03 September 2024
With 186 miles of coastline, Pembrokeshire has a rich and diverse supply of some of the freshest seafood in the UK. There’s no better way to experience a taste of Pembrokeshire than a plate of fresh crab or mackerel. You may even get to meet the fishermen landing your catch!
There are lots of pubs and restaurants serving up fresh fish and seafood dishes around the county, from lobster and sea bass to mackerel, if you’re a seafood lover you’ll love what Pembrokeshire has to offer.
Have you ever stopped to think about how your fresh fish gets to your plate? Fisherman Mark Gainfort, on board Griffin Girl, fishes in and around the Milford Haven waterway. On a calm, sunny day in June, it looks like an idyllic job. One of three commercial boats operating out of Dale, Mark goes out to sea alone. We chatted to him to find out what his job is really like.
Fisherman Mark aboard Griffin Girl
Mark uses gill nets to catch the fish in the beautifully clean waters around the Pembrokeshire coast. He is one of a handful of fishermen to use gill nets. At some times in the year, when the seaweed can clog up the nets, he goes back to the slower methods of reel and rod.
The view on board Griffin Girl as Mark returns to Dale and the pontoon, to land his catch. Dale is hugely popular with visitors to Pembrokeshire and boasts a Blue Flag beach pebble beach set in a sheltered bay. It’s a paradise for watersports enthusiasts, and anyone who visits tends to keep coming back for more.
Landing his catch, Mark can net a huge variety of fish including sea bass, mackerel, pollock, skate, mullet, plaice and Dover sole. Mark has been fishing for 10 years and sells his catch to the Griffin Inn, a stone’s throw away from the shore.
Anyone for lobster? The two other commercial fishing boats at Dale are lobster and crab boats. Lobster is one of the most popular choices on the Griffin Inn’s menu. More than 90% of the pub’s menu orders are for seafood dishes.
After the short walk up the pontoon, the fish is carried straight into the kitchen, where the chefs get to work filleting and preparing the fish dishes. It can be a matter of minutes before customers are served the catch. You can’t get fresher than that!
Simon Vickers runs the pub with his partner Sian and they have a passion for producing quality home-cooked food, served up with real Welsh ales and fine wines. Right on the water’s edge, the fantastic views over Dale bay add to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the seafood dishes, offering a memorable experience for visitors. The fish menu changes from day to day, depending on the catch, so Sian and the front of house staff handwrite the fish menus every day – offering a feast of dishes. The hardest part will be deciding which one to order!
You can find fresh fish dishes on menus all around the county, especially in the coastal towns and villages. Try the Stone Crab in Saundersfoot or order grilled mackerel and chips at the Marina fish and chips on the harbour. You can also pick up fresh lobster, crab and cockles at Harold O'Vinegars. In Tenby, head to Fecci’s for the catch of the day. We love the fresh crab sandwiches at the Quayside tearoom at Lawrenny. Or head to the Shed bistro or the Sloop Inn at Porthgain for fish dishes cooked to perfection. You can pick out live lobsters from Lobster and Mor in Little Haven, a takeaway cafe and shop with a twist offering high end craft and local produce, together with delicious crab sandwiches and outstanding coffee. You can also take home the live catch of the day from their very own aquarium. There’s also the Newport Shellfish co. in north Pembrokeshire which sells locally caught live, cooked, dressed shellfish, seafood platters, lobster rolls and crab sandwiches in the heart of Newport.
