Briny delights by the sea

Coastal resorts don’t come much prettier than Lyme Regis with its picturesque promenade overlooking the historic Cobb. Tom’s Lyme Regis has a covetable spot just a stone’s throw from the water, meaning the boat-to-plate journey of its sought-after seafood is mere yards.

Baked Lyme Bay scallops, prawns and crab jostle for pole position in a seafood-laden menu that also often features rock oysters and Dorset Blue lobster. Not sure which to go for? Tom’s Fish Board for two features the lot, served alongside creamy saffron aioli, hunks of freshly baked bread and triple-cooked chips.

When the weather plays ball, sit on the oceanfront terrace with a glass of fizz from nearby Castlewood Vineyard and enjoy a light bite from the new lunchtime favourites menu. Lyme Bay crab sandwiches with pickled cucumber, mixed leaves and coleslaw, and devilled mackerel served with Isle of Wight tomatoes, are perpetual crowd-pleasers.

There are options to satisfy meat eaters and vegetarians here too, such as trio of Devon pork (tenderloin, pressed belly and shoulder) with black pudding, potato rosti, braised red cabbage and spinach, and fillet of Dartmoor beef with potato cake, carrot, spinach, lovage and red wine jus. But really it’s the seafood that’s the draw, with a line-up that changes daily to reflect the day’s catch. Indeed, it’s not unusual for Tom to take delivery of a freshly caught haul in the afternoon, which is then hastily added to that evening’s menu.

Trencherman’s tip: Leave room for pudding. The Tom’s Lyme Regis chocolate mousse is the stuff of local legend.