The Discover Team visited Palm Court on The Palace Pier to sample that well loved British delicacy, fish and chips.
Aside from the seagulls, nothing screams ‘seaside’ more than a plate of fish and chips with mushy peas, so we were delighted to be invited along to Palm Court on The Palace Pier to sample their offering.
As a Brighton resident it isn’t often that I actually spend time on the Pier, so the opportunity to become a tourist for the afternoon was greatly appreciated.
I don’t know about you, but whenever I stroll along the wooden promenade, it is impossible not to imagine the millions of people who have trodden the same path before me, from Victorian times up until today. This iconic structure, which is Grade II listed, has certainly stood the test of time and many passing storms.
The grand opening ceremony took place
on 20th of May, 1899 with the venue fast becoming a frequently visited theatre and entertainment hotspot. Since 1986 the Palace Pier has been the amusement park we know and love today.
On the walk up to Palm Court, I noticed a new addition – The Starling Cafe which provides shelter (not to mention coffee and cake) to view the famous murmuration of Starlings who appear every evening between November and March. Ours is perhaps one of the most renowned murmurations in Britain, with up to 40,000 birds taking to the skies around the pier for their nightly mass aerial stunts with Brighton’s illustrious sunset as a backdrop.
That’s the thing about being on the Pier, not only are the views spectacular, there are also so many good distractions along the way. Our destination, Palm Court is situated at the heart and is a light, airy and welcoming space with ample seating and views of the sea on either side. We were shown to a window seat and shortly afterwards presented with an enormous plate of fish and chips, with pots of tartar sauce and mushy peas as an accompaniment. The chips weren’t soggy in the slightest, delivering a slight crunch with a fluffy centre and we (obviously) drowned them in salt and vinegar. But the fish was the star, golden, crisp batter encased a fine piece of freshly caught cod with an alluring flakiness that yielded to my fork. All in all, delicious and well executed with friendly, efficient service.
To enjoy Britain’s traditional dish on The Palace Pier is an experience in every sense of the word and one that I will be repeating very soon.
*Other menu options available*
Words: Samantha Harman.
