Short answer: Salcombe's estuary doubles anything launched over it, and by November the town has emptied — parking is easy and the waterfront is quiet. The Fortescue Inn is open from eight in the morning until midnight.
Salcombe sits on a deep estuary, and water reflects fireworks better than any landscape feature. Anything launched over it is effectively doubled, and the town rises steeply on both sides, so there are plenty of vantage points.
Malborough Playing Fields — Saturday 7 November. Salcombe empties out by November and does not run its own display. Malborough is the village one everybody goes to, and it is close enough to walk back from if you know the lanes.
Dates and times come from the organisers' own listings and the regional what's-on pages, checked in late October. Small displays are run by volunteers and can move or sell out, so confirm with the organiser before you travel — particularly for anything ticketed.
Going further afield, or the local one does not suit? Every confirmed firework display in Devon is on one page here, listed by date.
Salcombe in August is beautiful and rammed. In November the second homes are dark, Fore Street is walkable and the car parks have spaces. If you have only seen it in summer and found it too much, this is the visit to make.
The Fortescue Inn is the one to know — open from eight in the morning until midnight, away from the waterfront, doing mussels and well-rated fish and chips. The Victoria Inn on Fore Street is the family and dog choice. The Crab Shed remains the best meal in Salcombe and stays busy even out of season, so book.
Several of the better restaurants cut back to Wednesday-to-Saturday out of season — check before planning an evening around one.
Far easier than in summer, but the North Sands machine still takes coins and the signal is still poor. Bring change.
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