Square Meal's search for Britain's 50 top regional restaurants

Square Meal has trawled the length and breadth of the land in search of Britain’s 50 top regional restaurants – and here is our pick, kicking off with the winner of our award for the best out-of-London eatery.

Number 17:

Hix Oyster and Fish House
Cobb Road, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3JP; 01297 446910

Blessedly simple seaside dining
Perched high above the seaside town of Lyme Regis in Mark Hix’s native Dorset, this oyster and fish house from the ex-chef director of Caprice Holdings is a simple-but-chic venue with stripped floors, undressed tables and spectacular views of the Cobb and the Jurassic Coast. Blessedly simple fish dishes are the stars: think crab on toast, succulent skate wing scattered with shrimps and capers, and buttermilk drop scones with cherries and honeycomb ice cream to round things off. It’s all washed down with interesting wines or beers, ciders and perry.