High quality, British seafront restaurants are growing in popularity and notoriety and over the last few years we have written about Harry’s Shack in Portstewart and South Milton Sands in Devon. It is easy to see the appeal: these are simple, beach venues serving fresh and seasonal ingredients with views across beautiful beaches. The Hut at Colwell Bay in Freshwater, Isle of Wight is no different.

We were lucky enough to visit The Hut on a beautiful sunny day. Even our arrival was glorious, arriving by boat before being picked up by one of The Hut’s tenders and transported to shore.

The restaurant opened in 2013. The interiors are ‘beach hut chic’: stylish although still casual enough to be flip flop friendly. However, it is the stunning sea view which is the real star, and two levels of terraces mean everyone is guaranteed a view. And inevitably, because it is England after all, there is the electric roof ensuring the restaurant runs all year, whatever the weather!

It is no surprise that the location means the menu is focused on the wonderful local seafood and there must be something in the sea air as well as the water, because the atmosphere is fun and buzzing.

This is a restaurant all about experience, prefect setting, fantastic views and exceptional service throughout our sitting, despite the fact we were a loud and rowdy group of 10! They even offered a collection of sun hats to those sitting in the full sun. It may have only been a long lunch, but it was long enough to feel like we had escaped our normal world for a mini holiday.