Somewhere to eat.

The Compasses in Holbrook is run by the same person that runs the Riverside at Woolverstone, have eaten in both, and probably wouldn't eat in either again, shame because my boat is at Woolverstone. The owner is also not the most welcoming of characters when I've seen him at both locations..........
 
XTE said:
I was in Titchmarsh for 6 years and used to enjoy the Harbour Lights on a regular basis, albeit they sometimes struggled to cope and the service became poor. My wife and I got to know all the staff and spent loads of time and money there and I was a big tipper. We also used to meet other berth holders on a Friday night in the bar. But they extended the restaurant and got bigger and bigger and worse and worse, and then two years ago we berth holders were told that it was a restaurant, not a pub, and we could not go there just for a drink! Not been there since and have now left the marina for SYH where there is a great bar and sailing community spirit. We are not the only ones to leave just because of the Harbour Lights. Such a shame that they could be so ignorant.
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Must admit I haven't been in for a couple of years but I was a frequent sailing visitor in the past.
The bar was a great destination but I must note that there were always the same 'locals' sitting at it when I visited.
Nothing wrong with that of coarse, just like a pub. Maybe that was the concern of the restaurant, the great unwashed?
Did they not try to discourage the local caravan/tourist persons?
 
XTE said:
Not been there since and have now left the marina for SYH where there is a great bar and sailing community spirit. We are not the only ones to leave just because of the Harbour Lights. Such a shame that they could be so ignorant.
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We're now in a similar dilemma here. Can i continue keeping my boat in a marina where i can't walk to the bar and have a pint and a meal, rather than driving somewhere ? It's a 90 mile drive to the marina for us, it's nice sometimes to just forget about cooking onboard when we arrive and just eat out.

Talk of FMYC tempts me towards Foxs, long way up the river. Talk of the Lighthouse makes me wonder about SYH. I think i shall have to visit both and sample the food and beer :)
 
PaulRainbow said:
We're now in a similar dilemma here. Can i continue keeping my boat in a marina where i can't walk to the bar and have a pint and a meal, rather than driving somewhere ? It's a 90 mile drive to the marina for us, it's nice sometimes to just forget about cooking onboard when we arrive and just eat out.

Talk of FMYC tempts me towards Foxs, long way up the river. Talk of the Lighthouse makes me wonder about SYH. I think i shall have to visit both and sample the food and beer :)
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Or move closer. Priorities:encouragement:
 
OK, come on chaps - the OP asked for recommendations on where to eat, not a list of eateries to avoid.

To get this back on track, we always enjoy Sargent Peppers in Burnham - a friendly family run Tex-Mex which does good steaks and the best Fajitas we have found this side of the Atlantic. The wine list used to be not so great but that has moved up to acceptable now, although still not to shout about - I suppose wine's not really Tex-Mex. Worth booking for summer weekends and closed Mondays.

In Burnham (home to us) we also enjoy the Ruam Thai, above the Turkish Barber (which used to be Raven Autospares) on the North side of the High Street - exquisite flavours and good service. Be adventurous and let them choose for you.

Peter
 
In Burnham we have much enjoyed The Oyster Smack and the food in The Ship Inn (opposite the tower in the high street) was absolutely fab - small portions of high end stuff but four all had something different and we all raved about it. Neither are cheaper but I'd wanted to save money I've have stayed at home :D
 
PeterWright said:
OK, come on chaps - the OP asked for recommendations on where to eat, not a list of eateries to avoid.

Peter
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So, on a more positive note: if in Titchmarsh and don't mind a longish walk, go to the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. Lovely place. If you are brave, skip Titchmarsh and lock into the Walton Basin right next to the club.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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MoodySabre said:
In Burnham we have much enjoyed The Oyster Smack and the food in The Ship Inn (opposite the tower in the high street) was absolutely fab - small portions of high end stuff but four all had something different and we all raved about it. Neither are cheaper but I'd wanted to save money I've have stayed at home :D
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++++++1 for the Oyster Smack, particularly good lunch deals. My favourite on the East Coast. Also, despite the argument of weather it's East Coast or not, Peter's Fish Factory in Ramsgit does about the best fish and chips you can get, even carried back to the marina in a box!
 
MoodySabre said:
In Burnham we have much enjoyed The Oyster Smack and the food in The Ship Inn (opposite the tower in the high street) was absolutely fab - small portions of high end stuff but four all had something different and we all raved about it. Neither are cheaper but I'd wanted to save money I've have stayed at home :D
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I agree on the Ship, most Adnams owned pubs do really good food, but I've never been thrilled with the Oyster Smack either before or after its reincarnation as a quality place a few years back. We all have our own tastes.

Peter
 
Plum said:
So, on a more positive note: if in Titchmarsh and don't mind a longish walk, go to the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. Lovely place. If you are brave, skip Titchmarsh and lock into the Walton Basin right next to the club.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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I heartily agree with this recommendation. A standing annual date for the last trip of the year in my previous boat, a Westerly Storm, was a short passage to moor up alongside the W&FYC for a hearty lunch. Needed a good lunchtime tide, but it worked out well on most occasions. The only time it didn't, the tide was perhaps a bit too good - we came out of the club in good cheer to find Stormalong floating over the road - took some head scratching to get us back aboard, after which we got safely back to Levington.

That experience didn't deter us from returning the following year with rather more careful assessment of the predicted tide height and mooring technique. the clubs catering never failed to satisfy.

Peter
 
The Company Shed was its usual superb today. Scallops and Tiger Prawns with a small salad, a fresh crusty loaf and a perfectly chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. It was pretty windy getting there and back :cool:
 
XTE said:
Sound wonderful. Did you take your own slad, bread and wine or do they offer that now?
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They provide the salad - a small one was plenty for two. Take your own bread - bread board and knife provided. They do sell wine now but cheaper to take your own. http://www.thecompanyshed.co/
Just get there early and get your name down as there is no booking. Closed Monday.
 
I've always been a fan of Kovalam in Brightlingsea, but haven't been this year. If there's one thing to be gleaned from the two current threads on the subject, it's that hard won reputations can be lost in a jiffy - a speed that's increased by the internet and TripAdvisor etc. Including this forum! A simple change of chef, or a new owner can make or break an establishment in no time at all.

The wisdom of crowds - we're away on the boat at the moment and will always check reviews - not because we want to be slaves to what others think, but once you get more than (100?) people reviewing a place there's a good chance you'll get a balanced and representative view. Eateries like the Shipwreck and others need to be more aware that if they serve one bad meal or send a customer away seething, the rest of us will know about it the next day...
 
Little Grebe said:
What's the Swallowtail at BYH like these days?

It feels like that place has reinvented itself more often than anywhere else on the East Coast
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Not the Swallowtail any more! Can't remember what it's called now but in any case I heard the other day that it's closed yet again and will soon reopen in yet another guise
 
It's called Sinatra's, went there for a drink when we got to BYH last weekend. Drinks were fine, but when we looked at the menu (we were eating on board anyway) and were shocked to see a hotdog for a tenner...
 
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