Romantic UK getaways for food lovers

Source Kitchen: Simple yet smart dining room tucked away on St Ives’ famous cobbled Digey. A concise, daily changing menu of good value dishes celebrates the best Cornish produce.

Ugly Butterfly: There’s incredible views over sandy Carbis Bay from this glamorous glass box of a fine dining restaurant from chef Adam Handling that’s focused on sustainability.

Porthminster Cafe: This iconic beachside restaurant has been serving an eclectic Asian and Mediterranean inflected menu with some foraged ingredients for more than a quarter of a century.

Porthminster Kitchen: A seat on the elevated terrace at this casual restaurant is the perfect spot to take in the harbour views and enjoy globally influenced dishes with top quality Cornish ingredients.

Porthmoor Beach Cafe: Set just below the Tate St Ives gallery, there’s great beach views and a seafood-led menu that roams from Europe to North Africa and Asia at this casual but smart all-day diner.

No 27 The Terrace: The dining room of this Georgian guesthouse in an elevated position about the town overlooks the bay and offers simply prepared bistro classics.

St Eia: This stylish wine bar and shop is set just off the harbour and offers a short list of tapas-style dishes to accompany a serious and extensive list of modern wines.

Where to stay in St Ives

Carbis Bay: Famous as the location of the 2021 G7 summit. Luxurious rooms, suites and generously proportioned lodges overlooking a private, secluded sandy beach. £££

Harbour Hotel: A striking Victorian building with contemporary interiors overlooking the bay and a seafood-led restaurant. £

Lifeboat Inn: Affordable and comfortable accommodation in a harbourside pub close to the town centre. £

Trevose Harbour House: Stylish family run guesthouse with harbour views close to the town centre and beach. ££

Pedn Olva: Set on granite rocks 30 feet above the sea and close to Porthmeor Beach, this pub offers modern rooms with great views. £

2. Edinburgh, best for modern, globally-influenced dining

You can go to Edinburgh for the incredible history or the thriving cultural scene (especially during the festival) but we’d recommend you go for the romantic dining opportunities. With great restaurants and bars in every part of the city, it’s a great way to explore, too, from the Old Town and New Town, to Leith and neighbourhoods like Stockbridge and Southside.

Where to eat in Edinburgh

The Witchery: Dine in 16th-century gothic splendour in this atmospheric candle-lit, dark wood-panelled restaurant with rooms that’s located close to Edinburgh Castle, which also serves a glamorous afternoon tea.

The Kitchin: Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin’s fine dining food is a celebration of Scottish produce from the pig’s head and langoustine starter to the shellfish rockpool main. You can also try Kitchin’s food at the Scran and Scallie gastropub and the more casual Kora restaurant.

Cafe St Honore: Beguilingly romantic French-bistro dining featuring the best Scottish ingredients and charming service. The set Cafe Classics menu is one of the city’s great bargains.

Timberyard: Modern, cool yet unpretentious, family run Timberyard is set in a converted warehouse where there’s a menu of Scottish produce served with Scandinavian-inflected flair.

The Palmerston: Set in a converted bank in Edinburgh’s Haymarket area, the daily changing menu of this smart but casual restaurant is on the best seasonal produce with dishes such as Borders venison and suet pie.

Toast: They take their wine very seriously at this bright, stylish and relaxed café and bar overlooking Leith’s waterfront, with bottles from Slovenia, Croatia and Greece, among many other places.

Soderberg: If you want to indulge in a spot of ‘fika’ (Swedish coffee and cake culture), head for this stylish glass box overlooking the city’s modernist Lister Square where the gorgeous kanelbulle (cinnamon buns) are made in the upstairs bakery.

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Gleaneagles Townhouse: The luxurious city-centre sister of the legendary Gleneagles Hotel in rural Perthshire is set in an elegant Georgian townhouse overlooking St Andrews Square. There’s sophisticated all-day dining in The Spence restaurant and rooftop drinking in the Lamplighters terrace bar. £££

21212: There’s four spacious and beautifully decorated rooms in this converted townhouse in a grand Regency terrace, centrally located in the New Town. ££

Motel One: There’s modern chic urban style on a budget at these centrally located hotels, one each in the Old Town and New Town. £

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian: This iconic hotel has been open for more than a century and combines modern luxury and Victorian style in a former rail station with views of Edinburgh Castle. Dining from top chefs Dean Banks at The Pompadour and Grazing by Mark Greenaway. ££

3. Brighton, best for small plates dining

For such a compact city, Brighton has a lot to offer: strolls on the seafront and along the world famous Palace Pier, shopping in the Lanes and North Laine and world-class cultural events at the newly restored Dome theatre complex. It’s also one of the most dynamic and exciting cities for dining outside of London. Casual small plates are the preferred style, but there are plenty of options for fine dining, too.

Where to eat in Brighton

The Set: Chef Dan Kenny’s wildly inventive and original tasting menu that might include scallop tikka masala is a real thrill ride of bold flavours in a boho-chic room with a fun soundtrack of punk, pop and hip hop.

Furna: Book a counter seat overlooking the open kitchen to watch chef Dave Mothersill and team create a sophisticated and highly detailed tasting menu at one of the city’s most luxe fine dining restaurants.

Dilsk: Local and seasonal tasting menus by Tom Kerridge-trained chef Tom Stephens, in an intimate and stylish semi-basement room in Drakes, a boutique hotel on Brighton’s seafront.

Palmito: The exciting menu of small plates inspired by the culinary heritages of chefs and owners Kanthi Thamma and Diego Ricaurte at this intimate and casual restaurant that’s perfect for couples.

Plateau: Natural wines, creative cocktails and delicious, inventive small plates are on the menu at this perennially popular and always buzzy Lanes wine bar and restaurant.

Burnt Orange: Glamorous destination for late night cocktails and all-day dining on some of the best creative small plates in town. The skillet baked potatoes are worth the visit alone.

Due South: Ask for a seat on the beachside terrace to enjoy acclaimed chef Daniel Mertl’s eclectic menu of wood-fired food that might include flamed monkfish with black lentil sauce.

Where to stay in Brighton

My Hotel: Stay in style in idiosyncratically designed rooms in the heart of the North Laine. On-site dining includes modern Indian restaurant The Chilli Pickle. £

Drakes: There’s views of the Palace Pier from this contemporary seafront boutique hotel. Book in for a stunning tasting menu of local produce in the recently opened Dilsk restaurant. ££

The Ginger Pig: There are spacious contemporary rooms and three recently opened, luxurious mews houses at this gastropub, close to Hove’s seafront. ££

The Ceramic House: Affordable, one-of-a-kind boutique guest house and gallery space designed by architectural ceramicist Kay Alpin, located in Brighton’s peaceful Five Ways neighbourhood. £

4. Bath: Best for afternoon tea

With its perfectly preserved Georgian buildings, Bath is a World Heritage Site and unquestionably one of Britain’s most elegant and romantic cities. It’s the ideal setting in which to indulge in that most English of pastimes, afternoon tea (The Pumphouse is stunning), but a burgeoning dining scene means there’s everything from gastropubs to fine dining to enjoy too.

Where to eat in Bath

Montagu Mews at The Royal Crescent: Take afternoon tea in the beautiful private gardens of this landmark hotel in the middle of Bath’s famous Royal Crescent or dine in the glamorous new bar and dining room.

The Beckford Canteen: This stylish sister restaurant to the nearby Beckford Bottle Shop focuses on seasonality and ingredients from local South West suppliers.

Town + House: Tiny pub with contemporary interiors, good cocktails and a brilliant kimchi chicken burger. Live music on Sunday nights.

Landrace: Intimate and stripped back first floor dining room serving local seasonal dishes with British and Italian influences. The ground floor bakery and cafe is one of the best in the city.

The Elder: Hunting lodge meets old fashioned London gentleman’s club at this elegant hotel restaurant from wild food expert Mike Robinson. Venison from local estates is a must-order.

The Dark Horse: Sip modern, inventive cocktails that incorporate locally sourced ingredients at this award-winning and atmospheric basement bar.

Where to stay in Bath

The Queensbury: Character-packed central hotel with excellent staff, high standards and Bath’s only Michelin star in its Olive Tree restaurant. ££

15 by Guesthouse: Quirky, boutique hotel with small but perfectly-formed spa, cocktail bar and relaxed basement restaurant knocking out decent classics. ££

Z Hotel: Stay in comfort in the city centre without breaking the bank at this style-conscious budget hotel.

The Bath Priory: This converted Ivy-clad Georgian sandstone 19th-century manor is nestled in the gardens of a former priory close to Royal Victoria Park. The Relais & Châteaux hotel makes for an idyllic and tranquil escape within walking distance of the city centre. ££

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa: A Palladian mansion set at the end of a mile-long avenue of lime and beech trees, a short drive from Bath. The elegant Relais & Châteaux country house hotel is home to Michelin-starred restaurant, Restaurant Hywel Jones. £££

5. Isle of Wight, best for touring around

At just 23 miles by 13 miles, you could drive around the entire perimeter of the diamond shaped Isle of Wight in a morning. That makes it the ideal destination for a short touring break, with plenty of towns, villages and beaches dotted around to explore. It’s increasingly becoming a gourmet destination, too, with everything from casual beachside diners to gastronomic restaurants to enjoy.

Where to eat on the Isle of Wight

Smoking Lobster, Ventnor: There’s views of the bay from this casual stylish beachside restaurant that specialises in seafood with Asian influences. Don’t miss the signature seafood platter for two. There is a second branch in Cowes and the group also includes the excellent The Drunken Lobster izakaya-style bar in Ventnor’s town centre.

Restaurant Matthew Tomkinson at The Hambrough, Ventnor: There’s fine dining with sea views at this smart boutique hotel overlooking the bay. Chef Matthew Tomkinson’s cooking is informed by classical French techniques and features local produce in big-flavoured and beautifully presented dishes.

Thompson’s, Newport: Dine downstairs in this handsome, historic red brick town centre building to watch top chef Robert Thompson and his team at work in the open kitchen preparing local ingredients from the island.

The Terrace, Yarmouth: There’s views over the harbour, the Solent and Yarmouth Castle from the umbrella-shaded terrace of this modern bar and restaurant that serves approachable food and great wines.

The Hut: Stylish beach brasserie with rooftop bar overlooking the sands of Colwell Bay serving classic and modern seafood dishes.

The Red Lion, Freshwater: Charming and atmospheric traditional country pub with gardens serving a modern gastropub menu alongside pub classics.

Where to stay on the Isle of Wight

The Royal, Ventnor: An elegant converted Georgian coaching inn with 51 rooms set in manicured gardens with outdoor pool. Fine dining is on offer at Se7en restaurant. ££

The George, Yarmouth: A converted 17th century townhouse set on the watershed edge in Yarmouth. Double Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi is consultant chef for the hotel’s The Conservatory restaurant. ££

The Terrace Rooms and Wine, Ventnor: This luxurious six-bedroom boutique guest house with high-end restaurant and retail wine shop is set in a converted 19th century villa overlooking Ventnor Bay. In the summer, there’s small plates in the terrace and in the off-season, a multi-course tasting menu with matched wines prepared by owner Tom Fahey. ££

Foresters Hall, Cowes: Stylish and contemporary boutique hotel in a Victorian townhouse with a mix of rooms and spacious garden suites. The Brasserie is run by the Smoking Lobster team. £££

6. Lake District, best for countryside walks and fine dining

Come to the Lake District for the awe inspiring natural landscapes, to hike its fells and mountains and to find inspiration from poets like Wordsworth who lived here. But you also come to the lakes for the astonishing number of high quality restaurants that dot the towns, villages and countryside. It is, after all, home to the only three-Michelin-starred restaurant in the whole of the north (L’Enclume) and the most Michelin stars outside of London.

Where to eat in the Lake District

L’Enclume, Cartmel: Set in a converted blacksmiths in the charming village of Cartmel, Simon Rogan’s groundbreaking fine dining restaurant has won three Michelin stars for its tasting menu focused around ingredients foraged and grown on the restaurant’s own farm. Rogan also runs the more casual Rogan and Co, also in Cartmel, and Henrock at Linthwaite House.

Old Stamp House, Ambleside: Michelin-starred multi-course fine dining focussed on Cumbrian produce in two intimate and atmospheric dining rooms. Brothers Ryan and Craig Blackburn also run the nearby and more casual Kysty.

Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside: Rigorously ingredient-led tasting menu served in a scandi-influenced dining room from chef James Cross who has trained in three Michelin-star restaurants around the world.

Heft, High Newton: This stylishly renovated Michelin-starred 17th century inn offers sophisticated multi-course dining in an elegant dining room as well as traditional pub food in the cosy and buzzy bar area.

The Punchbowl at Crosthwaite: There’s enchanting countryside views of the Lyth Valley from the gravelled terrace of this rural gastropub with rooms that’s set in a converted blacksmith's shop in a quiet Cumbrian village. The menu combines pub classics and French-accented dishes.

Cottage in the Woods, Braithwaite, near Keswick: Set high above Keswick, there’s great lakeland views from this Scandi-influenced fine dining restaurant that features Cumbrian ingredients.

Zeffirellis, Ambleside: A unique destination that contains a cinema, jazz club and a glamorous Italian restaurant serving vegetarian pizza and pasta dishes.

Where to stay in the Lake District

Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Windermere: This Relais & Châteaux property features two luxurious country houses on two separate estates with a total of 36 rooms with Lakeland views. The hotel’s three restaurants include the Michelin-starred SOURCE, as well as Gilpin Spice, and Knipe Grill at Gilpin Lake House. £££

The Samling, Windermere: A converted Georgian home set in stunning grounds with 12 spacious and luxurious rooms, suites and cottages. A modernist steel and glass extension houses the Michelin-starred restaurant that boasts wonderful views over Lake Windermere. £££

The Yan: Comfortable cosy and stylish rooms in a converted farmhouse set in breathtaking countryside with on-site bistro and terrace. Cottage accommodation and glamping also available. ££

1863, Ullswater: Village centre restaurant serving local produce with seven beautifully decorated rooms set in a converted post office. £

Drunken Duck, Ambleside: Rural inn surrounded by Cumbrian countryside with elegant rooms and gastropub food. £££

7. Cotswolds, best for village hopping

With its picture-postcard honeystone villages and gently rolling countryside, the Cotswolds is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. The numerous country house hotel restaurants, gastropubs, farm shops and food markets means there’s plenty to keep ardent foodies busy. There’s always the 100 mile-long Cotswolds Way if you need to walk off one too many tasting menus.

Where to eat in the Cotswolds

The Wild Rabbit, Kinghan: Elegant country pub with rooms owned by the Bamford family of nearby Daylesford Organic, whose produce appears on the dining room’s menu of refined dishes.

Wilder, Nailsworth, Stroud: An ever-changing, tasting menu of creative dishes inspired by local and foraged ingredients is on offer at this elegant and intimate town centre fine-dining restaurant.

Double Red Duke, Bampton, Oxfordshire: The menu at this stylish and comfortable rural inn set in a converted 17th-century wool merchant’s house features comfort food cooked over open fire.

The Sherborne Arms, Northleach: There’s nose-to-tail dining at this quintessential 18th-century Cotswolds market square pub with rooms in the pretty town of Northleach. Food comes from rising star chefs and publicans Tom Noest and Pete Creed who also run The Lamb Inn in Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Bower House, Shipston on Stour: A characterful and stylish restaurant with rooms set on the high street of the charming village of Shipston-on-Stour, with a menu focused around the charcoal grill.

Henne, Moreton-in-the-Marsh: Intimate neighbourhood restaurant set in a charming grade II-listed honeystone village centre building that offers a tasting menu of local and sustainable produce.

Old Butchers, Stow on the Wold: This converted butcher’s shop has been a popular foodie destination for nearly 20 years, with a long menu that has something to please everyone.

Where to stay in the Cotswolds

Dormy House Hotel and Spa, Broadway: A luxurious 17th-century farmhouse hotel perched high above the picturesque village of Broadway, within the 500-acre Farncombe Estate which is also home to The Fish Hotel and Foxhill Manor. £££

The Fox, Lower Oddington: This luxurious 19th-century rural village inn has had a stunning makeover, mixing traditional and modern with the use of reclaimed material courtesy of owners the Bamford family. ££

The Lygon Arms, Broadway: This historic 17th century 86-room luxury hotel set on the high street of the village of Broadway boasts two restaurants overseen by TV chef James Martin. ££

The Slaughters Inn, Lower Slaughter: Family-friendly traditional village inn with superior accommodation and good food. ££

Meadowbank House, Ascott-under-Wychwood: Comfortable B&B set in a converted stables and barn. £

8. Whitstable, best for oyster lovers

They’ve been harvesting oysters in Whitstable in the north coast of Kent since Roman times, and it’s still one of the best places in the country to sample them. But there’s much more to the characterful town, with its picturesque harbour, weekend market, fisherman’s huts, pebble beach and waterfront eateries, not forgetting the high street studded with independent shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Where to eat in Whitstable

The Royal Native Oyster Stores: There’s Whitstable oysters from their own beds at this charming beachside restaurant, as well as a wide selection of simply cooked fresh seafood.

The Lobster Shack: There’s stunning estuary views from this walk-ins-only quayside restaurant, where there’s an array of hot and cold seafood dishes and selection of locally brewed beers.

Samphire: This cosy high street bistro, perennially popular with both locals and visitors since opening in 2006 is a stone’s throw from Whitstable beach and is open all day from breakfast to dinner when the menu celebrates the best of local, seasonal produce.

The Old Neptune: In the summer, enjoy a barbecue on the beach at this historic, timber-built pub by the sea, where you’ll also find pub classics like pie and mash and fish and chips.

Pearson’s Arms: Choose between a refined seven-course tasting menu of Kentish produce or something more straightforward such as a steak or seafood platter at this cosy yet stylish seaside pub.

Jo Jo’s: For more than two decades, this casual restaurant has been bringing some Mediterranean sunshine to Tankerton beach in the form of its menu of meze and tapas dishes, all made with ethically sourced produce.

Wheelers Oyster Bar: The freshest seafood straight from the boat and vegetables and herbs from their own organic gardens make up the modern menu at this more than 150-year-old, characterful restaurant.

Harbour Street Tapas: Jamon croquetas, tortillas and patatas bravas are all present and correct on the menu at this intimate and convivial town-centre tapas restaurant.

The Sportsman, Seasalter: Two miles west of Whitstable on the coast you’ll find celebrated chef Stephen Harris’s Michelin-starred gastropub where the food is so local they make their own salt from the seawater.

Where to stay in Whitstable

Hotel Continental: Seafront Art Deco hotel with Thames Estuary views and bistro-style restaurant. Stay in one of the hotel’s 12 historic fisherman's huts. £

The Marine Hotel: Boutique beachfront hotel, pub and restaurant in a row of converted 19th-century terraced houses on the coast road, a 20-minute walk along the promenade from Whitstable. £

The Crescent Turner Hotel: Set in gardens high above Whitstable on Wraik Hill, there are stunning sea views from the spacious rooms at this stylish boutique hotel. £

9. Ribble Valley, best for upmarket gastropub dining

Lancashire’s Ribble Valley may not be quite as well known as its near neighbours, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, but it’s every bit as worthwhile visiting. It can lay claim to some of the most beautiful unspoiled countryside in the UK, a paradise for walkers and cyclists. It can also rightly claim to be one of the birthplaces of modern British gastronomy where the now common idea of chefs cooking with local and seasonal produce took shape in the 1980s. Since then, the dining opportunities have only got better, with a huge array of both progressive and more traditional restaurants now available to the hungry traveller.

Where to eat in the Ribble Valley

Northcote: This smart fine-dining restaurant, boutique hotel and cookery school has been a bastion of British cooking since the 1980s. Head chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen continues the tradition with refined modern dishes such as seabass with crispy scallop, confit potato and shellfish bisque.

Three Fishes: Legendary Lancastrian chef Nigel Haworth has restored this sprawling country pub, which now boasts its own kitchen garden driving the restaurant's farm-to-fork ethos. There’s a weekly barbecue on the outdoor terrace that overlooks beautiful countryside.

Parkers Arms: There’s a warm welcome and generous servings of refined gastropub food at this rural village pub, famous for chef Stosie Madi’s exceptional handmade pies. The countryside views from the spacious beer garden are unbeatable.

Freemasons at Wiswell: High-end gastronomy meets classic English rural pub at acclaimed chef Steven Smith’s upmarket inn that’s set among the stunning scenery of the Ribble Valley.

Inn at Whitewell: Overlooking the River Hodder, this cosy and inviting converted 16th-century coaching inn boasts one of the most stunning countryside locations in the county. The eclectic menu looks globally for inspiration but locally for ingredients.

White Swan at Fence: There’s hand-pulled pints and Michelin-starred food at this convivial village pub where the daily written menu celebrates fresh local produce.

The Bar and Grill at Holmes Mill, Clitheroe: Meat and fish from the charcoal grill are the main draw at this glamorous restaurant and bar, part of a foodie destination set in converted mill buildings that includes an excellent food hall, a beer hall and hotel.

Where to stay in the Ribble Valley

Mitton Hall, Mitton: A country house hotel in a converted 15th century manor house set in beautiful gardens and countryside. £

Spread Eagle, Sawley: A charming converted coaching inn with 11 bedrooms overlooking the river Robble in the Forest of Bowland. £

Stanley House Hotel and Spa, Mellor: Modern and glamorous boutique country house hotel in 54-acres of grounds with garden views from the brasserie. ££

Coach and Horses, Bolton-by-Bowland: Converted coaching inn on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, with seven comfortable and stylish rooms and modern gastropub dining. £

10. Suffolk Coast and Heath, best for upmarket pub dining

The Suffolk Coast and Heath is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; an unspoilt landscape encompassing estuaries, heaths, beaches and historic towns and villages.Perfect for sea strolls or even a spot of bird or wildlife watching. It’s also home to some of the best coastal and village pubs in the country.

Where to eat on the Suffolk Coast and Heath

The Unruly Pig: This handsome red-brick rural inn set in Suffolk countryside boasts a stylishly quirky interior and a ‘Britalian’ menu of fusion dishes such as local Orford lobster tail, claw and crab ravioli with carrot and avruga caviar.

The Bell, Walberswick: A traditional 600-year-old village green pub with oak beams, open fireplace and views over the marshes to the dunes and harbour beyond from the spacious gardens.

The Suffolk, Aldeburgh: There’s wonderful sea views from the rooftop terrace of this lovingly restored restaurant with rooms (under the same ownership as legendary Soho restaurant L’Escargot) that’s located in an elegant townhouse on the high street.

The Anchor, Walberswick: Set in an acre of garden overlooking the dunes and beach huts, this arts and crafts pub and restaurant with rooms is the perfect spot to enjoy Suffolk seafood and other local produce.

The Swan, Southwold: Chic boutique hotel restaurant and bar in an historic building on Southwold’s marketplace with an eclectic menu of modern brasserie food.

The Crown, Woodbridge: A 16th-century coaching inn that’s been converted into a modern pub and restaurant with rooms, complete with a wooden skiff handing in the glass-roofed bar and creative menu on offer in the pared-back dining room.

Seafood and Grill at the Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh: Smart seaside hotel restaurant with uninterrupted views of Aldeburgh beach from the alfresco space where you can enjoy the freshest local seafood.

Where to stay on the Suffolk Coast and Heath

Seckford Hall, Woodbridge: Ivy-clad Jacobean mansion surrounded by Suffolk countryside with grand wood-panelled interiors, four poster beds and an accolade-winning restaurant. £

Five Acre Barn, Aldeburgh: Smart B&B accommodation in an award winning modernised 19th century barn in five acres of gardens and woodland near to Aldeburgh. £

Sutherland House, Southwold: Stylish high street restaurant with rooms in a medieval building boutique hotel with a seafood-led modern British menu. ££

11. Norfolk Coast, best for enjoying the seaside and countryside in one trip

Norfolk’s 90 miles of coastline includes some of the country's most beautiful sandy beaches, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with stunning country walking routes, and any number of charming towns and villages. The variety of landscape is reflected in the variety of dining opportunities from seafood to countryside pubs and much more in between.

Where to eat on the Norfolk Coast

The Neptune, Hunstanton: Old Hunstanton beach is a 15-minute walk from this restaurant with rooms in a converted 18th-century coaching inn where Michelin-starred chef Kevin Mangeolles serves a menu centred around local produce.

Gunton Arms, Norwich: Country pub meets country-house hotel in a 1,000-acre deer park in north Norfolk with interiors by a top London restaurant designer and venison from the deer park cooked over an open fire.

Sands Restaurant, Wells-Next-The-Sea: This quayside restaurant with panoramic views over the harbour serves a bistro-style menu of local seafood.

No 1 Cromer, Cromer: Set over two floors, this is Michelin-starred chef Galton Blackiston’s posh version of a seafront fish and chip shop. Head upstairs for the best views of Cromer beach and pier and an extended menu that includes the likes of king prawn Goan curry.

Morston Hall: For nearly a quarter of a century, chef Galton Blackiston has retained a Michelin star at this smart country house hotel for his daily-changing tasting menu that celebrates Norfolk produce.

Meadowsweet Holt: Dine on Michelin-starred food in the elegantly minimalist dining room of a converted grade II listed house in the pretty Georgian town of Holt where the menu might include local Cromer crab served with turnip and apple.

Socius, Burnham Market: Tucked away off the main street is this bright, airy and modern open-plan restaurant and kitchen. Watch the brigade at work as you tuck into globetrotting dishes such as roasted carrots with gochujang, coriander and puffed rice.

The Ingham Swan: Thatched rural village gastropub with rooms surrounded by fields that serves accolade-winning refined dishes that might include charred Norfolk asparagus tips with confit egg yolk, wild garlic and parmesan crumb.

The Old Bank, Snettisham: Charming, family-run neighbourhood restaurant serving regularly changing tasting menus that include produce from their own allotment such as the aged Norfolk beef tartare with kohlrabi, shallot and mustard.

Where to stay on the Norfolk Coast

Titchwell Manor, Titchwell: Stylish boutique hotel in a converted Victorian farmhouse overlooking salt marshes in a peaceful location on the coastal road. There’s sea views from the casual The Terrace Bistro and garden views from the fine dining Conservatory restaurant. £

The White Horse Brancaster Staithe: Award-winning gastropub with outdoor terrace situated steps away from the Norfolk Coast Path. Many of the elegantly decorated rooms boast sea views. ££

The White House, Burnham Market: Contemporary upmarket B&B with an elegant restaurant in a renovated Georgian house in a secluded rural location, a short drive from the town of Burnham Market. ££

12. Pembrokeshire, best for dining on local produce

Pembrokeshire’s contrasting landscape of craggy hills, endless green fields and azure coastal waters not only make it a wonderfully romantic destination to visit, but also provide a natural larder for the area’s growing legion of creative chefs. Whether you dine in a gastropub, country house hotel or independent restaurant, chances are you will see the local environment reflected on your plate.

Where to eat in Pembrokeshire

Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire: Modernist, timber-clad building with floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace offering scenic views of sandy Coppet Hall beach. Award-winning chef Fred Clapperton’s is based around locally sourced ingredients including blow-torched mackerel with Pembrokeshire early potatoes and potato skin broth.

Stackpole Inn, Stackpole: Ivy-covered rural village inn with rooms and beer garden set on the National Trust-run Stackpole Estate. The menu highlights Pembrokeshire produce including locally reared beef.

Paternoster Farm, Pembroke: Dine in true field-to-fork style in a converted milking parlour on a working farm deep in rural Pembrokeshire where the daily menu of sharing plates make use of the farm’s own produce.

Annwn, Narberth: Rustic-chic restaurant in the historic market town of Narberth, where Raymond Blanc-trained chef Matt Powell prepares a 10-course menu of local, seasonal and foraged food in an open kitchen.

The Ferney and Artisan Rooms at Grove, Narberth: There’s two dining options at this luxury country house hotel that’s set in beautiful gardens close to the coast and with views of the Preseli Hills; fine dining on a tasting menu that includes produce from the kitchen garden at The Ferney or casual dining at the Artisan Rooms.

Blas, St Davids: Sleek upmarket hotel restaurant a short walk from the town centre with plenty of Welsh produce in the menu including Welsh lamb with barbecued courgette, aubergine and dill.

Rhosyn, Penally, nr Tenby: Boutique hotel restaurant in a grand, high-ceilinged room of a gothic house with views over the gardens and the village of Penally below serving inventive dishes such as cauliflower rarebit with beer caramel.

Where to stay in Pembrokeshire

St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot: Contemporary cliff-top hotel with views over Carmarthen Bay with coastal themed rooms, some with sea views. ££

Slebech Park Estate, Haverfordwest: Country house hotel in an 18th century grade II-listed coach house in a 650-acre estate, a short drive from the coast. Expect traditional decor, exposed beams in the bedrooms and candlelight in the romantic restaurant. £

Roch Castle Hotel, Roch: Luxurious and secluded B&B in a renovated 12th-century castle with sleek, modern and comfortable rooms. ££

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