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"Informal, amazingly fresh fish, full of macho barbecuing. Imagine Australia, crossed with Cornwall - it has an edge of that wonderful, no-worries sensibility," says Zoe Williams, Stella magazine's restaurant critic. Xanthe Clay, Telegraph Weekend's food and cookery writer, agrees: "A wonderful tea hut perched above Porthcurnick Beach on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, selling homemade cakes and lunchtime specials alongside pasties and sandwiches."

^{Lunchtime at The Hidden Hut}

"But the real draw," says Xanthe, "are the occasional 'Feast Nights': bring-your-own-plate, shared-table affairs serving stunning seafood at bargain prices with an unbeatable view."

^{A feast on the beach below The Hidden Hut}

Porthcurnick Beach, Nr Portscatho, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5EW
hiddenhut.co.uk

The Ship Inn, Alnwick, Northumberland

"This atmospheric pub faces one of the most romantic stretches of Northumberland coastline, which feels like a hidden cove", says Bee Wilson, Stella magazine's food columnist. "When you talk a walk round the corner, the silhouette of Dunstanborough castle suddenly appears on the horizon. The patch of sand nearer The Ship is perfect for an hour of buckets and spades.

^{The lawn in front of the whitewashed inn leads straight down to the sandy beach}

"There are only two things I would order here for lunch, the crab and the kippers: both are exceptional. The kippers are the famous ones from Swallow’s in nearby Seahouses.

The crab - which sells out fast - is fresh and sweet, even if it’s near-impossible to finish the thick ‘stottie’ of bread that comes with it. It tastes even better with one of their real ales, brewed in-house three times a week."

^{Drinking in the view: The Ship's real ales}

"At lunchtime, this is also an excellent place to bring a fussy child, because they do a children’s ‘picnic’ of pitta bread, excellent local ham, cheese, tomatoes and peppers, all separate. For dinner, they have local fish and, if you order it in advance, lobster from the bay."

Low Newton by-the-Sea, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3EL
01665 576262; shipinnnewton.co.uk

The East Beach Cafe, Littlehampton, West Sussex

"Thomas Heatherwick's remarkable structure conceals an elegant, contemporary take on the archetypal beach cafe. Fish is local, preparations simple," says Keith Miller, the Telegraph's Weekly editor.

^{The design of the cafe's rusted steel shell was originally inspired by driftwood}

Sea Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5NZ
01903 731903; eastbeachcafe.co.uk

Café ODE, Shaldon, Devon

"Cafe Ode is in a lovely spot overlooking Teignmouth and close by is Ness Beach, one of the best for a stroll (dog-friendly) in the area", says Stella magazine's wine columnist, Susy Atkins. "The café is very eco-minded, and sources lots of local ingredients including seafood from the area.

^{The view from Cafe ODE}

"It stocks local soft drinks ciders and beers and indeed has its own micro-brewery on site. Best place to eat on a good day is on the outside terrace. I like the excellent fish and chips brought out to you in a cardboard box. Very child-friendly - you often see big families there, and great for a lazy weekend day out."

Shaldon, Devon TQ14 0HP
01626 873427; odetruefood.com

Magpie Cafe, Whitby, North Yorkshire

"The best fish-and-chips restaurant in Whitby is a hotly contested title," says Jessica Salter, the Telegraph Magazine's features associate, "but my vote goes to the Magpie Cafe, a place that has been serving fish and chips for 70 years and has queues permanently stretching out the doors.

^{Magpie Cafe's distinctive black-and-white building is an iconic sight on the waterfront}

"The menu runs for pages, but all you really visit for is the fish and chips, which come in two sizes small (read, enormous) and regular (meaning even bigger). Perfectly cooked fish, crispy batter and nicely fried chips. Delicious."

14 Pier Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3PU
01947 602058; magpiecafe.co.uk

Crab Shack, Bryher, Isles of Scilly

"If you’re going to the Isles of Scilly for a holiday, make sure you book a table here", advises Leah Hyslop, the Telegraph's digital lifestyle editor. "This tiny outbuilding, belonging to the Hell Bay Hotel on the magical island of Bryher, was transformed a few years ago into a pop-up restaurant, open only two nights a week during the summer.

^{Stunning views of The Crab Shack}

"Local crab, mussels and scallops are all you’ll find on the menu, and there are just two desserts - but with food this good, you don’t need anything more."

^{Tucking into seafood, pinnies 'n' all, at The Crab Shack}

Hell Bay, Bryher, Isles of Scilly TR23 0PR
01720 422947; hellbay.co.uk

Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth

"This is far too smart to come under the 'seaside' category," says Zoe Williams, who gave the restaurant four and a half stars out of five in her review last year. "It just happens to look smack onto the sea. However, the food is wonderful, the management as friendly and informal as you could imagine."

^{Diners can see the head chef, James Sommerin, and his team at work through the kitchen window}

The Esplanade, Penarth CF64 3AU
029 2070 6559; jamessommerinrestaurant.co.uk

Cookie’s Crab Shop, Salthouse, Norfolk

"This is my favourite kind of seaside café," says Diana Henry, Stella magazine's cookery writer. "It’s rickety, has no ‘style’ to speak of (red paper napkins, salt and pepper shakers from the 1970s) and not much actual cooking goes on (which is all to the good).

^{Cookies Crab Shop overlooks the salt marshes}

"Instead it’s simple seafood platters, prawn cocktails, dressed crab and sandwiches (and the sandwiches are absolutely stuffed with seafood). The only downside is the wait if you haven’t booked. Eat outside or inside and bring your own booze."

The Green, Salthouse, Holt, Norfolk NR25 7AJ
01263 740352; salthouse.org.uk

The Alice Rose at The Nare Hotel, Veryan-in-Roseland, Cornwall

"Ensconced in the Alice Rose, an elegant wooden motor cruiser, head along the Fal river or (weather dependent) into Falmouth bay and up the Helford River to Frenchman’s Creek, sipping drinks while you take in the view," Xanthe Clay recommends.

^{The Alice Rose motor boat, with its ceder-wood hull and teak decking}

"Moor up and feast on a delicious picnic lunch provided by The Nare’s Head chef Richard James including the likes of Eggs Drumkilbo (eggs with lobster), a favourite of the Queen Mother’s."

^{The Nare Hotel's beautiful lawns, looking out over Carne Beach}

Carne Beach, Veryan-in-Roseland, Cornwall TR2 5PF
01872 501111; narehotel.co.uk

The Salt Room, Brighton

"The Salt Room is one of the newest additions to Brighton’s food scene," says Leah Hyslop. "A swanky restaurant specialising in seafood, overlooking the skeleton of the West Pier. Set up by the team behind another popular Brighton restaurant, The Coal Shed, it’s not cheap, but offers mouth-watering fish dishes and excellent cocktails in a relaxed but stylish setting.

^{Take in the sunset from The Salt Room}

"Make sure you order Taste of the Pier for dessert, a fun combination of seaside treats such as doughnuts and candy floss, served on a salvaged piece of the old pier."

^{Inside The Salt Room}

106 Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2FA
01273 929488; saltroom-restaurant.co.uk

The Crown, Southwold, Suffolk

"For years I have loved Southwold for its pebble beach, the humorous names on its beach huts, its old-fashioned Englishness and its lighthouse," says Diana Henry. "I’ve eaten and drunk at The Crown – a restaurant, bar and hotel right on the main street owned by Adnams brewery - through many changes of chef.

^{It's a short walk to the seafront from The Crown}

"The standard dips occasionally but I always come back because of the gracious room, the high-backed settees and the fantastic wine list. On a recent trip it was on good form though the offerings are solid rather than startling. Expect dishes such as steak with garlic butter and chunky chips, cod with a black olive crust and terrine with chutney. And plan on spending plenty of time with the wine list."

90 High Street, Southwold IP18 6DP
01502 722275; adnams.co.uk/hotels/the-crown

Fraggle Rock, Bryher, Isles Of Scilly

"Hidden away at the end of Bryher island, the smallest inhabited island of the Isles of Scilly, Fraggle Rock Bar is the place to get fresh, local crab served on a wooden board with salad and bread", says Xanthe Clay. "Eat outside at picnic tables or upstairs in the café – there’s a bar downstairs."

^{Sit outside and take in the view at Fraggle Rock}

Bryher, Isles Of Scilly TR23 0PR
01720 422222; bryher.co

Hive Beach Café, Burton Bradstock, Dorset

"In an amazing setting (not far from where Broadchurch was filmed), in Burton Bradstock which is the Dorset Jurassic Coast, just above a wide and, in windy weather, wild stretch of sea, brilliant for a stomp along the shingle," says Susy Atkins.

"The café is large but usually packed and very popular. It might not be the cheapest but the food, cakes and coffee are always good."

^{The view from Hive Beach Cafe}

Beach Road, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, Dorset DT6 4RF
01308 897070; hivebeachcafe.co.uk

The Black Douglas, Deal, Kent

"A pretty, 17th-century building opposite Deal's brutalist pier (at the end of which stands another fairly nifty cafe), The Black Douglas is named for a medieval forbear of the owner," explains Keith Miller. "Delicious breakfasty and sandwichy fare, a bohemian atmosphere, art on the walls and frequent events. Evening opening on Fridays."

^{Breakfast croissants at The Black Douglas (PETER COCKS)}

83 Beach Street, Deal, Kent CT14 6JB
01304 365486; blackdouglas.co.uk

The Gurnard's Head, Zennor, Cornwall

"This isn’t just one of my favourite places to eat at the seaside but one of my favourite escapes in the world (there’s no mobile signal)," says Diana Henry. "An old pub (with rooms) perched on the coast between St Ives and Penzance it’s frequented by as many locals as visitors."

^{The Gurnard's Head sits high above the Atlantic coast}

"The food is sourced nearby, the menu is a mixture of British and Mediterranean (cured Cornish ham with blood orange, fennel and rapeseed mayo, hake with olive gnocchi and romesco sauce) the vibe laid-back.

"Ask for a table in the dining room (there’s more light), though the cosy bar area is lovely too. If you haven’t overdone things you should be able to manage a good walk round the coast afterwards. Or order a dark and stormy and settle down with the papers."

Nr Zennor, St. Ives, Cornwall TR26 3DE
01736 796 928; gurnardshead.co.uk

GB Pizza Co, Margate, Kent

Zoe Williams admits that this "is not traditional seaside food - I’ve never even seen any fish on their pizzas", but it's still an absolute favourite.

^{Crispy pizza, and a seafront sunset reflected in the window of GB Pizza Co}

"The sheer pleasure of sitting by their window on an early summer evening, looking out on to the harbour and the beach, the Turner Contemporary on one side, a bucket and spade stall on the other, while eating the most eye-wateringly tasty chorizo and rocket pizza… it’s intense."

14a Marine Drive, Margate, Kent, CT9 1DH
01843 297700; greatbritishpizza.com

The Lobster Pot, Portland, Dorset

"Portland Bill must be one of the windiest places in the British Isles," says Keith Miller. "A relief, then, to find sanctuary in this unpretentious shellfish shack. Ater you've fortified yourself with some Portland crab - or one of their legendary scones - check out the sculpture park in an old limestone quarry in nearby Easton."

^{A lighthouse has been on this site since 1716, now right beside The Lobster Pot cafe (NEIL LEMON)}

Portland Bill Lighthouse, Portland, Dorset DT5 2JT
01305 820242; lobsterpotrestaurantportland.co.uk

S.Luca's, Musselburgh, Edinburgh

"It’s worth the short drive out of Edinburgh to get your ice-cream here (in fact, for me, a visit to Edinburgh isn’t complete without it)" says Diana Henry. "Eating ice-cream while a biting wind whips round you is a very Scottish (and Northern Irish) pastime. The Italians supply the ice-cream and we enthusiastically lap it up.

^{The ice creams at S.Luca's are worth the drive}

"Luca Scappaticcio and his wife started making ice-cream here in 1908 and it’s still a family business. You can buy their ice-cream in various outlets in Edinburgh but really you should go to Musselburgh on a rainy day and eat a cone of vanilla under a pewter sky."

32-38 High Street, Musselburgh, Edinburgh EH21 7AG
0131 665 2237; s-luca.co.uk

2 Fore Street, Mousehole, Cornwall

"An unpretentious bistro overlooking the harbour, 2 Fore Street serves simple Cornish seafood sourced from boats in Mousehole and nearby Newlyn, as well as local beef," says Jon Stock, the executive head of The Telegraph's Living and Weekend sections.

^{A prime position on the harbourside}

"Joe, who trained under Raymond Blanc, does the cooking, his partner, Mousehole-born Kerry, runs front of house. Try the Newlyn crab, garden pea, mint and lemon risotto."

2 Fore Street, Mousehole, Cornwall TR19 6QU
01736 731164; 2forestreet.co.uk

The Whitstable Oyster Company, Whitstable, Kent

"Does exactly what it says, in the classiest, most effortless-seeming way", says Zoe Williams.

"A walk afterwards on the pebble beach makes this very much the adult version of seaside gastronomy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do you a nice fish finger sandwich if you ask them nicely."

Royal Native Oyster Stores, Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1BU
01227 276856; whitstableoystercompany.com

The Sportsman, Seasalter, Kent

"One of the best restaurants in the country," says Diana Henry. "The Sportsman is on a melancholic, slightly run down stretch of coast near Whitstable."

"Despite its Michelin star it’s a pub (though not a sterile identikit gastropub) where chef Stephen Harris looks out towards Scandinavia and Belgium for his influences. He produces stunning dishes, (he has described it as ‘Michelin food stripped bare’).

^{Roast rack and slow braised shoulder of Monkshill Farm lamb, at The Sportsman}

"You might find slip sole with seaweed butter, turbot braised in vin jaune with pork belly, jasmine scented junket with rosehip syrup. Harris cures his own ham, churns his own butter, boils seawater to make his own salt. You can have a simpler meal (his roast chicken and pork are superb) or slightly more complicated stuff. Expect a long lunch or dinner and a great feeling of contentment."

Faversham Road, Seasalter, Whitstable, Kent CT5 4BP
01227 273370; thesportsmanseasalter.co.uk

The Little Gloster, Gurnard, Isle of Wight

"The setting is truly perfect, and very distinctive - dinky beach huts opposite and the idiosyncratic low-rise sky of the Isle of Wight makes the whole experience wild and hobbit-ey at once. If that doesn’t put you in the mood for champagne and a crushed-ice seafood platter, I don’t know what will," says Zoe Williams

^{Splendid seafood, and views across The Solent from The Little Gloster}

• The Little Gloster, Gurnard, Isle of Wight restaurant review

Amy Bryant, Stella magazine's food editor, agrees: "Even on stormy days, with rough seas crashing against the wall at the end of the garden, this view is hard to beat. Plus the smiling service and fish dishes so good it's hard not to order them all over again... it's a winning combination."

^{Nautical touches at The Little Gloster (MARK WHITFIELD)}

31 Marsh Road, Gurnard Isle of Wight PO31 8JQ
01983 298776; thelittlegloster.com

Bradley’s Deli, Benllech, Isle of Anglesey

"One Friday night after a gruelling week of law firm rejections (during my law degree) my friends and I decided to get out of town and have a break on Anglesey," John Whaite, Telegraph food writer, recalls. "We drove through the town of Benllech and stopped at Bradley’s deli - a calming cafe kitted out in nautical blues and whites.

^{Time for a sandwich at Bradley's Deli}

"Totally unpretentious, and serving hearty fare, this place was precisely what we needed. I found myself chomping on a 'BBC' - bacon, brie and chilli-jam panini - followed by a cream tea. My work worries vanished with each bite."

Harry’s Shack, Portstewart, County Londonderry

"Harry’s is rather more substantial than the word ‘shack’ suggests (it’s a big flat-roofed wooden structure on the edge of a beautiful beach) and is the best thing – food wise - that’s happened in this part of the world for years", says Diana Henry. "I spent my childhood in Portstewart – much of it on this very beach - so I’m bursting with pride at the Shack’s arrival and success. The inside is minimalist but not coldly so – plain wooden tables, white fairground lights strung across the ceiling, a wood burning stove – and is full of diners, of all ages, having a good time."

"The food – superb locally caught fish, veg and salads from the owner’s farm – is honest and vibrant. Expect beet salad with goat’s cheese, deep fried whitebait, gurnard on braised beans and tomatoes, chocolate pot with salted caramel ice-cream. Harry’s is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner and the craic is always good. Be sure to book!"

The Strand, Portstewart, Country Londonderry
028 7083 1783

Rockfish, Dartmouth, Devon

"Not strictly seaside, as it’s on the River Dart," Xanthe Clay admits, "but get a takeaway from Rockfish at Dartmouth (there’s good eat-in facilities too) and you can sit outside and look out over Dartmouth harbour. Chef Mitch Tonks (who also has the posh Seahorse a few doors down) knows his seafood, and you’ll not eat finer fish and chips." The fish 'n' chips get a thumbs-up from Susy Atkins, too, who loved the "just-crunchy, not-oily, thin batter over beautiful, big flakes of bright white cod" when she reviewed Rockfish in 2013.

^{Inside Rockfish (MARK WHITFIELD)}

8 South Embankment, Dartmouth, TQ6 9BH
01803 832800; therockfish.co.uk

www.telegraph.co.uk/