Hix Oyster & Fish House

Hot on the heels of his Clerkenwell chophouse comes this second venture from ex-Caprice Holdings chef-director Mark Hix. Perched high above the seaside town of Lyme Regis in his native Dorset, it’s a simple-but-chic venue with stripped floors, undressed tables & spectacular views of the Cobb & the Jurassic Coast. Blessedly simple fish dishes are the stars here. Two starters on toast (crab, red mullet) impressed, while succulent skate wing came with a scattering of shrimps & capers. Pollock fish fingers with mushy peas & chips echoed The Ivy’s nursery dishes, likewise buttermilk drop scones with cherries & honeycomb ice- cream. West Country ingredients abound: Fowey mussels with Burrow Hill cider, Lulworth Cove scallops with black pudding & girolles. Non-fish eaters, however, have to be content with a lone roast chicken & goats’ cheese salad. Whites make up the bulk of the short, interesting wine list; otherwise explore the fascinating beers, ciders & perry.