The first life-threatening dietary experience of the holiday was fish and chips in Sheringham. We started the day with bran flakes in the hotel room and, after a long, hot walk round Strumpshaw Fen decided it was time to head off in search of a pier.
I think it’s time to reveal that we have set ourselves the target of visiting every pleasure pier on mainland Britain. This may expand to encompass Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight, but then again, it may not. There are about 65 of them and based on the events of this week I may run out of cash and stamina before I see them all.
We tried Cromer pier, but couldn’t find anywhere to park. They seem to have obtained a large supply of No Entry signs since last time we visited, about 15 years ago. What with the one way system and the road works we tried three different ways to get round and failed each time. Eventually, after a seven point turn in a narrow street, I broke the cycle and parked behind the church, only to find out that all the space was reserved for disabled drivers and taxis. One of the reasons I hadn’t noticed this before parking was that the painted signs were faded. The other was that there were no disabled drivers or taxis using the spaces. This was to become a familiar pattern of the holiday.
That effectively broke my spirit and I decided to call it a day and head for Sheringham. You can park in Sheringham, next to the station with a preserved steam railway and a Victorian Penfold letter box (originally in use 1866-79). They seem rather more welcoming in Sheringham.
We eventually ended up in the Sheringham Trawler, a bright and cheery fish and chip restaurant. I was going to link to an information site – visitsheringham.co.uk – but they have a notice on the page telling me not to link to them without permission. While I can understand them having a problem with me stealing content I’m not sure why it’s a problem for me to link to them. They are, after all, a site that you would think would want exposure for Sheringham.
The establishment was, as I said, bright and cheery. They have pictures of local scenes on the walls and a programme of local events in the menu. The staff were great and the menu was good, though as long as they have haddock and chips with mushy peas all menus are good for me.
When the meal arrived it lived up to our hopes, being very tasty, generous in the portion department ans accompanied by a good-sized lemon wedge and a plastic container of tartare sauce. I suppose we shouldn’t be using so much plastic but that and the fact that they don’t tell you where the fish comes from, were the only two negative points that I can think of.
The batter was light and crisp too, which I forgot to mention earlier.
Another nice touch was the use of beef dripping for frying. It’s supposed to be healthier than more fashionable fats and why just upset vegetarians when you can also offend pescatarians and Hindus too.
I have a low opinion of pescatarians, so this is a plus point.
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The first life-threatening dietary experience of the holiday was surely the bran flakes? Enough to make any hardened samurai turn to seppuku. First you disapprove of beetroot, now you reveal a penchant for mdf breakfast cereals: it’s shaking my faith.
It’s a shame about Cromer, I like it there. Great seafood in that neck of the woods – lobster and crayfish and the like – as well as the fish and chips.
I listen to my bowels. They approve of fibre. I would eat cardboard if necessary (and if Dr Marcus Pyke was to be believed the cardboard box was as nutritious as the packet.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Pyke – in case you are too young to remember.
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That tour sounds right up my alley! Too bad about the parking. Really weird about not wanting you to link. Onward, ho, Quercus!
Yes, people normally like links. I love it when people link to me. 🙂
Next part – the Butterfly Safari.
Looking forward to that!!!!
When you go to Cleethorpes to see the pier be sure to have Fish and Chips at Papa’s which claims to be the biggest F&C restaurant in England.
https://apetcher.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/img_9323.jpg
I’ll make a note. 🙂 Despite living reasonably close most of my life I’ve only been to Cleethorpes once.
Once is probably enough!
I’ll have to go once more just to include it in the tour. 🙂
I hesitate to ask but is there anyone of whom, apart from Julia of course, you have a high opinion?
The question of links is tricky. You would think that they would be grateful but it may lead to unwelcome site visitors.
I have a high opinion of…er…
Good question.
I would have thought visitors were good for a tourism website.
It’s all a mystery
I have noticed that.
I’m a vegetarian and after I lived in the UK and moved back to the US, the Red Cross in America wouldn’t let me give blood anymore, due to fears of Mad Cow, since the chips may well have been cooked in lard. That’s been my excuse ever since, although I would indeed have been history by now if I had contracted it.
So many things to answer. 🙂
I was thrown out of a blood session as I’d been working in Africa and they were afraid of AIDS.
I don’t know anyone who contracted Mad Cow Disease – the main problem was hysteria.