly atmosphere, locally sourced menus and entertainment. “At the Beach, we’re planning some big charity events in 2025, and hopefully another music concert in the marina in the summer. At La Mar, we’ll be hosting some amazing taster menu nights. And who knows, maybe opening another restaurant is on the horizon,” she concludes.

beachpubexmouth.co.uk

lamarexmouthmarina.co.uk