5 British Seafood Specialities

Visitors to Britain are often shocked to find out that our menus are so liberally packed with seafood options – until we point out that Britain is, in fact, an island nation.  It's a given that we'll happily tuck into a generous portion of fish and chips – battered cod and fat French fries – at the seaside but those with a hankering for a lighter option, fresh British seafood specialities are in plentiful supply. 

1. Whitstable Oysters

On a wander around the charming harbour town of Whitstable in Kent, it quickly becomes apparent that one type of seafood in particular reigns supreme here. Native Whitstable oysters have been collected on this stretch coast as far back as Roman times and are perpetually considered by British chefs to be the best available. Interestingly, during the annual Whitstable Oyster Festival which is held in mid-summer these native Crustacea are not available as we only eat British oysters in months that contain an R – you'll need to visit from September to April to taste the local produce. Whitstable Oyster Company is the place to enjoy them. 

 

2. Morecambe Potted Shrimp

The expansive bay at Morecambe in Lancashire is a breeding ground for Britain's best catch of brown shrimp. In contrast to what Americans call shrimp, these tiny brown blighters are barely the size of a jellybean and are notoriously fiddly to peel and prepare. Traditionally, they majority of the catch are cooked up and served as potted shrimp – a simple dish where the shrimp are cooked in a mace butter for preservation – the Redwell Inn and Smokehouse is the place to sample them on location and for a stockpile to take home or pack in a picnic, Baxters of Morcambe have over 200 years of tradition behind them. 

 

3. Arbroath Smokies

Smoked haddock is no rare fishy speciality but those from the Scottish town of Arbroath have a particular place in the culinary hearts of British seafood lovers. Age old methods are used to prepare the fresh haddock which starts with 24hours of salting before they're dried, split, and hung over kiln sticks. A thick, smoky, hardwood fire is the trick to creating the unique and strong smoky flavour associated with Arbroath smokies. Iain R Smith, or 'the Arbroath Smokie man' is considered the most knowledgeable smoker in the region. Get your Arbroath Smokie fix at The Old Boatyard.  

 

4. Menai Mussels

In the strait which separates the island of Anglesey, home to Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince George, lies the UK's biggest mussel farm. The word 'farm' might suggest a harmful and overly mechanical way of fishing but the local mussel producers have recently been awarded the Enhanced Sustainability Award from the Marine Stewardship Council. Some interestingly Menai Mussel dishes including steamed Green Thai Mussels are available at The Lobster Pot on Anglesey. 

 

5. Isle of Mull Scallops

The sweet and delicate flesh of scallops is unrivalled but the source of these delicious seafood morsels can have massive impact on their flavour. Those that are cultivated and collected of the northwest coast of Scotland are rejoiced as the Queenie of British stocks. The unique marine climate around the Isle of Mull creates ideal conditions for producing top quality scallops while local fisherman strive to ensure sustainability and green methods. Mull's principle town is Tobermory where visitors can enjoy local scallops at MacGoghans.