11 of the best seafood restaurants in England

Famous for their crab pasties and mackerel ciabattas, The Crab Shed - a cute seafood joint that sits on the beach - uses fresh ingredients caught by the owner earlier that morning.

Make a beeline for Fowey for tasty local shellfish. Places like the Bridge Bistro offer plenty of freshly-caught and locally sourced mussels on their menus. Or opt for The Shack along the quay in Falmouth for an epic seafood platter that includes mussels, crab and plenty of fried delights.

Oysters are the perfect seaside snack whilst at the beach at Lyme Regis. Enjoy them at The Oyster & Fish House, run by renowned chef, Mark Hix. As well as these shelled beauties, the area is also home to seafood festival Food Rocks in September, which is dedicated to the fantastic produce of the southwest coast of England.

From traditional cod to calamari, there is nothing more English than the aroma of battered fish and chips covered in salt and vinegar. And where better to try this hearty cusine than at Millers in North Yorkshire, winners of the Fish & Chip awards back in 2018.

Sat on the Northumbrian coast is the tiny fishing village of Craster, famed for its fishy delights. One name that has remained constant throughout the 20th and 21st Century is Robson’s Smoke House, producing tasty oak smoked kippers for nearly 100 years.

Whether you prefer the sweeter white meat or the meatier brown, no crab is more esteemed than the East Anglian delicacy, Cromer Crab. Simply dressed, with a squeeze of lemon, it’s a true taste of the Fens. For an extra bit of pizazz, head down in August when the Cromer Carnival is on.

As if straight out of a children’s fairytale, this Cornish dish is made with whole pilchards whose heads look upwards towards the stars. Traditionally served on Tom Bawcock’s Eve in the village of Mousehole at places such as The Ship Inn, the pie commemorates brave Tom’s efforts of preventing famine by fishing in a terrible storm.

For a real taste of luxury, you can’t beat lobster. Dressed, grilled or in Thermidor, it’s a dish that is as much about the ceremony as the taste. Head to Margate where you can dig into some freshly caught lobster accompanied a bloody mary topped with an oyster at Buoy and Oyster before hitting the blue flag beach or exploring the Turner Contemporary Gallery.

If you want a holiday vibe and a huge range of seafood to pick at, then visit Mersea Island in Essex. The Company Shed has super simple décor but serves amazing seafood plucked straight from the sea and stocks fantastic wine from the local vineyard. Why not takeaway some of their oysters for a seaside picnic?

Dive into the annual Rye Bay Scallop Week in February to gorge on this medieval town’s famous delicacy. These plump pearly globules are celebrated and served up in a variety of ways in many local restaurants. Enjoy them with a silver of black pudding or accompanied with wild samphire.

Perched atop of the coastline in Whitburn you can find some of the freshest local seafood platters, complete with winkles, cockles, langoustines and more. Latimers has also won awards for their home-smoked salmon. Grab some takeaway pots and get rock pooling on the nearby beach.