Authentic Foodie Experiences in the UK and Ireland

Wherever you travel in the world, there’s going to be some food-based experience that you’ll have to try - whether it’s sampling snails in Saint Tropez, or buying Balti in Bombay. The UK and Ireland are of no exception and travelling throughout the region you’ll find that each area has its own delicacy or speciality, from clotted cream in Cornwall to Cheshire and Cheddar cheese, here are a few of the UK and Ireland’s specialities:

Guinness in Dublin

Whether you’re a fan of the black stuff or not, you can’t deny the fact that Guinness tastes better in Dublin. Maybe it’s the warm and inviting atmosphere of the Irish bars that’s too blame or maybe it’s just that Guinness tastes better fresh from the Stonhouse. The queues to the Guinness factory can be a little on the lengthy side, so make sure you get there early and don’t worry about being too early – it’s socially acceptable to drink Guinness at any time of the day in Ireland! So make sure you leave your Dublin hotels early in order to beat the crowds. The best thing about the trip is the pint of Guinness that you get to enjoy in the scenic gravity bar which offers panoramic views out all over Dublin and the scenic spires of Trinity College.

Lancashire Hot Pot in Manchester

Manchester’s not really renowned for its food and drinks, but yet the region is home to some family favourites, corned-beef hash, Eccles cakes and Vimto all come from this North-West town, and who could forget the most quintessentially Manchurian dish of them all, Lancashire hot pot. The dish gets its name from the fact that it was originally baked at home, and then wrapped in blankets to provide a warm meal which could be taken to work the next day. The original dish also contained oysters, but these have now fallen out of popular usage due to their rising costs. Like oysters, Lancashire hot pot has also fallen out of popularity and few venues now offer this classic dish. However, if you’re staying in any Manchester hotels on a Thursday night, you can’t afford to miss Verso’s deal in nearby Didsbury, where £15 will buy you entry to the quiz night, a pint, a hot pot dinner and a donation to a worthy cause.

Pie and Mash in London

Pie and Mash shops used to be ubiquitous with London especially in the early 1900s when they were found on almost every street corner. Some of the best have managed to survive throughout the centuries, and the Manze chain continues to be popular with both tourists and locals. The pie shop has three stores in London: Sutton, Peckham and Tower Bridge. The Tower Bridge venue is closest to most of the central London hotels and also manages to be in close vicinity to the Tower of London, the London Dungeon and many of the other popular tourist attractions in the London Bridge area. Pie and Mash is usually served with liquor; a thick gravy-like sauce, but if you’re feeling particularly brave or enjoying your Pie and Mash within earshot of the Bow bells you may want to opt for a side of jellied eels!