Britain boasts some of Europe’s finest seafood. Nothing’s sweeter than devouring it at the source, right by the water.
From plump Scottish scallops to meaty Norfolk crab, Britain boasts some of Europe’s finest seafood. So make the most of it by tucking into super-fresh morsels beside a watery horizon studded with bobbing boats and surfers. Sunny skies aren’t guaranteed, but even the blustery days are brightened by the top-notch cuisine.
Is it Cornwall or the Caribbean? On a hot summer’s day, when waves roll smoothly across rambling, golden Watergate Bay beach, it can be tricky to tell. Take it all in from this window-lined hotel restaurant, where chef Emily Scott dishes up cracking sea-focused plates. British flavours are celebrated – think vodka-cured gurnard with buckthorn or earl grey panna cotta – and the sunsets are legendary.
watergatebay.co.uk/eat/restaurant-emily-scott
Set moments from a chain ferry on an unassuming nature reserve dotted with heathland and ringed by soft beach, Shell Bay might not seem like somewhere you’d come for fine dining. But that’s exactly what you’ll get, alongside floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of Dorset waters and islands. Wash down the Poole Bay oysters and skate wing with burnt caper butter with sparkling Bride’s Valley wine made just a hop away inland.
shellbay.net
Beyond its grassy marshes and broad windswept beaches, Norfolk is home to some of the country’s most superb shellfish – rock oysters from Brancaster, cockles from Wells, crab from Cromer. This former brick kiln set just off a walker’s coastal route serves up fresh Weybourne-landed lobster, drenched in garlic or simply grilled. When the sun is shining, snag one of the picnic benches outside to feast in view of the North Sea.
rockybottoms.co.uk
Strap on your walking shoes – all these British restaurants are primely placed for some brilliant coastal walks. Just want to unwind? Shell Bay is also only a ferry ride away from one of Britain’s best beaches, Sandbanks.
