Food and Drink in Lancashire

Polly Checkland Harding

It’s perhaps not surprising that a guide to the best food and drink in Lancashire, the coastal county that’s home to both Morecambe and Blackpool, would include recommendations for fish and chip shops. These venerable restaurants, which date back over a century (see both Yorkshire Fisheries and The Cottage), are a must visit in Lancashire. So too is Lancaster Brewery, another example of what the county does best. Also strong here are the coffee shops and cafes, which include The Music Room in Lancaster, housed in a Grade II listed Georgian pavilion. Perhaps most prestigious of all, however, is Northcote, the luxury hotel and Michelin star restaurant in Blackburn. Read on to discover more.

Our top picks

Northcote

Northcote, Northcote Rd, Langho, Blackburn, BB6 8BE - Visit now

Northcote is a luxury hotel with an elegant Michelin starred restaurant in Blackburn, based in a delightful country house.

Haute Dolci

Haute Dolci, 28 Church Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 5AL - Visit now

Haute Dolci, on Church Street in Blackburn, is set over two spectacular floors with stunning views of the city. Designed to add luxury to your dining.

Haute Dolci
Courtesy of Haute Dolci

Lancaster Brewery

Lancaster Brewery, Lancaster Leisure Park, Wyresdale Road, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 3LA - Visit now

Lancaster Brewery, which features in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide, is a brewhouse and taproom with tours and tasting sessions available throughout the year.

Lancaster Brewery
Courtesy of Lancaster Brewery

HIVE Blackpool

HIVE Blackpool, 80-82 Church St, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 1HP - Visit now

HIVE is an independent artisan quality coffee shop in Blackpool with its own art gallery and resident baker.

Ian Jones.

Secret Bistro at The Palatine

Secret Bistro at The Palatine, 1 The Crescent, Morecambe, Lancashire, LA4 5BZ - Visit now

Secret Bistro at The Palatine serves delicious fresh food in a relaxed environment overlooking the stunning Morecambe Bay.

Secret Bistro and The Palatine
Courtesy of Secret Bistro

Exchange Coffee

Exchange Coffee, 13-15 Fleming Square, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 2DG - Visit now

Exchange Coffee is in the middle of Blackburn’s Exchange Arcade, a wonderful structure built in 1849, full of independent quality retailers.

Exchange Coffee
Courtesy of Exchange Coffee Company

Yorkshire Fisheries

Yorkshire Fisheries, 14 - 18 Topping Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 3AQ - Visit now

Yorkshire Fisheries is a multiple award-winning fish and chip shop that dates back to 1907, making it the oldest in Blackpool.

JJ.

Michael Wan’s Wok Inn

Michael Wan’s Wok Inn, 118 Promenade, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 1RA - Visit now

Budapest ‘ruin bar’ meets Penang hawker market, in a seaside noodle bar – this is Michael Wan’s Wok Inn.

Image from WOK INN

Quite Simply French

Quite Simply French, 27a St Georges Quay, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1RD - Visit now

Quite Simply French is an award-winning restaurant selling French classics including frogs legs, snails, charcuterie and steak in Lancaster.

Quite Simply French
Courtesy of Quite Simply French

Notarianni’s

Notarianni’s, 9-11 Waterloo Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1AF - Visit now

This small family run ice cream parlour has been serving homemade vanilla ice cream in Blackpool since 1928.

Notarianni
Image courtesy of Notarianni’s

Beach House Bistro & Bar

Beach House Bistro & Bar, Beach House Bistro Bar, Festival House,, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 1AP - Visit now

Nestled on the promenade in front of the Blackpool Tower, Beach House provides a Mediterranean menu all year round, alongside live entertainment and amazing sunsets over the Irish Sea.

Ian Jones.

Thira

Thira, 32 Darwen Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 2BY - Visit now

The refreshing arrival of Thira has provided the people of Blackburn and beyond with authentic Kerala cuisine.

Thira
Courtesy of Thira Restaurant

Keegans Coffee & Sandwich Shop

Keegans Coffee & Sandwich Shop, 14a Poulton Square, Morecambe, LA4 5PZ - Visit now

Keegans Coffee & Sandwich Shop is a little Morecambe café selling homemade sandwiches, salads, hot drinks and homemade cakes.

Keegans Coffee & Sandwich Shop Morecambe
Courtesy of Keegans Coffee & Sandwich Shop

The Cottage, Blackpool

The Cottage, Blackpool, 31 Newhouse Road, Marton, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 4JH - Visit now

The Cottage Chippy, Blackpool: Built in 1856, The Cottage has been Blackpool’s most famous fish and chip shop since 1920.

Fish and Chips

The Music Room

The Music Room, 12 China Street, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 1EX - Visit now

The Music Room from Atkinsons Coffee Roasters is a cafe situated in a Grade II listed Georgian pavilion with sun trap outside seating.

The Music Room from Atkinsons Coffee Roasters Lancaster
Courtesy of The Music Room

The White Tower

The White Tower, Ocean Boulevard, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1EZ - Visit now

The White Tower Restaurant is renowned for its spectacular views of the sea and the famous Blackpool promenade, and its outstanding service.

The White Tower
Ian Jones.

Where to go in Lancashire

Blackpool South Pier courtesy of Visit Blackpool.
Blackpool
Tourist Attraction
Blackpool South Pier

Offering something of a mini theme park to visitors, Blackpool South Pier has a ton of white-knuckle rides to get stuck into.

The Lawton Hotel
Blackpool
Hotel
The Lawton

Thanks to its lime green-painted brick frontage, this family-friendly guest house certainly stands out from the crowd in the centre of Blackpool.

woman lighting candles in a church
Blackburn
Place of worship
Blackburn Cathedral

Blackburn Cathedral is one of England’s newest Cathedrals, yet it is one of the country’s oldest places of Christian worship.

Winckley Square
Lancashire
Park
Winckley Square

Hosting a variety of year-round events, from guided walks to jazz evenings, Winckley Square is a Georgian square packed with history in Preston city centre.

Friargate
Lancashire
Shop
Friargate

With an array of independent shops and places to eat and drink, including a number of contemporary pubs and bars, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Avenham and Miller Parks
Lancashire
Park
Avenham and Miller Parks

Located in the heart of Preston, Avenham and Miller Parks are among the finest examples of traditional Victorian parkland in the North West.

Blackburn
Music venue
The Exchange, Blackburn

Dating back to 1865 when it opened as one of four exchange halls in the country, The Exchange is an iconic Blackburn venue

Lancashire
Music venue
The Platform

Music, comedy, dance, drama and children’s shows in an Edwardian railway station, opposite The Midland Hotel.

Lancashire
Gallery
The Crescent Gallery

Morecambe gallery which showcases and sells contemporary works, often by artists from the area, which are varied and beautiful.

Lancashire Visitor Guides

Records and Relics frontage
Shopping in Lancashire

Our guide to the best shops in Lancashire, including independents and markets in Blackpool, Lancaster, Morecambe, Burnley and Blackburn.

Castle View
Hotels in Lancashire

Our guide to the best hotels in Lancashire, including Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackburn, Burnley and Blackpool.

Walks in Blackpool
Walks in Blackpool

A round-up of the best walks in Blackpool, including the sights of the promenade and nearby country walks.

Walks in Blackburn & Burnley
Walks in Blackburn & Burnley

An inspired array of walks and cultural spaces to hike, saunter or work your way through, featuring wild landscape and stately halls alike.

Spotlight on

Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a festive day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Warm, intimate storytelling is the thread connecting our new picks, which include a number of brilliant folk artists.

A sculpture of a dark brown dog looks to the right, hanging out of its middle and the back are what appears to be its insides (in cream) spilling out.
Exhibitions in the North

From genre-defying art film to vibrant embroidery and Surrealist sculpture, check out the best winter exhibitions to see right now.

A man is dressed as an Elf in a decorated department store.
Cinema in the North

Get ready for animated classics, Muppet mayhem and a whole host of New York movies -- it's Christmas time in the cinema.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

From contemporary dance to ballet classics, and cult rock ‘n’ roll musicals to new writing, our theatre guide spans the festive season and beyond.

Raver Tots at Escape to Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we move into festive season, Manchester and the North is packed with fun events and activities for families, both indoors and outdoors.