At Saltee, travel near and far demands special eating options. We love to discover that perfect lunch spot or quirky cafe. From local produce to quaint pubs and fine dining; discover our top Saltee suggestions for UK staycation eats this summer.
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CORNWALL
Cornwall is brim full of amazing food and produce. An array of different restaurants, pubs and sweet treats that are simply irresistible.
Restaurants
Hidden away in The Old Brewery Yard, Falmouth, is neighbourhood restaurant MINE which offers an excellent Saturday brunch and Sunday roast takeaway.
For seafood, you can’t go wrong with Falmouth’s Verdant Seafood Bar, found onsite at one of Cornwall’s best independent breweries, or for the best of both land and sea, there’s The Longstore (above), Charlestown, a steak and fish specialty restaurant.
Scope out cult food truck Taco Boys (you’ll usually find it parked on the beach in Polzeath); caterer and deli Fees Food, in Rock, has both takeaway and delivery of the best local Cornish food and, for fine dining at home, try Philleigh Way. It’s usually a cookery school, set on a farm on the beautiful Roseland peninsular, but is currently offering pre-cooked meals for delivery.
Also, worth noting is brand new The Ethicurean at Trevibban Mill near Padstow (so new, it’s not open just yet) which is bound to be brilliant when it gets going, with a focus on veggies and Cornish fish. Another newbie, Fitzroy, in Fowey (which opened last year), is hoping to reopen for the summer season – it’s from the team behind Primeur, Westerns Laundry and Jolene. Fish features heavily alongside delicious small plates.
Cafés
Indie café JamJar is just a stone’s throw away from the beach in Newquay serving amazing coffee and organic lunches (takeaway available); and Temple café and indie shop, in Bude.
Meanwhile St Ives is home to funky Yallah Kiosk (above), serving all your classic seaside essentials – coffee, fresh juice and donuts – plus there’s an exciting new cafe for St Ives called West Porthmeor, a new venture from part of the team behind Canteen Cornwall in St Agnes. It can be found right on the beachside.
Pubs
We’re looking forward to going for food at The Old Coastguard in Mousehole with its tropical gardens and views of St Michael’s Mount; The St Tudy Inn near Bodmin Moor; and The Punchbowl & Ladle at Feock near Truro which has been taken over by the team who run the gorgeous Ferryboat Inn on the river Helford.
Elsewhere, don’t miss the lovely beer garden by the river at St Kew, and the waterside beer garden at the Pandora Inn at Restronguet, above. Watchful Mary at Watergate Bay serves drinks and cocktails with a terrace overlooking the beach and The Bowgie Inn at Crantock. The Oystercatcher at Polzeath, while less gastropub and more pub-pubs, both overlook wide sea vistas – just time it right to catch the sunset.
Pasties
You can’t come to Cornwall without trying a pasty. The title of ‘best’ is fiercely contended (and there’s even a Cornish Pasty championships each year), but our favourites can be found at Ann’s Pasties in Mullion, Chacewater Bakery near Truro or a more classic one from Malcolm Barnecutt’s in Wadebridge (they all also send them nationwide). Boscastle Farm Shop also make a goodie from their own red ruby beef steak and their cheese & onion version features local Davidstow cheese.
Sweet treats
For ice cream, a Muddy favourite is Moomaid, in Zennor (above) – I say chocolate, but my daughter says passionfruit is the best flavour. Reeves in Port Isaac is also a dead cert, a teeny bright yellow ice cream van (also offering local delivery at this time).
For cakes our go-tos are Kern of Kernow delivering Insta catnip iced cakes and donuts from a van called Beyoncé; Ladyvale Bakery, a cheerful cake & coffee stop in Nansledan; Da Bara Bakery, which is widely voted the best for cinnamon buns.
NORFOLK
Where to start? Food and drink of course! With so many amazing local producers in Norfolk the food scene is one of the best in the country. With many pubs and restaurants opening in the next few weeks keep an eye on our picks below.
Restaurants
Norwich based or definitely worthy of a destination drive – head to Farmyard, Roger Hickman’s, The Last Wine Bar, or Benedicts. All boast award winning chefs offering creative dishes with home grown produce. For fine dine options in the Broads, our muddy favourite is The Ingham Swan and over in North Norfolk Morston Hall is the place to be for your Michelin Star fodder. The Bank House in Kings Lynn is perfect for a spot of dockside dining in and there’s a special mention to Socius in Burnham Market, definitely making its mark on the Norfolk eating circuit.
Pubs/Bars
Country pubs with thatched roofs, low beam ceilings and big inglenook fireplaces is what Norfolk does best. Coastal chic – The Orange Tree in Thornham, The Kings Head in Letheringsett, The Lodge in Old Hunstanton and The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe all make the Muddy mark. Plus, they all have rooms if you want to make a night of it.
In the city, Blue Joanna is beloved of the cool crowd – great tapas menu and regular live music. Or more centrally The Sir Garnet overlooks Norwich’s iconic market and is a higgledy piggledy collection of nooks and crannies – post Covid it’s planning to reopen as a shop and pub and will be open for food in the coming weeks.
Country classics –The Bell in Brisley is definitely worth a detour for its tasty menu and beautiful quirky rooms.
The Marsham Arms has a great gastro menu, and last but not least, you won’t find much better when it comes to idyllic country pubs than The Rose & Crown in Snettisham.
Cafes, deli’s & farm shops
Norfolk is largely rural and therefore full of farmers growing lots of lovely local produce. With over 30 farm shops across the county, you’ll spy at least one as you drive around the countryside. Our favourites are Walsingham Farm Shop (they also have stall on Norwich Market), Thornham Deli and Back to the Garden near Letheringsett. Thornham and Back to the Garden both have lovely cafes serving up hearty brunches and mouth-watering cakes. Café sur la plage? – Head to our Muddy Award-winning Old Town Beach Cafe in Old Hunstanton for a nostalgic trip down seaside memory lane or the Dunes Cafe on Winterton Beach – great for dogs.
Fishy Treats
With 90 miles of coastline, you’ll find fresh fish is a staple on the coastal food scene. Cromer Crab is a fishy favourite, and we recommend eating one on Cromer Pier with a side of chips. Norfolk is also renowned for its Brancaster mussells and if you’re a fish connoisseur don’t miss a trip to a local Smokehouse – Cley Smokehouse and Staithe Smokehouse are our favourites. The latter is conveniently located in the grounds of The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe – the best pint with a view in Norfolk. If you prefer your fish in batter, our favourite chippies are Eric’s in Thornham, Grosvenor Fish Bar in Norwich and Plattens in Wells-next-the-Sea.
Sweet treats
With 35 year’s experience, East Coast Gelato in Hunstanton never disappoints and has the biggest range of flavours we’ve ever seen (and we’ve seen a lot). For cakes, our go-to’s are Annabel’s Hen House in Wymondham, Cupcake & Co in Norwich and for a pretty vintage experience Heydon Village Tea Shop. The Fig Bar is Norwich’s first dessert bar – check out their mouth-watering Instagram grid and it will definitely make your foodie hit list.
DEVON
Devon’ers are big foodies and food producers. Here’s our pick of favourites that you definitely must visit.
Restaurants, cafes and farm shops
For a totally unique foodie experience, take a water taxi from Exmouth Marina and eat on the water at The River Exe Cafe (pictured above). It gets booked up for the short summer season its open (even shorter this year) so get in there quick.
If all that sea air gives you an appetite only fish and chips on a sea wall can sate, get down to Britannia at the Beach (above) better known to Beesands’ locals as The Shack, open every afternoon/evening except Tuesday, or award-winning Krispies in Exmouth (pre-book only), or go click and collect from Hanburys in Babbacombe.
For upmarket seafood, we love Mitch Tonks’ The Seahorse at Dartmouth for a special occasion, and his Rockfish restaurants around Devon, (hopefully all re-opening soon) including a new one planned for Sidmouth (fingers crossed).
Steering kids away from the dreaded McD’s? They do a quality takeaway burger bap and veggie options at Darts Farm Shack. Hungry for a West Country slap-up breakfast to go (as well as local gin and amazing cakes)? Head to award-winning John’s Deli in Appledore and Instow (they won a Muddy Stilettos award in 2019).
Got a sweet tooth? For the best savoury takeaway galettes (and yummy chocolate and strawberry crepes), it’s got to be The Boathouse Topsham, or legendary home-made doughnuts. The Curious Kitchen in Brixham though you can order their breakfast burritos and takeaway goodies online Weds – Sunday. And yay! Jacka’s Bakery at Plymouth’s Barbican, the oldest, cutest bakery in the UK and baker of amazing cinnamon whirls and sourdough is serving coffee and cake to go.
Pubs
Fancy a beer garden? The Anchor at Beer, The Turf on the River Exe (only accessible by bike or a 15 minute walk), The Royal George at Appledore (it’s a deck overlooking the estuary but boy, will it do), The Ferry Boat Inn (aka FBI) at Ditisham where a pint is normally accompanied by a swan or two and Salcombe’s Ferry Inn (fab estuary views even on a dull day, pictured above).
Local produce
It’s our middle name! Try home-grown wine, fizz and cheese from Sharpham near Totnes, or how about a Salcombe Gin. it would be rude not to have a Devon pasty while you’re here so get your chops round anything from 2019 Winner of Britain’s Best Pasty Chunk of Devon.
Cream teas and ice-cream
You have to have a cream tea, it’s the rule! For takeaway, head to the Horsebox at Otterton Mill near Budleigh Salterton or get a Cream Tea Picnic Hamper delivered from Devon Heaven, all made with the best local goodies. And when hotels open back up, go pinky-posh with an afternoon cream tea at Boringdon Hall, in their stunning Great Hall or take tea overlooking the awesome Humphry Repton landscape in the library at Hotel Endsleigh.
Saltee loves any ice-cream from Salcombe Dairy (but I’ll have the cocoa and shortbread-filled Salcombe Mud if you’re buying) or any of the 40 creamy flavours but especially Blackcurrant and Cream from Langage Farm. In-the-know North Devoners swear by family-run Hockings and the good news is the vans have been unleashed from lockdown and are at Appledore Quay, Westward Ho!, Bideford Quay and Torrington.
THE COTSWOLDS
The Cotswolds are a foodie’s paradise, the region is chock full of incredibly good restaurants and cafes, many using fresh locally-sourced ingredients with the emphasis firmly on artisan and organic.
Restaurants
Take a trip to Roman Cirencester with its dreamy, cream-coloured marketplace where you’ll find The Malt and Anchor. This award-winning chippy won Best Fish & Chip Shop in the ITV Food Awards 2020, and is currently doing takeaways (with a delicious, high-roller lobster and Prosecco option). Dine alfresco on a picnic blanket in the Abbey Grounds or Cirencester Park nearby.
Stately Cirencester Park on The Bathurst Estate
Other places that are really worth the petrol are Wild Garlic and Wilder in Nailsworth, Made By Bob with its current click ‘n collect Japanese takeaways in Cirencester and in Chipping Norton head for the lovely and rustic Wild Thyme.
Pubs
The Cotswolds really is the land of the gastropub, but really good local favourites include the recently refurbed The Stump in Foss Cross – a local go-to now for its Baz & Fred’s pizza takeaways.
Pizzas are up at the locally famous Stump Shack
Another great place for stone-baked pizza at the moment is the Tunnel House Inn near Stroud
The award-winning Bell at Sapperton is one of our best off-the-beaten-track tips for Sunday roasts.
The Swan at Thyme in Southrop, is famously Kate Moss’ fave pub and a gorgeous 17th century classic that uses local, organic ingredients. The Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold (one of the oldest pubs in England) is great to visit and for sweeping views head to Dormy House on the lush Farncombe Estate – perched high above the village of Broadway, with really fabulous vistas.
Thyme at Southrop
The beautiful Bell at Sapperton
Burford has one of the most beautiful high streets to wander down, head to The Maytime Inn here which has just launched a new summer takeaway menu with picnic platters, beer, wine and gin to go! Oh, and you get a free Windrush Valley walking map too. Result.
Burford – raising the bar for high streets everywhere
Cafés & Farmshops
One of the best farmshop cafés in the area is Jolly Nice in Stroud. Always brimming with fresh, local, organic produce, and with a newly launched and fully open Jolly Drive-Thru Shack, for coffee, smoothies and light lunch platters. Their organic strawberry ice-cream (made from lush, Ledbury strawberries, is the best we’ve ever tasted).
The popular country pub The Green Dragon Inn, near Cowley, is also opening a brand new Farm Shop this month. And popular in Cirencester is indy café Pretty & Pip – some of the best coffee and cake in the area. Or, go to Huffkins in Burford.
Organic ice-cream of dreams at Jolly Nice
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