From fish-to-fork dining, distillery tours and foraging days out, opportunities to sample local food and drink on the coast are more varied than ever – and this year offers the best selection of choices yet. Below, England’s Coast – the one-stop-shop for great experiences by the sea – has outlined some of the most delectable foodie destinations along the country’s shores.

Isle of Wight: Open-Fire Cooking, Sandwiches and Seafood

If you’re heading to the Isle of Wight, you know you’re in for a culinary treat with the freshest seafood, Isle of Wight cheeses, renowned food sellers such as The Garlic Farm, Tomato Stall, and more. But in Ryde, the food scene is bigger than ever this year.

Opening Easter weekend after its launch last year is Heron Braai, a unique farm-to-fork pop-up dining experience on the beautiful Nunwell Estate, just outside Brading. Come to this joint venture between Nunwell Home Farm, Heron Restaurant,
Wight Knuckle Brewery and Wight Whisky for open-fire cooking served with local beers and cocktails.

New this year is the opening of The Cellar underneath the RT Café Grill in Ryde, with two private dining rooms, private bar and bespoke dining. Fine-dining events and cooking classes will also feature.

James Gregory, former chef at the Heron (one of the island’s top fine-dining restaurants) opened a new chef-run sandwich shop, Craft, in Ryde. Come here for gourmet sarnies made with local produce, such as the braised shin sticky beef toasted sandwich.

Opening in early summer, Heron at Robin Hill Adventure Park will offer a cut above the fare you might expect at an attraction. Having worked closely with Michel Roux Jr, enjoy fine-dining during your day out.

Dorset: Sparkling Wines, Gin and Ale

With its rolling pastureland, Dorset’s known for its delicious ice-creams, ales, ciders and cheeses – but also its wines.

Dedicated to producing world-class sparkling wines, Langham Wine Estate is just 10 minutes’ drive from Dorchester. Demand for its multi-award winning wines prompted a further 45 acres of vines to be planted in 2022. Visits are welcomed year-round;
take a guided tour with a tasting session and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea at the Vineyard Café.

Take a tour at Bride Valley Vineyard near the Jurassic Coast, a working farm with rustic charm offering tours and tastings from May to September. Ale-lovers should head to Palmer’s Brewery, the only thatched brewery in the UK and one of the oldest,
brewing since 1794.

However, the culinary experience to hit the headlines this year is Catch in Weymouth’s Old Fish Market. The freshest high-quality fish and seafood is provided daily from Weyfish, as many as 30 boats a day land their fish here, and the restaurant
prides itself on not only knowing where and when the fish was caught, but on which boat and by whom.

If you want to know how to conjure up a superb seafood supper, learn from the pros at the Swanage Food & Fish Festival, 21st – 22nd June. If you’re planning ahead, don’t miss Flavour Fest, the South West’s largest food and drink festival, from 30th May to 1st June.

For the ultimate dining experience, head out on the water with Plymouth Boat Trips. Bring in your catch then visit The Boathouse Café on the Barbican, or Hook and Line at Royal William Yard, to have your very own catch of the day cooked to your liking.

Visit the oldest working gin distillery in England, Plymouth Gin, and join a Distillery Tour, a Gin Connoisseur’s Tour or the Master Distiller’s Private Tour and sample products from the range before relaxing in the Refectory cocktail lounge.

Kent: Foraging, Fusion Dining and Free Tastings

In Kent’s White Cliffs Country, Deal has been having a foodie moment for some time and from its Saturday market to high street locally sourced stores like the Black Pig butchers or Jenkins & Son fishmongers, tempting tastes are at every turn.

Forager-cum-chef Lucia Stuart runs Wild Kitchen; join her Forager’s Easter with Beach Hut Feast on 19th April or book a bike and gourmet asparagus picnic.

Japanese-inspired fusion dining and seasonal cocktails are on the menu at the Blue Pelican in Deal; its broths, croquettes and cuttlefish have seen rave reviews since opening in 2024.

Visitors are welcome to drop in for a free tasting without appointment at Barnsole Vineyard, near Sandwich, one of the oldest vineyards in Kent.

Portsmouth: Cookery Classes, Cinnamon Buns and Spirits

From a cinnamon bun workshop to yoga and brunch, Portsmouth offers an eclectic range of food experiences and relaxed street food as well as independent historic pubs.

Learn how to make an authentic Indian curry, enjoy a pasta making workshop or try a plant-based Korean street food cookery class at South Coast Cookery, which offers a huge range of courses and classes focusing on global cuisine.

Join a tour of The Portsmouth Distillery set in the stunning Fort Cumberland at Eastney Point to sample their ‘core range spirits’ and enjoy the well-stocked bar. There’s also a busy line-up of comedy events to really enter into the spirit.

Yorkshire: Fish, Food Festivals and Distillery Tours


Famed for its fishing heritage, the Yorkshire coast not only offers the freshest catch of the day but a line-up of great events.

Four food festivals take place in Filey, the first on 19th – 20th April followed by events in June, August and October, featuring more than 60 stalls selling fresh seafood, a real ale bar, homemade baked goods and global street food.

New this year is Scarborough Food and Drink Festival, 12th – 13th April, offering a mouth-watering selection of foods alongside fairground rides and fun for families.

Cooking demos, chefs, kids entertainment and live music celebrate the very best of seafood at Whitby Fish & Ships Festival, 17th – 18th May.

If you’re after a distillery tour, you’re spoilt for choice: Choose from Whitby Distillery, Filey Distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire whisky tours or Whitby Brewery.

And for fish-to-fork, visit Magpie Café in Whitby – voted one of the UK’s top fish and chips restaurants in the Fry Awards 2025 for responsibly sourced fish.