Tom’s Lyme Regis

Seafood with stunning views

With its historic cobb (made famous by Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant’s Woman), Lyme Regis is one of the region’s prettiest holiday resorts and this new Marine Parade restaurant makes the most of the town’s buzzing beachside vibe.

Tom’s Lyme Regis, a pebble’s skim from the shoreline, is where chef Tom Robinson prepares all things that come with shells and scales. His daily-changing menu puts the emphasis on the best local fish and produce, which is crafted into simple dishes with imaginative twists.

If you choose to sit out on the terrace, you’ll feel cosy and sheltered with the offer of blankets, heaters and parasols, while many of the indoor seats offer stunning views over balmy blue waters. Pause with a glass of fizz from nearby Castlewood Vineyard and take in an everchanging vista of big skies and lapping waves.

Starters such as Lyme Bay crab croquetas with romesco and gremolata pique the appetite for mains which include pan‑roasted cod and sirloin of Dartmoor beef.

Piscine pleasures don’t come much better than Tom’s Fish Board which heaves under the weight of Dorset lobster, Porthilly rock oysters, Lyme Bay scallops, crab croquetas and kimchi‑cured salmon. There’s easily enough to feed four and the accompanying saffron aioli, pickles, anchovy butter, chips and mixed leaves add layers of delectable flavour.

For the full experience at this family‑run restaurant, don’t skip pudding: the likes of chocolate mousse and cherry clafoutis offer modern interpretations of kitchen classics.