Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

Where to Eat 25

Below far left Retro-style tea-shop window

Below left Colourful fresh fruit and veg stall,

selling good-value produce Below centre The

pretty Rising Sun Hotel, Lynmouth Below centre

right Café in the heart of Hay-on-Wye Below

right Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Padstow

Above left The Pump Room Restaurant, Bath Above centre Ice cream and candy floss kiosk, Weymouth beach Above right Café in Bradford-upon-Avon, near Bath

DIRECTORY

PRICE BANDS IN THE BOOK

Restaurants

Three-course meal for one with half a

bottle of wine and including VAT (tax).

Inexpensive – under £25

Moderate – £25–50

Expensive – over £50

RESTAURANTS

Taste of Scotland

http://www.taste-of-scotland.com

In a class of their own are gastro-
pubs (short for gastronomic pubs).
These are traditional pubs that have
upgraded their menus with a range of
exciting dishes featuring innovative
and often local cuisine. You can enjoy
restaurant-quality meals in a relaxed
atmosphere – often at lower prices.
Bars and wine bars sometimes have
sandwiches or light meals on offer at
various times of the day.

Picnics

Nearly every high street in every town

will have at least one sandwich shop,

where you can grab ready-made picnic

supplies. Supermarkets also sell

sandwiches and snacks. More fun are

the independent food shops and delis,

which sell a great range of meats,

cheeses and tasty local delicacies.

Best of all are the local markets.

Always colourful, they are a showcase

for regional producers. Look for picnic

supplies of artisan breads, locally

made cheeses, honey and preserves,

or apple varieties that you can’t buy in

a supermarket – they can also be a

good place to find great presents or

souvenirs. Each driving tour notes the

location and days of the week for

markets around the region.

Cafés and Take-aways
The weather is not conducive to a café
culture in Britain similar to that in other
parts of Europe. But whenever it’s
warm and sunny, you’ll find restaurant,
pub and café tables spilling out onto
every available pavement space.
Cafés are generally open for
breakfast and lunch, but most close
by 6pm. Most museums and visitor
attractions have cafés where you can
get light refreshments. The coffee
craze has taken Britain by storm, and
coffee-shop chains are ubiquitous in
larger cities. Many sell sandwiches,
muffins and pastries as well. Not to be
missed are traditional tea shops,
where you can have a pot of tea or
coffee along with home-made cakes,
breads and local specialities – often in
delightful surroundings. Be sure to try
a traditional cream tea with scones,
clotted cream and jam, especially if

you’re touring Devon and Cornwall.

Fast-food chains are plentiful, but far

more satisfying are the local versions.

Look for small shops selling fish and

chips, Cornish pasties, or even shish

kebabs, which make quick, filling and

usually inexpensive take-away meals.