Local Produce

The Morecambe Bay region is renowned for its local produce, as well as some of the best places to eat in the whole of the UK. In fact, much of our local food and drink, is linked to the landscape and its inhabitants, with many food names featuring the area itself! Who hasn’t heard of Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, Salt Marsh Lamb, Lyth Valley Damsons and Morecambe Bay Shrimps?

Local Produce in The Bay
Photo by Robin Zahler

MORECAMBE BAY: A FOODIES PARADISE!

You certainly won’t be short of great places to eat in the Morecambe Bay area! With an abundance of restaurants, pubs, cafes, fish and chip shops and farmers markets, Morecambe Bay is certainly THE place for foodies.

MICHELIN STAR EATERIES

At the head of the list is the 3 Michelin starred L’Enclume Restaurant in Cartmel; home to Simon Rogan, one of the top chefs in the UK, he also ranks amongst one of the finest in the world too. So, make sure you book early, as it can sometimes be 3 months before you can get a table on a Saturday evening. However, if you can’t wait that long, Simon also has a brasserie style restaurant – Rogan & Co, in Cartmel too, which follows the same ethos on quality and service that Simon insists on, but offers a more relaxed dining experience.

OTHER NOTEABLE VENUES, WITH
EXCELLENT REPUTATIONS FOR
THEIR FOOD, DESTINATION AND
HERITAGE INCLUDE:

Heft Inn and Restaurant at Newton, near Grange-over-Sands, is operated by renowned chef Kevin Tickle, alongside Nicola Tickle and is acknowledged as one of the best Michelin Guide restaurants in Cumbria. The Sun Terrace Restaurant & Rotunda Bar at The Midland, Morecambe (Famous Art Deco Hotel of the 1930’s, with local delicacies and amazing views), Aspect Bar Morecambe, or the Brief Encounter Refreshment Room, Carnforth Station .

AWARD WINNING

Levens Kitchen is a fantastic multi-purpose dining and event space serving a seasonally inspired menu. It has won a number of major awards. Locally sourced, high-quality produce, including products grown on the Estate and in the gardens of Levens Hall, feature prominently on the menu

A TASTE OF THE DALES

The Old Sawmill Café is situated in the picturesque village of Clapham, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The heritage & history of this listed building has been beautifully preserved, providing a fascinating backdrop for visitors to immerse themselves in whilst enjoying use of the café. Expect great coffee, delicious tray bakes, and an ever changing breakfast and lunch menu using a range of seasonal, fresh & local food.

THE ROYAL CHOICE.

If you are looking for the best in local produce, a great choice are Morecambe Bay Shrimps. Baxters in Flookburgh are proud to have been awarded the prestigious ‘Royal Warrant’ to supply the Royal family, or head down to Morecambe to the long established Edmondsons and The Shrimp Shop.

GREAT CHOICES FOR SMOKED FISH AND MEATS

For smoked fish, choices include Lancaster Smokehouse at Glasson Dock, Shoreway Fisheries in Garstang and the Lake District Lobster & Seafood Co in Ulverston. For pies, fresh meat, game and sausages visit the award-winning Higginson’s Butchers of Grange-over-Sands, The Countrystyle Meats Farm Shop at Lancaster Leisure Park,  the award-winning butchery at Country Harvest in Ingleton, run by former Young Butcher of the Year George Taylor , or the Butchers and Farm Shop at Greenlands Farm near Carnforth, selling all locally sourced meats

FROM HOMEMADE BREAD TO STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Homemade bread can be purchased at Hazelmere Café in Grange-Over-Sands, Grange Bakery, or the Bread Shed Bakery in Cartmel, as well as The Wolfhouse Cafe in Silverdale, the Bakery at Country Harvest in Ingleton and Lone Wolf Bakery Lancaster. And, if you want to make your own bread, buy stoneground flour from Heron Corn Mill at Beetham. Local delicacies like Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding can be found at their main home in Cartmel, or at places like Sizergh Farm Barn, Holker Food Hall and Booth’s Supermarkets, as well as at many local pubs, cafes and restaurants.

LANCASHIRE HOT POT OR SALT MARSH LAMB?

Don’t forget about Lancashire Hot Pot, or locally bred Salt Marsh Lamb, available on menus at eateries across the region including Archers at Red Bank Farm, Hest Bank. Any trip to Morecambe Bay would not be complete without a visit to one of  the many excellent fish and chip shops in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancaster, Morecambe, Fleetwood, Arnside, Ulverston and Barrow-in-Furness.

CHEESE DELIGHTS

For the cheese lover, pay a visit to Dewlay Cheesemakers of Garstang (who have a shop on site), or Cartmel Cheeses in Cartmel. There are many other independent delicatessens selling great cheese from other local producers for you to enjoy too.

ROUND OFF YOUR HOLIDAY WITH A DELICOUS ICE CREAM…

.And, who could resist some homemade ice cream?. Well you won’t be disappointed, as this region has a great many local ice cream producers. Savour  Holme Farm Ice Cream at Grange-Over-Sands, Brucciani’s in Morecambe (where you can enjoy your gelato in an authentic Art Deco café), as well as Miogelato opposite The Clocktower in Morecambe and Lewis’s Ice Cream & Coffee Shop, where you can enjoy a truly authentic ice cream beside the seaside!. In nearby Lancaster do try the award-winning Leonardini Gelato, with some spectacular flavours, freshly made every day. If you prefer a coffee instead why not try one of the specially brewed coffees from J. Atkinson & Co.  

Salmon dish
SOME SUGGESTIONS OF PLACES A LITTLE BIT SPECIAL:

Swarthmoor Hall, Ulverston
Base, Ford Park, Ulverston
Bakehouse Born & Bred, Greenodd
L’Enclume and Rogan & Co, Cartmel
Clare House, Grange over Sands
Holker Hall food hall and cafe, Cark
Sizergh farm shop and café, Sizergh
Kitridding Farm Shop, Nr Kirkby Lonsdale
Greenlands Farm Shop, Kitchen & Bistro near Carnforth
Archers café & farm shop at Red Bank Farm, Bolton le Sands The Restaurant at Bay View Garden Centre, Bolton le Sands The Countrystyle Kitchen – Farmshop, Restaurant and
Ice Cream Parlour at the Lancaster Leisure Park
Country Harvest – A65 Ingleton
Atkinson’s at Lancaster Castle
Old Sawmill Café, at Ingleborough Cave
Light Ash Farm Cafe, Bilsborrow

BROWSING A FARMERS’ MARKET ALSO MAKES FOR A GREAT HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE. HERE IS A LIST OF FARMERS’ MARKETS AND FOOD FESTIVALS AROUND THE BAY:

  • Ulverston Farmers’ Market, monthly – 3rd Saturday
  • Cartmel Food Market, monthly – 3rd Friday
  • Milnthorpe Farmers’ Market, monthly – 2nd Friday
  • Poulton le Fylde Farmers’ Market, monthly – 4th Saturday
  • Lancaster Charter Market, weekly – Wednesday & Saturday
  • Carnforth Farmers’ Market, weekly – Wednesday
  • Kendal farmers’ market, monthly – last Friday
  • Lyth Valley Damson Day, annually – April
  • Lancaster Craft Beer Festival, annually
  • Lancaster Food and Drink Festival, annually
  • Kirkby Lonsdale Beer Festival, annually

JUST SOME OF THE DELIGHTS FOR YOU TO TASTE ON A TRIP AROUND MORECAMBE BAY:

  • Shellfish, particularly cockles, mussels and brown shrimps
  • Fish, seabass, flukes and salmon
  • Saltmarsh Lamb
  • Heritage Beef
  • Apples and pears
  • Damsons and sloes
  • Local cheeses and ice creams

Why not complement all this delicious local produce with some locally produced ales? Around Morecambe Bay there are lots of breweries where you can try the beer on site, including: Little Bare Micro Pub in Princes Crescent, The Crossing Micro-pub at Hest Bank, Taps on the Green at Carnforth, Farm Yard Ales at Cockerham, created by local farmer Steven who followed his passion, whilst also creating a sustainable business for himself and future generations, all the while being based on the family farm. Lancaster Brewery, Lancaster, Unsworth’s Yard Brewery, Cartmel, Foxfield Brewery at Prince of Wales Pub at Foxfield, Greenodd Brewery at The Ship Inn at Greenodd and the Old School Brewery at Warton, amongst many others.

There are also a great many more local micro-breweries, who sell their beers through the many local pubs around the Bay. Look out for Hardknott Brewery and Beckstones Brewery, both from Millom, Abraham Thompson from Barrow-in-Furness, Old Stringers and Ulverston Brewing Company from Ulverston, Fell Brewery from Flookburgh and The Porterage Co at Greenodd. If gin is your tipple, then don’t miss out on Shed 1 Gin distillery in Ulverston or for some damson Gin at the HOT Wines Shop in Cartmel.