Warm up in Southend
Mussel soup served in a cottage bread Peterbot Leigh-on-Sea, Southend is to die for (£19.95). So is the prawn and chorizo linguine for £17.95! The location is fantastic, right on the sea wall, and the service is always excellent. It’s so easy to get to by public transport that customers can enjoy a glass of wine from their extensive list.
Carolyn Simpson
A vibrant experience in Margate
On a gloomy and windy January evening, right next to the marina, I ate a risotto. Sargasso The wine bar in Margate that lifts my soul – earthy kale, springy grains and plump sea purslane full of ocean remind me of Borneo Latok. Excellent local wines and the quince rice pudding brought me to tears. Three-course meal and a glass of wine with a perfect playlist for £50, because ambience is everything.
Chemok
Warm fires and soup in Bangor
Walk the North Down Coast Path from Holywood to Bangor, Co Down and have a great clam chowder. Jamaica Inn or choose a small portion of soup and fish and chips or fish pie. There are sea-facing views even on a rainy day, and a cosy fire to relax in before continuing on or catching the train back to Holywood or Belfast. Main courses cost around £15-18, small plates £6.50-9.
Caroline
Delicious Dungeness
Lighthouses, a lifeboat, the world’s smallest passenger steam train, old fishing boats and protected pebble banks called “the desert” can be found in the unique place called Dungeness. The only road leading in and out is half way Snack Shack. Don’t be put off by shipping containers or unusual seating arrangements; just eat the fresh catch of the day and you won’t be disappointed. The menu, from £2.50, includes fishmonger rolls, warming soups and full plates.
Tracy
Vegan ‘fish’ and chips in Brighton
“It’s time to stop draining the oceans” No Catch Brighton uses the slogan: there you’ll find really nice ‘tofush’ of different kinds (‘whiting’, ‘prawn’ or ‘squid’). Lots of places now sell tofush, but No Catch is different as it’s significantly less oily – it feels nicer and is probably healthier. Grab a box, cross the road and enjoy the beach in Brighton without contributing to the ocean’s discarded fishing nets. You won’t regret giving it a try.
Aspect
A magical Sunday roast in Cumbria
Life Saving Inn In Maryport on the Cumbrian coast, they asked me what meat I wanted with my £10 Sunday roast. Well, I shrugged, so they gave me one of each, then asked if I wanted Cumberland sausages or homemade pie. But I had to leave room for the roast, Yorkshire puddings and a choice of six vegetables and six sauces. The backdrop of the working harbour, the Solway Bay and the magically floating Isle of Man whetted my appetite to finish in no hurry. A welcome beer matched the welcome and service. There was no website but there was Facebook, and we hadn’t even made a reservation.
Jonathan Bradley
Spicy fusion food on the Cornwall coast
Perfect Asian fusion food is not a contradiction. Bango Kitchen In Falmouth’s more extreme sister town, Penryn. Spicy Malaysian fishcake bao buns and a deeply satisfying shiitake mushroom dim sum ramen sizzle from the kitchen, while boats rise and fall in the tidal mouth framed by the back window. Living on the north coast, I make a weekly excuse to cross the country for sushi. Small plates start from £9; mains less than £20.
Emma
Delicious delights on the sand dunes of Anglesey
Among the dunes, the Oyster Catcher in Rhosneigr (Ynys Môn) on Anglesey has plenty of parking, three bars, a restaurant and plenty of outdoor space so the whole family, including the dog, can enjoy the sandy scenery. We visited by chance and were blown away by the location, the enthusiasm of the staff and the quality of the food, which has plenty of vegetarian and vegan options (e.g. Pat’s Shack Tofutastic, £12.50; Dune Dog sausage sandwich and bun, £10). We now take our friends to brag about the flavours of North Wales. @oystercatcherandwillsbar
Jacqueline
Big Suffolk skies and runny egg scones
Our favorite thing Suzie’s Beach Cafe On the promenade in Southwold, Suffolk. After an early morning swim, the breakfast treats of bacon and runny egg sandwiches are amazing. The atmosphere is so friendly – they treat us like locals. As the sun climbs into that famously big Suffolk sky, we enjoy some great coffees and have a great start to the day. Silvery shards of sunlight dazzle us across the sea. In the off-season, we check the Facebook page to see if it’s too stormy for a breakfast swim.
David Innes Wilkin
Winning tip: Coffee break on the Moray Firth
On the seafront in the pretty village of Rosemarkie on the Inner Moray Firth is Crofters Cafe. The crackling coffee, great cakes and heartier meals are all available with a local Cromarty craft beer. The haggis loaded chips are always spot on. There’s plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy the views when the weather is nice, and there’s also a wonderful sandy beach just across the road. If you’re lucky, you might spot the village’s most exciting attraction – a family of local bottlenose dolphins performing spectacular displays of their natural aquatic abilities at Chanonry Point at the other end of the beach.
Brian
Please use the comments to tell us your favourite seaside cafes.