Food/Drink

The East of England has some of the best food and drink on offer in the whole of the UK. The combination of coast and country provides incredible local produce and the region’s multi cultural cities have every cuisine imaginable.

The area itself has a strong heritage rooted in fishing, farming and producing their own food, so you’ll find a wealth of fresh, local ingredients here at farmers’ markets and other eateries, many of which go above and beyond to be as accessible as possible.

Seafood, fish and the fruits of the sea

With almost 500 miles of coastline, you can expect there to be a huge array of seafood to choose from in the region. The most famous of which is Oysters, especially Colchester Natives and Mersea Island varieties which are some of the best oysters available in the British Isles.

The crabs in this area are also high in quality thanks to the chalk reef along the coast and there are plenty of fishermen bringing in fresh fish in areas like Lowestroft and Brancaster.  

The seafood and fish are popular all over the region, but make sure to head to Great Waltham, Stanhoe or Dedham where the restaurants and eateries have won awards for the quality of their fish menus.

Chalky reefs and chalky soil

It isn’t just the marine life that benefits from the chalky nature of the landscape, the East of England is also blessed with chalky soil and gentle slopes making it ideal for farming. The region also has one of the best climates in the country, providing the perfect conditions for growing grapes – which is why the east of England is so well known for its variety of wine.

Many of the vineyards offer tours, much of which are accessible with flat areas for wheelchair users and one to one tours available for those who are hard of hearing or visually impaired. It isn’t just wine that is produced here either, you’ll also find some of the best malting barley in the country and with it, many microbreweries producing some of the best UK’s favourite beers. These are often available on tap and by the bottle at pubs and restaurants all across the East of England.

The rich, chalky soil also makes this region the best for producing vegetables such as asparagus and samphire, particularly in Suffolk and Essex and Norfolk’s sandier ground is praised by pig farmers.

Menus for all tastes and budgets

The East of England has some of the most interesting restaurants and eateries thanks to the multi cultural nature of the towns and cities and being so close to the capital. Cambridge, with its waves of students has plenty of affordable, accessible places to eat as well as a number of fine dining options. Bury St Edmunds is the place to go for those looking for a foodie break, it is famous for its outstanding independent restaurants.

Wherever you choose to visit in the East of England you’ll have plenty of choice and with many of the chain and independent restaurants offering menus with large print and braille as well as low lighting and plenty of space for wheelchair users and push chairs, everyone can join in.