Catch of the day: Enjoy Britain’s best restaurants with sea views

Friday 30 July 2021
The Crab House Cafe. A beach restaurant in Wyke Regis famous for seafood. A platter of fresh seafood. A cooked lobster in the shell, with a garnish and cut lemons. Evening light over the sea. A glass of chilled white wine.

Set in striking coastal locations and serving up a delicious mix of freshly caught seafood and sustainable produce, these restaurants’ dramatic views are as memorable as the dishes they deliver.

From sampling delectable lobster and crab fresh from fishing boats to relaxing to the soothing sounds of the sea, visitors can treat themselves to a meal at one of these bucket-list locations, for an unforgettable taste of Britain.

 

ENGLAND

Emily Scott Food at Watergate Bay Hotel, Newquay, Cornwall

Having initially launched with a pop-up at the hotel in 2020, chef Emily Scott returned in May 2021 with a permanent restaurant offering striking ocean views. Diners can expect a menu packed with fish, seafood and plant-based options, all meticulously sourced from Cornish waters and the local countryside. A retractable glass canopy covers the deck overlooking the beach, providing a relaxing environment for lunch and dinner throughout the year.

Opening hours: Open from Wednesday to Saturday. Lunch 12pm – 2.30pm, Dinner 6.30pm – 9.30pm.

 

The Old Boathouse, Amble, Northumberland

Twice named Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year at the Fishing News awards, The Old Boathouse occupies a former Royal National Lifeboat Institute building overlooking Amble Harbour. Offering local fish and shellfish caught via sustainable fishing practices in a rustic bistro setting, the menu features lobster, bread crumbed Hake and whole Seabass, as well as a sharing platter packed with the best seafood the region has to offer.

Opening hours: The Old Boathouse is open daily from 10am to 9pm (kitchen opens from 12pm).

 

Crab House Café, Wyke Regis, Dorset

Looking out over the beautiful surroundings of Chesil Beach in Dorset, the Crab House Café serves up a delectable array of fresh crab and other seafood from the English Channel. The menu is dependent on the catch each day, while the restaurant has access to its own Portland Oyster beds, providing a fresh and distinct taste.

Opening hours: The Crab House Café is open from Wednesday to Sunday, as well as on Bank Holidays. Lunch 12pm – 2.30pm, Dinner 6pm – 9pm (Wednesday and Thursday) or 6pm – 9.30pm (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

 

Dory’s, Margate, Kent

Overlooking Margate Sands, Dory’s is the sister of Angela’s of Margate, which is renowned for its seafood offering. Serving up a mix of ethically sourced seafood and vegetable dishes, Dory’s menu is dependent on what has been sourced on any particular day. With sustainability at its heart, this cosy seafood bar also serves up a selection of English and European organic low-intervention wines.

Opening hours: Dory’s is open from Thursday to Monday, from 12pm to 10pm (last orders at 9pm).

 

River Exe Café, Exmouth, Devon

The award-winning River Exe Café is a custom-built barge located in the Exe Estuary, delivering a unique dining experience out on the water itself. Only accessible by boat, including a Puffin Water Taxi from Exmouth Marina, diners can look forward to incredible views, a tranquil atmosphere and a menu featuring the region’s finest produce. Dishes include whole Brixham cracked crab, scrumpy cider and smoked bacon mussels, and a selection of seafood sharing platters. There are also daily specials and a wide range of local beers and wines.

Opening hours: The River Exe Café is open from early April to the end of September, from Tuesday to Saturday (12pm – 10.30pm), Sunday (12pm – 8.30pm) and on Bank Holiday Mondays (closed the Tuesday that follows).

 

Rockwater, Hove, East Sussex

Set on Hove’s seafront, Rockwater is a beachside dining destination from morning to evening, providing everything from coffee and snacks to brunch, cocktails, sourdough pizzas and fresh seafood. Walk-in visitors can relax on the beach deck, while the terrace restaurant requires advanced booking.

Opening hours: Rockwater is open daily. Sunday to Thursday (7am – 12am), Friday and Saturday (7am – 1am).

 

Gylly Beach, Falmouth, Cornwall

This family-run eatery on Falmouth’s Gyllyngvase Beach offers an abundance of locally sourced food against a striking coastal backdrop. Diners at Gylly Café can look across the bay to spy Pendennis Castle, a vast fortress built by Henry VIII, while also enjoying panoramic views of the Lizard Peninsula. Diners can get stuck into freshly prepared Cornish meat and seafood, with fishbar favourites including Gyllyngvase beach lobster, St Ives Bay scallops and mylor crab.

Opening hours:  Open from Wednesday to Sunday, 9am – late.

 

The Lobster Shack, Whitstable, Kent

A beach bar with plenty of seating for guests to sit down and admire the views, the Lobster Shack serves up an assortment of hot and cold seafood, as well as Kentish beers and wines. Located at East Quay in Whitstable Harbour, diners will enjoy a menu full of exceptional seafood and daily specials to accompany the vistas of the Thames Estuary. In a region famed for its oysters, visitors can also try lobster and prawn mac ‘n’ cheese alongside wine from the Chapel Down estate and beers from Whitstable Brewery.

Opening hours: The Lobster Shack is open daily from 11am to 9pm.

 

WALES

Langland’s Brasserie by the Sea, Swansea, Glamorgan

Spectacular views of Langland Bay go hand-in-hand with local Welsh produce at Langland’s Brasserie by the Sea, a glass-fronted restaurant, bar and terrace a short distance from The Mumbles headland. Standouts from the menu include the restaurant’s own beef burger topped with Welsh Perl Wen cheese, while specials often include the catch of the day and various seafood platters.

Opening hours: Langland’s Brasserie by the Sea is open daily from 11am to 7pm.

 

Coast, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

Purpose-built and with a terrace overlooking Coppet Hall Beach in Saundersfoot, Coast offers unparalleled views and plenty of tasty Pembrokeshire produce. The majority of the meat and fish is sourced locally, while the restaurant has its own kitchen garden seven miles inland which provides a range of seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs. Sparkling wines from Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire also feature on the menu. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

Opening hours: Coast is open for lunch from Thursday to Sunday (12pm – 2pm), and for dinner from Wednesday to Sunday (6.30pm – 8.30pm, which is the last sitting).

 

SCOTLAND 

Lobster Shack, North Berwick, East Lothian

Found within the scenic surroundings of North Berwick’s walled harbour, the Lobster Shack lets diners sample seafood purchased fresh from the fishing boats. Everything is ethically caught and visitors can watch as an array of crab, lobster, seabass and mussels are cooked to their liking. The restaurant also focuses on using sustainable and biodegradable materials throughout, helping to conserve the beautiful environment in which it is found.

Opening hours: The Lobster Shack is open on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 12pm to 6pm, and on Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 7pm.

 

Café Fish, Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides

Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull, is renowned for its brightly coloured cottages, but it’s also home to the award-winning Café Fish. Named among the top five restaurants to eat in Scotland by Lonely Planet, it’s found in a former ferry terminal building on the waterfront and all of its meat and seafood is sourced from the surrounding region. Visitors can catch the sunset on its terrace and sample some of the freshly caught lobster and langoustines that are brought ashore via its own fishing boat, named The Highlander, each afternoon. 

Opening hours: Café Fish is open daily from mid-March until the end of October, 11am – 3pm and 5.30pm - 10pm (last orders).

 

Loch Bay Restaurant, Stein, Isle of Skye

The best of the Isle of Skye’s seafood is delivered with a French twist at the 16-seater Loch Bay Restaurant, near the pier in Stein. As well as picturesque views of the Waternish peninsula, chef Michael Smith serves up a multiple-course ‘Skye Fruits de Mer’ set menu designed to showcase the best fish and shellfish caught in both the loch and the waters surrounding the island. Booking enquiries must be made online.

Opening hours: Loch Bay Restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday - Saturday from May to October and Wednesday - Saturday in November and December. There are two seating times, 6.45pm (for 7pm) and 7.15pm (for 7.30pm)

 

 Restrictions on travel to and around Britain are in place due to Covid-19. Visitors are encouraged to always check individual websites for the latest information, as details are subject to change.

For more information contact:

VisitBritain Media Team

pressandpr@visitbritain.org

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