BRIGHTON and Hove is named England’s best city for dining outside the capital in a restaurant guide.

Eleven restaurants in the city feature in the 2022 edition of Harden’s Best UK Restaurants, more than anywhere apart from London.

But Brighton is the best city for “overall gastronomic quality”, outside London, according to the annual survey.

The guide, which was published on Thursday, is based on 30,000 reports with ratings from a survey of 3,0000 diners.

The survey of regular restaurant-goers is now in its 31st year.

Co-founder Peter Harden said: “Brighton’s slightly raffish mix of arty, creative locals and free-spending visitors makes it the ideal spot for small independent restaurants – but they have to be good to survive.

“That’s why it can out-compete much bigger cities in providing a wide range of interesting, high-quality dining options.”

The Little Fish Market in Upper Market Street, Hove, was listed as the 15th best restaurant in the country and the best fish and seafood venue in the country.

It is described as “small but perfectly formed”, with capacity for just 20 customers at a time.

Opened by chef Duncan Ray nine years ago, the restaurant offers sustainable, simple, fish-focused cuisine using produce from across the British Isles.

Harden’s guide says about The Little Fish Market: “Duncan Ray is one of the UK’s best but relatively unsung chefs, say fans of this small but perfectly formed Hove 20-seater.”

The guide recognised fish and seafood as the country’s fastest-growing restaurant category and listed Brighton as having its “fair share of fish specialists”.

It awarded high ratings to The Salt Room on the seafront, Riddle and Finns in Meeting House Lane, the Urchin seafood pub in Belfast Street, Hove, and the Regency, also on Brighton seafront, for its “outstanding” traditional fish and chips.

Etch in Church Road, Hove, also featured on the list.

It was opened by Masterchef: The Professionals 2013 winner Steven Edwards inside a former bank. The guide describes the chef’s ability as “breathtakingly good”.

Etch has an open kitchen and aims to celebrate local and British produce by serving tasting menus which change every month.

Other Brighton pubs and restaurants which feature in the guide include the Italian Cin Cin Hove in Western Road, The Coal Shed in Boyces Street, Indian restaurant The Chilli Pickle in Jubilee Street and Japanese restaurant Bincho Yakitori in Preston Street.

Burger Brothers in North Road scored highly and was described as having “a single-minded focus on making the best burgers you will ever eat – and many fans would agree they meet this target”.

Vegetarian restaurant Terre à Terre in East Street also received high praise. Harden’s guide said: “This epic Lanes destination remains many reporters’ nomination as top veggie in the country”.

Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2022 is available in bookshops including Waterstones and from www.hardens.com, and is £16.99.

The Harden’s Restaurant Finder app can be downloaded from the Apple or Google App stores for £4.99.

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