When you think of food at the seaside, fish and chips will likely spring to mind — it is traditional after all.
But if you’re looking for something else to eat, then there’s one coastal spot in the UK that apparently has the best offering.
St Andrews, a town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, has long been praised for having ‘gorgeous’, and ‘spectacular’ beaches, but the consumer champions over at which.co.uk are also keen to highlight its foodie prowess.
As such, they’ve placed the town at the top of their rankings for the UK’s best seaside town when it comes to food and drink, giving it an overall score of 82% and four out of five stars.
Tyically the area is known for being home to Scotland’s oldest university, which was famously attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales back in their student days, but there’s so much more to discover — including some incredible restaurants.
A number of local eateries were mentioned in the new research, including The Grange Inn, a 17th-century farmhouse which boasts superb views and two AA Rosettes.
Its sample menu online features beef sirloin, pan roast sea bream, rack of lamb, and Scottish cheeses, with three courses costing £77.
The Seafood Restaurante, located right on the seafront, is also a must-visit. The restaurant is mostly made of glass, giving incredible views of the shoreline.
Menus here are, unsurprisingly, pretty seafood heavy, with Aberdeen smoked salmon, mackerel, crab, scallops, and oysters all available. There are a few vegetarian and meat options as well, and tempting desserts like Tiramisu, caramlised Amalfi lemon tart, and dark chocolate ganache.
Other top restaurants in the area, according to Tripadvisor reviews, include The Criterion which features unique twists on Scottish classics like haggis, including a haggis pakora, haggis and chicken nachos, and haggis filthy fries.
If St Andrews is too far away for you, then the seaside food and drink list features some wonderful locations all around the UK, including St Davids in Wales, Rye in Sussex, Southwold in Suffolk, Whitby in Yorkshire, and Fowey in Cornwall.
You might recently have seen that Southwold hit headlines as it was revealed as the cheapest spot in the country for fish and chips.
Research by Capital on Tap said it ‘offers the most budget-friendly option for fish and chips among all locations, with the meal costing just 1.06% of an average weekly salary.’
Here, an average chippy tea will set you back £8.35, which is £6 cheaper than the most expensive, in Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire.
The study continued: ‘Impressively, despite the lower cost, Southwold’s fish and chips boast a rating of 4.5 out of 5, indicating that customers are consistently pleased with their dining experience. For those seeking affordability without sacrificing taste or satisfaction, Southwold stands out as a top choice.’
And despite it not being as well-known as coastal resorts like Brighton or Blackpool, there are plenty of other reasons to make Southwold the location for your next break.
A separate study by The Camping and Caravanning Club put it top of the list of the country’s best seaside towns, commenting that it’s a ‘great destination year-round, whether you plan to visit during the summer for an ice cream or in the winter for blustery walks and cosy pub lunches.’
Tripadvisor reviewers agree, including June A who described Southwold’s Denes Beach as ‘iconic’, adding, ‘Lined with those wonderful and colourful huts with lots of cafes and ice cream shops too – and dog friendly. Great for a warm day.’
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