East Anglia is not on most people's radar as a food destination, but it should be. The North Sea coast produces exceptional crabs, mussels, and samphire. The Broads have a network of riverside pubs that have been feeding sailors and day-trippers for a century. And the market towns of the Suffolk and Norfolk hinterland have a food culture that supports serious restaurants well above what the population size would suggest.
Cromer and the North Norfolk Coast
Cromer crab is the thing — a species of brown crab that feeds on the hard chalk beds offshore and has a sweeter, firmer meat than crabs from softer-bottomed grounds. Davies Fish Shop on Garden Street has been dressed crab sandwiches and crab salads for generations; the queue outside tells you everything. For a sit-down crab meal, No. 1 Cromer (the Eric Snaith restaurant) does a more refined version in a good-looking room on the seafront — worth booking in season.
Wells-next-the-Sea
The Harbour Fish and Chips shop on the quay is the honest option — fresh haddock or cod, cooked to order, eaten on the quay wall. For something more substantial, the Crown Hotel in the town centre has a reliable brasserie menu and good Norfolk ales. The harbour itself is tidal — time your arrival for the two hours either side of high water and you can get a visitor mooring on the quay.
Blakeney
The Blakeney Hotel dining room overlooks the harbour and does a good local seafood menu — mussels from the Blakeney Channel are particularly good in season (September to March). The Kings Arms pub in the village is a better bet for a casual lunch and has a pleasant terrace. Note that Blakeney harbour dries completely at low water; plan accordingly.
On the Broads
The riverside pubs are the Broads institution. The Ferry Inn at Stokesby is one of the most characterful — a proper village pub with a jetty on the River Bure and basic but honest food. The Reedham Ferry pub serves good fresh fish and has moorings alongside. Wroxham, at the northern end of the Bure, has the Broads Hotel bar which is the main social hub for hire-boaters and does a functional pub menu seven days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it possible to buy fresh Cromer crab to cook on the boat?
A: Yes — the fishermen at Cromer and Sheringham sell live and cooked crab direct from the beach. A dressed crab costs around £6–8 and is as good as anything you will find in a restaurant. The season runs April to October; the crabs are best in early summer before they moult.
Q: Do the Broads pubs have proper moorings?
A: Most riverside pubs on the Broads have their own moorings — typically free for customers. The mooring pontoons are usually sign-posted from the river. Do not assume the mooring is available in August; arrive by mid-afternoon if you want a spot at the popular pubs like the Ferry Inn or the Reedham Ferry.