Celeb chefs reveal their favourite staycation foods – and where to find them

Not all summer holidays need to be about jet setting. Britain and Ireland have some world-class holiday destinations – and the food you can find there is just as special as the scenery.

Here, celebrity chefs share their favourite staycation destinations and what they love to eat there.

1. Oysters in Whitstable, Kent

A trip to Whitstable is, for Tom Kerridge, the ultimate British summer day out.

“Nothing beats the Whitstable Oyster Festival – even though I have a shellfish allergy and can’t eat them myself!

“There’s just something magical about working British seaside towns with a fishing port, packed full of people, enjoying local produce on a summer’s day.”

2. Baked Dover sole in Brighton

For London-based chefs, a short holiday often means heading down to Brighton for a day or two and embracing the fresh fish on offer there.

“I love Brighton. For me it’s like London by the sea, always great for a quick getaway,” says Aldo Zilli, head chef at Elaine’s in London.

“Whenever I visit, my go-to dish is baked Dover sole from the Regency Restaurant. It’s been serving fresh seafood for over half a century and has great views of the pier.”

3. Crab claws in Howth

When it comes to summer holidays, it’s the simple things that Anna Haugh appreciates most.

“It’s all about eating by the sea and enjoying the Irish summer,” says the TV chef. “For me, crab in herb butter is the smell of summer, and crab claws in Howth are special.

“My father still travels to Howth and comes back with crab and other delights from the fishmongers. Once, when fixing a person’s boiler, he was given a bucket of crab claws as a tip. He couldn’t have been happier!”

4. Fish and chips in Ballycastle

Does anything beat fish and chips at the seaside? Irish chef Suzie Lee doesn’t think so.

Her favourite summertime memory is to grab the paper-wrapped classic “from Morton’s fish and chip shop in Ballycastle, and eat it sat on the picnic benches looking out to sea.

“That place is an institution and is over 100 years old. There’s always a huge queue!”

5. Crab sandwich and a pint in Cornwall

“To me, the best of summer is a pint of Cornish beer and a crab sandwich in a pub, somewhere like Port Isaac,” says Cornwall super-fan Rick Stein.

“It’s a sandwich that is very rarely over embellished: just white meat (occasionally a smidgen of brown), mayonnaise and perhaps some shredded lettuce or rocket.

“It’s best with homemade mayonnaise, a good quality white tin loaf and – of course I would say this – Cornish crab.”

6. Soft serve ice cream in Minehead

Nostalgia plays a big part in Poppy O’Toole’s favourite holiday treat.

“Nothing beats a Mr Whippy by the beach, especially with bubblegum, raspberry and lime syrup. No, my order hasn’t changed since I was about eight years old.

“It always feels nostalgic, as my family loved a good caravan holiday by the sea, and a stop for ice cream was a non-negotiable part of the trip.”

7. Cream tea in Woolacombe

The quintessential British treat, Lorraine Pascale finds it hard to top a cream tea (figuratively speaking) in the summer.

“I love sitting on Woolacombe beach in Devon with a scone, fresh cream and strawberry jam. All the better if there are some fresh cut strawberries involved too!”

8. Grilled sardines in Brixham

Matt Tebbutt also loves to escape to Devon in the summer, but he’s travelling for the fish.

“Devon is our nearest option for top beaches, but more importantly top seafood. We spend a lot of time in Dartmouth, which is great for a full blow-out seafood lunch.

“We’ve just been in Brixham for the sardine festival, as I gave a cookery demonstration there. It’s an underrated fish in this country but a definite treat for me, grilled over coals.”

9. Homemade ice cream in the countryside

“My favourite British summer holiday treat is homemade ice cream,” says Clodagh McKenna, who you’ll find tucked away in the British countryside all summer.

Always on the look out for farm shops and cafés which make their own iced treats, McKenna is all about the novel flavours: “I love to try something new!”

Originally published August 2025

Want more? Visit BBC Food on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest or watch the latest Food TV programmes on BBC iPlayer.